Seat stuck in highest position

Smudgemanuk

Smudgemanuk

Zorg Guru (II)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Points
104
Location
Bicester, Oxford
Model of Z
2.8l TU pre-facelift z3
Hi all,

My sport electric passenger seat is stuck in the highest position.

It moves forward and back fine but there is a mechanical thunk (I assume the motor trying to operate) when trying to move it up or down

I know the previous owner rarely had a passenger so I am assuming it is related to not being used

I am planning to remove the seat to replace the bushes anyway and will take a look at the mechanism and grease/ wd40 it but...

I would appreciate some tips or advice on potential reasons/solutions for the issue so I can prepare a bit in case that does not fix it (so the seat doesn't need to stay out for longer than nessasary)

Thank you

Chris
 
There is a worm drive in a aluminum square case. The worm drive has reached the end of it's drive and is stuck. Remove the signal bolt at one end and give the square section a twist to release/unstick the drive. Easy job.
 
Brilliant! Thank you

Not my photo but
Just to confirm this is what you mean, and the bolt circled in green
Screenshot 2025-11-26 at 19.02.34.png
 
Smudgemanuk said:
Hi all,

My sport electric passenger seat is stuck in the highest position.

It moves forward and back fine but there is a mechanical thunk (I assume the motor trying to operate) when trying to move it up or down

I know the previous owner rarely had a passenger so I am assuming it is related to not being used

I am planning to remove the seat to replace the bushes anyway and will take a look at the mechanism and grease/ wd40 it but...

I would appreciate some tips or advice on potential reasons/solutions for the issue so I can prepare a bit in case that does not fix it (so the seat doesn't need to stay out for longer than nessasary)

Thank you

Chris
Click to expand...
Sounds like the motor is trying but the mechanism might be seized or the gears worn. Greasing it is a good first step; sometimes, just a bit of lubrication and moving it manually gets it free. Also check for any broken or misaligned plastic clips in the scissor mechanism. Worst case, you might need a replacement motor or gear set, but hopefully it’s just stiffness from lack of use.
 
Yes I do, thank you

I was planning to do them soon anyway even before I discovered the height issue
 
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