Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

4.2 V8 32v FSI - 444 bhp
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G30001
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Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by G30001 » Tue Feb 02, 2021 4:13 pm

Car goes in for a retrim in a month and I wanted to use the opportunity whilst the seats are apart to fix any issues, it has never bothered me (and I had forgotten about it TBH) but Iave an issue with the drivers bucket seat.

When I adjust the bucket seat both upper and lower bolsters neither stay in the position I set and "open" up again to their widest setting.

On the B8 are these inflated or are the bolsters physical bit's of plastic on motors?

Has anyone had this issue?

Passenger seat both the electric adjusters have come lose (move around under hand without the seat moving) so can't test that one praying it works

thanks for any help.
2013 B8 RS4 - Reflex Silver Black Pack probably the 2nd lowest mileage in County
2014 B8 RS4 - Daytona Grey bag of nails with Silver Styling gone

114uyc
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by 114uyc » Tue Feb 02, 2021 5:16 pm

You have an airbag each side that inflates. They can get punctured or the valve can leak. About two years ago I had them done on mine, think the bill was about £1100.
I thing the parts are pretty cheap most of the cost was labour

G30001
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by G30001 » Tue Feb 02, 2021 6:38 pm

114uyc wrote:
Tue Feb 02, 2021 5:16 pm
You have an airbag each side that inflates. They can get punctured or the valve can leak. About two years ago I had them done on mine, think the bill was about £1100.
I thing the parts are pretty cheap most of the cost was labour
Sounds like I should get the parts upfront if they are cheap (ish) seats are coming apart and getting new foams on top of the new leather so would be silly not to really.

Thanks
2013 B8 RS4 - Reflex Silver Black Pack probably the 2nd lowest mileage in County
2014 B8 RS4 - Daytona Grey bag of nails with Silver Styling gone

G30001
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by G30001 » Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:39 pm

114uyc wrote:
Tue Feb 02, 2021 5:16 pm
You have an airbag each side that inflates. They can get punctured or the valve can leak. About two years ago I had them done on mine, think the bill was about £1100.
I thing the parts are pretty cheap most of the cost was labour
Was that for all 4 on each seat or just broken ones?
2013 B8 RS4 - Reflex Silver Black Pack probably the 2nd lowest mileage in County
2014 B8 RS4 - Daytona Grey bag of nails with Silver Styling gone

114uyc
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by 114uyc » Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:48 pm

I had two (upper bolsters) replaced and one valve.
Attached is a photo of the invoice showing parts used
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92667FA0-BAA3-4ACA-9F4B-6E008EA03697.jpeg

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Brooner
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by Brooner » Fri Feb 05, 2021 6:13 am

i had this and it turned out to be a leak in one of the bags as they use air to adjust the grip around you but it was done under warranty so no idea about price but 1100 sound steep
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G30001
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by G30001 » Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:18 pm

Quick question

Are they linked across the seat. I.e. if the left lower bolster has a leak both will deflate?
2013 B8 RS4 - Reflex Silver Black Pack probably the 2nd lowest mileage in County
2014 B8 RS4 - Daytona Grey bag of nails with Silver Styling gone

114uyc
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by 114uyc » Sun Feb 07, 2021 12:40 pm

No, pretty sure they are separated by those valves so all four are independent

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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by G30001 » Sun Feb 07, 2021 2:08 pm

OK sounds like it needs to be diagnosed first so I don't buy things I don't need.

Thanks All
2013 B8 RS4 - Reflex Silver Black Pack probably the 2nd lowest mileage in County
2014 B8 RS4 - Daytona Grey bag of nails with Silver Styling gone

CusterDome
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by CusterDome » Wed Feb 10, 2021 11:24 am

Let us know how you get on. I've a similar problem with the lumbar support 'bags' on my car. It's not really a big deal, but if an economic fix was out there, I'd probably go for it.

G30001
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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by G30001 » Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:37 pm

CusterDome wrote:
Wed Feb 10, 2021 11:24 am
Let us know how you get on. I've a similar problem with the lumbar support 'bags' on my car. It's not really a big deal, but if an economic fix was out there, I'd probably go for it.
Will do!

To be honest I hadn't really noticed.

It was just because the seats are being dismantled to retrim I was looking for things that need fixing.
2013 B8 RS4 - Reflex Silver Black Pack probably the 2nd lowest mileage in County
2014 B8 RS4 - Daytona Grey bag of nails with Silver Styling gone

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Re: Bucket Seats - Electric Bolsters won't stay in position

Post by MikeFish » Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:39 am

Have a look in the BY forum, there are lots of threads about this.
Some people have even repaired the valves with a bit of glue / sealant.
From memory the valves are about £160 each which is not a massive amount of money but if all of them need replacing it can start adding up.
I think there was one valve for the upper part and one cable for the lower part of each seat so 4 in total for both seats. The leather on the seat back is quite easy to take off and put back and all the valves are behind the upper cover.
The bags are fairly cheap.

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