touring 325i, how do you drop the rear seats??

[k9]

Hi
I have recently purchased a 325i touring, how do you drop the rear seats? My car had been stood for 12 months so everything was a bit stiff, but the seats couldnt have been put down for years. There are two small black pushy things (one on each side) with a circular hole in, I assume these drop the seats but do you 'pull them up' or 'push them down' to drop the rear seats? Mine don't want to know?

Any touring owners out there who could give me a hand? Had similar problems etc...

Thanks

K9

[tourer-dan]

Lift the squabs (bases) first by pulling on the tabs at the back, then the seatbacks simply pull down. The circles in the black tabs that pop up fit into metal pins now vertical on the squabs.

When you put it back.it should all automatically lock into place. I somethimes have to really slam my seatbacks to get the tabs to pop back in.

[Brianmoooore]

As you tip the seat squabs forwards, they release a lever each side, which should release the seat backs. I've come across a couple of tourings where these levers have broken off, leaving just a short stub.
The seat squabs can either be folded against the front seats, or can be removed completely by squeezing together the two hinge pins,
When you put the seat backs up, the two black tabs you refer to must go down to lock the seats, otherwise anything in the luggage area would conme through in an accident.
Any problems with the catches can usually be sorted by adjusting the eccentric pins which the backs lock on to.

[StuBeeDoo]

Any problems with the catches can usually be sorted by adjusting the eccentric pins which the backs lock on to.

On mine, the latches get sticky and sometimes won't lock, no matter how hard I slam the bl**dy things. I've found that spraying in every orifice with lock lube or electrical contact spray does the trick.
WD40's no good for this as it attracts dust and eventually becomes sticky and makes the problem worse.