Be gentle with those seat height adjustments!

[oldbunratty]

Was over at Roadshow recently with the '03 MCS for an oil change and a check of the new-old-replaced engine, and asked Service Advisor about resetting the driver's seat height adjustment lever, which seemed to be stuck. C's 5'2" and I'm quite a bit taller so we're constantly cranking seat height up and down. I figured that it would only be a matter of resetting it somehow, similar to the common "fix" for when the seat back recline adjustment gets stuck.

Not so lucky, was told that it was broken - I'm a year past warranty and the entire seat base unit has to be replaced because there are not any replaceable parts in the seat base unit! Quoted $750 for the job ($550 parts and $250 labor). Lucky that seat is stuck in the lowest position, since I drive it mostly. I think I'll be searching the U-Pull-It places and eBay for a driver's seat I can bolt on myself.

Lesson here, be delicate with that seat height adjustment lever or you'll end up replacing the entire seat!

[MariaChick]

Mt seat heught adj is stuck also, anyone know how to fix

[CarGuyNeil]

Me three

[oldbunratty]

Per my original post above, according to the MINI Service Tech who looked mine over when the height adjustment mechanism stuck, the entire seat base unit has to be replaced because replaceable parts are not available for the seat base unit. I've since forgotten the exact price of the seat base replacement part, but MINI Tech quoted me something in the neighborhood of $500 plus labor to replace.

If you want a less expensive option, you could do what I did and patiently wait for a good price on a compatible seat on eBay or other car parts dealer. There are plenty of seat "take-offs" for sale (wrecked cars, folks upgrading or fitting racing seats). After 6-8 months of patiently waiting for the right price, I just nabbed a pair of front seats that I can pick up locally (shipping rates for pair of seats about doubles the purchase price).

Unless you have something fancy, near as I can figure, replacing the basic MINI seat is mostly a matter of disconnecting the airbag wire plug and taking out four mounting bolts, then bolting replacement seat or base unit in and reconnecting seat airbag wire. I'll report back in a few weeks if my newbie seat installation experience is anymore difficult than that.

[Motor On]

It's 4 under seat clips (air bag seat belt heat and one other, newer passenger side has the weight sensor so that may be it) 4 bolts, then putting the new on in and getting the bolts back to the right tq.

Also, make sure you pull the batter so the ECU doesnt register an airbag code cause it's $100 for that to get shut off by the dealer.

Here is a link to aftermarket seat install, removal is the same and install is the reverse of removal

[oldbunratty]

Originally Posted by Motor On

Also, make sure you pull the batter so the ECU doesnt register an airbag code cause it's $100 for that to get shut off by the dealer.

Thanks for saving me that $100! Disconnecting battery would have occurred to me eventually . . . after I'd unplugged the airbag connector wire. Also, thanks for the handy DIY link.

[pmfranke]

I took my seat out turned it up side down .took the handle off and sprayed the white nylon disk under where the handle mounts.it s inside a metal bracket that is rivited to the seat frame. then forced the handle UP N DOWN after repeated shots of WD40. now it work fine. sugestion.... spray lube it before it binds

[CarGuyNeil]

^^ I'll have to try that as mine works partially, but is binding, so maybe all is not hopeless yet. Thanks for the info!