Does anyone have a clue how to remove the lumbar adjustment **** on the side of the drive and passenger seats??? I've got the **** partway disassembled and can't separate the inner white plastic part from the outer black part of the ****. Clues would be greatly appreciated...

 

I know this is an old thread, but I'll reply because this may help someone else.

I searched the internet and shop manuals but nothing to answer this question.I was working on my car seats and was stuck with this: unable to remove the back ulpholstery because I was unable to remove that dawn lumbar ****. I didn't want to break something, so after carefully studying the whole thing I found a solution. This will only apply to the second generation mini, I think the first gen is not the same.
So, assuming you already removed the back plastic cover from the seat back, just make sure the lumbar is not applied, if not then turn the **** to remove any lumbar position in the seat, the idea is to remove any tension in the cable; next you'll have to locate the cable that is related to the lumbar mechanism, at some point there is a 90 degree curve in it, with pliers and a screwdriver carefully get the cable outside its track, this will give more looseness to it, next with your pliers try to remove the cable end from the lumbar mechanism, this is quite easy. If you succeeded, then all that remains is taking hold with your hand of the lumbar button an pry it out and presto it will go out of the seat.
Also, if like me, you want to completely remove the upper ulpholstery from the seat's frame, the next challenge will be to remove the seat material on the inner bottom side, using a screwdriver, carefully make the material go past the hinge. Then the final challenge will be to pass the inner white material through the airbag, remove the one screw holding the airbag and push the airbag up to clear some retainers and finally wiggle it to clear the white material from inside the seat material. After that just put back the screw by hand to retain the airbag.
Hope that helps.