lablancjc
10-24-2008, 11:14 PM
Alright so I did some searches for how to remove the rear seat on an e39 97 528i came up with a lot of text directions and suggestions to go to bmwtips.com. Well for those of you like me who like pictures I did this today so I could get to my rear auto sunshade that was stuck up and I want it down so I could have my windows tinted. By the way any damage you do to your own car by following these instructions is your own fault not mine.
This will also helps those that need to replace rear speakers, get to your middle brake light or third brake light, help with getting to your rear suspension, and replacing your rear seat belts
1) I used a 10mm, 17mm socket and ratchet, small Flathead screwdriver, large Phillips head screwdriver, and a hammer.
2) Go to your back seat and pull up on the part you sit on, two clips hold that down(you will be surprised at how easy it comes up)
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/1.jpg
3) Pull up on the front of the bottom portion of the back seat and pull away at the same time this allows you to get past the seat belt locks. Remove that from your car and set it to the side.
4) Now we need to get those seat belts out of the way so it will be easier to remove the seat back. Grab a belt and follow it all the way down to where it attaches itself to the frame of the car. Each belt is held onto the frame by a 17mm bolt take those out and the seat belts are free.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/2a.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/2b.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/2c.jpg
5) Now we need to remove the portion of the back seat that your back leans against(everyone calls this the seat back). At the bottom portion near each door opening is a 10mm screw holding that on. Remove that screw on both sides. Then remove the head rest by just pulling straight up (do not be afraid they are made to come right out so pull hard if you have to). Now that the screws are out and the headrests are removed pull the seat back straight up and then out. There are four clips and the middle headrest holder that hold this bad boy on and you have to pull up past those clips to get it out.Then remove it form the car and set it aside.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/3.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/6.jpg
6) Now we need to remove the rear side panels. Take a small flat screwdriver. At the top of the light assembly gently pry that away from the panel. The light assembly will fall right out. Disconnect the light and set that aside. Then take a good grasp of the side by placing your hand in the hole where the light assembly was and pull the side panel gently away from the frame. There are two clips holding this on. Be gentle as this is made with plastic. Once the clips are removed gently pull the rear side panel out remove it from the car and set aside. Rinse and repeat for the other side.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/7.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/8.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/8a.jpg
7) Now you will notice 4 clips holding your rear shelf on. If you look closely the middle will come right out. I used a small flat head to get the middle of the clip out just a little, then used a hammer to get the rest out. Use the hammer on these like you would use it trying to get a nail out of a wall. Once the middle is removed the retaining clip should come right out I used my fingers for these.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/9.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/10.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/11.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/12.jpg
8) Now we need to remove the seat belt covers and speaker covers. Use a small Flathead screwdriver and gently pry at the front. This will lift the front of the covers up you must then pull towards you to get the cover completely out of the molding area.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/17.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/18.jpg
9) Now take off the middle head rest holder by taking out the four screws. This is where you need the large Phillips head or you will strip the screws if your not careful. Once the screws are out remove and set aside. Removing this will make it easier to get rear shelf out.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/19.jpg
10) Now we need to remove the louvers in the rear of the car. Do the same as the speaker cover. Use a small Flathead and gently pry the front up. Once the front is up pull the louvers towards you this will completely remove them from their molding. You must remove these they hold the rear shelf down by clips attached to the frame(also see attachments).
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/21.jpg
11) Last but not least if you have a sunshade three 10mm nuts will hold the rear shelf down. They are in the trunk.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/27.jpg
12) Now it is time to pull the rear shelf out. Get in the back of your car. Grab the left speaker hole molding with your left hand, grab the right speaker hole molding with your right hand, and then lift and pull towards you at the same time. If necessary you might need to wiggle it a little but it will come out. Remove from your car and set aside.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/22.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/23.jpg
All in all probably took me 20 minutes (was not timing myself and first time taking rear interior apart).
13) To put it back together do the opposite order.
This will also helps those that need to replace rear speakers, get to your middle brake light or third brake light, help with getting to your rear suspension, and replacing your rear seat belts
1) I used a 10mm, 17mm socket and ratchet, small Flathead screwdriver, large Phillips head screwdriver, and a hammer.
2) Go to your back seat and pull up on the part you sit on, two clips hold that down(you will be surprised at how easy it comes up)
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/1.jpg
3) Pull up on the front of the bottom portion of the back seat and pull away at the same time this allows you to get past the seat belt locks. Remove that from your car and set it to the side.
4) Now we need to get those seat belts out of the way so it will be easier to remove the seat back. Grab a belt and follow it all the way down to where it attaches itself to the frame of the car. Each belt is held onto the frame by a 17mm bolt take those out and the seat belts are free.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/2a.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/2b.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/2c.jpg
5) Now we need to remove the portion of the back seat that your back leans against(everyone calls this the seat back). At the bottom portion near each door opening is a 10mm screw holding that on. Remove that screw on both sides. Then remove the head rest by just pulling straight up (do not be afraid they are made to come right out so pull hard if you have to). Now that the screws are out and the headrests are removed pull the seat back straight up and then out. There are four clips and the middle headrest holder that hold this bad boy on and you have to pull up past those clips to get it out.Then remove it form the car and set it aside.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/3.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/6.jpg
6) Now we need to remove the rear side panels. Take a small flat screwdriver. At the top of the light assembly gently pry that away from the panel. The light assembly will fall right out. Disconnect the light and set that aside. Then take a good grasp of the side by placing your hand in the hole where the light assembly was and pull the side panel gently away from the frame. There are two clips holding this on. Be gentle as this is made with plastic. Once the clips are removed gently pull the rear side panel out remove it from the car and set aside. Rinse and repeat for the other side.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/7.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/8.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/8a.jpg
7) Now you will notice 4 clips holding your rear shelf on. If you look closely the middle will come right out. I used a small flat head to get the middle of the clip out just a little, then used a hammer to get the rest out. Use the hammer on these like you would use it trying to get a nail out of a wall. Once the middle is removed the retaining clip should come right out I used my fingers for these.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/9.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/10.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/11.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/12.jpg
8) Now we need to remove the seat belt covers and speaker covers. Use a small Flathead screwdriver and gently pry at the front. This will lift the front of the covers up you must then pull towards you to get the cover completely out of the molding area.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/17.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/18.jpg
9) Now take off the middle head rest holder by taking out the four screws. This is where you need the large Phillips head or you will strip the screws if your not careful. Once the screws are out remove and set aside. Removing this will make it easier to get rear shelf out.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/19.jpg
10) Now we need to remove the louvers in the rear of the car. Do the same as the speaker cover. Use a small Flathead and gently pry the front up. Once the front is up pull the louvers towards you this will completely remove them from their molding. You must remove these they hold the rear shelf down by clips attached to the frame(also see attachments).
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/21.jpg
11) Last but not least if you have a sunshade three 10mm nuts will hold the rear shelf down. They are in the trunk.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/27.jpg
12) Now it is time to pull the rear shelf out. Get in the back of your car. Grab the left speaker hole molding with your left hand, grab the right speaker hole molding with your right hand, and then lift and pull towards you at the same time. If necessary you might need to wiggle it a little but it will come out. Remove from your car and set aside.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/22.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii284/lablancjc/23.jpg
All in all probably took me 20 minutes (was not timing myself and first time taking rear interior apart).
13) To put it back together do the opposite order.
