Add Yours: VW ID. Buzz Owner's Registry

Headrest removal

17791 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Pres, 3 mo ago

Drew

Discussion Starter · Apr 14, 2021

Anyone try to remove the headrest on your ID4? I bought a VW trash bag from vwparts.com and said it was compatible with the ID4. Tried removing headrest to mount the trash bag that would hang behind the passenger front seat, but no go. Looked in the manual and it shows two options, neither of which I was able to do. Just curious.

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NBCGLX

· #2 · Apr 14, 2021 (Edited)

There's probably a mechanism preventing the headrest from being removed completely. This is likely because without the headrests in place, the vehicle does not meet its crash test standards. This is quite common today in new vehicles (at least in the U.S., where we can't be trusted to not put ourselves in harms way and then turn around and sue people for our own doings). See if this video helps you.

EDIT: if that method doesn't work, try the one below. I think the first video will do it for you, as that's how front headrests on other VW models currently on sale work (e.g., Tiguan, Atlas).

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NBCGLX

· #3 · Apr 16, 2021

I was reading through the digital version of the U.S. owner's manual and came across this:

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Drew

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 17, 2021

NBCGLX said:
I was reading through the digital version of the U.S. owner's manual and came across this:

View attachment 2650

Tried this. Still didn't work. Took it to VW sand tech couldn't get it off. Oh well.

NBCGLX

· #5 · Apr 17, 2021

Drew said:
Tried this. Still didn't work. Took it to VW sand tech couldn't get it off. Oh well.

Weird. Did you try any of the other methods shown, for example the one that applies to other current VW’s (the first video I posted)?

Drew

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 17, 2021

NBCGLX said:
Weird. Did you try any of the other methods shown, for example the one that applies to other current VW’s (the first video I posted)?

Yes, tried them all. I ordered a VW nylon slim trash bag that said it was compatible with the ID4, but it fits on the seatposts of the headrest which I was trying to remove. I ended up tying the seat bin with shoe laces to the seatposts. With the headrest in the down position you can't really see the tie job, so I guess that's how it's going to be.

NBCGLX

· #7 · Apr 17, 2021

Are there little pin holes in the collars that the headrest posts are inserted into? If there are, try inserting a paper clip into the holes and see if a metal pin pops out. Some manufacturers use this method to prevent the headrests from being removed. I don’t have my ID.4 yet so I can’t take a look myself.

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Drew

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 17, 2021

NBCGLX said:
Are there little pin holes in the collars that the headrest posts are inserted into? If there are, try inserting a paper clip into the holes and see if a metal pin pops out. Some manufacturers use this method to prevent the headrests from being removed. I don’t have my ID.4 yet so I can’t take a look myself.

I didn't see any but I'll check again.

VoltsWagen21

· #9 · Apr 22, 2021

Drew said:
Anyone try to remove the headrest on your ID4? I bought a VW trash bag from vwparts.com and said it was compatible with the ID4. Tried removing headrest to mount the trash bag that would hang behind the passenger front seat, but no go. Looked in the manual and it shows two options, neither of which I was able to do. Just curious.

I was also trying to remove the headrest and had trouble at first. Unfortunately the videos are not the correct way to remove this style of head rest.
In the manual on page 91 is the correct way, but it was difficult to figure out.
I found the easiest way was to sit in the back seat, lower the headrest all the way to the bottom, then with your left hand push down and hold on the plastic ring and with your right hand push the headrest up towards the roof. The first position clicks which was throwing me off, but it will come out after that. Hope this helps.

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Drew

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 22, 2021

VoltsWagen21 said:
I was also trying to remove the headrest and had trouble at first. Unfortunately the videos are not the correct way to remove this style of head rest.
In the manual on page 91 is the correct way, but it was difficult to figure out.
I found the easiest way was to sit in the back seat, lower the headrest all the way to the bottom, then with your left hand push down and hold on the plastic ring and with your right hand push the headrest up towards the roof. The first position clicks which was throwing me off, but it will come out after that. Hope this helps.

Thank you. I'll try that.

FASTGOLFR32

· #11 · Aug 29, 2021

This is a quick little video showing how.

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Drew

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 29, 2021

FASTGOLFR32 said:
This is a quick little video showing how.

I can't believe it! I tried unsuccessfully several times when I first got my 1st Edition because VW made a slim garbage bag with attachment holes that needed the seat headrest off. Went to my VW dealer and the VW tech couldn't do it either. I just watched your video and immediately went out to my car to try it. Two failed attemps, thinking...that guy doesn't know what he talking about

. Tried one more time and "EUREKA!"...it worked. I had to use a great deal of force pushing up to get it out but it did finally release. Thank you so much!

ID4 around

· #13 · Jan 28, 2022

Drew said:
I can't believe it! I tried unsuccessfully several times when I first got my 1st Edition because VW made a slim garbage bag with attachment holes that needed the seat headrest off. Went to my VW dealer and the VW tech couldn't do it either. I just watched your video and immediately went out to my car to try it. Two failed attemps, thinking...that guy doesn't know what he talking about . Tried one more time and "EUREKA!"...it worked. I had to use a great deal of force pushing up to get it out but it did finally release. Thank you so much!

How did you get it to work??? Ive been trying for literally hours. It wont come out!! Infuriating.

ID4 around

· #14 · Jan 28, 2022

Has anyone tried the passenger side? Is it the same? I cant get either of them off no matter how much force I put into it and I am a strong person.

Drew

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 28, 2022

ID4 around said:
Has anyone tried the passenger side? Is it the same? I cant get either of them off no matter how much force I put into it and I am a strong person.

I put it all the way down, then pushed down on the left plastic ring and with my right hand pushed up really hard and it finally popped off. Several previous attempts failed, even the VW tech failed and then a miracle happened on my last attempt and it came off.

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ThisSucker'sElectrical

· #16 · 4 mo ago

Can anyone confirm that this is the same way to remove the headrest on the '23s? I tried what the manual and the video on this thread show several times yesterday and today with no luck. I haven't resorted to getting a 2nd person to help yet, but it really doesn't seem to want to budge. Any other tips or tricks would be appreciated.

werd

· #17 · 3 mo ago

FASTGOLFR32 said:
This is a quick little video showing how.

Is this also the approach for the rear seat headrests?

ThisSucker'sElectrical

· #18 · 3 mo ago

werd said:
Is this also the approach for the rear seat headrests?

I haven't tried taking off the rear ones, but I'm pretty sure other folks on here have. I did finally get the front passenger one to come off. That is the correct way shown in the video in this thread, it's just difficult to do and took two people. The good news is that I can fit at least two surfboards inside (the red one is a 9'0").

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Pres

· #19 · 3 mo ago

werd said:
Is this also the approach for the rear seat headrests?

The rear is pretty easy to do, it just requires pushing in two buttons, a larger button that is used to raise the height (if needed) and then a smaller button on the opposite side that releases the headrest fully to be pulled out. Note that you need to tilt the seats forwards to remove the head restraint, the clearance with the ceiling is too tight otherwise. I remove them regularly for better visability when I don't have more than one passenger. (I hope to eventually get the low profile EU style ones that are shown in the manual for better visability without needing to remove them entirely.)

Input device Gesture Output device Peripheral Automotive design

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