BMW
X7 and XM
forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW X7 (G07) Forums General BMW X7 Forum Captains chair armrest removal

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-03-2019, 09:40 PM   #1
PIPE_DR
First Lieutenant
United_States
355
Rep
321
Posts

Drives: 2013 535xi,2014 x5, 2019 X7
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: CT

iTrader: (0)

Thanks to jokinawa for service manual documents, the process is easier than I thought. The armrest position is key and just one bolt removal, some pulling and they're off!
Attached Images
    
Appreciate 6
jokinawa293.00
Ilyam5888.50
Wild Blue3676.50
Xtabi1696.00
nathanm4681.00
Brendon47.00
      05-03-2019, 09:54 PM   #2
OtisX7
First Lieutenant
OtisX7's Avatar
United_States
214
Rep
313
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X7 50i
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (0)

I need to do this.
Appreciate 0
      05-03-2019, 09:56 PM   #3
PIPE_DR
First Lieutenant
United_States
355
Rep
321
Posts

Drives: 2013 535xi,2014 x5, 2019 X7
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: CT

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by OtisX7 View Post
I need to do this.
Less than 10 minutes
Appreciate 0
      05-03-2019, 10:05 PM   #4
toddwalton
Lieutenant Colonel
toddwalton's Avatar
1239
Rep
1,583
Posts

Drives: 2019 X7 - 2024 G26
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Awesome! I may be the next to try this. Did you happen to send a 7 year old and a 14 year old through there to gauge if the width is enough to allow third row access?
Appreciate 0
      05-03-2019, 10:12 PM   #5
OtisX7
First Lieutenant
OtisX7's Avatar
United_States
214
Rep
313
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X7 50i
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PIPE_DR View Post
Less than 10 minutes
Wow. Nice. I also have car seats in both the captains chairs, and it’s tough for the older one to squeeze through to the third row. This is perfect. Thank you.
Appreciate 0
      05-08-2019, 06:16 PM   #6
FreddyBMW
Lieutenant
FreddyBMW's Avatar
95
Rep
430
Posts

Drives: 2019 X7 40i iSTEP 07/2020.54
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: TX, USA

iTrader: (0)

with the bench seat on mine, we just lower the middle seat and can go but that is a nasty one as you still need to climb over the seat.
Appreciate 0
      05-09-2019, 09:58 AM   #7
JayPichardo
BMW Client Advisor
JayPichardo's Avatar
3449
Rep
2,504
Posts

Drives: 2020 M340i
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tulley BMW Nashua, NH

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2020 BMW M340i  [0.00]
Oh wow! Thanks for the tip.
__________________
Contact me for all your BMW needs in the New England area.
jpichardo@tulley.com


Top M Client Advisor in New England.
Appreciate 0
      05-09-2019, 04:33 PM   #8
Missduvy
Lieutenant
287
Rep
489
Posts

Drives: 2019 X7 50i
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: TN

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by toddwalton View Post
Awesome! I may be the next to try this. Did you happen to send a 7 year old and a 14 year old through there to gauge if the width is enough to allow third row access?
My 7 and 9 year olds have been fitting through there to put their various junk in the 3rd row. I can get through too — by just stepping over the armrests. It’s not perfect, but it’s a heck of a lot easier than the GLs I’ve come from.
Appreciate 0
      05-09-2019, 05:57 PM   #9
ppagiga
Major
657
Rep
1,207
Posts

Drives: car
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: MARS

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PIPE_DR View Post
Thanks to jokinawa for service manual documents, the process is easier than I thought. The armrest position is key and just one bolt removal, some pulling and they're off!
I’m definitely doing this. Wasn’t your first stab far more involved than this, though, Pipe?

What do you reco for trim removal ? Fingernail?

Last edited by ppagiga; 05-09-2019 at 06:06 PM..
Appreciate 0
      05-09-2019, 06:23 PM   #10
PIPE_DR
First Lieutenant
United_States
355
Rep
321
Posts

Drives: 2013 535xi,2014 x5, 2019 X7
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: CT

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ppagiga View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by PIPE_DR View Post
Thanks to jokinawa for service manual documents, the process is easier than I thought. The armrest position is key and just one bolt removal, some pulling and they're off!
I’m definitely doing this. Wasn’t your first stab far more involved than this, though, Pipe?

What do you reco for trim removal ? Fingernail?
I Didn't know the "service position" was the key to it coming off. I was 90% there just missed that one important factor! Lol. I tried a couple different things(including taking the back of the seat apart) which others eluded to here, but no dice until late. It's much easier when you have directions! I pried the screw cap off gently with a utility knife blade. Used a 4mm hex wrench to remove bolt and pulled hard.
Appreciate 0
      05-09-2019, 06:50 PM   #11
ppagiga
Major
657
Rep
1,207
Posts

Drives: car
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: MARS

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PIPE_DR View Post
I Didn't know the "service position" was the key to it coming off. I was 90% there just missed that one important factor! Lol. I tried a couple different things(including taking the back of the seat apart) which others eluded to here, but no dice until late. It's much easier when you have directions! I pried the screw cap off gently with a utility knife blade. Used a 4mm hex wrench to remove bolt and pulled hard.
you read my mind. was just going to ask you what size wrench you used. star size t27 or so seemed right but didn't give it a whirl yet. thanks man. 4mm worked great. Breeze to take off both.

I tried putting those trim pieces back on the arm rests before I put them in storage and they wouldn’t stay snugly on. guess I’ll deal with that down the road

Last edited by ppagiga; 05-09-2019 at 08:10 PM..
Appreciate 1
jhb17.50
      05-10-2019, 09:13 AM   #12
Wild Blue
Brigadier General
Wild Blue's Avatar
United_States
3677
Rep
3,479
Posts

Drives: 2021 X7 M50i, 2004 330i w/ZHP
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Alaska

iTrader: (0)

Would be awesome if somebody had the time to do a "how to" Youtube video.
Appreciate 0
      05-11-2019, 06:02 AM   #13
ppagiga
Major
657
Rep
1,207
Posts

Drives: car
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: MARS

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Blue View Post
Would be awesome if somebody had the time to do a "how to" Youtube video.
There’s really nothing to it, thanks to Pipe and those instructions

I’d make a video but getting a good angle for the video might be tough
Appreciate 0
      05-15-2019, 12:14 PM   #14
VTENGR
Lieutenant Colonel
1044
Rep
1,943
Posts

Drives: 2020 X5 M50i
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Atlanta

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PIPE_DR View Post
Thanks to jokinawa for service manual documents, the process is easier than I thought. The armrest position is key and just one bolt removal, some pulling and they're off!
PIPE_DR - Looks like you're using the LATCH system for your child seats. Do you also have them tethered to the floor behind the captains chairs? Was looking at this at the dealership - I figured if you haven a child seat in the captains chair you pretty much immobilize that seat and the only way to the 3rd row is in between the two captains chairs.
Appreciate 0
      05-15-2019, 12:45 PM   #15
ppagiga
Major
657
Rep
1,207
Posts

Drives: car
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: MARS

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by VTENGR View Post
PIPE_DR - Looks like you're using the LATCH system for your child seats. Do you also have them tethered to the floor behind the captains chairs? Was looking at this at the dealership - I figured if you haven a child seat in the captains chair you pretty much immobilize that seat and the only way to the 3rd row is in between the two captains chairs.
Correct
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2019, 07:47 AM   #16
CruiseControl
Captain
216
Rep
814
Posts

Drives: 2020 BMW X7 40iM
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

Would be nice if BMW or an aftermarket conversion kit be made available to convert the captains to a bench so that you could have the best of both. Just some insert to be put in place of the arm rests to allow someone to sit there would do it.

Last edited by CruiseControl; 06-23-2019 at 11:30 AM..
Appreciate 0
      06-23-2019, 08:27 AM   #17
OtisX7
First Lieutenant
OtisX7's Avatar
United_States
214
Rep
313
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X7 50i
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by anthony16 View Post
Would be nice if BMW or an aftermarket conversion kit made available to convert the captains to a bench so that you could have the best of both. Just some insert to be placed in place of the arm rests to allow someone to sit there would do it.
Would definitely buy this.
Appreciate 0
      06-24-2019, 12:33 PM   #18
7summits
Private
20
Rep
57
Posts

Drives: Looking
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PIPE_DR View Post
Thanks to jokinawa for service manual documents, the process is easier than I thought. The armrest position is key and just one bolt removal, some pulling and they're off!
You should get compensation from BMW for this post. My wife and I all but wrote off the X7 as our next car because lack of room between the captain's chairs. We have a 10, 8 and 3 year old.

BMW really missed the boat here.
Appreciate 0
      06-24-2019, 12:47 PM   #19
ppagiga
Major
657
Rep
1,207
Posts

Drives: car
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: MARS

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 7summits View Post
You should get compensation from BMW for this post. My wife and I all but wrote off the X7 as our next car because lack of room between the captain's chairs. We have a 10, 8 and 3 year old.

BMW really missed the boat here.
Yeah this was a game changer for us. 7,5,4 and all ages go down the middle for third row access.

Only beef is that the oblong plastic cover that is on the chair (where the arm rest was) occasionally pops off and falls to the floor
Appreciate 0
      06-24-2019, 01:08 PM   #20
7summits
Private
20
Rep
57
Posts

Drives: Looking
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ppagiga View Post
Yeah this was a game changer for us. 7,5,4 and all ages go down the middle for third row access.

Only beef is that the oblong plastic cover that is on the chair (where the arm rest was) occasionally pops off and falls to the floor
I saw your post regarding the GLS. We looked at the other day and it is for sure bigger inside and the access through the captain's chairs is much better without having to remove anything. Our problem is we need a car by August. If the GLS was available now, we would for sure get that over the X7.

The designers of the X7 must not be parents of young children.
Appreciate 0
      07-05-2019, 09:49 AM   #21
robbys3m3
Lieutenant Colonel
1941
Rep
1,552
Posts

Drives: M3's
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tulsa, OK

iTrader: (1)

Just got ours off...t27 works great...my kids will be happy. Thanks for the input in this thread
Appreciate 0
      07-05-2019, 11:22 AM   #22
lasallen
New Member
6
Rep
11
Posts

Drives: BMW X7
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Louisiana

iTrader: (0)

Without a doubt one of the best mods!!!!!
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:26 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST