Removal of Rear Seats

[Colorado "S"]

Is anyone else contemplating removing the rear seats all together?

I really like the idea of a two seat hatch, and don't like how when the rear seats are just laid down there isn't a flat floor. So, I'm curious has anyone looked into having a false floor built (similar to what you'd use to hide a sub).

I gather the seat backs should be fairly easy to get out, but what about the rear seat bench?

[smiffy]

Check the MINI Mania site, they have a race prep Cooper Not sure if its been striped though

[Racer]

Quote:

Originally posted by Colorado "S"
Is anyone else contemplating removing the rear seats all together?

I really like the idea of a two seat hatch, and don't like how when the rear seats are just laid down there isn't a flat floor. So, I'm curious has anyone looked into having a false floor built (similar to what you'd use to hide a sub).

I gather the seat backs should be fairly easy to get out, but what about the rear seat bench?

Bench just clips out - Rear seats in a club sport are pretty useless since roll cage means youu can't sit in them but also prevents them from folding flat

[Colorado "S"]

Quote:

Bench just clips out - Rear seats in a club sport are pretty useless since roll cage means youu can't sit in them but also prevents them from folding flat

Great! Thanks. Is there anything under the bench once its removed, or is it just carpeted? In my Jetta, with the seat cushions out, the access hatch to get to the fuel pump in the gas tank is visable.

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by Colorado "S"
Is anyone else contemplating removing the rear seats all together?

I've given this some thought. But since I haven't seen a MINI in person yet, I'm not sure how I would proceed. I imagine there's a dip where the seat bottoms go, and if I were to carpet that, it might be nice to hold things (keep them from sliding around too much).

Chip H.

[tys42]

I too would like to remove the rear seats. I don't have a MINI yet, but I was able to remove the seat bench easily on a test-drive car. Removing the seat backs will probably be more involved (tools needed). There is no carpeting under the seats, just metal and a couple of round plastic bits (I assume they are access panels for something.
I would like to take the seats out and put in a piece of carpet and maybe something to make one big flat surface.
Can anyone comment on what's involved to remove the seat backs? If anyone has photos of a MINI with no back seats I'd like to see them.

Cheers

[Minty]

You should get in touch with Smoothass
He has one bucket seat installed in the back of this car:


Stephen

[MiNiGuY]

1 Remove seat bench.
2 fold seats flat, headrests down.
3 remove the 10mm bolt from anchor point between the seats.
4 flip the catch plate on the top of the anchor point upwards freeing the seat pivots.
5 starting with the left seat (theres a reason for this believe me!!) gently pull the seat pivot upwards and free of the anchorage point but don't tip the seat upwards more than necessary.
6 Whilst applying gentle sidewards pressure to the seat, inwards toward the centre of the car (pull it from the bottom only level with the outer pivot point)tilt the seat fowards and backwards until it frees itself from its outer fixing point. The pivots have two pegs which pop out from the fixing point in the right tilt posistion (usually around 45 degree tilt forwards)
Take care not to move the seat too much any other way but forwards and backwards tilt,or the outer fixing point will break. Try to move the seat only as much it does when fixed in place, only allowing just enough tilt to clear the other seat when it pulls free.
7 repeat for the right side.
8 to rebuild just reverse the sequence. Right seat first, Left second. Notice that the left seat automatically shuts the locking latch when you push it home, that's why you remove it first, replace it last.
9 The 10mm bolt should be 10nm torque but hand tight is ok.
10 on replacing the seat pan, pop the two clips at the front first then with your fists together give a fast and sharp blow downwards on the seat just behind the seat belt anchor points. It should click home. you sometimes dont hear the click but just make sure the seat doesn't pull upwards at the rear.

Hope this helps.


ps, seat removal breaches warranty.

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiNiGuY
<snip> seat removal <snip>

Thanks for the info, MiNiGuY.
This info is probably also useful to people installing amplifiers in the boot (remove seats to make it easier to run 4ga power cable from engine compartment).

Chip H.

[Garfield]

So, am I to understand that the bench portion of the rear seat simply pulls out? No tools needed? Any type of latch?

Thanks,
Brian

[MiNiGuY]

Three clips on the bench.
One at each corner at the front.
One at the rear in the middle.
To remove it pull it up sharply at each front corner to release those clips.
Then grab the whole seat and just yank it out of the rear clip.
To replace it, see my earlier post.

[flyboy2160]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiNiGuY
Three clips on the bench.
One at each corner at the front.
One at the rear in the middle.
To remove it pull it up sharply at each front corner to release those clips.
Then grab the whole seat and just yank it out of the rear clip.

i removed the rear seat backs as you described, but with the bench still in place. i couldn't get it out. the front lower corners are clipped in as you describe and i pulled more forward than up. but my 2003 bench is also attached at each back corner. i tugged both front-to-back and vertically, but couldn't get it out. i'll look for fasteners later....

i've weighed the seat backs and mine are lighter than previously reported: 27.5 lbs for the pair. the jack is 5 lbs. i'll update the weights when i get the bench, attach hardware and the rear belts out.

[Dom]

Quote:

Originally posted by flyboy2160


i removed the rear seat backs as you described, but with the bench still in place. i couldn't get it out. the front lower corners are clipped in as you describe and i pulled more forward than up. but my 2003 bench is also attached at each back corner. i tugged both front-to-back and vertically, but couldn't get it out. i'll look for fasteners later....

i've weighed the seat backs and mine are lighter than previously reported: 27.5 lbs for the pair. the jack is 5 lbs. i'll update the weights when i get the bench, attach hardware and the rear belts out.

It's hooked in the middle at the back, try pushing it down slightly there.

Guess who's done this a few times now

Dom

[lonnieinskeep]

It should be 2 pieces regardless of whether or not it folds down
unless they changed it my b12 sentra's back seat was 2 peices and that didn't fold down there should be 2 or 3 bolts between the top and bottom parts of the seat to take the bottom off the top honestly i'm not sure....

[MyMiniGidget]

I realize this is trying to wake a long dead thread, but i broke the outer fixing point, im pretty sure because i managed to remove my right seat in 3 seconds and i had been working on the left seat for 15 minutes. What do i do to solve this problem? im trying to wire my stereo and i need my seats out for wiring, dynamat, etc. and ideas?