Removing 2nd Row Headrest
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
2013 GL450
I have called DOT safety line. I am including my original input i posted in another treat related to the EZ-Entry option on 2013 GL
"GL2013 same issue with 2nd row headrests. My 5 and 7 year old kids can't sit straight. Called MB to start aformal complaint...make a long story short...they told me to "get lost". Called DOT sefty department to report... They told me to check for those issues before buying a car...lovely...no help there either. Anyway, the second row headrests design with EZ-Entry option is a joke. If you have children, they will not be able to sit straight...mine kids are sitting with their heads tilted almost 45 deg either to the left or the right of the center of the sets Well praying each day not to get into any accident as their sefty belt is also improperly attached due to their sitting position. Have anyone over 6' tall tried to seet in the second row with EZ-Entry option? I bet tall folks will have issue with the headrests as well.
Like the car, but this is the last MB I will own. I was getting ready to buy 2014 S class in a couple of months, but with this horible MB costumer support it is not going to happen...Should spend $145k and get my dream car - Maserati GT convertible instead of GL and keep my 4 years old MDX."
"GL2013 same issue with 2nd row headrests. My 5 and 7 year old kids can't sit straight. Called MB to start aformal complaint...make a long story short...they told me to "get lost". Called DOT sefty department to report... They told me to check for those issues before buying a car...lovely...no help there either. Anyway, the second row headrests design with EZ-Entry option is a joke. If you have children, they will not be able to sit straight...mine kids are sitting with their heads tilted almost 45 deg either to the left or the right of the center of the sets Well praying each day not to get into any accident as their sefty belt is also improperly attached due to their sitting position. Have anyone over 6' tall tried to seet in the second row with EZ-Entry option? I bet tall folks will have issue with the headrests as well.
Like the car, but this is the last MB I will own. I was getting ready to buy 2014 S class in a couple of months, but with this horible MB costumer support it is not going to happen...Should spend $145k and get my dream car - Maserati GT convertible instead of GL and keep my 4 years old MDX."
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
GL 350 Bluetec
I agree MBUSA response is lousy. Dealer (DC Area) feined they didn't know anything about the issue, which has to be total BS. They wanted to charge me to remove the clip that keeps the headrest from being removed. I asked for a copy of the manual that pertains to removing and they gave it to me. An hours worth of ripping the seat apart (no tools necessary) and I had the head rest removed. Even if the tilt were there and it was comfortable for a kid, the spring gets very tight at the top of extension and its difficult for a child to extend the headrest all the way up, which is the only place it will latch.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
2013 GL450
CaptFett, did your remove the "clip" or "pin"...do you have a copy of the manual?
I am still little confused where the "clip" or "pin" is located. And I rather keep the headrest just need to figure out how to make those swirl backwards.
I am still little confused where the "clip" or "pin" is located. And I rather keep the headrest just need to figure out how to make those swirl backwards.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
GL 350 Bluetec
I did the clip in the seat and totally removed the headrest. The manual really wasn't any help. The pictures are very small and difficult to make out. I talked to a tech who said pull the bottom of the backrest apart and get in there and release it.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 365
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
08 E63 Arctic White/Black
that's what i want to do. i don't need them except for times i have relatives in town in the 2nd row, which would be at most 2-3 weeks a year.
right now my headrests are up and resting on top of my childseats and it just looks retarded and takes up rearview mirror view unnecessarily.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
2013 GL450
Got the GL back in June...noticed the headrest issue a couple of weeks later as my kids started complain. I am due to visit the delearship as I have problems with iPad docking stations and the A/C stopped working for a day and then it chose to work again....and to address some other small issues. I will ask them to remove the pin, but I have a feeling they will try to avoid it as much as possible. I am already waiting over two months for them to fix the power issue on iPads docking stations. Once again, I am not impressed with MB customer service....so far the worst I have experience comparing to others luxury car manufactures.
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
GL 350 Bluetec
Not exactly. You could still put it full up or full down. But manually. And if you used the auto feature with it full up, it may not go all the way down because the spring is removed. (The clip on the top of the seat should still release.)
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Utah
2013 BMW 550ix
Thanks for the details on how to do this.
There's just something about doing this, however, that seems insane. Perhaps it is that the vehicle is 80K+ and from a non-American luxury manufacturer.
Does anyone have pictures of and how-to for removing the "pin" so that the head rest bottom can swivel backward?
There's just something about doing this, however, that seems insane. Perhaps it is that the vehicle is 80K+ and from a non-American luxury manufacturer.
Does anyone have pictures of and how-to for removing the "pin" so that the head rest bottom can swivel backward?
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
2013 GL 450
Yes, that is correct. I was able to move the headrest in the first picture. I am also able to move it out so it does swivel, however I cannot remove the headrest entirely unless I am not pulling hard enough. This is what the actual receipt says, "Remove stop pins to allow headrest to fold back when raised. Saved old pins and put in glovebox for future reinstall. Note if pins are lost they are not available as separate parts."
Hope that helps!
Hope that helps!
I had clips removed but if removing the pins in the headrest makes same swivel back then that is a more favorable solution.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
2013 GL 450
Thats not what I am talking about, I already got that done by the dealer. The other member posted pictures where the headrest swivels back and sits flush with the backrest. He is talking about removing some pins inside the headrest.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 599
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
2022 E450 Prior:2021 S580 2012 E350BT, 2013 GL350BT, 2009 ML320BT, 2006 E320CDI, 1987 260E
Thanks for all the updates guys. I think I need to try going the route of removing the pins. Will work then with the convertible car seats and shorter relatives...
Junior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: SC
2014 GL350
Yes, that is correct. I was able to move the headrest in the first picture. I am also able to move it out so it does swivel, however I cannot remove the headrest entirely unless I am not pulling hard enough. This is what the actual receipt says, "Remove stop pins to allow headrest to fold back when raised. Saved old pins and put in glovebox for future reinstall. Note if pins are lost they are not available as separate parts."
Hope that helps!
Hope that helps!
The headrests don't bother my kids too much, but they are a bit uncomfortable and would surely be fine if they would swivel back towards the seat when up.
I took only a quick look at them but it looked like I would need to pretty much take the leather off of the headrest to get in there and that's not something I really want to do particularly given that it's not even clear what would need to be done after that.
It's really amazing that they went with this type of design when it would have been so easy to have them work better. Also these 2nd row seats are much more comfortable than any others that I have been in before aside from this issue.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
2013 GL450
I am not sure why dealer will make a statement that removing pins is an liability issue as all 2013 GLs without EasyEntry option headrests swirl back and flash with seats. Ask your dealer to show you 13 or 14 GL without Easy-Entry feature and show him that the headrest swirl back & flash with seat... then ask him again what does he means by "liability issue"??? Please let me know his/her responds.
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 156
Likes: 7
2014 GL 350 Bluetec
Sorry, didn't see this post. The dealer removed the pins but no manual. I don't think they removed clips, just pins.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: SC
2014 GL350
I am not sure why dealer will make a statement that removing pins is an liability issue as all 2013 GLs without EasyEntry option headrests swirl back and flash with seats. Ask your dealer to show you 13 or 14 GL without Easy-Entry feature and show him that the headrest swirl back & flash with seat... then ask him again what does he means by "liability issue"??? Please let me know his/her responds.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Utah
2013 BMW 550ix
I talked to one of my two local/area dealerships and as of right now it sounds like they will not remove it because of "liability issues." I have not talked directly to the service manager yet. I have also not talked to the other dealership yet.
But also, I have not placed an order, either. I have no problem going out of state for my purchase as I've had to do this before with other vehicles in the past so I will simply not purchase from a dealership that does not put in writing that they will resolve this issue before I take delivery.
But also, I have not placed an order, either. I have no problem going out of state for my purchase as I've had to do this before with other vehicles in the past so I will simply not purchase from a dealership that does not put in writing that they will resolve this issue before I take delivery.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
2013 GL450
MB dealer is full of...let you all finish that thought....liability issue with removing the pins and make the headrest same / identical as the ones in the GL w/o Easy-Entry option??? makes no sense. The liability issue is with the current Easy-Entry headrest design. Bottom line if you have young kids... Don't buy GL with the Easy-Entry option. Once again, my kind don't sit straight as they should because of the current headrest position. So the safety belt is not properly over their shoulders as it should and they are continuously in awkward position while driving. It is sad to watch this, and this to me is the liability issue.
