seat hardware question: anyone know where this cable goes?

[rdeeble]

1 hour ago, Son of Marty said:

Do still have the part number it was sold under? we can do a reverse search and find which models it was used on. 

Yes that part number is 52101805955 which is NLA

Also I asked Gerrad at Blunt tech why there were multiple part numbers for what appears like the same cable (#2 on the diagram) and he told me that the various numbers were in fact the same cable but with different ends (i.e. plain rope end, S hook end etc) so I am guessing that the loop cable is similar in that it had multiple numbers as well and that their were variations over the years of how the short vertical cable connected to the recline/tilt mechanism.

Edited June 16, 2021 by rdeeble

[rdeeble]

1 hour ago, albatcha said:

It's hard to get a good photo with the seat not taken apart, but this is my car, built march 74. The cable that goes down from the lever on the door side has a loop and the loop goes over a hook on the recline/tilt mechanism.

Ok we are on to something here.  Thats the #4 short vertical cable but yours being a 74 connects via a loop to hook.  That same cable in my 76 connects via S hooks on both sides.  So perhaps this is a hardware variation on seats prior to 75-76.

 

One other possibility that I haven't considered yet is if the hardware is different between driver and passenger seats?  It dawns on me that I only stripped down one front seat so far and just assumed that the other would be identical.  Perhaps I will find that hook cable on the other seat?

[albatcha]

On my car it has the short cable that goes straight down from the lever, and the long cable that goes across the seat back, over the pulley, and then down to the mechanism on the transmission tunnel side of the seat. Both cables on both seats have the loop end, so all four cables have the loop end. I'm guessing the difference is from the different seats on the later model cars.

[albatcha]

But I don't remember how they attach at the lever

[rdeeble]

1 hour ago, albatcha said:

On my car it has the short cable that goes straight down from the lever, and the long cable that goes across the seat back, over the pulley, and then down to the mechanism on the transmission tunnel side of the seat. Both cables on both seats have the loop end, so all four cables have the loop end. I'm guessing the difference is from the different seats on the later model cars.

ok so it seems that prior to 75-76 seat cables had looped ends on their mechanism side.  That makes sense... i can sleep at night now....

[Conserv]

Robert,

 

I’ve been avoiding this, as I’m now clearly recalling that this thing was so complicated, and confusing, I must have ordered every cable BMW still sold, in order to solve my ‘76 spare seat issues.

 

As I read it now, and look at my July 1976 parts catalogue, the cables I would want — whether or not they are available today is another issue — are the following:

 

1. Two (2) part number 52101849496 inner cables (S-hook with fine adjustment), and 

 

2. Two (2) part number 52101849495 outer cables (S-hook with fine adjustment).

 

The above is the cable arrangement, as of July 1976, for 2002’s and 2002A’s manufactured from May 1975 onward — I’m not making this up! ? There was a change of cables with U.S. 1975 2002 VIN 2365197 and 2002A VIN 2382648 (in May 1975). Thus, late 1975 and all 1976 U.S. models used this arrangement.
 

Before this, four (4) part number 52101848986 cables (inner and outer with eye), and then four (4) part number 52101849586 cables (inner and outer with S-hook) served on 1975 U.S. models manufactured from September 1974 to May 1975. It looks as if the cable application moved from earlier styles, which used different inner and outer cables — like the final 1975-76 application — to styles that attempted to use the same cables for inner and outer. I’m guessing this experiment failed, and hence the May 1975 return to distinct inner and outer cables.

 

This is what I can figure out solely for the 1975-76 style seats (a.k.a., e21 seats).

 

Holy crap!

 

What remains available today in terms of part numbers?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

[Conserv]

OK, Robert,

 

So the correct originals are no longer available, unless some of the new part numbers that I see represent suitable replacements. Hmmm?

 

Part numbers 52102805954 (inner) and 52101805955 (outer) were the earliest cables used, long before the square taillight appeared. So those sound wrong to me.

 

The pre-May 1975 solutions, where you used four identical cables per car, part numbers 52102848986 and 52101849586, might work on a May 1975 or later seat, since the early 1975 model seats are otherwise so similar to the May 1975 and later seats. But this “four identical cables per car” arrangement doesn’t accord with my images of those seat cables: isn’t one long and one short? ?? So I’m left with two intriguing part numbers: 52101855276 (273-285MM) and 53101855303 (656-668MM). Can you measure your current cables and see if they might fit with these (adjustable?) cables? They sound like lucky numbers to me! ?

 

My work here is done. I’ve spent your money, or at least taken bold chances with it… ??

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

[rdeeble]

1 hour ago, Conserv said:

1. Two (2) part number 52101849496 inner cables (S-hook with fine adjustment), and 

 

2. Two (2) part number 52101849495 outer cables (S-hook with fine adjustment).

 

The above is the cable arrangement, as of July 1976, for 2002’s and 2002A’s manufactured from May 1975 onward — I’m not making this up! ? There was a change of cables with U.S. 1975 2002 VIN 2365197 and 2002A VIN 2382648 (in May 1975). Thus, late 1975 and all 1976 U.S. models used this arrangement.
 

Before this, four (4) part number 52101848986 cables (inner and outer with eye), and then four (4) part number 52101849586 cables (inner and outer with S-hook) served on 1975 U.S. models manufactured from September 1974 to May 1975. It looks as if the cable application moved from earlier styles, which used different inner and outer cables — like the final 1975-76 application — to styles that attempted to use the same cables for inner and outer. I’m guessing this experiment failed, and hence the May 1975 return to distinct inner and outer cables.

 

This is what I can figure out solely for the 1975-76 style seats (a.k.a., e21 seats).

 

Holy crap!

 

What remains available today in terms of part numbers?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Mystery Solved! 

 

I read a long time ago somewhere on the faq (probably 2007) another person with a similar question and Max from Maximillion responded "call me - the cables change by vin number" - which i thought was odd.  I did call Maximillion last week but the person who answered did not seem knowledgable on the topic and so it dead ended on on me.

Steve I'll measure the lengths when i get home and PM you!

Edited June 16, 2021 by rdeeble