Some info, other's hopefully with similar issues will share their solutions - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1638503 http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/12649138-Dreaded-Seat-Twist About M5's, but I believe is relevant and helpful, and pretty much the same solution to the same problem http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3.../159724-complete-diy-twisted-seat-repair.html That's just a bit of what comes up from googling if one searches either "BMW E31 twisted seats" and/or "BMW twisted seat repair"
Do an Ebay search for BMW 850 seat cables. There is a guy in Seattle that sells a kit consisting of 4 cables. I fixed my twisted seats in about an hour for $150.
Here is the link to the Ebay seller of seat cables. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-LONGER-...:BMW|Model:850CSi&hash=item43c08aa525&vxp=mtr
Twisted seats in the bigger cars are the result of cables inside cable housings shortening with age and pulling out of their target driven mechanisms. They are relatively easy to repair by shortening the outer housings such that the inner cable is once again effectively longer and now reaches the mechanism it is designed to drive. Techs typically do this one of two ways. They may pull the hard plastic cable sheath out of the metal ferrule at one end, cut off about 1/2" of the sheath with a razor blade [careful!] and shove the sheath back into the metal end, then reassemble. The other way is to cut the cable sheath in the middle, pull one end out, cut off 1/2" on the bench [much safer], put the two halves back together using a piece of 8mm rubber fuel line and some silicone glue, reassemble and test. Confusing yet simple. I like the second way better. Either way, there's No need to buy any parts, but the seat does need to come out. Good luck, Terry
I used the new cables from Paul, "The seat Guru" from eBay. I dd not have to pull the seats, Heavy work, if you do. That being said, if you really want to go through the seats, and lube everything, or have the need for more extensive repairs, then get a strong friend to help you. cheers,,Michael
