Rear Visibility

[rogbmw]

I have now been driving around for the past couple of weeks without the rear headrests in the car (they simply come out by pressing the button on the shaft and pulling them out), and the rear visibility is much better. If you don't need them in to haul people in the back seat, and don't mind not having the "cool" factor of having them in, then simply try taking them out and driving for a couple of days without them. You really can see better behind without them in place. I would also say that for those of you going on the track, you would really want to give it a try.

[Pinta]

I think the visability with them in is very good, much better than my previous 1 series hatch and my previous Subaru P1.

[RJKmetal]

I am very impressed with the visibility in my BSM. Arguably the best in any car I have owned. Definitely better than my Focus RS.

[Dackelone]

On the euro cars they (the rear headrests) have an extra button on the side of the headrest that allows them to tilt down - out of the line of sight. Kind a cool mod I think. I don't know if it fits our US specs cars or not. ?

[rogbmw]

The US cars do not have that tilt down feature. The visibility really if good with the headrests in, but even more so with out them. It is easy to do, and I thought I'd just mention it as it does not require any modification - you just slide them up and out and try it, then you can always slide them back in.

[Jezzer]

Originally Posted by RJKmetal

I am very impressed with the visibility in my BSM. Arguably the best in any car I have owned. Definitely better than my Focus RS.

Another ex Focus RS driver, welcome to the forum. I'm Jez just down the road from you in Hitchin, Herts.

[ethanh8791]

weight reduction tooo...

Hey...every little bit counts.

[Drillslinger]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

On the euro cars they (the rear headrests) have an extra button on the side of the headrest that allows them to tilt down - out of the line of sight. Kind a cool mod I think. I don't know if it fits our US specs cars or not. ?

I asked my local dealer about this and was told that the EU spec 1Ms didn't have the folding rear headrest option but that I could order headrests from the regular 1ers (but wouldn't have the orange stitching) and forgot to check at Frankfurt.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Drillslinger

I asked my local dealer about this and was told that the EU spec 1Ms didn't have the folding rear headrest option but that I could order headrests from the regular 1ers (but wouldn't have the orange stitching) and forgot to check at Frankfurt.

The euro 1M at the IAA had the same US style headrests - non folding. I was talking more of the headrests on 1er hatches. They have the folding headrests with teh button in the side. But here is a German spec e82.

[rogbmw]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

The euro 1M at the IAA had the same US style headrests - non folding. I was talking more of the headrests on 1er hatches. They have the folding headrests with teh button in the side. But here is a German spec e82.

The US headrests are larger than those.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by rogbmw

The US headrests are larger than those.

The above photo is of a German spec interior on a 135i. It is the red cloth (Standward trim)interior. The rear headrests (like on the 1er hatch) can fold flat when not needed.

On Tuesday (9/20) - I went back to the Frankfurt AUtoshow (IAA). Here is what the headrest from that AW 1M look like. The German spec 1M's use teh same headrests are the US spec cars now. ie: they do not fold flat.