Rear head rest removal?

Has anyone successfully removed the rear head rests? I pulled them all the way up, but they won't budge. And they don't have that tab near the base/post.

I need to remove them to accommodate car seats. For a front-facing full-size seat, you have to extend the rear headrest to the maximum height to clear the seat. At the max height, this creates quite a visible blockage out the rear window.

Originally Posted by SamS

Has anyone successfully removed the rear head rests? I pulled them all the way up, but they won't budge. And they don't have that tab near the base/post.

I need to remove them to accommodate car seats. For a front-facing full-size seat, you have to extend the rear headrest to the maximum height to clear the seat. At the max height, this creates quite a visible blockage out the rear window.

I just pulled mine for our car seat. I had to fold down the seat to do it though. The headrest fully extended hit the roof. Came out no problem. That said, I have not tried the middle one.

Originally Posted by stom_m3

I just pulled mine for our car seat. I had to fold down the seat to do it though. The headrest fully extended hit the roof. Came out no problem. That said, I have not tried the middle one.

Crap. I already installed the car seats. So, you just fold down the seats, and they'll pull straight out?

Originally Posted by SamS

Crap. I already installed the car seats. So, you just fold down the seats, and they'll pull straight out?

Did in mine. I have not tried the middle one though...

There's a section in the owners manual on this. I can't remember where and don't have access to it at the moment, though.

Originally Posted by KLC

There's a section in the owners manual on this. I can't remember where and don't have access to it at the moment, though.

You are correct! The manual indicates to raise the head rest as far as possible, the press in the tab near the stalk. This only works if the seats are folded down! Otherwise there is not enough clearance for the head rest to raise that high.

So, after an hour of sweating, I pulled out both car seats, folded down the rear seats and was able to remove all three head rests and re-install said car seats.

Moral of this thread: remove head rest before you start on your car seat project

Originally Posted by SamS

You are correct! The manual indicates to raise the head rest as far as possible, the press in the tab near the stalk. This only works if the seats are folded down! Otherwise there is not enough clearance for the head rest to raise that high.

So, after an hour of sweating, I pulled out both car seats, folded down the rear seats and was able to remove all three head rests and re-install said car seats.

Moral of this thread: remove head rest before you start on your car seat project

I would say the "moral" of the story is to read the manual.
cheers
vern

Originally Posted by vern

I would say the "moral" of the story is to read the manual.
cheers
vern

Uh, no.

In the manual it says nothing about having to fold down the rear seats. Only to raise them and press the side button. When you do this, there is not enough clearance to pull them all the way out, and you can't tell just how much more clearance you need from the roof.

Originally Posted by SamS

Uh, no.

In the manual it says nothing about having to fold down the rear seats. Only to raise them and press the side button. When you do this, there is not enough clearance to pull them all the way out, and you can't tell just how much more clearance you need from the roof.

Hmmmm. I took off the middle head rest without moving the seat at all. I found it obstructs the view out the rear window. Much better now that it's off.

Originally Posted by jfox335i

Hmmmm. I took off the middle head rest without moving the seat at all. I found it obstructs the view out the rear window. Much better now that it's off.

Center rear headrest is different/smaller, and of course comes out regardless of seat position.

It's the L/R ones that give you trouble, and the ones you'll need to remove to install a forward-facing car seat.

Originally Posted by jfox335i

Hmmmm. I took off the middle head rest without moving the seat at all. I found it obstructs the view out the rear window. Much better now that it's off.

I need to take out the middle so I can use my E46 seat cover. 2002 E46 only had 2 head rests.