Z3 passenger seat moves.

My passenger side seat slides back and forth slightly. All electronic controls work and its as if the seat is loose on the track. It will shift forward or back freely for about a half an inch. Not so bad if someone is sitting in it, but when I'm driving alone, I hear it move if I accelerate quickly or brake hard. I can grab the seat with my hand and just slightly move it back and forth without using the switches. Does not sound like the motors in the seat are being affected by the movement. Any ideas?

Yes,
PM with your email address, I'll send you a detailed power point slide show on how I fixed it.

Your seat bushings are worn out. This is a common problem with Z3's. You need to get Doug Whalen's seat bushings and replace your old ones. It's a straighforward fix and EOD Guy's presentation will most likely show you how.

If EOD's slides don't show ya, you can also check out Rachel's pages.

Originally Posted by EOD Guy

Yes,
PM with your email address, I'll send you a detailed power point slide show on how I fixed it.

PM sent...

You guys are the bestest!
Nice to know someone else shares my pain! Well, step one is to first go to dealer: I'm pretty sure my warranty will cover this. If not, I have the best resources to do it myself.
Thanx a million!

If the dealer does it under warranty, they will just put more crummy rubber bushings in and you'll be in the same boat in another 15-20k miles. Even if you have to do it yourself, I think it's better to do it once and be done with it.

I replaced both seat bushings for about fourty bucks. This is an easy fix. I noticed that another member is sending the instructions. Just follow each step, and you will be amazed at how easy this procedure is. I also fixed my glove box sag using the instuctions given by a member and also was an easy process knowing how.

Originally Posted by Vinci

If the dealer does it under warranty, they will just put more crummy rubber bushings in and you'll be in the same boat in another 15-20k miles. Even if you have to do it yourself, I think it's better to do it once and be done with it.

+1
Also, the more you do, the more confident you are to do other things.

my glove box hangs down, and i noticed someone had the same problem. what's the solution?

http://www.mz3.net/articles/253.html

Originally Posted by lhs2miler

my glove box hangs down, and i noticed someone had the same problem. what's the solution?

There's a guy who's on the bimmerforums' Z3 board who sells them on ebay. Here's a link to it

Originally Posted by WileECoyote

There's a guy who's on the bimmerforums' Z3 board who sells them on ebay. Here's a link to it

Just did my glovebox fix with the same kit. Works beautifully!

The seat bushings also worked great, but were a little tougher to get in. That whole "bushings surrounding a block" was a little overengineered, IMHO. They could have done without the bad bushings, and just made the block larger.

I have the same problem. Can you PM the Powerpoint to me also?

Thanks

Can I also get that PPT presentation? Will that tell me what parts I need to get? Thanks

Could I also get your PPT of how to fix the passenger seat? I appreciate it.

All I've been away for awhile, Did everyone get the ppt that wanted it? Thanks
Dave

Can you email me the info?


www.emeider@ecmdesign.net


Thanks!

Greetings from a new owner. Just picked up a 1998 Z3 2.8L and am just dieing to spend the next few days just blowing my hair back. When we were test driving the car the passenger seat was noted to be moving approximately 1/2" (13 mm for you purists, but this car was made in SC so inch approximations should be fine). I had researched the forum before making the purchase commitment and noticed this.
Of the several Z3s that I drove the one I chose does have a slightly greater tendency to miss 3rd gear for 5th. Is there an easy detent spring replacement or other tidy fix? The rest of the car made this an easily tolerated issue.
Thanks, and it's good to be aboard.
Charlie G
Other vehicles are E30 track car, E39 wife car, F250 diesel tow pickup

EOD...Can you also send me that slideshow on the seat please?

briadams@charter.net

Thanks in advance!

Ditto for me. Can you send the ppt to:

Dennis.canon@gmail.com

Appreciate it.

Thanks

Sent from Samsung Tab using Bimmer app

Originally Posted by WileECoyote

If EOD's slides don't show ya, you can also check out Rachel's pages.

In case EOD doesn't email ya

I also completed Doug Whalen's retrofit for the bushings. The fix is straight forward and can be done by a novice in a few hours. Pay attention to the details of the instructions provided. The difference is night and day once the replacement bushings are installed.

+1

When re-installing the seats it is a good preventive maintenance item to clean the contacts in the seat electrical plug (1 per seat) with some electrical contact cleaner (like Deoxit contact cleaner).
Some Z3 owner's have had their SRS light light-up because of faulty contact in these seat electrical plug.