how to remove front seats from BMW 3 Series E36

Make sure you disconnect the battery and wait for at least 15-30 minutes before you remove the seats to avoid getting the air bag light in the dash.

Slide the seat back to reveal the front nuts.
You will see black plastic caps to cover them.

27 thoughts on “how to remove front seats from BMW 3 Series E36

    • What do you do if power seat doesn’t track forward enough to access bolts. Is there a removable stop somewhere? A special tool?

  1. Good post. I would add to mark the cables as a couple seem to be interchangeable IIRC. Also need to engage/disengage the seat belt tensioner…here’s a pic. Turn screw CW, indicator turns red (deactivated). When reinstalling ,turn screw CCW, indicator turns green (activated)

  2. I always just unplug the cords under the seats, ive taken my seats out two or three times and never had a problem with the airbag light comiing on.

  3. I don’t understand about the seat belt tensioner. I have never done anything with this and I have removed a bunch of seats….can you explain why this is necessary?

  4. Its really only necessary if you will be taking the seats apart or working on them…I’ve only taken seats out for that purpose. Not knowing why someone would be using your DIY to remove their seats I just threw it in. Takes two seconds and provides safety against the belt tensioning.

  5. Socket size would help too!

    16mm –and this will work on the nuts for the backseat belt anchors as well

    I regularly take out my passenger seat and back seat for trips to the drag strip –and that alone is enough to put racing seats at the top of my ‘to do’ list. Power seats are heavy

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