How do I remove the rear seat in an e39 saloon?

Scania · 14 Mar 2011 at 09:45

I have two broken seat belt's in the rear, the two that are recessed in the middle of the rear seat if you follow, the red release button on both is jammed & I intend to goto the local breakers & find some replacements.

Trouble is, I spent an hour yesterday trying (without sucess) to remove the rear bench seat on my e39.

With my previous e38 it simply popped out if you lifted it, this one seems held in place by the force!

If anybody has a Haynes style manual & could give me a brief run down, I'd be grateful.

Thanks.

Maz · 14 Mar 2011 at 09:53

You need to pull it from the front of the base REALLY REALLY HARD as they clip in.

Scania · 14 Mar 2011 at 10:01

Maz said:
You need to pull it from the front of the base REALLY REALLY HARD as they clip in.

Cheers Maz, this is what I did with my e38 and it came out easily, I am a bit wary of giving it the "Caveman treatment" as I tend to be a bit heavy handed.....

Just tried it again & its still solid, I need to man up a bit.

Maz · 14 Mar 2011 at 10:04

They have a curved clip on the rear which holds it in place and the clip in front is clipped into little plastic holders.

Start at one side and give it a pull then work across the middle.

[TW]Fox · 14 Mar 2011 at 10:11

Maz is right, give it a real tug from the front corners.

Scania · 14 Mar 2011 at 13:36

Cheers for the feed back, pulling the corners did it.

(I was tugging at the middle as I did with my e38....

)

Alas, 4 different breakers yards later, not one e39 with either working rear belts or belts at all.

Scania · 20 Mar 2011 at 13:58

This knackered seat belt thing must be quite a common problem, I visited a few yards last week on my travels,whilst I have found a fair few e39's in various states of death, I still have not found one with the part (in servicable condition) that I want!

MOT on the 6th of April, I'll be buying new at this rate.....

Meh! The quest continues......

Maz · 20 Mar 2011 at 14:31

Stick a child seat in and they wont test that belt until you can find a suitable replacement.

Scania · 20 Mar 2011 at 15:57

Maz said:
Stick a child seat in and they wont test that belt until you can find a suitable replacement.

Trouble is, I have both centre & off side belts not working due to broken clips...

- A baby seat would only need one I assume.

Cunning plan mind

Scania · 26 Mar 2011 at 13:02

Update:

Finally found a semi complete e39 in a local breaker today.

Seatbelts work again, and I managed to replace a missing button from my OBC too!

Nice result for £15!

Lawtons in Kidsgrove for anybody who knows it.