Seat Back Removal

[2002Silver4.6is]

I have some seperation between my drivers side seat back and the seat. I want to remove it to figure out why it is not fitting properly. Has anyone doe this before? It would seem from the picture of the seat back on RealOEM.com that it just clips into place. Any help is appreciated!!

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...34&hg=52&fg=25

[phil47]

I think there are also 2 screws at the very bottom of the seatback (screwhead facing down towards the carpet). You'll need to remove them first.

[PeteM]

Originally Posted by 2002Silver4.6is

I have some seperation between my drivers side seat back and the seat. I want to remove it to figure out why it is not fitting properly. Has anyone doe this before? It would seem from the picture of the seat back on RealOEM.com that it just clips into place. Any help is appreciated!!

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...34&hg=52&fg=25

As other reply there are two plastic screws be careful they are fragile once out then remove the trim caps the screws sat in just pry them out again carefully. then lift the back panel as there are two clips a third down behind the panel, they lift out not pull out.

[nextel773]

yes, theres 2 screws. made of plastic... its impossible not damage the thread. you should go to stealer and buy some new ones.. there about 2 bucks for both... good luck

[Effduration]

I wanted to correct the record on this. On my '05 3.0i X5, I removed the bottom screws which are actually a 2-piece design with a philips head plastic screw in the center of a plastic expansion rivet. Try unscrewing the center plastic screw first - if you get it to drop from the plastic rivet, you can just pull it out. Then pry out the plastic rivet with a trim tool or similar.

Once the two plastic screw/rivets are out, You carefully pull the seat back DOWN and toward the rear to get it to release. You don't lift up.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Effduration

I wanted to correct the record on this. On my '05 3.0i X5, I removed the bottom screws which are actually a 2-piece design with a philips head plastic screw in the center of a plastic expansion rivet. Try unscrewing the center plastic screw first - if you get it to drop from the plastic rivet, you can just pull it out. Then pry out the plastic rivet with a trim tool or similar.

This is a common type of fastener on these cars...

Originally Posted by Effduration

Once the two plastic screw/rivets are out, You carefully pull the seat back DOWN and toward the rear to get it to release. You don't lift up.

Makes sense - if the back panel sits UNDER the seat (where the above expansion rivets are located), how could it lift up?!