Hi Everyone

I'm enjoying all of your posts while getting back to restoring my 74 E-Type OTS. I've learned a lot so far, and hoping someone can enlighten me on this little problem.

My head rests have disintegrated over time, and I have two new ones, but I can't get the old ones out of the seat. I had heard that there is a catch inside the channel that holds the headrest bar, but it's impossible to get at. Hoping someone out there has had a similar issue.

Thanks!

Best

XKE III

74 V12
2008 XJ8

 

IIRC you need to remove the seat back panel to access the catch.The catch is internal but easily accessed with the back removed.

 

Thanks lrgridley. I was hoping that there was a simple trick to get them to release, but I guess that entails taking the seat out before undoing the back. Looks like something that should be relatively easy turns into a project. Appreciate the advice.


XKEIII

74 V12
2008 XJ*

 

It's been a while since I did the headrest restuffing but as I recall you don't need to remove the seats. Look for two screws at the base of the seat back. You remove those and slide the seat back down slightly and it will release. The limit catch for the headrest is then exposed and easy to unlock.

 

Thanks lrgridley
I'll be trying that out in a week or so, and will report back on my adventure.

Best,

XKE III

74 V 12
2008 XJ8

 

XKEIII - I had the opportunity to check out my Series III today and regrettably need to retract my advice above. The rear of the seat does not release easily as I thought it did. The good news is that it's possible to replace the headrest foam with out removing them from the seats. There are two screws under the headrest itself that you can remove to get at the foam without removing the headrest. As I re-looked at my headrests I was reminded that that was how I did it. Extend the headrest fully, unscrew the two screws and be prepared for a stream of foam dust to spill out. It takes a fair amount of crushing and wiggling to get the new foam in but it's a 100% difference when it's done. Sorry for the mis-direct above (I was remembering the setbacks on my Mercedes 123 which do come off that way) but you'll find this job very do-able, of course with the standard patience that almost every job on our E's requires.