52 25 532 Replacing Lower Armrest Section For Rear Seat Backrest

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 6 other vehicles, including the 2008 BMW 750i, 2008 BMW 750Li, 2007 BMW 750i, 2007 BMW 750Li, and 2006 BMW 750i. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove armrest for rear seat backrest. See 52 25 030 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE ARMREST FOR REAR SEAT BACKREST
Remove rear center head restraint. See 52 25 388 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING REAR MIDDLE HEAD RESTRAINT

Drive through pin (1) to center.

Fold up upper armrest section (4) and remove towards top.

Installation:

Feed spring (2) into opening.

Unclip wiring harness (3).

Fig 1: Identifying Auxiliary Spring With Gaiter

G04768358

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release retainer (1).

Remove shaft (2).

Bend open holder (3) on left and right and remove.

Installation:

When installing holder (3), do not damage lower armrest section.

Fig 2: Identifying Shaft, Retainer & Holder

G04768316

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unclip trim (1) with assembly wedge (2) and remove.

Fig 3: Identifying Special Tool (31 3 382)

G04768340

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Remove control unit in rear center armrest. See 61 31 156 REMOVING AND INSTALLING (REPLACING) CONTROL UNIT IN CENTER ARMREST AT REAR

Release screws (1).

Unclip switch unit (2) on left and right with assembly wedge (4) and remove.

Slide side trim (3) on left and right in direction of arrow as far as it will go and remove.

Unclip front trim (5) with assembly wedge (4) and remove towards front.

Fig 4: Releasing Joint Seat Nut

G04768361

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release left and right screws (1).

Remove trim (2).

Fig 5: Identifying Left & Right Screws

G04768362

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

When replacing trim:

Release screw (1) and remove lock (2).

Fig 6: Identifying Screw & Lock

G04768343

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove switch unit (1) on left and right towards top.

Installation:

Slide switch unit (1) on left and right into guide.

Fig 7: Identifying Switch

G04768364

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unclip storage tray (1) with assembly wedge (2) and remove towards top.

Fig 8: Removing Storage Tray With Assembly Wedge

G04768365

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unlock head restraint guide (1) (from inside of front storage tray (3)).

Lever out head restraint guide (1) with assembly wedge (2) at side and remove towards top.

Installation:

Head restraint guides on left and right must not be mixed up.

Fig 9: Identifying Head Restraint Guide

G04768366

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.