Back of rear seat trunk panel question

[Nachtycoupe]

This is for my E3 but I think the same panel and plastic attachments are the same for the E9. So for a broader audience I posted here I apologize for offending any coupe owners...(sarc). But is there a trick to pulling these pieces out? See picture (2) with both plastic rivets/clamps/thingamajiggers not sure exact name but since they didn't have a flat head, allen, or phillips hole I'm assuming they pop out but I didn't want to force anything and as you can see I am already bending one of them trying to pull it out. There is a round hole however, am I supposed to push something through it? Are these just supposed to "pop" out? As you can see my rear panel is damaged from not having the rear headrest brackets attached. I finally got a set and want to install but I am having issues getting the back panel off. I have a nice, undamaged one (for the most part) coming. Any suggestions welcome.

 

[bavbob]

Best is to remove the back seat and then push thru from that side. If you trash the retainers, I got some from Lowe's which has an automotive section among the nuts and bolts. I had to grind it down to fit but works perfectly.

 

[HB Chris]

Coupe doesn't have those, just tabs.

 

[JFENG]

There is a round hole however, am I supposed to push something through it? Are these just supposed to "pop" out? .

Those fasteners have an expanding head that locks into the sheet metal hole. The lock is due to a plastic pin that resides in that lil hole and expands the head of the fastener. You need to push the little pin all the way thru the plastic rivet (it'll fall into the area under the back seat upholstery where you ca on retrieve it later after much searching and cursing). Or, remove the back seat cushion and back (10 min max), so you can see how these fasteners work. Then you can push the little pin back out toward the trunk enough to collapse the fastener head and push the whole plug out into the trunk. This way the pin stays in the fastener and the fastener is ready to use again.

 

[Nachtycoupe]

Thank's bfeng, that's what I figured I'd have to do, no big deal, thanks! Was trying to do it the lazy way but it wasn't budging.

 

[JFENG]

Thank's bfeng, that's what I figured I'd have to do, no big deal, thanks! Was trying to do it the lazy way but it wasn't budging.

BMW uses tons of this type of fastener. All the belt trim, for example.
Even today, the plastic lower body cladding on modern BMW's is all held on with updated versions of those fasteners. Good invention.