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Home/ Repair guides/ 1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement
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1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement

This guide shows the process of replacing BMW...

iFixit Library 1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Moderate 40 minutes Guide 170881
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This attributed iFixit guide is displayed through Fixonic's recorded commercial API permission. iFixit remains the independent source and author of the procedure.

Guide overview

Before you begin

This guide shows the process of replacing BMW E36 front seats. Whether the seats just need to be cleaned and reinstalled, repaired, reupholstered, or just replaced with a quality used seat from online classifieds, these seats are 25+ years old and are prone to many different issues that require removal to address.

Step 1

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Loosen the 13mm nuts on each battery terminal.
  • Remove both the positive and negative terminals.
Step 2

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Remove the two 15mm nuts in the front and two 15mm bolts in the rear of the driver's seat.
Step 3

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Remove the two wire connections underneath the rear of the driver's seat.
Step 4

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Remove the seat from the car and clean the area of debris.
  • This is where the rails for the seat sit so ensure there is no debris or floor mats in this area before reinstalling the seats.
Step 5

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Reinstall the driver's seat, and line up the studs in the front with the front holes of the seat rails. Loosely reinstall the two front nuts and the two rear bolts.
  • Tighten all of the hardware.
  • Reconnect the two electrical connectors under the rear of the seat.
Step 6

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Remove the two 15mm nuts in the front and two 15mm bolts in the rear on the passenger seat.
Step 7

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Remove the three wire connections underneath the rear of the passenger seat.
Step 8

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Remove the passenger seat from the car and clean the area of debris.
  • This is where the rails for the seat sit so ensure there is no debris or floor mats in this area before reinstalling the seats.
Step 9

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Reinstall the passenger seat, and line up the studs in the front with the front holes of the seat rails. Loosely reinstall the two front nuts and the two rear bolts.
  • Tighten all of the hardware.
  • Reconnect the three electrical connectors under the rear of the seat.
Step 10

Repair step

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Front Seats Replacement — repair step ⌕
  • Reconnect and tighten down the 13mm nuts on the battery terminals in the trunk.