remove convertible rear head restraints?

stevenvillatoro · 10-06-2017, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

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.

I had been wondering if the lower-profile rear headrests from the 2 coupe would be swappable with the Cabrio’s monolithic monsters.

Ron Jeffries · 10-06-2017, 11:13 AM

Took car in for some after-sale BS that I should have never bought, and I know better, having bought about 100 cars in my life, but at the time it seemed sensible.

Anyway, I asked to have the head "restraints" removed. First tech said impossible so I talked to the foreman. He looked up the procedure, tried it, said it didn't work. Finally applying huge force to lift the "restraints", the top of the box that covers the posts popped up. He found a clip inside and unclipped it or moved it with a screwdriver, at which point the "restraints" came right out.

The posts have a little smooth shelf where they expand in diameter, which would make for a friction fit. HOWEVER, they also have a slot cut in one post, which the clip engages. It's probably possible to pull them without pushing the clip out but it would likely require immense force and ruin the clip.

Anyway, they're off.

In other news, Diamon Fusion isn't worth the money, in fact it isn't worth free. Smears, in that same way that RainX does if you ever actually need to use your wipers. Which, on a misty-rain day like today, you do.

That's my report.

RoundelM3 · 10-07-2017, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

I had been wondering if the lower-profile rear headrests from the 2 coupe would be swappable with the Cabrio’s monolithic monsters.

That would certainly be worth a try. I wouldn't think the posts or the guides in the rear seat frame would be much different.

BEM-S4 · 10-13-2017, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

That would certainly be worth a try. I wouldn't think the posts or the guides in the rear seat frame would be much different.

IIRC the low profile version extends further towards the rear, which may interfere with / cover up the roll bar mechanism.

RoundelM3 · 10-14-2017, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

IIRC the low profile version extends further towards the rear, which may interfere with / cover up the roll bar mechanism.

The low-profile version in the rear of my 335i are no different in front-to-rear dimension than the ones I took out of my wife's 228i convertible. The center headrest in the 335 folds backwards, though and would probably extend back far enough to interfere.

msej449 · 10-16-2017, 03:48 PM

This came up again on a uk forum so I decided it was easier to take a quick video than go through the description again. So I thought it might be useful if anyone's interested in how my 'vert head rests can be removed.

https://youtu.be/-hHO43vGZ3s

And when I say at the end "it's not particularly difficult" I don't mean to be dismissive - just that it's easy on my particular car.

Also note I've not made any adjustments or lubricated the pins etc. - it's all as out of the factory. However, there is a lot of variation across geographies and years as to how the head restraints are set up and there doesn't seem to be a clear pattern. I know that other M235i aren't fitted with my easy-to-remove setup.

sorry about the sound quality. You'll need to turn it up. Passers-by were wondering why I was talking to myself. Again.

shark715 · 10-16-2017, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msej449

This came up again on a uk forum so I decided it was easier to take a quick video than go through the description again. So I thought it might be useful if anyone's interested in how my 'vert head rests can be removed.

https://youtu.be/-hHO43vGZ3s

And when I say at the end "it's not particularly difficult" I don't mean to be dismissive - just that it's easy on my particular car.

Also note I've not made any adjustments or lubricated the pins etc. - it's all as out of the factory.

sorry about the sound quality. You'll need to turn it up. Passers-by were wondering why I was talking to myself. Again.

Excellent!

Ron Jeffries · 10-16-2017, 05:07 PM

Yes, excellent. Unfortunately, the 2018 does not have the button and the restraints are apparently not intended to adjust in any way.

shark715 · 10-17-2017, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

Yes, excellent. Unfortunately, the 2018 does not have the button and the restraints are apparently not intended to adjust in any way.

Ron, one of my friends just took delivery on a new 230, and it does have the button. Maybe BMW has more than one supplier for this part?

mdputnam · 10-17-2017, 11:07 AM

My 2016 M235i convertible does not have any buttons for the rear head rests. But, they do come out with a good bit of force. Here is the page out of the on-line manual with the very useful instructions on removal:

Ron Jeffries · 10-18-2017, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shark715

Ron, one of my friends just took delivery on a new 230, and it does have the button. Maybe BMW has more than one supplier for this part?

Weird. As I wrote elsewhere, I watched the lead tech remove them and the tops of the covers actually popped off and he had to release some catch with a screwdriver. There's a notch in one of the posts that a spring catch goes into. It seems unlikely that even a very strong pull would pop it.

Mine is a convertible, maybe that makes a difference.

SteveBis · 03-11-2021, 01:38 PM

I did not find any info in the thread that actually worked on my year and model. It was a beautiful day today so I figured I'd explore

First remove the cup holder from the center of the rear seat.... small "button" at the front of the cupholder to press

Second fold down the rear seatback. there is a latch in the trunk at the very back on the drivers side..... pull the lever and the back unlatches and can be folded down

Third you will see a plastic plate just below each headrest with a small rubber button in the middle.... remove the button

4th The screw below the button seems to be a metric torax (wich I do not have... so I used a visegrip to grab the head of the screew to lossen it.... then turned it by hand to remove it

5th pry up the plastic cover gently from the bottom while pushing it upward to get the bottom tab out.... them you can gently twist it to remove it from the top plastic pieces. You can now see the headrest forks in a tube. There is an expanding plastic piece on the bottom of each fork which locks it in place when it is pushed in.....

6th you will need needle nose pliers, a small pry bar, and a cloth to protect the plastic moulding that covers the roll over bars put the cloth and prybar in place close to the fork that you want to work on first. then use the pliers to squeeze the expanding plastic piece from the front (the tube has a lower cut out for this. ..... or from the bottom.... either works. While squeezing the expanding plastic piece gently push that side of the head rest slightly upward with the pry bar.... just enough for the expanding piece to move upward into the tube. Do the same on the other fork of the same headrest. Then list the headrest out easily

Do the same on the other headrest. Whole process took me about 15 minutes.

Good luck

jzeiler4 · 03-11-2021, 04:15 PM

On my 2021 I just pulled them out. No latches or buttons. I'll admit one came out really easy while the other one refused to budge so I had the dealer remove it when I went by there the next time, better they break something than me.

10-06-2017, 11:13 AM	#24
Ron Jeffries Old Member. Old in general, actually. 388 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i xDrive convertible Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	Took car in for some after-sale BS that I should have never bought, and I know better, having bought about 100 cars in my life, but at the time it seemed sensible. Anyway, I asked to have the head "restraints" removed. First tech said impossible so I talked to the foreman. He looked up the procedure, tried it, said it didn't work. Finally applying huge force to lift the "restraints", the top of the box that covers the posts popped up. He found a clip inside and unclipped it or moved it with a screwdriver, at which point the "restraints" came right out. The posts have a little smooth shelf where they expand in diameter, which would make for a friction fit. HOWEVER, they also have a slot cut in one post, which the clip engages. It's probably possible to pull them without pushing the clip out but it would likely require immense force and ruin the clip. Anyway, they're off. In other news, Diamon Fusion isn't worth the money, in fact it isn't worth free. Smears, in that same way that RainX does if you ever actually need to use your wipers. Which, on a misty-rain day like today, you do. That's my report.
	Appreciate 1 bobkat09151.50 Quote

10-16-2017, 03:48 PM	#28
msej449 msej449 514 Rep 717 Posts Drives: M235i Convertible +LSD 2016 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: South Coast UK & Swiss Alps iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 Peugeot e208 GT [0.00] 2016 BMW M235i Conv ... [0.00]	This came up again on a uk forum so I decided it was easier to take a quick video than go through the description again. So I thought it might be useful if anyone's interested in how my 'vert head rests can be removed. https://youtu.be/-hHO43vGZ3s And when I say at the end "it's not particularly difficult" I don't mean to be dismissive - just that it's easy on my particular car. Also note I've not made any adjustments or lubricated the pins etc. - it's all as out of the factory. However, there is a lot of variation across geographies and years as to how the head restraints are set up and there doesn't seem to be a clear pattern. I know that other M235i aren't fitted with my easy-to-remove setup. sorry about the sound quality. You'll need to turn it up. Passers-by were wondering why I was talking to myself. Again. __________________ 2016 M235i Convertible Estoril Blue & Oyster 2023 Peugeot e-208 GT (electric) Last edited by msej449; 03-12-2021 at 05:48 AM..
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10-16-2017, 05:07 PM	#30
Ron Jeffries Old Member. Old in general, actually. 388 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i xDrive convertible Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	Yes, excellent. Unfortunately, the 2018 does not have the button and the restraints are apparently not intended to adjust in any way.
	Appreciate 1 nazali1303.00 Quote

10-17-2017, 11:07 AM	#32
mdputnam Lieutenant 289 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 135i & M235i Convertibles Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	My 2016 M235i convertible does not have any buttons for the rear head rests. But, they do come out with a good bit of force. Here is the page out of the on-line manual with the very useful instructions on removal:
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03-11-2021, 01:38 PM	#34
SteveBis Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2017 M240i x drive Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	removing headrests from2017M240i Convertible I did not find any info in the thread that actually worked on my year and model. It was a beautiful day today so I figured I'd explore First remove the cup holder from the center of the rear seat.... small "button" at the front of the cupholder to press Second fold down the rear seatback. there is a latch in the trunk at the very back on the drivers side..... pull the lever and the back unlatches and can be folded down Third you will see a plastic plate just below each headrest with a small rubber button in the middle.... remove the button 4th The screw below the button seems to be a metric torax (wich I do not have... so I used a visegrip to grab the head of the screew to lossen it.... then turned it by hand to remove it 5th pry up the plastic cover gently from the bottom while pushing it upward to get the bottom tab out.... them you can gently twist it to remove it from the top plastic pieces. You can now see the headrest forks in a tube. There is an expanding plastic piece on the bottom of each fork which locks it in place when it is pushed in..... 6th you will need needle nose pliers, a small pry bar, and a cloth to protect the plastic moulding that covers the roll over bars put the cloth and prybar in place close to the fork that you want to work on first. then use the pliers to squeeze the expanding plastic piece from the front (the tube has a lower cut out for this. ..... or from the bottom.... either works. While squeezing the expanding plastic piece gently push that side of the head rest slightly upward with the pry bar.... just enough for the expanding piece to move upward into the tube. Do the same on the other fork of the same headrest. Then list the headrest out easily Do the same on the other headrest. Whole process took me about 15 minutes. Good luck
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03-11-2021, 04:15 PM	#35
jzeiler4 Lieutenant 320 Rep 536 Posts Drives: 2021 M240i xDrive vert Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Hazel Green, AL iTrader: (0)	On my 2021 I just pulled them out. No latches or buttons. I'll admit one came out really easy while the other one refused to budge so I had the dealer remove it when I went by there the next time, better they break something than me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote