I need more space for our 8000+ miles longe trip and would like to remove the back rest of the back seat.
Anyone knows how it is done? I would want to install it again.
Danish.

 

the bottom 'seat' piece just pops up and out. you'll have to take that out to do the rest. the folding back pieces- if you look from the front of the car toward the seats there are some black torx bolts, 4 i believe, that need to come out right along the bottom of the seat, near the harnessing points. after those, theres one bolt behind the seats, between them, that you will see if you fold the seats down, then, the seats just have to be finessed out of there, the backing has to be angled just the right amount to get it out of there, it looked like about a 30% angle or so (folding the seat from the down position to the up position) and just pull it towards the middle of the car and it should just pop out, repeat for other side.

 

Before you take out the bracket between the seats, you can take out the smaller of the four bolts (facing the rear of the car) and flip up the latch. This will allow you to pull the back rests out without removing the center latch. If you don't mind the latch sticking up in the middle of the trunk area, you don't have to remove it.

BTW, after you pull the center of the back rests up, you'll have to rotate them forward to about 60 degs, before they will pull out of the socket on the sides. The rod that the piviot on has a locking tab on it that will be obvious AFTER you've done it the first time.

EDIT,
I just read thru what agile_moments said. Has the seat changed? My 06 doesn't have the extra bolts that at mentioned. The bottom of the seat is held down with four plastic clips that can be just pulled out, and then the rear is held in by the center latch.

 

check out rearseatdelete.com and look for the Mini Cooper 'kit'. I think it is a nice touch up for after removing the rear seats.

(I have no affliation with the company)

 

There's also a DIY on MINI2 with pictures I believe. Pretty easy once you figure it out. I do it to transport wheels to AutoX events.

 

Just like to thank you all for the valuable info.
The seat came out very easily. The seat just pulled uo.
Removed the hex boldt ibetween the seats in the reatand fripped up the upper part of the bracket.
Pulled the left back rest up from the center and kept on rotated it but I could not get the back rest out. While the left back was slightly elevatet I tryied the right seat and after rotating it slightly it came right out. got the oter rest out just as easy.
Try by trail and error. It turns out and I guess you all know that there is a small pin through the stud in the backrest that has to line up with the slot in the plasyc bushing.
I am now ready to tranform the back into a flatbed.
Thans all.
Danish.

 

Hi, Danish! Talk about your late posting, but you wouldn't happen to have any after pictures of your modification, would you? I have been toying with this same idea (to carry dogs and large amounts of photography gear). Plus, any tips that you discovered as you worked through your mod would be awesome! Thanks very much!

 

mini2.com has a how to that tells you how to remove the back seat. Give a lookie over there!

Garrett

 

Hi Red Erik.
Just loved the picture of the CERES Danish Beer. Yes I am Danish and live i Florida and Colorado is one of the western states we will visit this late summer.
Sorry but I did not take any pictures but it is very simple to remove seat and back rest.
Pull up the seat and it comes right off.
In the back between the backrests there is a bolt that you have to loosen. Look closely and you will see that part of the braket can be pushed up to allow you to pull up the left back rest at the center. Once you have lifted the it you will need to pull it up as there is a rod at the outer side that has to be pulled out of the socket. There is what looks like a cotter pin at the end of the rod which will, when turned to the right spot will slide out through a plastic bushing. Don't tear at it as it will destroy the plastic bushing. If the plastic bushing comes out it can be inserted again.
The right backrestcan be removed the same way. Piece of cake.
You can then remove tha center bracet which will require a 3/8" Torx socket.
If you like e-mail me with your phone number I will be happy to call you.
Danish