UPDATED...Having problems installing a car seat? Remove the head rest! Here's how...
04-01-2007, 06:29 PM
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
UPDATED...Having problems installing a car seat? Remove the head rest! Here's how...
The topic of car seat incompatibility with the Q7's head rest system has come up a few times now.
Audi's "brilliant" engineers decided to replace the easy-to-remove headrest system found in all other Audis with a fancy, slightly over-engineered folding headrest system. Given the lack of adjustability and the inability to (easily) remove, some car seats simply could not be installed in either the 2nd or 3rd row seat and has even registered at least one <a href="http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsummary.cfm?odi_id=10160329&prod_id=21829 2&cmpt_id=320&type=1" target="_blank">complaint</a> on the <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov" target="_blank">NHTSA's</a> website.
With the impending arrival of our third child (yay me), I finally got off my lazy behind and looked into how to remove the head rests. The 2nd row head rests can be completely removed in less than 5 minutes per side. The 3rd row head rests are removed similarly, but because of the "auto fold" design, they are attached via a cable that run on the inside of the seat. To remove them per Bentley manual, you actually have to remove the entire bench and leather padding/upholstery. I was able to get them out another way and have photo documented the process I used further down the page.
These pictures show how you can remove the head rests from both 2nd and 3rd row The last picture shows the-still-connected 3rd row head rest that I temporarily flipped around to make room. If you want to remove them from the 3rd row, you need to disassemble the headrest bracket to slide the cable mechanism out.
<img src="http://i5.tinypic.com/3z6728p.jpg">
<img src="http://i11.tinypic.com/4dcw6j4.jpg">
<img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/449fbdi.jpg">
<img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/2hpulpu.jpg">
<img src="http://i3.tinypic.com/2n7lbud.jpg">
Third row seat head rest removal:
*** WARNING: The head rest is attached to a bracket at the base of the seat that runs through the inside of the seat. Do NOT pull too hard on it or you WILL dislodge it (don't ask me how I know :-( ) ***
<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/44jt2c2">
<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/48ono8y.jpg">
<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/2ily3bs.jpg">
Picture of head rest completely removed. You can use the trim piece to cover up the opening if you choose...
<img src="http://i10.tinypic.com/4gglwlk.jpg">
Audi's "brilliant" engineers decided to replace the easy-to-remove headrest system found in all other Audis with a fancy, slightly over-engineered folding headrest system. Given the lack of adjustability and the inability to (easily) remove, some car seats simply could not be installed in either the 2nd or 3rd row seat and has even registered at least one <a href="http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsummary.cfm?odi_id=10160329&prod_id=21829 2&cmpt_id=320&type=1" target="_blank">complaint</a> on the <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov" target="_blank">NHTSA's</a> website.
With the impending arrival of our third child (yay me), I finally got off my lazy behind and looked into how to remove the head rests. The 2nd row head rests can be completely removed in less than 5 minutes per side. The 3rd row head rests are removed similarly, but because of the "auto fold" design, they are attached via a cable that run on the inside of the seat. To remove them per Bentley manual, you actually have to remove the entire bench and leather padding/upholstery. I was able to get them out another way and have photo documented the process I used further down the page.
These pictures show how you can remove the head rests from both 2nd and 3rd row The last picture shows the-still-connected 3rd row head rest that I temporarily flipped around to make room. If you want to remove them from the 3rd row, you need to disassemble the headrest bracket to slide the cable mechanism out.
<img src="http://i5.tinypic.com/3z6728p.jpg">
<img src="http://i11.tinypic.com/4dcw6j4.jpg">
<img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/449fbdi.jpg">
<img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/2hpulpu.jpg">
<img src="http://i3.tinypic.com/2n7lbud.jpg">
Third row seat head rest removal:
*** WARNING: The head rest is attached to a bracket at the base of the seat that runs through the inside of the seat. Do NOT pull too hard on it or you WILL dislodge it (don't ask me how I know :-( ) ***
<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/44jt2c2">
<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/48ono8y.jpg">
<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/2ily3bs.jpg">
Picture of head rest completely removed. You can use the trim piece to cover up the opening if you choose...
<img src="http://i10.tinypic.com/4gglwlk.jpg">
04-02-2007, 05:26 AM
#4
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Our kids are still too young/small for boosters...
The Britax Marathons we have are so much easier to use than the Radian 65, it's just that they're just so tall that the head rest was always getting in the way.
04-02-2007, 06:53 AM
#6
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We're having our first child in a month...
and getting the Q7 in about 2 months. We bought the Britax Marathon, also. Is there a real problem with this carseat and the Q7? I assume it's ok in the middle?
04-02-2007, 07:16 AM
#7
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
The problem is for some front facing seats and the headrest design
Rear facing seats would not have this problem. The middle seating position should be fine as well since the head rest is your typical run-of-the-mill removable.
When you turn the Marathon around (it is too big for a newborn, IMO, but I digress), you will either need to keep it in the middle or remove a headrest on one of the outboard seating positions to ensure a good/proper fit.
A few things to consider if you use the middle seat.
1) The Marathon is rather wide. It may obstruct the use of / access to the 3rd row
2) You can not use the LATCH connectors as the spacing is too far apart.
3) As with all VW/Audis I've owned, there is a pronounce 'lump' in the middle and the seat may not seat properly. Our Marathon fits well in the 'scooped' bucket seats on the outboard positions, however.
When you turn the Marathon around (it is too big for a newborn, IMO, but I digress), you will either need to keep it in the middle or remove a headrest on one of the outboard seating positions to ensure a good/proper fit.
A few things to consider if you use the middle seat.
1) The Marathon is rather wide. It may obstruct the use of / access to the 3rd row
2) You can not use the LATCH connectors as the spacing is too far apart.
3) As with all VW/Audis I've owned, there is a pronounce 'lump' in the middle and the seat may not seat properly. Our Marathon fits well in the 'scooped' bucket seats on the outboard positions, however.
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04-02-2007, 12:53 PM
#8
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3rd row pictures - yes please
I'd love to see the 3rd row shots if you can do it. I get my Q next week and this is one of the problems that I was thinking about dealing with, if for no other reason that my kids are too short to use the headrests anyway, and they obstruct the view in the back.
