WIS 91.16 Head-rest/Restraint

Description - Rear Head-rest/Restraint

Automatic Rear Head-rest/Restraints are fitted on a 2003 update W220 S500L model with electric rear seats and lumbar adjustment in the back-rest.

Function - Head-rest/Restraint

The rear head-rests/restraints automatically move into the up position whenever anyone sits in a rear seat and fastens their seat belt. All three head-rests may be lowered by momentarily pressing the button on the dash. Holding this button pressed will also raise the two outer head-rests. The centre head-rest must be raised manually.

Issues - Rear Head-rest/Restraint

• The head-rests cannot be lowered manually. If they stick in the raised position they can obstruct the view out the rear window.
• Some of the procedure for removing the rear Head-rest/Restraint is rather tricky and is not explained in STAR XENTRY WIS. The author wasted a lot of time removing all the boot/trunk lining only to find that it is not possible to access the head-rest/restraint mechanism because of the fuel tank.
• The Rear Head-rest/Restraint solenoid actuator can easily come off the main part of the mechanism thus leaving the ear Head-rest/Restraint in the raised position. The next photo shows a dislodged rear left head rest actuator.

• The Rear Head-rest/Restraint solenoid actuator often breaks in half as the securing lugs are rather weak.

DIY Remove Mechanism - Rear Head-rest/Restraint

Remove Rear Head-Rest/Restraints

The first task is to remove all three rear head-rest/restraints. If they are not already in the raised position, manually raise them.

The trick to removing the plastic cover around each head-rest/restraint arms is to use a flat head screw driver to gently prise up the front edge and then pull the cover upwards and towards the front of the car.

Then it is necessary to release the head-rest/restraint arms from the mechanism.

Using a mirror, look closely at the holes and you will see small black plastic levers inside. You need to push these down about 0.5cm while pulling the headrest arm out towards the rear of the car. You will need to hold one side of the headrest out a little while you release the arm on the other side. This procedure is identical for the three headrests.

The first time I did this it took me over half an hour to remove one as it would not budge. The trick I discovered was to use a screw driver as a lever to apply extra force in the removal direction (towards the rear of the car) whilst depressing the black plastic catch.

This view of the mechanism once removed, shows the black plastic levers (white arrows) which secure the head-rest/restraint arms in position.

Remove Rear Seat Squab/Cushion

The second step is to remove the rear seat squab. Move the seat to the maximum forward position and reach underneath. There are two springs (marked 4 in the next Figure) which must be pressed outwards to release the seat.

This exposes the Rear Seat Squab Cushion Frame. The two large white plastic objects are the points where the springs locate and hold the seat squab/cushion on the frame.

Remove Two Lower Mounting Bolts for the Rear Seat Back-rest

Once the seat squab/cushion is out of the way it exposes the two lower mounting bolts for the Rear Seat Back-rest. Nickel plated (silver) in the next photo. Remove both of these bolts (10mm Torx).

Remove Rear Upper Chrome Kick Plate

The upper chrome kick plate can be prised off with plastic or wooden wedges.

Remove Rear Seat Lumbar Adjustment Control and Trim

Next remove the Rear Seat Lumbar Adjustment Control and associated Trim. The control can be prised out with a sharp plastic wedge and the two airlines disconnected.

Remove Trim Between Rear Seat Backrest and Door Frame

By carefully prising and pulling, the leather trim between the rear seat backrest and the door frame can be removed. This exposes the first of the two upper mounting bolts for the rear seat back-rest. Remove this bolt.

Remove Centre Console Upper Back-rest

Next remove the Centre Console Upper Back-rest. There are two plastic clips about a third of the way down on both sides. These must be depressed with two fingers to release.

The Centre Console Upper Back-rest can then be pulled out with an upwards movement.

Remove Centre Upper Mounting Bolts

With the Centre Console Upper Back-rest out of the way it exposes the two centre upper mounting bolts for both Left and Right Rear Seat Backs.

Remove centre upper mounting bolts for both Left and Right Rear Seat Backs.

Remove Rear Seat Back-rest

The rear seat back-rest can now be removed with an upwards movement. It easily clears the raised head-rest which could not be lowered. The first time I did this repair I left the left head-rest in place. The second time, two years later, I had to remove all three head-rests so that I could raise the rear window shelf to remove the right head-rest mechanism.

Lower the Plastic Lining

When the corner of the plastic lining is lowered it reveals the Rear Head-rest/Restraint Actuator.

In the next photo the Rear Head-rest/Restraint Actuator can be seen dislodged from its correct position.

Remove Rear Left Head-rest/Restraint Actuator

The Rear Left Head-rest/Restraint Actuator can be removed by disconnecting the two air lines and the electrical connector.

The grey pneumatic line connector is easily prised off from the front.

The white pneumatic line connector is a challenge. It best removed by manipulating the mechanism to the left of the car to expose the white pneumatic line. Then prise off the connection with long nose pliers.

Manipulate the mechanism to expose the electrical connector and remove with long nose pliers.

Manipulate the mechanism so that the white bellows can be removed.

Finally move the mechanism to the far left side of the car inside the access hole and withdraw the right side of the mechanism through the aperture first.

Often you will find that several plastic lugs holding the actuator together have broken and allowed the actuator to leak slightly as well as become dislodged.

Remove Rear Right Head-rest/Restraint Actuator

After removing the seats the Rear Right Head-rest/Restraint Mechanism is still not accessible until the rear window shelf is either removed or blocked up out of the way.

Block the Rear Window Shelf up out of the way

Remove Rear Right Head-rest/Restraint Mounting Screws

Remove the two rear screws and loosen the two top screws which don’t need to be completely removed.

This is what it looked like after removal. The solenoid actuator had come detached completely.

This is what it should have looked like.

DIY Repair Mechanism - Rear Head-rest/Restraint

After removing and inspecting as above it is an easy matter to twitch some wire around the actuator to take the place of the broken lugs or to reinforce it so that it doesn’t come apart again. The remaining plastic lugs and the wire now take the strain of the piston when it is under pressure from the Pneumatic System Equipment (PSE) Pump when the head-rest/restraint is commanded to rise. Note this force is quite considerable.

Make really sure of an air tight seal by cleaning them with solvent and applying silicone to the base of the rubber cups before reassembling and then clamping the solenoid tightly together and leaving overnight for the silicone to completely set.

DIY Repair/Replace/Manufacture - Head Restraint Button

Version 01 posted 2012-01-25 Post #5 at:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220-s-class/1624796-seeking-rh-headrest-adjuster-button.html