How to Remove the Rear Seat Headrest from a 1999 Mercedes Benz E Class

Removal of the headrest from a 1999 E class Mercedes Benz is usually necessitated by sun damage to the leather, discoloration or motor malfunction. Removing the headrest requires removing the rear lower-seat cushion, as well as the rear backrest. The biggest challenge in this relatively easy removal process is the difficulty of viewing the components from inside the car. The process only requires a minimal amount of common tools.

Instructions

1

Lift up on the lower rear-seat cushion and depress the clips located on each side of the bottom front of the cushion. Remove the three bolts -- one on each side and one in the bottom-middle of the backrest -- using a socket. Move the backrest forward to gain a better view of the headrest posts at the point they enter the seat.

2

Pry the square plastic covers out of the seat top surrounding the headrest posts. Be careful not to get over-zealous and break them -- they are close to an inch deep so you must use the screwdriver to pry around the corners little by little to get them out. Use a small piece of masking tape to hold them up near the headrest to keep them out of the way.

3

Grab one of the headrest posts with one hand while depressing the small tabs at the base of the headrest posts. Each post has these tabs, and they will simply lock again if tension is released on one post to release the other. This is where the process becomes a challenge, unless you know the trick: Keep a good grip on one post and release the tabs; once released, you can feel the post rise above the tab. Keep wrist tension on this post while depressing the tabs on the opposite post. The headrest will pull straight out.

4

Install the same headrest or new ones by transferring the plastic caps to the new ones and aligning the posts with the holes and firmly pushing both posts down evenly until they lock. Push the plastic caps into the seat.

5

Install the rear seat with the three bolts. Install the rear lower-seat cushion by pushing the rear of the cushion in first below the backrest and then pushing the front down until it snaps into the front hooks. Cycle the headrests all the way up and down to reset them.