Okay, I searched the archive but didn't see it.

Is there a trick to the seat return?

On the passenger side, after sliding the seat forward to let someone in, it'll slide back, but the top part sticks leaned all the way forward.

With some effort I can force it--but I'm worried I'm screwing it up unecessarily.

The driver's side sticks, but not as badly, but returns to random locations from where it was.

Alt question: Is there a known fix?

TIA,

Jeff

 

Instead of sliding the whole seat back first, try pushing the back almost into place first.

I believe there is a mechanical "memory" system that will automatically set the seat back to the position it was in before you pushed it forward.

When you push on the headrest to move the back into position, just before you can click it, the whole seat starts moving back. After you get the hang of it, it is one swift, quick motion - VERY NICE in the end. - It confused me a little at first too.

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Pure Silver w/ black MC, Premium, Sports, and Cold-weather pkgs, CVT, + NAV system - and that little shark-fin antenna! (too much fun!)

 

Come to think of it, that is the one thing about this car that has taken me the most effort to get used to:

Some of the things that I expected to be almost effortless take a lot more work - like shutting the door. I appreciate that it has a nice solid feel and sound when it shuts, but I find myself constantly having to shut it twice to get it fully closed.

The seatback is another thing - you don't *gingerly* slide it all back - you give it a good little tug/shove to get it moving.

Just a random rant. I still love Molly - she just likes it rough!

 

The MINI Owner's Manual says that the seat bottom should be moved back into place first, then the seat back should be folded back to lock it.

"Original position
1. Push the seat back into its home position
2. Fold the backrest back to the home position
to lock the seat."
Page 33.

This has been working great for me.

That seems to be opposite to MINI2Go's cool trick.
Hmmmm.

 

After trying this a few more times, I don't think I described my "cool trick" very well.

In essence, I am saying the same thing as the manual - I'm just pushing on the backrest to accomplish both parts in one swift, quick motion.

I described pushing with the headrest - but that will frequently cause you to push on the backrest too much and make it click before the seat is back to its normal position. Grabbing the "shoulder " of the backrest seems to work better. And, the seat starts moving back well before the seatback is ready to click.

Really, I think my other post about Molly liking it "rough" is the key point. Just grab and pull/shove. That's really about the only "trick" I can offer...

_________________
Pure Silver w/ black MC, Premium, Sports, and Cold-weather pkgs, CVT, + NAV system - and that little shark-fin antenna! (too much fun!)

 

I had the same problem - it annoyed be because it smacked slightly of a lack of attention to detail on the part of Mini's designers. Not what I had expected from the car. :???:

That being said, I have trained my passengers to grab the back of the seat near the base and slide it back. As long as the bottom moves back to its original position before the backrest rotates, the "mechanical memory" will work.

 

Thanks for the tips! I'm hoping it'll break in. Definitely an area that could use a little more work. Still a blast, though. Me and a couple of buddies went to lunch in it--one guy is 6'3" and actually fit in the back seat!

Motor on,

Jeff

 

>>I had the same problem - it annoyed be because it smacked slightly of a lack of attention to detail on the part of Mini's designers. Not what I had expected from the car.