Replacing gas charged seat struts

[6670charger]

Just bought four new gas charged seat struts so I can get my seat recliners to return upright properly. I have an E30 repair manual which gives some basic directions as to how to do this.

Seems as though I will have to remove the seats in order to access the cover for the hinge, and the stud down there that the struts attach to. I also have to remover the seat back. My questions are these:

How do the handles for the seat releases on the sides come off? The manual just says pull them off. They seem like somewhat fragile plastic. Do they really just pull straight off?

The manual makes reference to a special tool needed to install the shocks, and to secure them to the seats with new retainers. REALOEM shows the upper screw being a filister screw. Does this require the special tool? Do the lower retainers really need to be replaced, or can the ones currently on the seats be reused? It seems as though they're pressed on. REALOEM doesn't show a fastener for the lower attaching point.

Sorry for all the questions. Would just like to have an idea what I'm getting into before I start as this is my daily driver.

[Semblance]

Use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry the handle part off. The part that is attached to the seat back will also pry off but be careful not to damage the back too much. Also only one end pries out, the other is sort of hooking the seat back. Can't remember which end, top or bottom, so if it resists you too much don't force it.

Not sure on the more pertinent question, I had an inclination to do this but didn't because it seemed too hard to remove the shocks without damaging the clips.

[TimeMachinE30]

There are about 5 well written, detailed and photo documented seat restoration type threads.

Have you tried to Google e30 sport seat fix?

[frankenbeemer]

http://bmw.e30tuner.com/articles_seatfix.php

[Semblance]

Give the OP a break, the write ups I've seen don't answer his questions.

^^thats a good one, even talks about how to remove the release lever on the side of the seat, which is news to me. I can see how he got one end of the shock off, any ideas about the other end? It seems to have a press-fit nut on it, and I was worried when I started to pry mine off, if felt like it was getting warped. Would I need new ones or can they be reused?

[TimeMachinE30]

I'm not being offensive. I am letting him know the resources he seeks are at his fingertips. Also YouTube. There is a two part video of nearly an hour in length doing a full tear down and rebuild.

Seeing it done is very helpful

[Semblance]

Sorry, my bad, tone didn't carry ;)

[6670charger]

I'm not being offensive. I am letting him know the resources he seeks are at his fingertips. Also YouTube. There is a two part video of nearly an hour in length doing a full tear down and rebuild.

Seeing it done is very helpful

Thanks for the info. Forgot to check Youtube. I've found it very helpful in the past, although I've found some of the writeups by folks on this site even more so. Just wondered if anyone here had done this and had some practical experience that I could benefit from.