BMW Sport Seats

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:27 pm

Hi,
I've bought a set of new leather for my E36 M3...I've recovered the rears with pretty good results...Has anyone taken the foam from the hard shell front seats? I hate tearing into them without any idea what I'm screwing up. The bottoms look pretty straightforward but the backs look tricky.
I know that I could take them to an upholstery shop but I hate spending the cash if they aren't too bad to take apart.
Thanks for any help.
Chuck

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:01 pm

not done it myself.... youtube any help?

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:45 am

Years ago I removed the leather from the front driver's seat on my E36 M3 (vader seats) in order to replace the seat heaters and have a patch sewn in over a wear area in the exit side seatback bolster. So no, I didn't remove the seat foam, just the leather covering. My recollection was that the job wasn't bad - seems reinstalling the leather itself was the most time-consuming part - you have to (purchase and) install a large number of metal clips to attach the underside of the leather to the thin metal rods that run across the pads - each clip must be bent closed around those metal rods. Not particularly difficult, just time-consuming due to tight space.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:51 am

Keith Quistorff wrote:

you have to (purchase and) install a large number of metal clips to attach the underside of the leather to the thin metal rods that run across the pads - each clip must be bent closed around those metal rods. Not particularly difficult, just time-consuming due to tight space.

Those metal clips are called "hog rings" I believe and they make pliers especially for the task.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:33 pm

I think I have a set of hog ring pliers as well as some hog rings at home, I'd need to check though. I'd let you borrow them Chuck.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:39 pm

Did mine every make it to Rich? If not, give him my pliers and rings to use

- AB

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:41 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Did mine every make it to Rich? If not, give him my pliers and rings to use

- AB

Yeah, I did give Rich yours. I was cleaning out my garage a few months ago and ran across mine that I hadn't seen in probably close to 10 years.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:47 pm

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

Yeah, I did give Rich yours. I was cleaning out my garage a few months ago and ran across mine that I hadn't seen in probably close to 10 years.

I love it. It's the tool that you probably only need once in a lifetime

- AB

BretLuter · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:47 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

Yeah, I did give Rich yours. I was cleaning out my garage a few months ago and ran across mine that I hadn't seen in probably close to 10 years.

I love it. It's the tool that you probably only need once in a lifetime

- AB

Unless you're a hog farmer..............

:stick:

steve remchak · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:24 am

Sean O'Connell recently recovered a set of front seats. Check Facebook, NASA Forums.

Chuck Scull · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 12:44 pm

Thanks Guys...I'll PM Sean to see if he has anything to avoid.
My covers come with plastic runners to attach the hog rigs to...No need for the metal rods. The reas seats came out great...Just about OEM.
I have a set of hog ring pliers that I can lend to anyone once I deal with the fronts.
So much plastic junk to screw up with the fronts that I started thinking twice about searing into them. (Instructions...What are those!!!)
With so many E36's out there you'd think that someone had posted something on the web but most of the stuff is dealing with the electric's...That is what I'm trying to avoid screwing up.
Chuck

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