1981 320i E21 Seat Rebuild

[sw3457]

Hi Again -- I'm refoaming the seats on my '81 320i. I got a Recaro foam kit from SJPonyParts that looks like it will fit, and the seat back came off pretty easy, but now I'm facing this hardware and I have no idea how to get it apart. There was a snap ring that I removed and everything got loose, but that's as far as I can get. This is on both sides of the seat and attaches to a rod underneath (2nd picture). It looks like they tack-welded the outer pieces on there but that doesn't make much sense because you'd have to grind them off to take the seat apart to do anything and then re-weld it after. Anyone tried this before? Thanks!!

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[Somjuan]

It’s been a minute, but I think the snap ring holds that bit in just behind it in the picture. I’d gently try to pry it out, and tap it a few times gently with a hammer and spray it with some penetrating lube before trying

[english320i]

why use a recaro foam kit to repair a standard non recaro seat?

[sw3457]

It’s been a minute, but I think the snap ring holds that bit in just behind it in the picture. I’d gently try to pry it out, and tap it a few times gently with a hammer and spray it with some penetrating lube before trying

Tried what you suggested but I couldn't get it to budge and the piece with the weld was starting to bend so I bailed. They didn't make it easy to get the seats apart, did they?

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why use a recaro foam kit to repair a standard non recaro seat?

That was a mistake, so I sent that foam back. I'm pretty new at this but no harm done luckily. Won't really matter if I can't get the f-ing thing apart though! Thanks.

[okieflats]

Find some Mercedes seats at the junkyard for cheap and adapt them. They're great, very well made. The vinyl really lasts. Sometimes Pick-n-Pull sells seats for only $15 each.

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you'd need to get them from a 2 door mercedes though so that they fold forward to access the back seat.

[sw3457]

Thanks for the tip, there's a place not too far from me that might have some. I don't believe I can't get that hinge hardware apart on my own seats, though. I'd really like to keep the car as authentic as I can and I know I'm just missing some trick. And I don't want to trash them by being too aggro. Thanks again.

[okieflats]

I have not taken the stock seats apart. I did fix the mechanism used for tilting them forward. I also have a couple extra seats, maybe I can take a look at them this weekend.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...BMW-320i&mg=52

use this link to look at diagrams of the seats, the parts and how they go together. Might give you a clue on how to disassemble.

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Parts #18 and #11 are key, as well as the screws and bolts, like bolt #13

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I would have got these seats if they were black instead of blue.

[okieflats]

[sw3457]

Wow, I think that's exactly what I need. Pry #11 out of there and it should come apart. That's what Somjuan said too, but it's really in there and I didn't want to trash anything like I usually do! Thanks, I'll try it later.

[Somjuan]

It’s tough when you can’t use much in the way of heating. My cheater method is to freeze things, works in a pinch. You’d hold a can of air upside down and spray it at it. Wear thick gloves if you try, and try to focus on #11. It’ll get very cold

[sw3457]

Thanks Guys!! #11 is out and everything else came with it. Man that's a lot of parts for a seat hinge! German engineering at it's best. On to finding an upholsterer. You guys are the best.

Scott