2003 HSE with heated but non vented seats.

I'm trying to remove the panel on the back of the driver's seat backrest/squab and running into issues. I know from past experience that brute force and determination will likely result in damage hence seeking some guidance on whether I just need a bit more determination and a Tad more force.

Lots of videos around but they are all for either later or Vogue seats with a different construction to my HSE early model

RAVE makes it pretty simple and it appears to replicate my seat design but the panel appears bonded to the side bolsters as I can get a trim tool between the panel and side to try and release the side clips on the panel. The bottom of the panel seems pretty much locked in place as well. Essentially nothing seems to budge..

Do I need to unclip the squab that seems clipped along the bottom of the backrest as noted in picture below? Will the side of the back panel need brute force to be pushed towards the front of the car whilst being squeezed in from the bolster or is there something else I'm missing???

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Hello,
In the second picture you have that button, pull the leather backwards step by step around the plastic piece. It’s only pushed in. And as far I can remember there is one bolt or a screw on every side inside the seat . Excuse my bad English.
Marcus

Thank You Marcus - Your English is very good. If you are referring to the plastic strip it won't pull out rearwards - even with a pair of grippers it was starting to tear away from the plastic strip. I have now got it removed - its pushed in over 3 25mm wide grippers hence not wanting to come out..

The buttons shown un-clipped are the only two that RAVE references (after removing staples and folding back material which my seat does not have)

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Hello I took pictures of my spare seat.

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Das Gelingen (success)

Just as You said Marcus - I would never have figured this out, well maybe after a few days of cursing..

For the benefit of other owners still running early HSE models pictures below:

Note: the arm rest has a shroud on the spindle that covers the Torx grub screw but its not a full enclosure type - with persuasion it can be rotated to expose the grub screw.


I'm gonna call this a 'wrap' all thanks to Marcus - I owe you a Beer

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