Let's talk seat tilting lever

NZ_M3 · 10-04-2015, 07:29 AM

I know I've been asked about this a few times ... so thought I'd post up a general info for everyone to know.

We all know that the tilting lever on the CSL seat looks bespoke ... and if you've ever priced one up you will know that it is north of 180 pound for one small plastic lever and a screw. Amongst the many overpriced items that is supposedly CSL it actually isn't.

What that lever is is actually a cut down version from the standard E46 M3 seat inner lever ... cheap as chips for about 8 quid or less if you know where to source it.

prices and part numbers below.

Trawler · 10-04-2015, 08:01 AM

Cheers.

select · 10-04-2015, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the info, good to know incase it breaks some day.
But in order to prevent that from happening i think i'll never touch mine again.

mattCSLnut · 10-04-2015, 07:31 PM

Good bit of info. Tom

THANX for sharing.

0-60Motorsports · 11-04-2015, 11:06 AM

Very cool. Thanks for posting up this info

J2LTB · 13-04-2015, 12:13 AM

You sir are a star !!! ive altered the tilt on the drivers seat recently and ive really struggled to get the grub screw back in again. Its sorted but i was worried as i knew they were damn expensive.

**shimmy** · 13-04-2015, 12:23 AM

the long dark nights must just be rolling in down in the south pacific!

Bounce · 13-04-2015, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimmy

the long dark nights must just be rolling in down in the south pacific!

NZ_M3 · 13-04-2015, 02:11 AM

And in case anyone is wondering what size that little scrub screw is it is M3 x 6mm head cap (low head version)

The allen key hole on the factory screw is however very easy to strip as it is 2mm - personally I would get an aftermarket 3mm version to stop the stripping.

The screws are actually a Recaro item and they use it on their buckets seats for mounting the belt hole guides (have a look on one next time and you will see it is the same shitty screw).

Here are some cheaper alternatives which will all work fine:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M3-x-6mm-3...item3caf3ab685

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Pcs-Soc...item2ec73354f2

or if you want it in stainless low head configuration

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M3-3mm-A2-ST...item2ecc38c33f

Being a CSL however and I know everyone on here is always raving about weight savings ... only Titanium ones will do in this instance : P

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yokomo-Tit...item3f449d62e7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BN-M3-X-6mm-...item336ff78544

You can also go button head which gives better clearance when taking the screw in and out - but it is a slightly different look to original (for those that are so hung up on originality this would be a no no).

If you use the non low head version of these screws all you have to do is remove the rubber band that sits around the lever hole before you insert or remove the screw - easy. It shouldn't foul either as there's plenty of clearance of the normal head sized screws.

Hope that helps : )

NZ_M3 · 16-05-2015, 11:44 AM

Here's an update for the obsessive few that might find this helpful.

I decided to research into this screw and purchased a few from the sources noted in the above post.

From Left to Right in order

Generic M3x6mm socket head screw (3mm allen socket with most of these versions)
Stainless Steel low head from link
Stainless Steel low head painted black
OEM CSL screw
Titanium button head screw

As you can see from the photos the Stainless Steel low head painted is basically a perfect match (inner allen socket is 2mm just like the OEM version also and the low head clearance measures exactly the same.

So if you have somehow stripped yours and need a cheap replacement, there you have it.

10-04-2015, 07:29 AM	#1
NZ_M3 S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,434 Casino cash: $13579	Let's talk seat tilting lever I know I've been asked about this a few times ... so thought I'd post up a general info for everyone to know. We all know that the tilting lever on the CSL seat looks bespoke ... and if you've ever priced one up you will know that it is north of 180 pound for one small plastic lever and a screw. Amongst the many overpriced items that is supposedly CSL it actually isn't. What that lever is is actually a cut down version from the standard E46 M3 seat inner lever ... cheap as chips for about 8 quid or less if you know where to source it. prices and part numbers below.

10-04-2015, 07:31 PM	#4
mattCSLnut CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,460 Casino cash: $27763	Good bit of info. Tom THANX for sharing. __________________ UK CSL No.020 ... after 7 years of ownership I've now SOLD it !!!

11-04-2015, 11:06 AM	#5
0-60Motorsports S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kingdom of Bahrain Posts: 481 Casino cash: $3271	Very cool. Thanks for posting up this info __________________ EURO 04 M3 Current Mods: GC Coilovers, Eibach Sways, RE RCA?s, VCSL Bumper, OE CSL Boot, VCSL CF Rear Diffusor, DIETZ TV in Motion, SS Stepped Headers and catless, SS Res X Pipe, SS Race exhaust, OEM CSL Steering + interior, OEM CSL Intake, MSS54HP with HTE Tune, BBS CH's/LM?s FX-R Projectors + night breakers, STOPTECH ST60/40, RE Front strut brace, DINAN Rear Strut Brace,

13-04-2015, 12:13 AM	#6
J2LTB S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 407 Casino cash: $5472	You sir are a star !!! ive altered the tilt on the drivers seat recently and ive really struggled to get the grub screw back in again. Its sorted but i was worried as i knew they were damn expensive. __________________ Previously owned CSL No:16 😞

13-04-2015, 12:23 AM	#7
shimmy CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 14,646 Casino cash: $43909	the long dark nights must just be rolling in down in the south pacific! __________________ .

10-04-2015, 08:01 AM	#2
Trawler Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,213 Casino cash: $25916	Cheers.

10-04-2015, 08:02 AM	#3
select S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 475 Casino cash: $6813	Thanks for the info, good to know incase it breaks some day. But in order to prevent that from happening i think i'll never touch mine again.

13-04-2015, 02:11 AM	#9
NZ_M3 S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,434 Casino cash: $13579	And in case anyone is wondering what size that little scrub screw is it is M3 x 6mm head cap (low head version) The allen key hole on the factory screw is however very easy to strip as it is 2mm - personally I would get an aftermarket 3mm version to stop the stripping. The screws are actually a Recaro item and they use it on their buckets seats for mounting the belt hole guides (have a look on one next time and you will see it is the same shitty screw). Here are some cheaper alternatives which will all work fine: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M3-x-6mm-3...item3caf3ab685 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Pcs-Soc...item2ec73354f2 or if you want it in stainless low head configuration http://www.ebay.com/itm/M3-3mm-A2-ST...item2ecc38c33f Being a CSL however and I know everyone on here is always raving about weight savings ... only Titanium ones will do in this instance : P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yokomo-Tit...item3f449d62e7 http://www.ebay.com/itm/BN-M3-X-6mm-...item336ff78544 You can also go button head which gives better clearance when taking the screw in and out - but it is a slightly different look to original (for those that are so hung up on originality this would be a no no). If you use the non low head version of these screws all you have to do is remove the rubber band that sits around the lever hole before you insert or remove the screw - easy. It shouldn't foul either as there's plenty of clearance of the normal head sized screws. Hope that helps : ) Last edited by NZ_M3; 28-04-2015 at 06:42 AM.

16-05-2015, 11:44 AM	#10
NZ_M3 S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,434 Casino cash: $13579	Here's an update for the obsessive few that might find this helpful. I decided to research into this screw and purchased a few from the sources noted in the above post. From Left to Right in order Generic M3x6mm socket head screw (3mm allen socket with most of these versions) Stainless Steel low head from link Stainless Steel low head painted black OEM CSL screw Titanium button head screw As you can see from the photos the Stainless Steel low head painted is basically a perfect match (inner allen socket is 2mm just like the OEM version also and the low head clearance measures exactly the same. So if you have somehow stripped yours and need a cheap replacement, there you have it.