Fold-down rear seat from a non-fold-down rear seat?

[BennyM]

Can anyone help me speculate as to how much work it would take to convert a regular E34 rear seat to a hinged fold-down rear seat? The fold down option apparently only came with a very small number of E34 sedans. I know one can buy all the hinge and latch parts for it. I also know that these cars often have additional wiring or cutouts for added features. Could there already be some perforation marks or holes behind and under the rear seat for this? Or am I just talking crazy?


BennyM

[Paul in NZ]

i think it would be crazy talkin.....afaik MOSt e 34 have a solid wall between cabib and boot except for the pre punched ski bag....I think the fold down rear seats would be completely different in that area.try realoem ...

05 PARTITION TRUNK 1 41131946376 $556.88
FOR VEHICLES WITH
THROUGH-LOADING FACILITY
05 PARTITION TRUNK 1 41138110650 $556.88

different body parts

[myles]

I know that the chassis part numbers differ for only two options, fold down rear seats and a sunroof. I think you would have a seriously tough job making it work. There is no way I would ever try it.

[BennyM]

Haha! Ok, guys, that answers my question. It was crazy talk afterall.

BennyM

[E34-520iSE]

I took a fold-down rear seat out of a scrap e34 once, to see how it worked. The seat back, seat belts & headrests clip to a bolt-on support rail, so you would need to cut the rear bulkhead out to fit that, and the seat base clips to two pins welded onto the floor. It's a do-able project but cutting that rear b/head will be a PITA.

HTH,

Shaun M

[Paul in NZ]

would be a seriuosly practical car though...

[///Sniper535]

the E34 had fold down seats as options?

pics?

[E34-520iSE]

It certainly did! It's quite common here in the UK. It's not that special really, just imagine having no bulkhead between your rear seat and the boot (trunk).

HTH,

Shaun M

[Ross]

That would be practical. I've never seen or heard of it in the U.S.
My guess is wasn't available here because of crash requirements. Either the strength of that piece or more likely that it provides another barrier between the fuel tank in the rear and the passenger compartment.
DOT takes a dim view of fuel in passenger compartment since this:
http://www.wfu.edu/~palmitar/Law&Valuation/Papers/1999/Leggett-pinto.html

[Tiger]

I wondered if they bulked up the surrounding since they removed that major part of safety cage.

[E34-520iSE]

Nope, just a straight bolt on brace across the top of the opening, just below the top of the rear seat.

HTH,

Shaun M

[Tiger]

Mmm... cool... A fold down rear seat is really useful... at the least I would use it all the time... too bad not many car has them and hard to get all the parts for it... especially seat leather that matches your car.

[E34-520iSE]

Getting a matching leather trim would be tricky, yes. I guess all the other components could be ordered from a dealer. As I said in a previous message, fold down rear seats are fairly common here so maybe looking for 535/540's on ebay.co.uk could do the trick.

HTH,

Shaun M

[Tiger]

Alot of us are in USA... for us to go over there to find junk cars with fold down seat is not economical. However, it is a business opportunity for you guys over there... cherry picking out all the parts we need and sell them as a package.

Although the business is very limited and the shipping would be crazy expensive unless you bulk all the orders together and ship one time to seaport where all of us would come and retrieve it.

[E34-520iSE]

It certainly would be impractical to come here just for car parts lol! When I said 'look on ebay uk' you might hit lucky and find a suitably equipped car. A lot of sellers here are quite happy to post internationally so it could be a way forward. Meanwhile if I see any thru-loading e34's at the breakers I'll certainly make a post on the forum about it.
Would you guys need the complete rear seat too? Or would a modded touring seat do the job? What about the welded on pins that the seat base clips to? They would be a royal PITA to remove in situ. Can they be bought/fabricated?


Cheers,

Shaun M

[E34-520iSE]

Here are a few realoem diagrams to look at, showing the necessary parts for the conversion.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD22&mospid=47382&btnr=51_3037&hg=51&fg=55

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD22&mospid=47382&btnr=52_0324&hg=52&fg=30

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD22&mospid=47382&btnr=41_0875&hg=41&fg=05

The first link shows the black plastic trim that covers the brace & the small bits of hardware needed to fit:

10 COVERING REAR LEFTSCHWARZ 151468181689
10COVERING REAR RIGHT SCHWARZ 151468181690
11 PLUG 151441854624
11 CLAMP 251468110359
12 PLASTIC NUT M6 216131176747
12 PLASTIC NUT 251161943122
13 COVERING CAP 251468110927

If you look at the second diagram link, the brackets that the seat base fasten on to look like part of the car frame. On a real car they are firmly welded in place, and have no part number.

The third link shows that the bodyshell was made with the 'thru loading' facility at the factory. Part number 41008107611

It might help if someone with a 'touring' version posted pics of their rear seat base & seat back mounts, in case there are bits that are interchangeable. I have a feeling they will be.

HTH,

Shaun M