'95 525i seat-switch screw part number? [Archive]

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BMWCCA1

12-16-2009, 01:45 PM

This is what I get for letting my friends ride in the car! The passenger's seat got stuck in the highest position in the front. Checking the motor showed no voltage supplied to the "down" terminal. Pulling the seat covering on the side showed the little Philips screw that holds the switch to the seat covering was missing and the switch had been shoved down, breaking the clips that position it on the seat covering. The motor and switch work just fine. But I can't find the screw on the parts films and neither can the dealer. Figured I'd give it a try before heading off for the hardware store. Anyone have any success in locating it? It's the screw under the larger of the two buttons, the one that moves the seat forward, up, and down. I'd also suggest you might want to pry off your seat button and make sure your screw is tight before the same thing happens.

Thanks for any help.

Russell

12-16-2009, 02:37 PM

check the other side-same screw. Match it up at the hardware store. been there-donn that. Mine were loose and may have rattled. cannot have that in my car :)

BMWCCA1

12-16-2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks. Did that already. #8 wood screw, short as they come. But I'd rather have the proper BMW part and it aggravates me that I can't find it on the film.:(

Russell

12-16-2009, 07:04 PM

Thanks. Did that already. #8 wood screw, short as they come. But I'd rather have the proper BMW part and it aggravates me that I can't find it on the film.:(
I hear you. Perhaps a scrap yard e38 series part? How about finding the proper fit metric machine screw and cutting length to fit? I know not a proper BMW part. :)

shogun

12-16-2009, 08:18 PM

BMWCCA1

12-17-2009, 02:27 PM

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E34/Sedan/USA/525i-M50/LHD/A/1995/may/browse/seats/bmw_sports_seat_coverings/
maybe there, in case you have sports seats, otherwise check here
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E34/Sedan/USA/525i-M50/LHD/A/1995/may/browse/seats/

or use the VIN

Those show the screws that hold the plastic side panel to the seat. The panel has a counter-sunk hole designed to fit the head of the screw that goes into the switch. None of the films seem to show the screw, even if you look under Electrical>switches.

Oddly, I removed the button on the driver's seat to see if that screw was loose and there wasn't one there, either. But if you Google procedures for repairing seat switches, up comes one with the step of removing the Philips head screw that holds the seat switch to the seat side panel. So maybe they don't come with one on the later E34s and only rely on the tabs on the panel and the spring clips on the switch to hold everything in place. No wonder they get "screwed"! Or should we assume BMW knew what a stupid design it was and provided a fix for when the plastic tabs failed? Regardless, mine are now working fine, and I added a screw to the driver's side, just to make sure. :)