BMW Seat Gear Green - Odometer Gears E36GREEN

BMW E36 Reclining Seat Gear (Green)

Recline Passengers side 1992, 1998-99 BMW E36

1. Raise seat all the way up before starting. The spring can release with fingers in the wrong place later. Remove seat from car. There are two bolts on the front tracks of the seat, and two on the back. All four need to come out. Then, disconnect the wires connecting to the seat - three in my case. (NOTE: I found it easier to lift the seat off the bolts and tilt it sideways to get a better grip on these. ALSO, you probably want to disconnect the battery so as not to turn on the SRS light.).

2. Remove back plastic cover peice - 1 screw. This will expose the motors and gearbox.

3. Prop seat so that it is facing perpendicular to the way it would normally face - ie the back portion of the seat is facing the ground. I used a couple of beer boxes to keep the seat standing up, but you can position it so that it balances itself on the tracks if you do it right (you'll see what I mean...)

4. Now, you'll need to remove the two motors connected to the gearbox. Remove the two screws holding each of the motors on. 3 of these are at an angle you can get to with a torx screwdriver, 1 you will need an allen wrench to get out.

Start with the upper motor first, as one of the second motor's screws are behind the first. Tug hard, they are screwed on pretty tight. Once the screws are removed, just pull the motors away from the transmission and they should come right off.

5. Now, it's time to remove the transmission plate. There are 6 screws holding the plate onto the transmission. You should be able to get to four of these with the screwdriver, one may need the allen wrench. Unscrew these, and remember where they go, since the back two are much longer than the others.

6. Once the screws are out, hit the plate from the side a few times, and use a flathead screwdriver to pry it off.
Inside, you will see the gears and mechanisms. Alleviate pressure off the seatback, and gently pry that gear out. You will likely find many broken peices of the plastic gear.

7. Clean out the whole box to assure you get all the broken parts out. Re-pack the case. Tap the new gear onto the shaft and replace.

8. Now, push that gear back in. You may have to wiggle it around a little to get the metal piece in.  Now, just reassemble the transmission and seat in reverse order.