How to remove driver seat headrest?

[us_matrix]

Hi,

It is Non-comfort seat w/Sport pacakge. I was trying to remove the driver side headrest with no success after extended it all the way up. Is it possibel to do that? I am trying to attach a headrest mount for my iPad.

Thanks.

[southwold]

I am the same concern as well.... 70k service comming... My BMW tech is pretty nice I will ask him let you know in about 1 month

[roadkillrob]

I can't tell you how, but you will need to remove the back of the seat as the headrest is on a toothed track with an electric motor driving it - you can see how it all works once the back of the seat is off and it should be easy to figure out, I think you just need to unbolt the drive assembly from the track.

The seat back is easy to remove, 2 spring clips at the top each side, just work your finger under the top corners one at a time and pull straight back until it pops out, once the 2 top corners are out, just pull the whole back piece up to disengage the lower clips.

[us_matrix]

Thanks.

That's a lots of work compare to other cars just pull it out by holding the release button. Like the middle headrest from second row set.

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

I can't tell you how, but you will need to remove the back of the seat as the headrest is on a toothed track with an electric motor driving it - you can see how it all works once the back of the seat is off and it should be easy to figure out, I think you just need to unbolt the drive assembly from the track.

The seat back is easy to remove, 2 spring clips at the top each side, just work your finger under the top corners one at a time and pull straight back until it pops out, once the 2 top corners are out, just pull the whole back piece up to disengage the lower clips.

[rh71]

^ those other cars don't have to incorporate active headrests.

The Active Headrests are part of the optional comfort seats, and help reduce these risks by supporting the head at exactly that moment when it's most needed. Within 20 milliseconds of an impact being detected, the Active Headrests are pushed forward to reduce sudden head movement, gently helping to prevent neck injury.

I didn't realize it didn't come on every seat, just comfort seats. Anyway, I still can't believe they have an electrical button to move the headrest up and down.

[Weasel]

The bottom end of the posts the headrest is on have ball ends that snap in to a plastic receptacle. You just gotta pop it straight up/out. It is really tight and takes a good hit to pop it out though, really tight in the clip. Good news is I've never seen one break so have at it!

[roadkillrob]

You might also want to disconnect the battery when you take them off - since they are active, they are pretty much an airbag in a way, they have the same type of electrical charge that activates them and fires them forward in an accident, so it would be best to to treat them like an airbag and disconnect the battery.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

You might also want to disconnect the battery when you take them off - since they are active, they are pretty much an airbag in a way, they have the same type of electrical charge that activates them and fires them forward in an accident, so it would be best to to treat them like an airbag and disconnect the battery.

Is this true of all BMW headrests or just the ones in the comfort seats? The description of active headrests describe comfort-seat only.

I also question it because active headrests are preventing a good headrest-dvd display option so if it's only in a small amount of vehicles (with comfort seats), then they should make rear-entertainment displays in the headrests for the majority of other owners... which they don't.

[roadkillrob]

At some point all the headrests went active - I think the way to tell is if you headrest is just a regular looking headrest or if it is the 2 piece design with the box at the back and the headrest mounted to it.

I have a 2011 premium without comfort seats and it clearly indicates it has active headrests.

[mavic1010]

All 08+ X5's regardless of seats have the active headrests. The 07's did not.