Auto Headrest Issue
 

I have a 2005 e53 4.8is and it has the auto/motorized headrests w/ rear entertainment package. I noticed after removing the back panel that the motor that lifts/lowers the head rest does seem to support the entertainment package because of the monitor cable. Also on the top of the seat where the head rest sides down, it is too tight and causes to much strain on the headrest.

Has anyone else noticed this issue?
I have been thinking about cutting bigger holes to reduce friction but thought i would ask first if anyone has solved this.

4.8iS with comfort seats? I thought, all 4.8iS came with sport seats, and the headrest was not motorized... Is it factory setup?

does your seat have a manual thigh support?

No manual thigh support and yes it is all stock. fully loaded with every option.

do not cut into the holes - there might be another solution to the problem... can you take a picture, for reference? I had auto headrests on E34 and E39, and thought that iS only came with sport seats... when you take a picture, point to the area of your concern...

Heres a picture of the head rest guides. notice the red line point to where the bars are pressing/pinching up against the inserts.:dunno:

I have used the same type headrest with the BMW monitors off an X3 on my X5 with sport's seats, and the headrest was a perfect fit...

It seems that your setup is normal... What exactly is happening, when you are trying to lower or raise the headrest? does it bind? or slip? or move crooked? you mentioned too much strain - how does it manifest itself? when you looked inside, was the cable damaged or kinked?

it doesnt bind, the motor runs perfect. the issue im having is that the seat is pressing against the inside of the bars which slows the motor to a stop because of the amount of pressure. basicly if the holes were moved inward by 1/2" it would probly run perfect. I loosened the monitor cable so it floats freely because it was fastened with little slack.

The second issue im noticing is that the bar in which the monitor cable comes out, does not seat itself into the bracket which supports the lift/lower function because the cable is in the way.

I would be very leary to suggest filing the holes to make the headrest run freely - that could be a lateral "support" point that prevents the headrest from rattling inside those holes... in my other X5, i have aftermarket headrests with the DVD players and the bars are not sitting in the guides as tight, and as a result, the headrests vibrate/rattle... my solution was a couple of cable ties inside, applying a side/lateral force to the bars - the rattling has significally reduced, even though not completely eliminated...

Now, on the regular headrest, there is no hole in the bar (my regular ones had no holes, solid bars), no cable to get in the way, and accordingly, it probably sits where it should sit - on the entertainment version, obviously, the cable has to go through somewhere, naturally, it goes through the bar... I would worry about htis, only if the operation of the headrest is affected - is it?

Now, when you say that the seat is pressing against the bars and slows the motor down - I would worry about that... Can you elaborate on this?

I hope this helps to describe the 2nd issue.

basically, where i would file the holes a bit, the bars have little indents in them for each level (weird since it is a auto headrest not a manual) as the head rest moves upward they grab the seat which slows the motor because the headrest is pressing against the seat.