Middle Rear Headrest

[Florida-X3]

Could I trouble someone with a 2014 X5 to take a picture of their rear, middle headrest (picture taken from the drivers side, rear door entry would sync up with the angle I have) please? Also, can you confirm the operation of the headrest is as follows: To raise, just lift up ... to lower you push in the little button near the shaft of the headrest.

In a "situation" with my dealership that frankly I don't have the strength to explain right now after a frustrating few days with the dealership.

Thanks in advance.

[Maverik259]

Lol this sound awesome. Wish I could help. Home in FL while X5 back in VA.

[X5M50D]

Does the rear central head rest go up. Don't seem to be able to shift it

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by X5M50D

Does the rear central head rest go up. Don't seem to be able to shift it

That's the issue, I believe it does, it has the release latch etc. What has happened is I think if it gets put on backwards (front and back is not that easy to identify) it will get stuck and it can't be moved. Ours has been that way since we bought it as a CPO. I took the car in yesterday for an oil change and had them correct this. They wrote up the ticket vaguely and the tech only looked at the left & right and claimed they were on right (which they are). The SA told me, we fixed the issue and we didn't charge you. Like an idiot I didn't check it or look at the paperwork there at the dealership. It's still the way it was when I brought it in and still won't budge (I don't want to yank it).

So I'm trying to obtain a picture of someones that works properly and in the correct orientation. Here is a picture of mine.

[Doanster]

Stupid app. Having probs posting s pic.
However, it does look like yours is on backward. Just look at how the headrest protrudes forward beyond the plane of the back seat. If it were to be turned around, it would be relatively flush like the outboard headrest.
As for removing it... it just takes A LOT of force. Installing it backwards would not prevent it from being moved. The two posts are solid/smooth and there are only two notches at the very bottom that snap/lock into place when fully depressed. If it were installed backwards, the release button just wouldn't snap since there are no notches to mate with.
Sooooo, just try again to remove it yourself. You'll get it off. You could use something like the handle of tool as a wedge/pry bar. Protect the leather with a towel or something.

[Florida-X3]

Come 'on guys ... I can't one person to take a few minutes to snap a pic with their cell and upload it? Please .......

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by Doanster

Stupid app. Having probs posting s pic.
However, it does look like yours is on backward. Just look at how the headrest protrudes forward beyond the plane of the back seat. If it were to be turned around, it would be relatively flush like the outboard headrest.
As for removing it... it just takes A LOT of force. Installing it backwards would not prevent it from being moved. The two posts are solid/smooth and there are only two notches at the very bottom that snap/lock into place when fully depressed. If it were installed backwards, the release button just wouldn't snap since there are no notches to mate with.
Sooooo, just try again to remove it yourself. You'll get it off. You could use something like the handle of tool as a wedge/pry bar. Protect the leather with a towel or something.

Thanks ... I appreciate the response back and tips ...

[robbief00]

Here you go. Yours does appear to be installed backwards.

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by robbief00

Here you go. Yours does appear to be installed backwards.

Thank you VERY much .... hope you don't mind if I fire that picture (along with mine) to my SA?

[robbief00]

No problem!

[1230vani]

Very interesting thread! Why? Because just two days ago i wanted to pull it out and could not, also the service advisor could not, so i tried to do it on a showroom car as well also without success. Was told by service advisor that probably only a mechanic could do it with tools but he wasnt sure. Also the thing you click in on the right hand side does click in but i could not locate one for the other side (metal bar). I gave up in the end. Tried to do it on a 6gt in the showroom and ot worked right away.... EDIT: found the other click on the left bar but still could not do it.

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Very interesting thread! Why? Because just two days ago i wanted to pull it out and could not, also the service advisor could not, so i tried to do it on a showroom car as well also without success. Was told by service advisor that probably only a mechanic could do it with tools but he wasnt sure. Also the thing you click in on the right hand side does click in but i could not locate one for the other side (metal bar). I gave up in the end. Tried to do it on a 6gt in the showroom and ot worked right away....

No tools needed. Wouldn't that be something if you needed a special headrest removal tool?
Trick is to wedge your finger underneath enough to push the button and raise the headrest just enough to get past the detent. Then use both hands to equally push up (vs only one side/post). Like I said earlier, it took a lot of force. The headrest went flying off into the rear of the car, actually.

[MN2///M]

Here's another picture. I also could not get it to raise though....will see if what my dealer says the next time I'm over by them.

[Florida-X3]

Well if it operates like the left and right ones you should not have to do anything to raise it, just pull it up. You push the recessed button to remove it or go down.

I just got a call from the Service Manager and he was very apologetic about the whole thing, they didn't rotate the tires either (white grease pen comes in handy for that). He offered to have a driver come to my house, leave a loaner and take my X5 back to the shop (about 40 minutes away and crazy traffic areas) and then return it. While I appreciated the effort I didn't want some stooge tech beating my vehicle. So I will be taking it back next week, was told to ask for him and they will streamline it through. I'll post an update here after it's taken care of to report just how that stupid headrest is supposed to work.

[MN2///M]

Left and right outer ones are easy to raise; according to the manual:
"The center head restraint cannot be adjusted in elevation"



Guess the manual is the answer to all things....go figure.

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by MN2///M

Left and right outer ones are easy to raise; according to the manual:
"The center head restraint cannot be adjusted in elevation"

Attachment 1739980

Guess the manual is the answer to all things....go figure.

One would think it should operate like the rest but it appears real world experience differs from that.

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by robbief00

Here you go. Yours does appear to be installed backwards.

Definitely backward. The stitching lines aren't even aligned with the other headrests.

[X5M50D]

No mine is definitely on the right way round but what ever I do I cannot raise the bloody thing What is the point when you have someone sitting in the rear middle seat! Another BMW flaw on an £85k vehicle

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by X5M50D

No mine is definitely on the right way round but what ever I do I cannot raise the bloody thing What is the point when you have someone sitting in the rear middle seat! Another BMW flaw on an £85k vehicle

LOVE your interior!!!!

[Florida-X3]

Originally Posted by X5M50D

No mine is definitely on the right way round but what ever I do I cannot raise the bloody thing What is the point when you have someone sitting in the rear middle seat! Another BMW flaw on an £85k vehicle

Welcome to the club! Interesting, so far I don't think that anyone who has it installed correctly can raise it.

[X5M50D]

Originally Posted by Florida-X5

Welcome to the club! Interesting, so far I don't think that anyone who has it installed correctly can raise it.

At my age getting anything to raise is the highlight of my day!?!?

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by Florida-X5

One would think it should operate like the rest but it appears real world experience differs from that.

It's probably a safety thing in terms of blocking the rearward view. Also, any middle passenger is probably assumed to be a child most of the time. While they state that it can't be adjusted, that just probably means there aren't multiple intermediate notches/detents in the posts to lock in diff height settings.
Like I said prior and as the manual shows, you can raise it for removal. With the amount of force needed to remove it this morning, I'm sure if I left it raised a bit, the headrest would not go back down on it's own.
Car is not with me ATM, but will check the posts on the outboard headrests tonight to confirm differences, if any, from the middle one.

Edit: confirmed that the outer headrests have multiple notches/detents in the posts and slide up/down easily; the center headrest posts must be a tad bit thicker in diameter, hence why it doesn't raise very easily