[Ron Jeffries]

i’d like to pop the rear headrests off, they block my view. the 135, there was a latch you squeezed and they’d pull up. i don’t see how to do these. manual seems to think just pull up, but no. anyone?

[msej449]

On my 2016 M235i the fit is quite tight but they can be pulled out fairly easily with both hands.

However, various forums have this as a topic, with quite a few posts from N.American owners saying that they have found it impossible to remove them. Or at least very difficult. Some have had to disassemble the retaining mechanism. The manual indicates it's possible but I have wondered if cars going to the US and Canada have extra-tight retention assemblies.

Also bear in mind that the explosive roll-over bars sit behind the headrests. With the rests removed and passengers in the rear seats, they could be seriously injured if the roll-over bars are deployed. I removed mine for a while this summer but in the end decided to leave them in place. I just couldn't be sure that me or my wife would remember to put them back in if we gave people a lift.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by msej449

On my 2016 M235i the fit is quite tight but they can be pulled out fairly easily with both hands.

However, various forums have this as a topic, with quite a few posts from N.American owners saying that they have found it impossible to remove them. Or at least very difficult. Some have had to disassemble the retaining mechanism. The manual indicates it's possible but I have wondered if cars going to the US and Canada have extra-tight retention assemblies.

Also bear in mind that the explosive roll-over bars sit behind the headrests. With the rests removed and passengers in the rear seats, they could be seriously injured if the roll-over bars are deployed. I removed mine for a while this summer but in the end decided to leave them in place. I just couldn't be sure that me or my wife would remember to put them back in if we gave people a lift.

The design is no different on this side of the pond.

Just helped one of my friends remove his on his brand new 230 this afternoon. They are no different than our 235 from two years ago. Yes, you need to pull hard (really hard) with both hands, but they will release. Someone had to do some disassembly to get his/hers off? That's really surprising.

But that is a good point about the rollover bars potentially injuring a rear seat passenger. If you had a tall passenger in the back seat who fell asleep and was leaning his/her head back when you flipped your car, I guess it's possible the roll over bar deployment could decapacitate the passenger. Not an issue for us as we never have rear seat passengers, but that's not a fate we would wish on any of our friends.

[BEM-S4]

STF this has been discussed w DIY instructions.

[Ron Jeffries]

My dealer told me there is a special tool to remove them and that they had ordered one. Concern about blowing someone’s head off had not occurred to me ...

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by shark715

The design is no different on this side of the pond.

Just helped one of my friends remove his on his brand new 228 this afternoon. They are no different than our 235 from two years ago. Yes, you need to pull hard (really hard) with both hands, but they will release. Someone had to do some disassembly to get his/hers off? That's really surprising.

But that is a good point about the rollover bars potentially injuring a rear seat passenger. If you had a tall passenger in the back seat who fell asleep and was leaning his/her head back when you flipped your car, I guess it's possible the roll over bar deployment could decapacitate the passenger. Not an issue for us as we never have rear seat passengers, but that's not a fate we would wish on any of our friends.

I pulled the rear headrests out with a lot of effort, but they came out and are stored in a closet. The possibility of the situation you describe is infinitesimally small, versus the real problem of limited rear vision. We keep the windscreen in place year-round, elminating any rear-seat passenger room), and we use our 335i sedan if we are going to carry more than just the two of us. Besides...riding in the front or back of any convertible without a windscreen is not very comfortable at speeds over 30 mph.

Also I think you mean "decapitate", not "decapacitate", which isn't really a word.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Also I think you mean "decapitate", not "decapacitate", which isn't really a word.

I think you are correct...but that's how Siri kept insisting it was spelled :-)

[msej449]

Frankly, I don't really find the rear headrests much of a problem in terms of reversing visibility. Yes, there's reduced vision but that's because of the extra roof fabric in a convertible. But I have a reversing camera and PDC so I can see that if you don't have the camera, it might be a bit trickier. I do take more care reversing in the convertible but it just means going a bit slower, which is no bad thing anyway. The only time I've reversed into something was in a previous car, when I was relying too much on the PDC and moving too fast - my carelessness.

And I like the neologism of 'decapacitate' - I must use that at my next Team Meeting ....

And I'll leave the OP to make the probabilty/risk decision - wasn't there a Civil War general whose Famous Last Words were something like "Don't worry major, it's highly unlikely - they couldn't hit a barn door from that di ........"

[Sindarin]

Originally Posted by msej449

Also bear in mind that the explosive roll-over bars sit behind the headrests.

They are simply spring loaded, no explosive devices involved.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by Sindarin

They are simply spring loaded, no explosive devices involved.

If that’s the case, it sounds like only a partial decapacitation. Something on the order of semi-illiteracy.

Let’s ask Siri... if/when she ever sobers up.

[msej449]

Yes, I know. I wasn't using the term 'explosive' literally - more a case of my impression after watching a video of them deploying e.g.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3_kLlxewd8

This is a VW, as I couldn't find any for a recent BMW. I also found one for a Saab showing them deploying in a level crash i.e. they don't only deploy if the car rolls over.

As mentioned, decapacitation, rather than full decapitation. Although the distinction may not be the most immediate concern of anyone decapacitated.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by msej449

Yes, there's reduced vision but that's because of the extra roof fabric in a convertible.

That was my excuse for putting the top down on a grocery run this morning when it was 53 degrees :-)

[Ron Jeffries]

Originally Posted by roundel335

I pulled the rear headrests out with a lot of effort, but they came out and are stored in a closet.

As i think about this, it seems maybe it is different in 2018s. Unquestionably, with all my strength (?) I cannot pull it. They said there’s a tool. Maybe a crowbar.

I wish there were a door behind the seat back for having it down, but it is what it is.

Did something that made it leave the coronas on, but lock / unlock fixed that. i had been sitting with key on, not started, and it seemed to time out and turn off by itself. after that i got out, shut door, coronas were on an hour later.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

As i think about this, it seems maybe it is different in 2018s.

One of our friends has a brand new 2018 228 which I helped him remove just yesterday. One of them was much tighter than the other, when it released I was pulling so hard that it went flying across his garage :-)

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by shark715

One of our friends has a brand new 2018 228 which I helped him remove just yesterday. One of them was much tighter than the other, when it released I was pulling so hard that it went flying across his garage :-)

Same here on my 16 228ix, pulled hard and one flew in the air, but I caught it. I have a rear view camera and had blind spot cameras installed by Sound FX which flashes a light on my A-pillar when vehicles are in my blind spot. Also, If I change lanes and activate my turn signals approaching vehicles are displayed on my Nav screen and I get a audible warning.

[Ron Jeffries]

Originally Posted by shark715

One of our friends has a brand new 2018 228 which I helped him remove just yesterday. One of them was much tighter than the other, when it released I was pulling so hard that it went flying across his garage :-)

That's encouraging. Maybe I'll try the other one ... thanks!

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by msej449

Frankly, I don't really find the rear headrests much of a problem in terms of reversing visibility. Yes, there's reduced vision but that's because of the extra roof fabric in a convertible. But I have a reversing camera and PDC so I can see that if you don't have the camera, it might be a bit trickier. I do take more care reversing in the convertible but it just means going a bit slower, which is no bad thing anyway. The only time I've reversed into something was in a previous car, when I was relying too much on the PDC and moving too fast - my carelessness.

And I like the neologism of 'decapacitate' - I must use that at my next Team Meeting ....

And I'll leave the OP to make the probabilty/risk decision - wasn't there a Civil War general whose Famous Last Words were something like "Don't worry major, it's highly unlikely - they couldn't hit a barn door from that di ........"

I have the backup camera and side mirrors for backing up - but this is about rearward vision when driving. With the small rear window in the convertible, the headrests block quite a bit of the view when looking in the rearview mirror to see who's behind or approaching you. Even with the top down, there's still a significant blocking factor, same as there'd be if I had a passenger back there with or without a headrest. I've removed the headrests and filled the holes in the framework with rubber plugs. The headrests aren't relevant when nobody is going to be occupying the rear seats.

[CAMOETO]

Poor rear visibility you say? Tried driving a gen 6 Camaro for comparison?

[p912guy]

They are a friction fit. For best results pull straight up in a line parallel with the angle of the rear seat back. As others have mentioned some are much tighter than others. Hold onto the head restraint tight while removing because they can go flying if not very careful. I have removed and replaced mine a few times and they go in and out easier now. That said, the last time I removed them one went flying and landed post down on my car creating a nice paint chip.

The rear head restraints (not head rests) are currently out of my car. I am the only driver (my wife rarely has my car) and I can't remember the last time I had anyone ride in the back seat in any of my cars. Just in case, I story the head restraints in a bag in the drivers side rear footwell, so if anyone needs to ride in the back seat they are right there to remind me to put them in.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by CAMOETO

Poor rear visibility you say? Tried driving a gen 6 Camaro for comparison?

As a matter of fact, I have, and if you look at the small size of the convertible rear window plus the width of what would be the equivalent of a "C-pillar" on the fabric top, you'll know what I'm talking about. My 335i has lower-profile rear headrests and the center one folds down; the 228i has the same-height headrests in the back as in front, and they don't fold, so the view to the rear with them in place is substantially blocked.

[CAMOETO]

Originally Posted by roundel335

As a matter of fact, I have, and if you look at the small size of the convertible rear window plus the width of what would be the equivalent of a "C-pillar" on the fabric top, you'll know what I'm talking about. My 335i has lower-profile rear headrests and the center one folds down; the 228i has the same-height headrests in the back as in front, and they don't fold, so the view to the rear with them in place is substantially blocked.

My comment was made in jest, I don't doubt this is an actual issue for you guys.

[RoundelM3]

It certainly is a real issue - don't know what BMW was thinking other than compliance with safety regulations. Of course, they made it difficult to remove them, but they are removable just the same. My thought was that they should use headrests similar to those I described in the 3/4-series sedan and coupe - lower-profile so they don't block so much of the view.