1992 BMW 325i Rear Seat Removal

The ICE initially had its fuel pump and gas tank located under the back seat bottom cushion.  To gain access for servicing, it was necessary to lift the leading edge of the bottom cushion upwards.  The cushion will suddenly pop up and it can then be removed.

Picture DSC01588 showing one of two steel brackets that snap into the bottom of the seat cushion.  This picture is of the passenger side adjacent to the location of the power cables.

To gain access to the rear bulkhead that separates the cabin from the trunk requires the removal of the upper portion of the back seat.  There are two steel brackets that project from the top of the car body at each corner of the back cushion.  There are four openings at the bottom of the rear seat into which corresponding pins on the bottom edge of the back cushion will insert.  Thus, to remove the seat, first pull toward the front of the car at the top of the seat by each of the rear door windows.  The top will then pop out.  Then lift the seat upwards and forward to disengage the two sets of pins at the bottom of the cushion.

Picture DSC01582 showing the steel bracket (white plug shape in center of picture) that is welded to the rear bulkhead.  This view is on the passenger side.

Picture DSC01581 showing the corresponding socket  that is integral to the seat. This socket snaps over the bracket shown in Picture DSC01582 above.

Picture DSC01583 showing the welded steel slot (white rectangle slightly left of center) that is located at the rear of the seat.

Picture DSC01591 showing one of the two heavy steel pins (left and copper colored) and one of the two light duty steel pins (far right at the corner) that are integral to the seat.  The heavy duty pin slides into the socket shown in Picture DSC01583 above.

Since many of the electrical systems within the cabin had been disconnected, removing the rear seat required some thought as the rear doors were locked and the headrests were in the way.  By reclining the front seats full backwards it was possible to slide the back seat forward and then out of the car.  The doors were apparently in "child proof" mode as neither the buttons nor the door handles would open the doors.  Later it was finally remembered that when the 12 volt car battery is turned on, then the driver's door key will open all of the locks at the same time!

Picture DSC01285 showing the removal of the top portion of the rear seat.

Picture DSC01592 showing the rear view of the back seat after it was removed from the car.