BMW E39 M5 540i 530i 525i Front Electric Seat Twisty Repair Part 2 

QUICK FIX: If you don't want to repair it right away but you need to adjust the seat back to drive, you can simply reach under the front of the seat and push the cable into the motor while operating the recline control. The cables are easy enough to spot with a flashlight. Mine was the cable that operates the right side of the seat back (right side while sitting in the seat) so it was real easy to grab it and make the adjustment. I hardly ever adjust my seats so this quick fix works fine for me. The trouble started only because I had to adjust the seats to make room for some potted plants on the floor behind the seats. The way the cable is routed I might just be able to use some wire ties or duck tape to hold it in place and keep it working until I want to make a permanent repair.

The cable is known as a Flexible Drive, I used to make them for other uses.. the most interesting requests were for a WW2 plane, and one time someone asked whether we could make one for a BMW stunt driver in a Mission Impossible film.. think that one didn't progress. There were mostly only a few companies who produced the cable for themselves and for others, as flexible core, or as complete drives. I've not seen the E34 cable in person, but most types have a steel-lined casing, wrapped wire cable "core" (best to be heat treated, but not hardened, and passed through a "jogging" machine), as well as ends/fittings which are usually crimped on. The outer casing will be somewhat flexible and there's always some stretch which can take place, add to that the path the E34 cable takes, along with the force transmitted through it.. it's not surprising that it occasionally needs work, there's possibly not the option of introducing a lot of meat to the casing so that it resists stretching more. Even in manufacture, it takes experience to cut long pieces of casing to an accurate size, despite the stuffs ability to stretch and compress.

Great tutorial. I've watched a few videos prior to stumbling upon yours...no one explained which cable operates what side and in what manner. So, THANK YOU for explaining that.

This happened to my drivers side on my 02 M5. Thank you bimmer merchant.

Man, you're my hero

Thank you bimmermerchant ... very well documented and video'd for us to DIY these common bimmer problem. My E38 passenger seat started to give this problem as well. Should be fixing it soon. I need to search for info on why these cables shrink over time, don't see it happening on most other makes. Thanks once again.

This is a great and very informative video. I actually used it to fix both of my seats and worked great! I also suggest that while you have the seat out is to fix all four cables because last year I fixed the left sides on the driver seat, and just two days ago the right side reclining cable went out, so I just did that the same way i did the others thanks to this video!

This is great! Thanks a lot for this tutorial. I was looking at way too much money then I have to spend and this just saved my butt! Thank you.

Liked and subscribed, this tutorial was wonderfully layed out, and very easy to follow! Thanks a ton.

my passenger side just started doing this in my 97 540 so glad you made this video

I just want to congratulate u. This right here is a dope diy free fix fosho

Nicely explained, not hard to repair, now can fix my 530i, thanks.

Buen trabajo mil gracias es el mejor que he visto

Very nice video. I did that repair myself about 4 years ago and I will have to do it again. The job of taking the seat in and out It is a real pain in the ...

Thanks for creating an easy to follow tutorial!

Is this the same scenario for my seats going up crooked? And one of my seats not even letting it tilt back or forward?

Thanks I was thinking how to remove all motors from cables and take it out so it's only 8 mm and 10 mm cause my seat frame bent so bought another seat with shortened motors so I want to swap motors and get rid of that headache fuse blown and battery drained cause of this seat Thanks again and million thumbs up you saved me instead of fixing the frame I can swap motors then later if I have time I'll take it to a workshop cause the price of fixing it same the price of the seat :(

Big Thanks Bro! Excellent video - sorted the problem with my E39 passenger seat!

Good video and explanation on how to resolve this issue! Thanks.

Very Good video, Good explanation greetings from Amsterdam! I’m gonna try this, wish me luck..😅

so in attempting to cut the outside cover of the cable I screwed up and pulled the cable out from the housing at the other end so it looks like I have to replace both ends. The interior cable looks like it was worn, rounded not rectangle so I bought a new cables for both front seats. My job now is to get the cables to catch to the motor. This is not an easy fix and understand why a mechanic would charge a lot to fix. Let you know if I get it reattached and working.

Good video my seat doesn't twist reclines back but not back up any advice thanks

Nice! You saved me some money. Thanks

thanks for the vidios. the twisting is what I wanted to know about and you helped plenty! thank you!

Good job keep it up, can you do a video on how to repair a twisted seat on a 2007 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, it gets twisted on bottom track when you go forward and backwards. Thanks

lol.. calling sheers pliers.. that part was classic

Thanks for posting. Greatly appreciated. Do you have any videos on removing and replacing the switch itself on the side of the seat on a 93 525i E34? I'm having difficulty disconnecting the harness from the switch and don't want to force anything and break it. Thanks.

thank you so much I have an e39 and you always provide an answer thank you again

Can you put subtitles on video or put The tips in spanish on description? Congratulations you do a great Job, i have a BMW 525i 2002

thank ou verry much for this video ...now i can fix mai front seats got the same problem on the same car ... thank you

Great job on the fix of the twisted seat mine just messed up today I am probably going to try to work on my front driver seat in four days but mine is doing the opposite of what yours is doing or should I say twisting in opposite directions. Also is there a phone number I can call you to try to get some parts for my 1997 528I? It’s mostly trim

what happens when the seat doesnt go up. like straight up. i hear the motor click, but doesnt do anything.

Excellent video! Now that's a tutorial!

What if it’s stuck in the twisty position, can it still be fixed like the video or would I have to get a New motor for the seat?

Can you tell me if the driver's seat and the passenger seat are the same design platform? If they are, you should be able to move the seat controls etc... and put the passenger seat (which has significantly less use) in the driver's seat for much more comfortable close to new driving experience. Please let me know. TY

Appreciate the video, i have 1997 5 series with this issue

this would be the same process as the passangers side ?

Thanks so much for creating this video!

Can show were the boot speaker are ? Oval shape speaker Thanks

nice work homie

An easier way to do this without heating up the cap and removing/installing is to cut a half inch of the black cable sheath anywhere on the cable line and then bringing both parts together using half inch of heat shrink tubing. Kinda like stripping a wire in the middle of half inch of covering and sliding the two covers together. This way, you also do not have to remove the two small 8mm bolts on each side of the motor.

Where are you guys located

Thanks.

I think I stripped a gear on the rear motor (gear box, where the cable connects to recline the backrest"), I fixed the cable but while I was untwisting it with a drill I heard a Pop from the rear gears. Do they sell them sepparatley?

Thank you sir!

Good video. Thanks

well this was very helpful thank you!! very nice job

The real MVP

Very good video

I Took my seat out trimming down the cables to the motors to fix the twist. Reinstalled both of my seats at my driver seat has no power it's stuck in the very front position that it was in when I disconnected it in the fuses are good. What's the issue? I double checked all the wiring many times. Please help!

amazing vid very theral on explanation great job!!!

Thank you for the video, great tips. God bless you

Thank you. Very helpful.

Thank you.

Congratulation man, good video.

Thanks for your vids!

amaizing video, good job man

Thank you sir, excellent video

Very helpful video thanks mate

Is the same type of repair with the butt part of the seat? When adjusting it one side goes up and one side doesn't .

Thanks

Thank brothers nice example nice video

Awesome

Gained a sub! Ty

Thank you so much

Perfect

Bimmermerchant What if the cable pulls all the way out while removing the silver clip. If it is no good can you order one.

If my up and down part only goes up on one side, would the process be the same? Thank you in advance.

Are you still doing work on the BMW E39 models?

thank you.

Dope

hey i have a problem on my passenger seat but dont think is twisted seat because it moves up and down fine but it looks like is side ways wich i think is the rail but not sure help man i have a 2003 bmw 525i

do you have time today? oh how much do you charge?

You are an angle for God sake