7/28/23, 11:28 AM

52 09 20_HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN

SIB 52 09 20
2023-07-19
HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS CANNOT
BE FOLDED DOWN
This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 3) replaces SI B52 09 20 dated June 2021.
What’s New:
Cause, Procedure, Parts Information, Claim Information sections updated

☐

THIS REPAIR IS MOBILE FRIENDLY

MODEL
E-Series
G07

Model Description
X7 Sports Activity Vehicle

SITUATION
Various concerns about the third row of seats:
1. Head restraint (aka headrest), on one or both sides, cannot be folded down.
2. Third-row seating, on one or both sides, cannot be folded down.

CAUSE
1. Head restraint (aka headrest), on one or both sides, cannot be folded down:
- Head restraint mechanism is faulty.
- Bowden cable is not routed correctly, or not mounted.
- Bowden cable mechanism (when cable is under tension it is too short)
- Electric motor not fully pulling on common housing that moves the 3 Bowden cables.
- Seat initialization required.
2. Third-row seating, on one or both sides, cannot be folded down:
- Drivetrain for backrest release (actuator) is faulty or internally damaged.
- Drivetrain for backrest tilt adjustment is faulty.
- Bowden cable not correctly mounted.
- Seat initialization required.

CORRECTION
Depending on the problem found, one or more of the following corrections will be required:
1. Perform seat initialization
2. Replace the head restraint mechanism
3. Replace the Bowden cable
4. Re-route the Bowden cable
5. Replace the drivetrain for backrest release (actuator)
6. Replace the drivetrain for backrest tilt adjustment

PROCEDURE
For an overview of seat operation, please refer to SI B52 23 19.
Program the vehicle with ISTA to the most recent I-level.
Program the vehicle with ISTA to the most recent I-level.

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52 09 20_HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN

NOTE: Software improvements were released August 2019 which changed certain seat operations on early
production vehicles. For a detailed list of the changes see SI B52 21 19.
All G05 / G07 produced up to August 1 2019 can be updated to 7/2019 SW as per Service Action SI B65 19
19
After programming perform seat initialization.
The seat initialization procedure can be found in ISTA by choosing
SERVICE FUNCTIONS
BODY
SEATS
SEAT ADJUSTMENT STANDARDIZATION
Then select the correct ABL test plan for the relevant seat(s).
You may have to initialize all 4 seat modules.
NOTE: The third-row seat is controlled by the second-row seat module.
Then proceed as follows:
1. Head restraint cannot be folded down:
NOTE: Raising the headrest back into the
upright position must be done by pushing
up on it by hand.
Can the head restraint be manually unlocked
using the release loop beneath the headrest
(see picture) and thus folded down?

YES = Head restraint mechanism is faulty.
Determine root cause of Bowden cable not
moving (see steps below).
If the cable is moving fully but the headrest is
not folding, then replace the folding module of
the head restraint (#2 in picture).
See REP 52 30 118 Remove and
install/replace folding module of left or right
head restraint
NOTE: The head restraint cannot be removed
without destroying the covering material. A
new cover (leather) will be required to
perform this repair.
NO = Check if the Bowden cable is correctly
mounted and properly routed.

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52 09 20_HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN

If the Bowden cable is mounted properly and
cable correctly routed and the electric motor
moving the common housing pulls all 3
Bowden cables equally but the headrest
Bowden cable does not travel far
enough, replace the Bowden cable for the
headrest (shown in yellow in picture).
See REP 52 30 253 Replace Bowden cable
for left or right head restraint (Bowden cable
unlocking device for head restraint).
2. Third-row seating cannot be folded down:
Check if the latch (the fastener on the left or
right side) of the third row of seats is open or
closed? (this is the hook/pin shown in green in
picture)
As a quick check for this, proceed as follows:
Fold the rear seat backrest of the third row of
seats including the head restraint into seating
position.
If the head restraint stays in the seat position,
the latch is closed.
If the head restraint falls into the folded
position again, the latch is open.
YES (Latch is open) = Replace drivetrain of
backrest tilt adjustment.
See REP 67 31 635 Remove and
install/replace drivetrain for backrest tilt
adjustment of third-row seating (left or right)
(according to vehicle diagnosis)
NOTE: If the seat was moved manually
with excessive force, it may cause damage
to the internal gear of this actuator. The
motor may spin but the seat backrest may
not move. In this case replacement of the
drivetrain for backrest tilt adjustment is
needed and the seat frame would not need
replacement.
NO (Latch is closed) = Check if the drivetrain
for backrest release adjustment is broken?
NOTE: The 3 Bowden cables are housed in a
common housing that moves along a worm
gear assembly.
When the electric motor activates, it spins the
worm gear to pull up on the housing so that all

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52 09 20_HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN

3 cables move simultaneously.
One of the cables controls the head restraint
folding. Once pulled, the headrest will release
and pivot downwards. Raising the headrest
back into the upright position must be
done by pushing up on it by hand.
(The other two cables control the latch
release at the seat pivot to enable the seat to
fold.)
For more details see either video:
B52 01 19 - G05/G07 Seat
Troubleshooting 6 Passenger
B52 02 19 - G05/G07 Seat
Troubleshooting 7 Passenger

Is the drivetrain for the backrest release
(actuator) broken?
YES = Replace only the drivetrain for backrest
release (actuator).
See REP 67 31 645 Remove and
install/replace drivetrain for backrest release
of third-row seating (left or right) (according to
vehicle diagnosis)
NO = Replace BOTH the Bowden cable(s)
and drivetrain for backrest release (actuator).
See appropriate repair instruction:
REP 52 30 256 Replace Bowden cable for left
or right rear seat backrest
(Bowden cable for outer backrest release)
REP 52 30 255 Replace Bowden cable for left
or right rear seat backrest
(Bowden cable for inner backrest release)
REP 67 31 645 Remove and install/replace
drivetrain for backrest release of third-row
seating (left or right) (according to vehicle
diagnosis)
Then re-evaluate the vehicle.

PARTS INFORMATION
Obtain and confirm the part numbers for your specific vehicle by entering the chassis number in either ETK
or AIR which considers specific equipment and/or options.

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52 09 20_HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN

This is an overview list of parts that may be required to make these repairs. You will only need one or more
of these parts to repair the vehicle.
Part Number
52 30 7 485 444
52 20 9 473 697
52 20 9 473 695
52 20 9 473 696
52 30 5 A1E 228
52 30 5 A1E 229
52 30 7 941 595

Description
Bowden Cable Unlocking
Actuator backrest folding
Drive backrest folding left
Drive backrest folding right
Bowden cable actuator left
Bowden cable actuator right
Headrest leather rear
(schwarz)
Headrest leather rear (Beige)
Folding module head rest

52 30 7 941 592
52 30 9 496 669

Quantity
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1

CLAIM INFORMATION
This Service Information Bulletin provides technical, diagnostic and/or repair-related information.
Damage and/or issues caused by outside influences are not covered under the BMW limited warranties.
Eligible and Covered Work/Repairs
When used to repair a verified defect in materials or workmanship, the applicable repair procedure
information that is provided in this bulletin is covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited
Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks.
To submit a claim, please following the established and applicable warranty policy and procedures
(Labor/Part/Sublet – bulk materials/qualifying third-party repairs) that apply to the repair being performed.
Refer to AIR for the claim-related line item’s Repair Code. For the corresponding repair that was performed, obtain the flat
rate labor operation codes (*including the diagnosis that applies) and their corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowances.

Only one Main labor operation code can be claimed per repair visit.
*Based on which one applies to your center, please refer to SI B01 01 20 or B01 07 20 for the applicable
procedure for documenting, claiming, and explaining, on the RO and in the claim comments, your diagnosis
work time (WT), job/repair work time (WT), and the vehicle repairs your center performed, unless otherwise
required by State law.

FEEDBACK REGARDING THIS BULLETIN
Technical Feedback
Warranty Feedback
Parts Feedback

To submit feedback for the technical topic of this bulletin: Submit your
feedback in the rating box at the top of this bulletin
To submit feedback for the CLAIMS section of this bulletin: Submit an IDS
ticket to the Warranty Department, or use the chat available in the
Warranty Documentation Portal
To submit feedback for the PARTS section of this bulletin: Submit an IDS
ticket to the Parts Department

Supporting Materials
Videos
52 01 19
52 02 19
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