Seat won't seat properly anymore...

[mikejungle]

I thought this was a safety issue, so I put this into general discussion for immediate attention...please don't move?

Anyway, after I ripped out my carpet and sound deadening, I tried re-installing my seats, but the driver's side seat doesn't seat properly. The front bolts down fine, but the back seems to be lifted up somehow. I tried putting my weight on it, but the inside bolt doesn't start threading and the outside nut barely tightens down.

I measured the length of the studs and the back one matches the length of the two front ones, so I'm not sure what's happening...how can i fix this?

Should I/do I need to get a longer bolt for the inside rail?
Am I missing something?

Thanks

[slammin.e28]

Loosen the front, then start the rears. Unless you fucked up the seat outside of the car, or taking it out, it should bolt back in as it was.

[mccor023]

Or, (what I did) when you took the seats out you did not lift straight up. Causing the bolts to bend.
True story.

[mikejungle]

Hey guys, thanks for the input.

I actually started with the back bolts and ran into the problem, so I'm pretty sure it's not cuz i tightened the front down too much.

Not lifting the seat straight up sounds plausible...maybe I bent the rails?
But even so, if I start with the back and put my weight on the seat, shouldn't I still be able to tighten the nut and thread the bolt?

I was thinking of getting aftermarket seats down the line anyway...should I invest in that now?

[slammin.e28]

I was thinking of getting aftermarket seats down the line anyway...should I invest in that now?

Why not?

[mikejungle]

Well, why not is because I want to put money into buying an engine first.

And I think the seat I want is the recaro pole position...a little pricey.

If there's a temporary fix for this seat, I'd want to do that so I can buy the engine before buying seats.

[Kershaw]

i refuse to believe this is a real issue. i think you're doing something wrong.

[mikejungle]

i don't doubt it...just help me figure it out, please.

[delatlanta1281]

Pictures? How off are they? Are they comfort seats?

[mikejungle]

Sorry, i'll try to take pictures today or tomorrow...but there's not much to look at.

They're sport seats and the rear outer bolt looks like it only goes halfway into the nut, if that.

[AndrewBird]

I highly doubt the seat rails are bent, just purely because of how sturdy they are. If the seat isn't sitting flat, I would bet the floor is bent. The carpet may have just masked this fact.

[io_RobbieRodgers]

I've never done this operation on an E30, but I remember when I took out the seats on my 5-series the seats needed to slide back into a hook in the rear part of them. Maybe your seats are sitting on top of and not in this hook, if E30s have them?

[McGyver]

I've never done this operation on an E30, but I remember when I took out the seats on my 5-series the seats needed to slide back into a hook in the rear part of them. Maybe your seats are sitting on top of and not in this hook, if E30s have them?

e30s dont have a hook. they just plop in.

OP, slide the frame rail to a different position so that they are centered on the seat. then try again. just make sure both sides are in the same slot. it would have taken SERIOUS muscle to bend the bolts or the frame rails, so im assuming that you are just doing it wrong.

[dna1943]

I agree with McGyver. I've had the seats in and out many times and the rails should be centered. You would know if you bent them because they are prettty stout. I always begin in the front and start the fronts then start the rears then tighten everything.

Good luck.

[dogsbark26]

I too agree with McGyver. I've had difficulty reinstalling my seats because the bolts and holes didn't seem to align correctly. I just had to pull up on the seat slider handle to allow the sliders to move allowing me to get them placed correctly.
It does not make sense that removing the carpet would increase the thread requirement on the bolts.

It has been a month since you posted this. Were you able to resolve? How?