interchange headrests?

MAMSport · 12-05-2017, 07:45 PM

I am looking to see if other BMW headrests will interchange with those in the E82 1 series. For me, the headrests push my head forward. Either I put too much curvature in my cervical spine, or I don't lean back into the upper part of the seat back. Neither position is particularly comfortable.

I've asked some auto upholstery companies about modifying the headrests, but they decline due to possible effects to the head restraint system (in conjunction with the airbags).

So, I am wondering if other headrests can be interchanged. I know the ones from my E46 M3 wouldn't fit.

swagon · 12-05-2017, 08:43 PM

Visit your local dealership, ask for permission to take out some headrest and try them in your car.

F30 has adjustable headrests, for example.

vinylengraver · 12-05-2017, 09:03 PM

I have E90 headrests in my 1er. They have cool stitches on the sides and they tilt. I also upgraded my my manual seats with the fancy back panels from a 3er - they are soft touch plastic and equipped with those net pockets, which my original seats did not come with.

Esteban · 12-05-2017, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinylengraver

I have E90 headrests in my 1er. They have cool stitches on the sides and they tilt. I also upgraded my my manual seats with the fancy back panels from a 3er - they are soft touch plastic and equipped with those net pockets, which my original seats did not come with.

Sounds nice. Would love to see... got any pics?

swagon · 12-06-2017, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinylengraver

I have E90 headrests in my 1er. They have cool stitches on the sides and they tilt. I also upgraded my my manual seats with the fancy back panels from a 3er - they are soft touch plastic and equipped with those net pockets, which my original seats did not come with.

Wait, what? E90 headrests tilt?!

vinylengraver · 12-06-2017, 09:26 AM

When I bought a set of previously enjoyed manual sport seats for my base 1er, drivers left bottom bolster as well as the side panel on the seat back (near the airbag) needed repair - there were two cracks/creases in the leatherette and it looked like crap.
So, lucky I as I am, I have scored a pair of donor powered seats from an early E90 on the local Craigslist for $40. Driver's seat was pretty beat-up but passenger's was like new.
I skinned the good seat and used the covering to get the material to recover those portions needing repair.
It was done by the local upholstery shop and it was pretty involving since heating pads needed to be transferred, portions of the foam padding were replaced, etc.
Long story short, as a bonus I got those tilting headrests and the upgraded seat back panels with net storage pockets as well as two extra airbags, all motors, sensors and seat heaters and plenty of perfectly matching leatherette, just in case more repairs are needed in the future.
So those headrests most certainly do tilt, they are not active headrests but neat nevertheless. I will take some pictures tonight.

02Pilot · 12-06-2017, 11:58 AM

The E82 headrests are one of my very few complaints. My E39 had tilting headrests that were wonderfully comfortable. My head gets pushed forward as well, though it's not nearly as bad as the VWs and Audis I've been in - those are like some sort of medieval torture device.

Going to have to look into the E90 pieces, though finding them in Terra Cotta leather probably won't be easy. I wonder if the covers from the E82 parts will fit the E90 cores....

GoodMoodley · 12-06-2017, 12:25 PM

When I track my car I find that the headrest pushes against my helmet way too much and was quite uncomfortable. I had to lean my seat back and it put my position way off.

I figured out that I can just put my rear headrests in the front seats and they were perfect. Didn't want to drive without any headrests for obvious reasons. The arm spacing is minimally smaller on the rears but they go in almost 90% of the way down.

Here is a pic showing the drivers seat with the rear headrest and the passenger seat with the regular headrest. Looking to switch over to some racing seats at some point so this should cease to be a problem.

swagon · 12-06-2017, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinylengraver

Long story short, as a bonus I got those tilting headrests and the upgraded seat back panels with net storage pockets as well as two extra airbags, all motors, sensors and seat heaters and plenty of perfectly matching leatherette, just in case more repairs are needed in the future.
So those headrests most certainly do tilt, they are not active headrests but neat nevertheless. I will take some pictures tonight.

How tf do you tilt them? Have had a 3er since 09 and always thought they were not adjustable.

Never had a problem with E82 or E90 headrests, though. I think I don't even usually rest my head on it while driving.

vinylengraver · 12-06-2017, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagon

How tf do you tilt them?

By hand.
I am not being funny... seriously.
Here's a picture I found after 60 second search, except mine are black and have a seam on the side, perhaps because they are not leather...
But this picture show maximum tilt pretty clearly:

swagon · 12-06-2017, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinylengraver

By hand.
I am not being funny... seriously.
Here's a picture I found after 60 second search, except mine are black and have a seam on the side, perhaps because they are not leather...
But this picture show maximum tilt pretty clearly:

Took me 8 years to find that out.

Not that I'm going to use the tilt option, but still, damn! Shit. Thanks!

Esteban · 12-06-2017, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagon

I think I don't even usually rest my head on it while driving.

This is me. My head doesn't touch the headrest as well. Think I'm usually leaning forward a bit.

Esteban · 12-06-2017, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagon

Took me 8 years to find that out.

Not that I'm going to use the tilt option, but still, damn! Shit. Thanks!

This forum never fails to inform. lol

swagon · 12-06-2017, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esteban

This is me. My head doesn't touch the headrest as well. Think I'm usually leaning forward a bit.

There's a photo of me driving somewhere and I'm sat there almost like that meth head above.

Esteban · 12-06-2017, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagon

There's a photo of me driving somewhere and I'm sat there almost like that meth head above.

I'm more like this...

swagon · 12-07-2017, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esteban

I'm more like this...

But what do you do with the other arm that ain't got the tan?

Esteban · 12-07-2017, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagon

But what do you do with the other arm that ain't got the tan?

But how do you know it ain't tan? Nevermind...

And don't worry, it stays busy.

Doing unspeakable things.

chris_flies · 12-07-2017, 06:54 AM

I need to swap headrests for track days! This'll make everything so much better! The normal one jams my head into the sun roof, and it takes way too much slouching (unstable in corners) or too much recline (I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING) to remedy it. Learning new things every day...

Gangplank · 12-08-2017, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodMoodley

When I track my car I find that the headrest pushes against my helmet way too much and was quite uncomfortable. I had to lean my seat back and it put my position way off.

I figured out that I can just put my rear headrests in the front seats and they were perfect. Didn't want to drive without any headrests for obvious reasons. The arm spacing is minimally smaller on the rears but they go in almost 90% of the way down.

Here is a pic showing the drivers seat with the rear headrest and the passenger seat with the regular headrest. Looking to switch over to some racing seats at some point so this should cease to be a problem.

Fixed it for ya.

Funny but the head rests don't bother me at all. In my e60 545i I was constantly adjusting them but the e82 non adjustable just seem to be in the right place. Then again maybe the previous owner already swapped fronts to back(?)

Gangplank · 12-08-2017, 12:03 AM

Trying the attachment again.

iminhell1 · 12-08-2017, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_flies

I need to swap headrests for track days! This'll make everything so much better! The normal one jams my head into the sun roof, and it takes way too much slouching (unstable in corners) or too much recline (I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING) to remedy it. Learning new things every day...

Same. But my caveat is height and the seat not going low enough.

And it's crazy how much such a simple thing bothers so many of us ... and how dumb we are to never try and fix it with the one blocking the rear view. LOL

Thanks to Good for making us all feel dumb today.

vinylengraver · 12-08-2017, 09:20 AM

What I want to know is where I can find one of these low-profile ones?

12-05-2017, 07:45 PM	#1
MAMSport Second Lieutenant 87 Rep 263 Posts Drives: '13 128i M-Sport coupe Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: North Shore of MA iTrader: (1)	interchange headrests? I am looking to see if other BMW headrests will interchange with those in the E82 1 series. For me, the headrests push my head forward. Either I put too much curvature in my cervical spine, or I don't lean back into the upper part of the seat back. Neither position is particularly comfortable. I've asked some auto upholstery companies about modifying the headrests, but they decline due to possible effects to the head restraint system (in conjunction with the airbags). So, I am wondering if other headrests can be interchanged. I know the ones from my E46 M3 wouldn't fit.
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12-05-2017, 08:43 PM	#2
swagon Major General 13511 Rep 8,162 Posts Drives: F80 6MT Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Visit your local dealership, ask for permission to take out some headrest and try them in your car. F30 has adjustable headrests, for example.
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12-05-2017, 09:03 PM	#3
vinylengraver First Lieutenant 379 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Langley, BC iTrader: (0)	I have E90 headrests in my 1er. They have cool stitches on the sides and they tilt. I also upgraded my my manual seats with the fancy back panels from a 3er - they are soft touch plastic and equipped with those net pockets, which my original seats did not come with. Last edited by vinylengraver; 12-05-2017 at 09:09 PM..
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12-06-2017, 09:26 AM	#6
vinylengraver First Lieutenant 379 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Langley, BC iTrader: (0)	When I bought a set of previously enjoyed manual sport seats for my base 1er, drivers left bottom bolster as well as the side panel on the seat back (near the airbag) needed repair - there were two cracks/creases in the leatherette and it looked like crap. So, lucky I as I am, I have scored a pair of donor powered seats from an early E90 on the local Craigslist for $40. Driver's seat was pretty beat-up but passenger's was like new. I skinned the good seat and used the covering to get the material to recover those portions needing repair. It was done by the local upholstery shop and it was pretty involving since heating pads needed to be transferred, portions of the foam padding were replaced, etc. Long story short, as a bonus I got those tilting headrests and the upgraded seat back panels with net storage pockets as well as two extra airbags, all motors, sensors and seat heaters and plenty of perfectly matching leatherette, just in case more repairs are needed in the future. So those headrests most certainly do tilt, they are not active headrests but neat nevertheless. I will take some pictures tonight.
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12-06-2017, 11:58 AM	#7
02Pilot Malcontent 188 Rep 305 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	The E82 headrests are one of my very few complaints. My E39 had tilting headrests that were wonderfully comfortable. My head gets pushed forward as well, though it's not nearly as bad as the VWs and Audis I've been in - those are like some sort of medieval torture device. Going to have to look into the E90 pieces, though finding them in Terra Cotta leather probably won't be easy. I wonder if the covers from the E82 parts will fit the E90 cores....
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12-06-2017, 12:25 PM	#8
GoodMoodley First Lieutenant 225 Rep 376 Posts Drives: 12' 135i Pure Stg 2, 15' 228i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	When I track my car I find that the headrest pushes against my helmet way too much and was quite uncomfortable. I had to lean my seat back and it put my position way off. I figured out that I can just put my rear headrests in the front seats and they were perfect. Didn't want to drive without any headrests for obvious reasons. The arm spacing is minimally smaller on the rears but they go in almost 90% of the way down. Here is a pic showing the drivers seat with the rear headrest and the passenger seat with the regular headrest. Looking to switch over to some racing seats at some point so this should cease to be a problem. Attached Images __________________ Past: 1979 RX-7, 1980 Civic, 1989 B2200 lowrider, 1990 Golf GT, 1995 Civic Si Turbo, 2000 Civic SiR, 2000 328i, 2003 540i M-Sport, 2008 Rabbit, 2014 Pilot, 2002 A4 1.8T, 2009 A4 2.0T Quattro, 2017 CR-V Touring 2020 CR-V Touring Current: 2012 135i, 2015 228i x-Drive, 2023 CR-V Touring Hybrid
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12-07-2017, 06:54 AM	#18
chris_flies Sideways and Smiling 3027 Rep 2,860 Posts Drives: In Exuberance Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Rosamond, CA USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW E91 328i [0.00]	I need to swap headrests for track days! This'll make everything so much better! The normal one jams my head into the sun roof, and it takes way too much slouching (unstable in corners) or too much recline (I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING) to remedy it. Learning new things every day... __________________ 2012 BMW 328i 6-Speed Wagon \| Deep Sea Blue with Grey Dakota Leather \| Manual Swap, 330i Intake + Tune, 3.15 Helical LSD, Öhlins R&T (SOLD) 2009 BMW 128i 6-Speed Coupé \| Monaco Blue with Black Sensatec \| chris_flies' 128i thread
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12-08-2017, 12:03 AM	#20
Gangplank Brigadier General 1541 Rep 3,071 Posts Drives: 2011 e82 135i n55 Sport w/ DCT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 135i [0.00]	Trying the attachment again. Attached Images __________________ 2011 135i w/ DCT \| ZSP Sport Pkg \| PPK \| Ohlins R
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12-08-2017, 09:20 AM	#22
vinylengraver First Lieutenant 379 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Langley, BC iTrader: (0)	What I want to know is where I can find one of these low-profile ones? Attached Images
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