Z3 2001 3.0i seat going in opposite direction to switch

[PaulG]

Hi can anyone help.
1. I have ruled out the switch body being wrong way round as it would also reverse the position of the seat lift and reverse its action.
2. Plugs on wrong way round . They are keyed so unlikely.
3. Now this is possible but don’t know why, I read on bimmerforum that if the seat threaded rods are re assembled into the wrong seat runner this can cause it. Any help here as I can’t see why it would cause this.
paul

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Could it be the motor itself is mounted the wrong way around? The forward/backward has two outputs so might be rotated 180 and problem solved?

 

[Pingu]

I assume that it hasn't just started happening, you haven't had the seats out, and you haven't played around with the plugs. Is that correct?

 

[PaulG]

Could it be the motor itself is mounted the wrong way around? The forward/backward has two outputs so might be rotated 180 and problem solved?

Guess that could be possible. I will have to have the seat out and give it a close inspection.

 

[PaulG]

I assume that it hasn't just started happening, you haven't had the seats out, and you haven't played around with the plugs. Is that correct?

That’s correct I have recently bought the car and it came with this issue, as it’s 20 years old and the seats don’t rock would say to me the seats have been taken out and the bushes replaced so some simple screw up has occurred. So I’m going to get the seat out and take a shufti at it. I will post back and let everyone know what I find. I am thinking along the lines of the threaded rods being swapped over as it’s probably easy to do if you don’t take them out one at a time.

 

[AntStark]

The threaded rods have been put in the wrong way round

Weird Seat Behaviour!?

Hi there, I’ve just successfully replaced the seat bushes on the driver-side of my 2000 Z3 1.8. However, now I’ve plugged the seat back in to the wiring loom, it seems the switch that controls the forward and backward travel is working in reverse! So when I push the button forward the seat goes...

zroadster.org

 

[PaulG]

The threaded rods have been put in the wrong way round

Thanks, can you explain why it reverses the operation rather than simply ‘jam’ the mechanism ? And by wrong way round do you mean swapped over left runner to right runner or each threaded Rod put into its runner wrong way round?
cheers Paul

 

[AntStark]

Have a read of the post I linked to. It’s the threaded rod in the runners ..left one has been put in the right side and vice versa. At least it sounds like someone’s replaced the bushes

 

[PaulG]

Thanks AntStark! This site is a great help in sorting Z3 issues , I guess none are novel! Unbolted the drivers side the other day to have a look at the seat lift , it wasn’t operating and followed a tip on here to give the motor a rap with an extension bar, it worked! Seat now moving up and down! Thanks for your reply and help.

 

[Stevo7682]

Motor is probably the wrong way round someone will have it off at some point and mounted it back on the wrong way.
If you unmount it flip it do left side is on right and so on that should sort it
Stephen.

 

[Pingu]

Thanks AntStark! This site is a great help in sorting Z3 issues , I guess none are novel!

I think you are an exception to that rule. I've never heard of this before.

You win a cookie

An image tagged rickles cookie

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[PaulG]

Have a read of the post I linked to. It’s the threaded rod in the runners ..left one has been put in the right side and vice versa. At least it sounds like someone’s replaced the bushes

I have removed the seats and got the rods out looks like the bushes need replacing. T50 bolt on one side was ok and the slide allowed access the other side no luck so put the seat back in and connected electrics and ran it back. Got access to the T50 and removed it and the rods , unfortunately the last one out with seat at rearmost position has the ‘kebab’ at the end of its thread and the other is in a completely different position. When I replace the kebabs do I just put them both at the mst rearward position? Or is there something else I have to do to get them in the correct alignment?

 

[AntStark]

There are loads of posts on here and You Tube about how to replace the bushings. Here is the BMW instructions and a couple of video links

Seat bushing replacement info

Found this on another group... If anyone is thinking of replacing their worn seat bushings here is the official service bulletin.

zroadster.org

 

[PaulG]

Just cleaned up the threaded Rod and Nut and carrier interestingly one of the Nuts has a large L stamped on it ( it came out of the right hand seat rail and rotates Anti clockwise.

 

[PaulG]

I think you are an exception to that rule. I've never heard of this before.

You win a cookie

An image tagged rickles cookie

imgflip.com

Thanks for the cookie , I need it! From posts I have been pointed to regarding this issue I’m not unique , others have had the problem after mixing up the rods when repairing the seat bushes but realised that they had done something wrong when the seat operation was reversed when previous to seat removal all was Normal. Hey ho and on we go!

 

[Pingu]

...others have had the problem after mixing up the rods when repairing the seat bushes but realised that they had done something wrong when the seat operation was reversed when previous to seat removal all was Normal. Hey ho and on we go!

I suspect it's something people have done and thought "Doh". I'm really surprised that someone has done it and then not rectified it.

I suppose it's another hour to sort out, as you wouldn't realise until the seat's back in the car. By that time, the wife's called you in for dinner, or it's started raining.

Then it becomes another mañana job that never gets done.

 

[PaulG]

I suspect it's something people have done and thought "Doh". I'm really surprised that someone has done it and then not rectified it.

I suppose it's another hour to sort out, as you wouldn't realise until the seat's back in the car. By that time, the wife's called you in for dinner, or it's started raining.

Then it becomes another mañana job that never gets done.

Yes exactly! On the main thread I have posted a picture and the centre threaded block has a large L stamped on its top! Of course it was removed from the right hand seat rail

 

[Pingu]

Yes exactly! On the main thread I have posted a picture and the centre threaded block has a large L stamped on its top! Of course it was removed from the right hand seat rail

This is why you should only do things like this one at at time. It also allows you to see how it all goes back together.

BTW, it looks like you don't have any spacers.

 

[PaulG]

This is why you should only do things like this one at at time. It also allows you to see how it all goes back together.

BTW, it looks like you don't have any spacers.

Spacers ordered from Amazon due tomorrow on a next day delivery. Will the fit the spacers and grease it up with white lithium grease before reinstalling them in the seat rails.

 

[Fender2004]

The spacers may need sanding down so that they fit correctly. I have seen post where they have used a hammer to get them in!