2021-2024 BMW X5, X6, X7 Detached Thigh Support Upholstery TSB

BMW has released Service Information Bulletin (SIB) SIB 52 10 19 (Revision 4), which supersedes the previous bulletin SI B52 10 19 dated February 2022. This bulletin addresses a common issue where the seat leather upholstery detaches from the front of the thigh support, also known as the knee bolster, in certain 2021-2024 BMW X5, X6, and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles. This issue can affect either the driver's or passenger's front seat.

Symptoms

Owners of affected 2021-2024 BMW X5, X6, or X7 vehicles may notice that the seat leather upholstery is separating or detaching from the front edge of the thigh support. This can be visually apparent and may affect the comfort or appearance of the seat.

Cause

The root cause of the BMW X5 X6 X7 detached thigh support upholstery is identified as loose metal retainer clips on the thigh support. These clips are designed to hold the seat leather upholstery in place by pressing against a plastic retainer strip. However, if the clips are too loose, they fail to exert sufficient pressure, allowing the upholstery to separate from the seat's thigh support frame.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair procedure outlined in SIB 52 10 19 involves inspecting the thigh support and, if necessary, adjusting or replacing components. The steps are as follows:

1. Seat Positioning: The technician will move the affected seat to a specific position to allow full access to the thigh support. This involves moving the seat bottom all the way backward, upward, and fully extending the thigh support.
2. Inspection: A flashlight is used to inspect underneath the thigh support for any damage to the seat leather upholstery. The technician will check if the upholstery is properly retained under the five metal clips.
3. Correction for Undamaged Upholstery: If the leather upholstery is not damaged, the technician will reinstall it onto the metal retainer clips. The clips will then be bent to increase the pressure they exert on the plastic retainer, ensuring a secure fit. The bulletin includes visual aids demonstrating correctly and incorrectly installed retainers and clips.
4. Correction for Damaged Upholstery: If the seat leather upholstery is found to be damaged, it should be replaced. This repair refers to ISTA/AIR Group 52 for specific repair instructions. If the metal clips themselves are broken or fatigued, the Carrier Thigh Support (part number 52 10 7299673) should be replaced. This replacement procedure follows REP 52 16 049, which details how to replace the thigh support at the front seat.
5. Repeat for Other Seat: The entire procedure is then repeated for the other front seat, if necessary.

Required Tools or Parts

For the repair of the BMW X5 X6 X7 detached thigh support upholstery, specific parts may be required depending on the inspection findings:

• Seat Leather: If the upholstery is damaged, a new seat leather may be needed. Part numbers can be obtained by entering the vehicle's chassis number into ETK/AIR, which accounts for specific equipment and options.
• Carrier Thigh Support: If the metal clips are broken or fatigued, the Carrier Thigh Support, part number 52 10 7299673, will be required. This part is identified as item #4 in the diagram provided in the bulletin.

Important Warnings

Owners should note that parts replacement is generally not necessary unless the leather upholstery is damaged or the metal clips are broken/fatigued. In many cases, simply bending the existing metal clips to provide more tension is sufficient to resolve the issue.

Warranty Information

Repairs addressing a verified defect in materials and/or workmanship, such as the loose retainer clips causing the BMW X5 X6 X7 detached thigh support upholstery, are covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. Damage or issues caused by external factors are not covered. Dealers will follow established warranty policy and procedures for submitting claims, referencing bulletins like SI B01 01 20 or B01 07 20 for documentation and claim processes.

Owner Action

If you are experiencing the BMW X5 X6 X7 detached thigh support upholstery issue, it is recommended to schedule an appointment with your authorized BMW service center. They can perform the inspection and repair outlined in SIB 52 10 19 to correctly address the problem.

Source: NHTSA ID: 10252279