This is for my e39. Drivers front seat on MY02 530i sports package.

Before you flame me, I apologize for posting here but frankly, some of you are so on top of BMW issues I figure it is worth a shot. Trying to sell my car and can't with broken seat...so:

Had car exterior, interior and engine detailed today, and the worker let the battery drain so I had to get it jumped. Car started fine and everything seemed fine.

The detailer had the drivers seat all the way back; both the bottom and the back of the seat. The bottom seat moved up fine but the back seat (where the driver would lean back onto) won't recline back upright.

The strange thing is all the other seat options move, including the headrest, pads below knees, and bottom of seat. Just the back of the seat won't move nor respond to any command from the power seat.

Because of the detail, could something have come undone and why wouldn't that have effected the other seat options? I'm very confused and have no clue what to check.

Please offer suggestions. (yes detailer is on the hook for this before you ask...)

BB

 

I can't say I know of anything specific that would help you out here. Do you even hear a motor running when you try to move the backrest?

Since the detailer is on the hook for the repairs, why not just let the dealer sort it out?

 

Since the detailer is on the hook for the repairs, why not just let the dealer sort it out?
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I'm selling this car and have appointments to show it tomorrow so wondering if its connection, something in engine, something I can check myself. I'm hoping someone might have an idea for me to check as even if detailer pays, it may take some time to fix....

 

So do you hear any noise when you try to move the seatback?

 

Get a flashlight and check under the seat, there are plug & play connections under there. It probablly came undone while getting moved for the detaling.

 

No additional noise when bottom seat moves back....

 

That was first thing we tried, we could disconnct all seat options, but couldn't fix just the seat back operation.

 

Did you check all of your fuses?

 

No, tell me, PLEASE how can I tell if one is blown? Fuses are in back next to battery, no?

Finally, and this may be the real issue; as I said, car died, had to get jumped. For some reason I used a backup set of keys to start car just now and the seat seemed to work...but only for a second. I think this may be a key or memory issue, but can't imagine that it would stop working altogether like that...very very strange.

 

I can't remember exactly but I think the E39 had fuses in more than one location. The best thing to do is look in the owner's manual (look up fuses in the index) and look at the descriptions of all the different fuses. Keep your eye out for anything describing seat motors, etc. Once you identify the fuse location and number, pull it out and visually inspect the fuse. If you're not sure how to do that, check the manual some more or post back here.

If you think the seat did, in fact, move with the other key, it's likely that this isn't a fuse problem after all.

I'm not sure if it will help but maybe the jump start scrambled something? If you want, you could try to disconnect the battery completely and leave it disconnected for a few minutes. After that, reconnect the battery and see if things are working again...