seat raise and lower

[Mick]

Hi
Just bought my Z3 and the passenger seat will not go up and down. The switch cover was missing and comparing it to the drivers seat switch the white central part appears to be broken but the micro switches still works. Looking under the seat there seems to be two motors, I assume one for back and forwards which works ok, and one for up and down. Does anybody know which motor does what as I suppose I need to start there. Although the micro switch seems to have just one wire running from it? Any tips gratefully received.
I have also just replaced some switch blanking plugs that the garage charged me £7.00 each! seems a bit excessive for a piece of black plastic. Also need a circular blank which fits on the top of the dash behind the window pt no 8398668, they quoted me £700!! as they said it was part of the dash and could not be ordered separate. Now that really is taking the piss!
Refurbing the wheels at the moment but will post some photos once that is done and I have shined her up.
Cheers Mick

[BladeRunner919]

I'm not sure the passenger seat goes up and down. Mine doesn't, and the switch doesn't seem to have any movement up and down. Unless mine's also broken!!

[Tez]

Both my drivers and passenger seat move up and down on my 1999 1.9.

[Mick]

Sorry I didn't say the car is a 2.0L Z3 year 2000. Both seats have the same micro switch with two separate switches as I have taken the cover off the drivers side.

[Brian H]

Hi Mick,

Does anybody know which motor does what as I suppose I need to start there.

The front motor is the motor for forwards and backwards, the motor hidden underneath the seat is up and down. Sometimes the seat cam get stuck in either the up or down position if not used for a while, can you hear a clunk when you try and adjust the seat up and down? if you can little persistence can sometimes free it off.

I'm not sure the passenger seat goes up and down. Mine doesn't, and the switch doesn't seem to have any movement up and down. Unless mine's also broken!!

Some Zeds came with the passenger seat that only had the forward/backward adjustment, I believe it was an option to have the facility to go up and down.

HTH

[Mick]

Hi bladerunner
thanks for the info. Can't say I have heard a clunk but I will take a second look and see if this is the problem. The seat definitely has back and forwards and up and down.

[Zed Carer]

Hi
Also need a circular blank which fits on the top of the dash behind the window pt no 8398668, they quoted me £700!! as they said it was part of the dash and could not be ordered separate. Now that really is taking the piss!

I bought 3 new circular covers a couple of years ago as I destroyed mine when I took the dashboard out. Just looked up the invoice and the Part No then was B51.45.8.399.931 and they were £3.27 each (+VAT). Just checked on RealOEM and the Part No is shown as 51458399931 - this is for Black covers - there is a different Part No for Beige covers.

[Mick]

Thanks Zed I will try again.

[Nidjet]

My passenger seat was stuck in the up position when i bought my 98 2.8. The motor would clunk as if it were trying to move but wouldnt actually move. I freed it up my taking the mounting bolts out of the seat, unplugging the electical connectors in the bottom of the seat with the ignition off, then using a set of mole grips gave the worm gear a twist. It was a little stiff but gave way with a little persuasion. Put the seat back and hey presto. Dont forget to leave the ignition off or else you will get an airbag warning light which will need resetting.

Let us know how you get on.

[Mick]

Hi Nidjet
can't say I can hear a clunk but I suppose taking the seat out and having a good look around is as good as any place to start.
Mick

[Nidjet]

Hi Nidjet
can't say I can hear a clunk but I suppose taking the seat out and having a good look around is as good as any place to start.
Mick

Oh absolutely Mick, and who knows you might find a few quid in the process, I made £2.37! Good luck with the work matey.

[Mick]

Found 50p this morning when I took the seat out whoopee!! Unfortunately the worm gear is not seized must check the micro switch.

[Nidjet]

Found 50p this morning when I took the seat out whoopee!! Unfortunately the worm gear is not seized must check the micro switch.

Yay thats 50p you didn't have before then. Sorry to have wasted your time suggesting seat removal, i hope you find the problem soon.

[Mick]

Hi Nidjet
All sorted. Turned out to be the motor and worm gear seized after all! It was not making any noise at all so had obviously been like that for some time. A lot of gentle tapping and it let go. First off I swapped the connections between front and back motors and this proved the switches were ok so had to be the motor.
I have now found the carpet to be very wet underneath so have the hair dryer going full blast. Will have to get the hose out later to find the leak. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction
Cheers Mick

[Zed Carer]

Hi Nidjet
I have now found the carpet to be very wet underneath so have the hair dryer going full blast. Will have to get the hose out later to find the leak. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction
Cheers Mick

I'd suggest checking the door seals first if it's only the carpet under the seat (i.e. not up into the footwell). First check that the drain holes under the bottom of the door are clear and next check if water is seeping from the bottom of the door card. If it's the later the membrane is probably damaged so if you're lucky you'll just need to take the door card off and mend (or replace) the membrane.

[XVar]

If you've got soaked carpets you'll kill your hairdryer much before you dry them out, theres 6 inches of foam underneath! I took mine out and fully dried them with a wet vac and a week in the kitchen, was a pretty big job though since it requires the entire interior trim to be removed

[Mick]

Thanks for the info lads I would never of thought of door drains! my first thought was the soft top not being waterproofed. Have both seats out at the moment and carpets up both sides. Have squeezed out the foam and letting it dry for the next week.

[yocky z3 2.0]

Just had the same problem with a friend of mine's z3 rear window had a split in it,water was getting in and running down where the hood folds getting under the carpet and running down behind the seats. Complete interior out eg roll hoops storage box speaker pods seats centre console door rubbers front speakers and brackets that hold console in at front carpet in two halves.

[Mick]

Noticed a small crack in the rear window but I would not have thought that much water would get through. Still I intend to replace it. Have both seats out and the carpet up at the moment drying. Think I will try a dehumidifier for a couple of days before I look at stripping out all of the interior.

[wyn02]

Hi. I had the same problem when I bought my z. After being told by my local BMW dealer that it could cost hundreds I decided to give it a go myself. I took the motors off and then opened the case gave a spray of wd40 gave the bushes a nudge and hey presto the motors work like a charm.