Power seats in a 318ti

[tbowen1020]

I recently purchased a 1999 ti with the california top for an engine swap. The engine had overheated and the car was left to sit. The PO had started to part it out and sold the front seats. Unfortunately he cut the connector from the seat wiring harness. I know the seats were heated since the buttons are still in the console but there are a lot of wires in the harness and was wondering if power seats were an option as well. I'd like to make sure I get the right seats to put back in.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Tony

[Sweepy]

If you have power seats or even electric lumbar there will be two thick wires, heated seats is normally 4 wires per seat on 2 connectors, both seats have one connector with two wires for seatbelt tensioner, you might have 2 wires on one connection for seatbelt reminder (USA thing apparently) and the passenger seat has an additional 2 wires on one connector for the occupancy mat, hope this helps

[Sweepy]

By thick wires I mean aprox 2.5mm cross core diameter the heated seat wires are only 1mm

[tbowen1020]

Thanks for the info. I picked up a wrecked 328i for the swap and it has some nice power/heated seats. Even if the ti didn't come with them I think I can run the wires needed to make it all function. Now i just need a source for the original connectors so it wont look like a hackjob.

Tony

[1996 328ti]

Power seats where not an option. Not in the US anyway.

[Silverfox99]

you should change the pads over from your power sport seats to a set of regular manual seats, usually about $40 at a junk yard. I usually take all the power motors off and recycle the rest. unless you want your compact to gain weight. is it an N54 swap?

[John Firestone]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Power seats where not an option. Not in the US anyway.

It was option 458, for the 318ti at 1960 euros with VAT in the 1996 German-market price list. I wonder if anyone in the US convinced BMWNA to special order it? Lumbar support was an option as well.

[Sweepy]

There supplied by fuse 5 and fuse 40 bud, wirings not too bad to do I'm actually putting power seats in my compact hear in the uk too I have the wiring in but now trying to fit my interior to the new seats (that's a nightmare I have to weld my old seat backs to the power bases) a ways bud if you post a pic of the plugs I can tell you what they are, also happy to help if you need advice with your retrofit, good luck pal

[tbowen1020]

Originally Posted by Silverfox99

you should change the pads over from your power sport seats to a set of regular manual seats, usually about $40 at a junk yard. I usually take all the power motors off and recycle the rest. unless you want your compact to gain weight. is it an N54 swap?

Kinda of a hassle to swap out the base for a manual one since I have the power ones with the donor car. I don't plan on racing the compact. Just want the grunt it should have had from the factory. I think it'll handle the extra weight ok. I am 6'3" and weigh around 270. My idea of weight reduction is not eating a pizza before an auto-X event. Heh heh.

Originally Posted by Sweepy

There supplied by fuse 5 and fuse 40 bud, wirings not too bad to do I'm actually putting power seats in my compact hear in the uk too I have the wiring in but now trying to fit my interior to the new seats (that's a nightmare I have to weld my old seat backs to the power bases) a ways bud if you post a pic of the plugs I can tell you what they are, also happy to help if you need advice with your retrofit, good luck pal

Thanks for the fuse info. The PO snipped the connectors from the seat harnesses. I'll run a couple fresh wires to supply power to the seat switch and use the connectors from the donor car to match things up for power, SRS, and seat heaters.