Front Seat Headrest removal...
 

Has anyone removed the headrests from the front seats of a B8 A4? The service manager at the Audi dealership i deal with emailed me some Audi mechanics printouts on how to do it but I have had no luck. I have had 3 Audi techs try and fail. I think I can feel the "release button" in the seatback but I can't get it to release. The rear seats are like the older VAG seats that have a little slot for a screwdriver that releases them. I can't believe that these headrests are so tough to remove.

I would really like to get the headrests out and turn them backwards when I track the car. I have done this on many VAG cars over the years for track use as it allows you to sit normally with a helmet on. Currently, they push ones helmeted head forward which is uncomfortable to say the least. Any help or experience would be appreciated.

I know this is a silly question, but I'm assuming there isn't a push tab like there used to be. Do you have any pics?

I'd be interested to see if anyone has any tricks for this also. I tried this last time I was at the track and quit after 5 minutes.

Your assumption is correct. I'll post the "Elsaweb" diagram of the seat internals including the release switch location later tonight.

This is from the electric headrest
 

https://forums.audiworld.com/picture...ctureid=227734

Instructions follow:

Reach under the backrest cover and find the release button pressure point -3-.

Press the release button forward in the -direction of the arrow-.

Hold release button -3- down in this position.

Pull the headrest -2- out of the guides -1- and -4-


It should be noted that all the Audi techs that I have talked to about this agree that you don't need to reach under the backrest cover and can find the release button and press it through the leather. So far though, no dice.

non-electric headrest removal images
 

My avant has this type on the rear seats:

https://forums.audiworld.com/picture...ctureid=227736

This is the type I've seen on many VAG cars over the years:

https://forums.audiworld.com/picture...ctureid=227735

I have the instructions if needed but these are much easier (supposedly). The front seat headrests are the main issue and all the techs have said (and tried/failed) that they are removed as shown in the image in the previous post.

I am sure that someone knows what the "trick" is to getting these things out short of seat disassembly.

Mine is a 2011 A4 and yeah, that's how it works - you squeeze the top right end of the seat near the back of the pole while facing it and the headrest comes off. You can see in the hole that it's like a wire clip that expands when you squeeze it. I don't think there was a groove on the other pole of the headrest so if you want to turn it back, it may fall off if you roll over, but you have a helmet to fall onto:D

I've tried this a few times previously. I can even feel what appears to be a round button and I've pressed it HARD but I'm still unable to get them out. :-/

I have pushed so hard I thought my thumb was going to break. The Audi techs all pushed until they gave up. I was beginning to think that we were going to damage the leather but it seems we have had no effect whatsoever.

Gunsmoker,

When you say the "the top right end of the seat near the back of the pole while facing it", are you referring to the right headrest? According to the Audi dealer repair manual, the release (3 in pic A72-10680) is located on the outboard side. Thus on the left headrest, it should be on the left side and vice versa. You make it sound as if it is quite easy to release on your car. And yes if the car is upside down at the track, I probably have bigger concerns than a headrest. :)

Here is what I did.
Kneeled on the driver seat.
Extended the headrest as much as it could.
Grabbed the backrest around the right pole of the headrest and pressed with my fingers at spot that is shown on your pictures for the release of the electrical headrest. It doesn't feel much like a button and it's hard to tell if it moves. It's half an inch or a bit more below the upper edge of the backrest and its travel is very small.
Then pulled the headrest and it came off.
It takes a but of pushing and pulling, but it's not very difficult. The headrest pole has horizontal grooves on both sides which are 3mm deep or so. It's a wire clip that needs to be pushed on the back and its ends open up for the headrest pole to get out. Only one of them has it.
I don't know which pole has it for the passenger seat. Haven't tried that.

Note that my car doesn't have a slot in the ring around the pole. Those with the slot may need a screw driver to be inserted there instead of pushing the button.
My headrests are not electrical.