Creaking E46 Front Seats

[AdiS]

So I have experienced this in a few E46's with sportseats and some googling reveals that it is a common problem on both the electric and manually adjusted seats.

In short, while driving, as soon as any weight is shifted onto the outer side (read: towards the car door) of the seat, you hear a plastic creaking noise. It tends to happen on both of the front seats.

Apparently its caused by the plastic cover which sits on teh side of teh seat in the area of the adjust buttons or handles depending on what type of seat you have.

I found teh following thread where a guy removed his plastic covers from electric seats and managed to solve the problem by using duct tape on all the points of contact on the plastic bits.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=657042

Has anyone done this, or can share equivalent insight on how to do this with the manual seats? I really hate this plastic creaking noise, its the only thing that makes my car seem/feel cheap.

Thanks
Adi

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Do you mean the plastic cover that goes along the rail of the seat or the plastic cover that goes on the bottom half of the seat - sort of. I used to get the creaking noise aswell.

 

[AdiS]

Do you mean the plastic cover that goes along the rail of the seat or the plastic cover that goes on the bottom half of the seat - sort of. I used to get the creaking noise aswell.

Well, according to that other thread, apparently its the plastic cover that goes along the side of the seat.. or in that general area.

 

[AdiS]

Ok well, in case anyone cares, I've managed to solve this problem by removing the seats, and removing the plastic cover on the side using that other thread i posted as a guide.

I then wrapped the bottom clips in insulation tape, greased up every other clip or point of contact, and put a strip of window/door strip sealer along the inside of the top of the plastic cover. Put it all back together and not a squeak

Problem Solved.

 

[BillyBob]

Only saw this topic now - that's full of win... Ta for the tip dude.

 

[AdiS]

Only saw this topic now - that's full of win... Ta for the tip dude.

It has made such a huge difference to the experience of the car. The car is back to feeling solid as a rock.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Bavs108]

Great job:thumbs: My seat was also creaking a while back. Some lube on the joints that connect the back rest to the bottom solved the problem. How easy was it to remove the seats?

 

[Mike1]

PTFE works a treat too.

 

[AdiS]

Great job:thumbs: My seat was also creaking a while back. Some lube on the joints that connect the back rest to the bottom solved the problem. How easy was it to remove the seats?

Really not that hard. 4 bolts on the rails, and one for the seat belt and you done.

 

[Legacy]

Did you take some pictures of the process? :rollsmile:

 

[AdiS]

Did you take some pictures of the process? :rollsmile:

Hehe no didn't bother. That American thread is sufficient for anyone who wants to so it

 

[Dewald Basson]

One year later guess what I will be doing this weekend.

Shot for the info

:thumbs:

 

[AdiS]

For the record my seats are still holding up nicely, a little creak every now and then but for the most part, quiet.

 

[graan13]

had this before - just used some Q20 and solved for quite some time :=):

 

[Paul_Pret]

So I have experienced this in a few E46's with sportseats and some googling reveals that it is a common problem on both the electric and manually adjusted seats.

In short, while driving, as soon as any weight is shifted onto the outer side (read: towards the car door) of the seat, you hear a plastic creaking noise. It tends to happen on both of the front seats.

Apparently its caused by the plastic cover which sits on teh side of teh seat in the area of the adjust buttons or handles depending on what type of seat you have.

I found teh following thread where a guy removed his plastic covers from electric seats and managed to solve the problem by using duct tape on all the points of contact on the plastic bits.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=657042

Has anyone done this, or can share equivalent insight on how to do this with the manual seats? I really hate this plastic creaking noise, its the only thing that makes my car seem/feel cheap.

Thanks
Adi

Weird, for about a month or so I am having the same irritation in my E90, Sport seats with manual adjustment. As you say it sounds like I am driving a TATA bakkie when i turn or go up or down a driveway. This literaly started occuring just after my MP expired, I'm gonna try to live with it, but having passengers in the car, it gets a bit embarassing.

 

[Dewald Basson]

So I have experienced this in a few E46's with sportseats and some googling reveals that it is a common problem on both the electric and manually adjusted seats.

In short, while driving, as soon as any weight is shifted onto the outer side (read: towards the car door) of the seat, you hear a plastic creaking noise. It tends to happen on both of the front seats.

Apparently its caused by the plastic cover which sits on teh side of teh seat in the area of the adjust buttons or handles depending on what type of seat you have.

I found teh following thread where a guy removed his plastic covers from electric seats and managed to solve the problem by using duct tape on all the points of contact on the plastic bits.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=657042

Has anyone done this, or can share equivalent insight on how to do this with the manual seats? I really hate this plastic creaking noise, its the only thing that makes my car seem/feel cheap.

Thanks
Adi

Weird, for about a month or so I am having the same irritation in my E90, Sport seats with manual adjustment. As you say it sounds like I am driving a TATA bakkie when i turn or go up or down a driveway. This literaly started occuring just after my MP expired, I'm gonna try to live with it, but having passengers in the car, it gets a bit embarassing.

Just fix it's it, been happening for 2 days on mine, drives me insane.

 

[Bavs108]

My seats have not made a squeak for over a year now since I put Q20. Recline the seat all the way back, you'll see the hinges that join the back rest to the bottom, squirt some Q20 on them and they should be fine:thumbs:

 

[zippy320]

Saw this topic now! My seats also squeaking as per my other post. Can't wait to try this out . Glad there's some kind of fix for it. Supprizingly nothing else makes a noise in the car just this 1 passenger seat that's hardly ever used. These cars are pretty solid considering my cars going past 12 years and over 215000kms I'm so happy with its quality.