Reinstalling Z3 Seats HELP

[mcclusk]

Over the winter I bought a Z3 Coupe to nurse back to original health. 1st project - out go the cheap aftermarket sport seats and in go some original Z3 heated, power seats. The sport seats came out fine, but getting the Z3 seats in is proving a challenge, for me at least. Factory hardware, check. Factory seat electrical harnesses and connectors still in car, check. "New" Z3 seats complete and clean, check. Problem is I cannot make the floor harness fit the seats. The floor harness has 4 connectors for each seat, 2 4 prong plug connectors and 2 "mine card" style connectors. I see where the "card" connectors go, but not the 4 prong plugs, nowhere evident at all. So that is my question and any help would be appreciated. Also, some bad news, seems I have a leak. With the driver's seat out, I pulled the floor harness up through its carpet slit to get the carpets nice and clean. I noticed some squish and the driver's floor foam is nice and wet. Could that mini tilt sunroof have a drain problem or is there another area to look at? Thanks for your help! Otherwise, what a fun car and it makes my E36 M3 feel like a Cadillac.

 

[zedonist]

What car did your seats come from, if they are from a face lift roadster, they will have the newer yellow plugs on them, the coupe never went through a face lift so kept the older style plugs which iirc were a white one, a black one and a small yellow one for the seat belt tensioner, I have coupe seats in my pre facelift roadster, and they fit straight in, if you can post a picture of the seat connectors, we can confirm one way or the other.

All will not be lost as you can buy a conversion harness from BMW if it is newer seats into older car.

 

[jonco]

- agree with Zedonist's recollection `that iirc were a white one, a black one and a small yellow one for the seat belt tensioner' - only have limited photos of this area but these are the passenger side seat motor (white) and heater black plugs from pre-facelift.

 

[zedonist]

Thanks Jonco, those are what I had on my original seats and the coupe seats I replaced them with, so concurs pre face lift.

The one below is from a facelift, you can buy the adapter cable to fit these:

Below is a link to a how too re,wire old to new:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255325

Hope it helps

 

[mcclusk]

Over the winter I bought a Z3 Coupe to nurse back to original health. 1st project - out go the cheap aftermarket sport seats and in go some original Z3 heated, power seats. The sport seats came out fine, but getting the Z3 seats in is proving a challenge, for me at least. Factory hardware, check. Factory seat electrical harnesses and connectors still in car, check. "New" Z3 seats complete and clean, check. Problem is I cannot make the floor harness fit the seats. The floor harness has 4 connectors for each seat, 2 4 prong plug connectors and 2 "mine card" style connectors. I see where the "card" connectors go, but not the 4 prong plugs, nowhere evident at all. So that is my question and any help would be appreciated. Also, some bad news, seems I have a leak. With the driver's seat out, I pulled the floor harness up through its carpet slit to get the carpets nice and clean. I noticed some squish and the driver's floor foam is nice and wet. Could that mini tilt sunroof have a drain problem or is there another area to look at? Thanks for your help! Otherwise, what a fun car and it makes my E36 M3 feel like a Cadillac.

You guys are awesome. That's it! I will post pics to confirm, but I am headed out on a 10-day trip. . .to see a '71 2800cs! Any ideas on the wet floor??? To thank you, I have a worldpac account and happy to source parts for you when/if needed at wholesale. Cheers!

 

[Rocket Ron]

Over the winter I bought a Z3 Coupe to nurse back to original health. 1st project - out go the cheap aftermarket sport seats and in go some original Z3 heated, power seats. The sport seats came out fine, but getting the Z3 seats in is proving a challenge, for me at least. Factory hardware, check. Factory seat electrical harnesses and connectors still in car, check. "New" Z3 seats complete and clean, check. Problem is I cannot make the floor harness fit the seats. The floor harness has 4 connectors for each seat, 2 4 prong plug connectors and 2 "mine card" style connectors. I see where the "card" connectors go, but not the 4 prong plugs, nowhere evident at all. So that is my question and any help would be appreciated. Also, some bad news, seems I have a leak. With the driver's seat out, I pulled the floor harness up through its carpet slit to get the carpets nice and clean. I noticed some squish and the driver's floor foam is nice and wet. Could that mini tilt sunroof have a drain problem or is there another area to look at? Thanks for your help! Otherwise, what a fun car and it makes my E36 M3 feel like a Cadillac.

Hi Have you checked the washer bottle level? the push fit connector on mine came loose , fortunately it was in the engine compartment but there is another connector just inside ? Regards Ron.

 

[jonco]

............. Any ideas on the wet floor??? ...............

Presume carpet is dry on top? I found a similar situation on mine when I had the seats out. Never did find the route in . It's a pain to dry out but there is usually a bung on the underside of the floor panel and a mastic type patch on the inner side . You can pull the carpet part way out from door sill and remove the inner patch and bung then squeeze the foam to drain it out. You can then dry it out with a hot air drier. HTH

 

[Dino D]

Re the wet floor. One mine the bing referred to got damaged on a speed bump and was the cause of water coming in. You can check from under the car too.