Drivers seat wobble Help

[scoobysn7x]

I have a 2008 IS220d, it have done 80K, I noticed shortly after buying it that the drivers seat wobbles slightly. If you sit in it, and lean back you can feel the base move up slightly, I thought it may just be a bit of movement in the mechanism, but a few days later I was in the passenger seat, and noticed there was no movement. I had a play about and there  is definatly movement (up/down) in the drivers seat, and there is also more 'play' in the back of the drivers seat.

I had it back to the garage I brought it from, they had it a day, and said its just wear & tear on the seat due to the age, and that there's probably rivets that have come slightly loose, but as its wear and tear there nothing more they can do as it wont be covered under warranty. I kicked off as they admitted they hadn't even removed the seat to check for loose bolts etc. Eventually after a lot of complaining, and me pointing out that 8 years old or not the drivers seat should not be moving, they agreed to have another garage (that they use) have a look (as their mechanic only does basic work).

It's been in today, and surprise surprise they agree with the garage that sold me the car, saying there is movement in the base and its age related, they've apparently had the seat out (not sure I believe this) and a couple of the rivets in the base have some play in them. Their diagnoses is the seat must just be like that, as in there opinion the passenger side does the same but not as bad (mind I cant pickup any movement in the passenger seat). I asked about replacing rivets, or welding them somehow but apparently they cant do that. The garage I got the car from have washed their hands saying its wear, and tear and only solution would be a new drivers seat, which they wont cover under warranty.

So before I look at getting a 2nd hand interior, is this a known issue with the seats?, if I get a 2nd hand set will they be the same. Are there any bolts/screw in the seats that I can check and tighten. I'm not convinced the garage had the seat out as I suspect in was lip service and the garage that sold me the car told them what to say, as it was just about word for word what the garage that sold me the car had said.

 

[madasahatter]

Absolute rubbish have you looked at the bolts at the bottom of the seat? Probrably torq bolts check there tightness sounnds like seat may have been out.

Is there another garage you could try. Get somebody to lean on back of seat while you look underneath, see whats happening. It wont be loads of

movement as it will be exagerated when you are sat on it.

[scoobysn7x]

I did have a look at the 4 floor bolts and they wear all tight, I think there may be something in the frame that's loose, I'm just going to bite the bullet and take the seat out myself and have a proper look, the mechanic said when I picked the car up that there's 2 rivets either side of the seat base, and these are what have the movement I ask if they could not weld the rivets or re-rivet, and they said the rivets looked aluminium and the frame was steel so they couldn't weld, and also if they welded the seat wouldn't be able to move then?!?. 

So I think the only way I'm going to get to see what the issue is is to removed the seats myself and have a look so I'll try and do it Sunday morning, so I can see exactly whats going on

[madasahatter]

On 18/11/2016 at 2:44 PM, scoobysn7x said:

I did have a look at the 4 floor bolts and they wear all tight, I think there may be something in the frame that's loose, I'm just going to bite the bullet and take the seat out myself and have a proper look, the mechanic said when I picked the car up that there's 2 rivets either side of the seat base, and these are what have the movement I ask if they could not weld the rivets or re-rivet, and they said the rivets looked aluminium and the frame was steel so they couldn't weld, and also if they welded the seat wouldn't be able to move then?!?. 

So I think the only way I'm going to get to see what the issue is is to removed the seats myself and have a look so I'll try and do it Sunday morning, so I can see exactly whats going on

Do you mean the seat runner where its atached to the seat? They are normally bolted on, does the seat back rock is that what you are feeling. After such

a low mileage, only way seat would have play would be if owner was on the large or heavy side. Was there play on the test drive? 

 

[scoobysn7x]

I honestly don't remember re the test drive, the back of the seat appear to be able to move more than the pssanger seat if you grabe the back and try and move it, but when sitting in it I put my had down and feel the plastic that covers the base if I lean back in the seat I can feel this (the whole base of the seat) move up feels like a good few mm's of movement, I think the actaul base it fine but there may be an issue where the base attaches to the frame of the seat, to me it really feels like there is just a bolt thats loose in the seat frame somewhere, I did read somewhere that there are two torx bolts in the back of the seat, that can be accessed by removing the plastic back of the seat but I'm not sure how this comes off, I'm going to bit the bullet and take the seat out and have a good root around to see if I can see an issue

[madasahatter]

 I just had my drivers seat in for warranty work a few weeks ago and I'm glad to say that my issue is gone. I was feeling movement in the seat if I applied the brake abruptly and let off. Turns out, the tracks were worn out. The dealer replaced the seat tracks and the seat is now super solid.

The tech tried to say nothing is wrong at first but then I had them follow me to the brand new GS350 F Sport and shake the seat, no movement. Mine was moving like crazy.

Found this on a us forum Gs350 sport 25,000 miles.

[is200 Newbie]

The seat should not move in the way you have explained - if too much play its an MOT failure !

My wife has had this on her car (not Lexus) and it has an advisory for loose seat and there's not a lot of play in it. Guess each testing station is different. There's been no posts on the forum to indicate this is a common problem so stick with getting it resolved through the dealer or garage.

[olliesgrandad]

Bmw z3's have a 'rocking seat' issue. That is to do with the electric seat worm gear drive. The BMW cure is a new seat base at around £1000 a side. 

The local garages mot dodge was to wind the seat back against the bulkhead for the test. Sadly you won't be able to do that. Is your issue possibly a similar fault.? 

[scoobysn7x]

Thanks for all the replies, unfortunately I didn't get the chance to take the seat out at the weekend but I did managed to have a good look under it and sadly I think there is just some worn parts where the base connects to the frame, as the base is totally solid, but there is movement in the frame, it may be worn runners or movement in the worm screw or something else. So it's looking like a replacement seat is the answer which the garage that sold me the car has already ruled out as they see it as wear and tear, so even though I got a 12 months warranty they wont do anything as wear and tear is not covered. So I think I'll be looking at getting a 2nd hand set of seats and I'm going to see if the garage will give me some kind of good will payment towards this but I don't think it's going to happen. I may try and force their hand and say I want to do a warranty claim, but I think under the terms of the warranty I need to pay for the initial diagnosis (£50-75) which I am kind of relunctant to do as I suspect the warranty company will take the same view as the garage that its wear and tear to the seat and it wont be covered :-( .

 

I've seen a very nice 2012 interior/seats does anyone know if this will fit my 2008 car?

Thanks

Duncan

[steve2006]

I tried to compare the 2 different model years but cannot find part numbers for the complete seat as all the bits are listed as individual items, the 220d seems to have listings from 05 to 08 then 08 to 10 only so not easy to say if 2012 seats would fit either mechanically or electrically.

Talking of electrics bear in mind that the seat will have side airbags fitted so take precautions when doing any work on the seat, primarily ensuring the Battery is disconnected and the back up circuits are allowed to discharge.

[scoobysn7x]

Thanks for the replies, I've change a few sets of seats on various cars over the years so know to always disconnect the Battery ;-), I've managed to find a set from a 59 reg car at a reasonable price locally, so I'm going to see them on Friday and hopefully if they're good will be able to swap the interiors over the weekend

[madasahatter]

4 minutes ago, scoobysn7x said:

Thanks for the replies, I've change a few sets of seats on various cars over the years so know to always disconnect the battery ;-), I've managed to find a set from a 59 reg car at a reasonable price locally, so I'm going to see them on Friday and hopefully if they're good will be able to swap the interiors over the weekend

Hope all goes well on the seats, and yes dont want any air bag accidents do we.