[Wild Blue]

There's a couple threads with questions about one or two of these attachments. People were requesting system pics, so thought I'd do a comprehensive thread with pictures of all current Travel and Comfort System attachments.

To make sure everyone's in the know, the little slotted box next to the USB-C port on the back of all front X7 seats (except overseas markets, where the Travel & Comfort system either needs to be added, or isn't possible with M Multifunction seats) is for the Travel and Comfort system.





BMW currently makes four T&C attachments, and a headrest base piece where an attachment could be added to the back of any headrest with sufficient room.

Things common to the whole system: All of the T&C system pieces have very thick, sturdy construction, and generally good design. High quality construction and materials. They can take some pressure and abuse, to alleviate concern about it taking a good hit from something, as someone gets in and out of the car, or loads cargo, and then potentially breaking the attachment, or even the T&C port itself. The attachments click in securely. I found they're not that easy to take back out, though. You have to firmly pinch two release buttons on the attachment right up against the port, and then give a good pull to pull them out. But even though I have medium-sized hands, it's awkward to get the hand in, push the buttons HARD, and then pull enough. When the piece does come out, it usually flies out with some force. This could be designed better.

By far, the most popular attachment is the tablet holder, and also the most confusing. BMW makes many different holder models that are purported to be for various tablet models/sizes. And then to confuse it more, BMW sells "Safety cases" that are tablet model specific. Ostensibly, you would encase your iPad in the corresponding "safety case" and then put it in the tablet holder.

I purchased the "Universal Holder for Tablet Safety Case", part number 51-95-2-408-224.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...se-51952408224




And did NOT purchase a safety case, as others have reported their tablets working just fine in the holder without it. Sure enough, my daughter's 2020 model 10.9 inch iPad Air fits great. We have an Otterbox Defender case on it, but it would have fit just as well without it, as the holder is adjustable. The clamp arms on the holder have springs, and hold the iPad very securely. No concerns about it being bumped, or jostled with road movement, and potentially falling out of the holder.

Good position for the iPad, right where she can reach it, easy to plug into the USB-C port, good viewing angle.





Next most popular item is probably the folding table attachment, part number 51-95-2-449-252.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...em-51952449252








This is also very beefy. Solid and heavy design that can take abuse. The table surface isn't all that big, a little smaller than a tray table would be on the back of an airline seat, so it's not capable of doing a ton of paperwork, or spreading a project out. Perfect for kids (or adults) to have a little snack and drink, though. You can see the fold-down cupholder ring.

The table also folds up when not in use, if the passenger wanted it out of the way, but didn't want to remove the attachment entirely (or couldn't, if they're a kid or elderly person... again, they don't come out easily). It then takes up about as much space as a tablet screen.

For parents with little kids, the ABS plastic looks like it's easily washable/wipeable, if little Johnny spilled some massive gunk on it. Little kids have a huge talent for making sticky, gooey messes on things. If nothing else, take the whole attachment out of the car and hose it down.





The thing with the table though, it has an adjustment slide on the back, that raises and lowers the table height. And then it has a nice little prop stand that rests against the seat back, so when you're using the table, it doesn't sag and dump everything in your lap.

But, when the table is attached to the seatback T&C port, even at the highest slide setting, the table is literally sitting on the passenger's lap. My daughter just turned 12, is fairly average sized for a 12 year old, and you can see in the picture, it's resting right on her lap in the highest setting. Mayyyyybe comfortable for a young child not in a car seat, but that's about it. Car seat kid, or adult, no way.

So, enter the headrest base piece. Part number 51-95-2-183-852. It's spring-loaded, so once inserted between the two headrest supports, it stays nice and secure, not going anywhere. No interference with the person sitting in the seat in front of it, other than not being able to fully lower the headrest to the bottom. (which pretty much nobody does)

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...er-51952183852





The table really does need to be installed with the headrest base piece to be usable. I had originally bought the headrest base carrier, for the rare possibility someone in the 3rd row wanted to use one of the T&C attachments, since there is no T&C port on the back of the 2nd row. So, luckily I had one on hand.

Notice that the BMW stock photos of the table above, also show it being used with the headrest base carrier, and not in the seatback. With this, the table becomes much more usable for my daughter, and now can be adjusted further in height.

She's an iPad fanatic, so the table also works well for her as an iPad stand, without being locked into the iPad tablet holder. Two ways to go about it, I suppose. And having a wifi hot spot in the car allows her to surf all the videos she wants while I drive. (I feel compelled to do a grandpa-type "In MYYY day, we sat and looked out the window for hours on car drives")





Then there's the coat hanger, part number 51-95-2-449-251.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...er-51952449251

This is actually pretty cool, for a coat hanger. You can actually remove the top hanger portion from the T&C attachment, at the horizontal line you see on it. And then there's a retractable hanging hook that comes out the top of the hangar. So, you can bring it inside, and hang up your clothes on it in your closet. Then when you're ready to drive, just grab the hangar, and click it right onto the rest of the attachment already waiting behind your seat, without the "trouble" of having to install the whole T&C attachment into the seatback.

Let me know if anyone wants pictures of that function. Here, you can also see the empty iPad holder in the other seat.





The last piece is just a simple hook, which pops into the seatback. Part number 51-95-2-449-253.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...ok-51952449253

Nothing to it. Just lets you hang a bag or whatever. In this picture, though, you can see one of the buttons you have to press to take the attachment out of the seatback port. The other button's on the opposing side. They're boogers to get depressed and then pull.








Hope this all helps.

[cncmastr]

Well done!

[ImperialBlue]

Love your threads. Keep going

Is is true that safety case is optional for Ipad?

[Wild Blue]

Originally Posted by ImperialBlue

Love your threads. Keep going

Is is true that safety case is optional for Ipad?

I think BMW would say "no", but it works without it for many of us.

[x7bmw23]

Very detailed review. Thanks for your time an effort. Answered several of my questions.

[MystroX5]

Here is a couple of pics of the folding tables on my last G05 X5. They are very nice.





Here is the table being used with a tablet resting on it.

[Me2]

Well done!!!

Extremely helpful with pics, descriptions and links.

[Patgilm]

Excellent information since I am in the process of ordering my X7 and there is no longer the option for rear seat entertainment. This is a great solution for my kids.

[elp]

Very helpful write up! Thank you as always.

[Wild Blue]

Posting some pictures that sahajesh posted in the X5 forum. Good stuff. Shows how a 13" Macbook Pro fits on the table.

[JaTe]

Universal tablet holder with regular iPad on left and iPad mini on right. Both iPads in otterbox cases.

[sahajesh]

I get a lot of X5 info on the X7 forum - both are added as favourites

Thanks for the shoutout Wild Blue

[ImperialBlue]

What size IPad are you guys using? Will 13 inches look little too big?

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by ImperialBlue

What size IPad are you guys using? Will 13 inches look little too big?

On the tray table? I've got a pic of an iPad Pro 12.9 with Magic Keyboard below.

[Wild Blue]

Originally Posted by ImperialBlue

What size IPad are you guys using? Will 13 inches look little too big?

My daughter's iPad in this pic is 10.9 inch. As a home theater enthusiast, I have to say that no screen is ever too big. (in theory it could be)

I don't think even the largest iPad Pro would be too big by any means. On the contrary, I think it'd work great for that application.

[ImperialBlue]

Originally Posted by Wild Blue

My daughter's iPad in this pic is 10.9 inch. As a home theater enthusiast, I have to say that no screen is ever too big. (in theory it could be)

I don't think even the largest iPad Pro would be too big by any means. On the contrary, I think it'd work great for that application.

Thanks. Thinking of getting 12.9 Pro.

[Wild Blue]

Some additional pictures of the T&C hangar. First one shows the backside of the hangar. Here, on the stem, you can see the two buttons you have to push with a pinching motion in order to remove each attachment from the seatback. When the attachment's installed, those buttons are pretty close to the seatback, and it's tough to get your hand in to pinch them. You can also see the single button on the back of the bracket, that you push to pop the hangar off the top.

The second picture shows the hangar removed from the bracket, with the pop-up hook that comes out the top. You could hang your garment on this inside your house, and then grab the whole thing to bring out to your car. Handy.

[wesleyan92]

This is an awesome post! My wife has the piece you show last to hang her purse. Super sturdy and looks nice.

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by wesleyan92

This is an awesome post! My wife has the piece you show last to hang her purse. Super sturdy and looks nice.

Yep, got that for my wife too.

We both win - she has somewhere nice to put her purse and I don't cringe every single time she sits in the front passenger seat and I wonder if today's the day she scratches the trim there

[andyzzz]

Thank you for your detail introduction!
So to install the folding table on an X7, do I have to have a base carrier in between the passenger headrest columns, or can it just attach to that hole in the seatback?

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by andyzzz

Thank you for your detail introduction!
So to install the folding table on an X7, do I have to have a base carrier in between the passenger headrest columns, or can it just attach to that hole in the seatback?

Hole in back of seat. They do make headrest adapter for older models that don’t have the hole in the seat.

[andyzzz]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

Hole in back of seat. They do make headrest adapter for older models that don’t have the hole in the seat.

I see. Thanks! Ordering one now.