Driver side adjustable headrest mod

[Audi Juice]

Was playing with the headrests today and realized that the passenger side is adjustable, while the driver side is not.

There was something about the headrest that had previously bothered me, but I could'nt pinpoint what it was. Just seemed like my neck was always cramped forward. My old B5 had an adjustable headrest, but I didnt think my B7 did. Until today that is!

There are 4 "removable" tabs that need to be cut out of the driver headrest assembly and then it will function just like the passenger side. Its actually a nice feature. Not sure why they decided to get rid of it.

Anyway, it's a free mod, so have at it!

Note: Not sure what cars this works for, but I can confirm 08'



Remove headrest


Use exacto knife to remove tabs (4 total) to allow head rest to rotate.


Picture of one tab removed


All 4 tabs removed and headrest rotated back


Picture of the tabs


Forward position


Back position


Just for fun a pic of my recently retrofitted Rns-e. Yes that's an RS4 Knob and E-brake handle

[Brent27]

sweet !! cant wait to try it out..

[SLYCAT]

Good write up but mine already adjust like that.Thanx

[audidrver]

NO MORE SCRATCHES HUH. Next is the wheel!

[Audi Juice]

NO MORE SCRATCHES HUH. Next is the wheel!

Nope. How is the piano trim holding up?

[audidrver]

Beautiful! What was the name of polish that you recommended me and where can i find it?

[Audi Juice]

It was just a plexiglass polish. I found that it was hard to polish while still on the car though. It's kind of a mission if you take the pieces off to polish, but probably better. The doors and ahstray are easily done as you know. For a general cleaner though, Sprayway glass and surface is the bomb. Leaves no streaks

[Allan T]

Nice mod

[Sharkfin]

Well mine actually rotates so I don't know why yours didn't (mines a 05.5) but anyways that was a nice find. As for the RNS-E retrofit, I bought the unit last week and was wondering where you got all the cables and the antenna for it. I wanted to know the cheapest place, I know navplus has everything though...

Very clean interior BTW, nice job

[Subaru71]

TO THE OP: SWEEEET!! My neck was bothering me so bad being forced forward I almost sold my car and got something else a few months back! I'm definitely doing this one.

I think they probably removed that feature and put the tabs in for safety reasons. I think it has something to do with the headrest position during a crash... just a guess..

Thanks for posting the discovery!

[Audi Juice]

As for the RNS-E retrofit, I bought the unit last week and was wondering where you got all the cables and the antenna for it.

Navparts is out of the Sharkfin extension cables and has been for the last few weeks. You might want to contact Brian at Vagnavs.com. He hooked me up.

If it is a Euro unit, let me know if you need help with the conversion.

TO THE OP: SWEEEET!! My neck was bothering me so bad being forced forward....Thanks for posting the discovery!

No prob. It's a lot more comfortable now.

[Quattro]

good job!!! wanna race about it? haha

[Audi Juice]

Trust me! You dont want to be looking at my bumper again do you?

Wtf??? Its 3am, go to bed!

[Quattro]

i know, tell me about it...off to bed right now...o ya this time, things have changed muhahahahahaha

[jayphil82]

My headrest are already ajustable by pussing the button on the side, but yours had the button but it was'nt functionnal???

By removing the clips, are you able to move them without pussing the button?

[NorcalPB]

hmm both my passenger and driver headrests have the clips
When you remove them do they lock into place for whichever position you want it to be in?

[Louis J.]

Weird. Mine rotates in my 06. Maybe they put the clips on newer cars?

[Subaru71]

yea, its weird.. its definitely meant to rotate, because there is that groove.. they just put the tab there to block it for some reason..

[Audi Juice]

My headrest are already ajustable by pussing the button on the side, but yours had the button but it was'nt functionnal???

By removing the clips, are you able to move them without pussing the button?

The button should be for moving the headrest up and down. This tab removal is for forward and back and back orientation.

hmm both my passenger and driver headrests have the clips
When you remove them do they lock into place for whichever position you want it to be in?

No they are not supposed to lock into place. There are just adjusted with a little pressure. They will not be flimsy though. Its a solid feel

[JPT]

I wanted to bring this back to the top... For some reason I was searching for headrests, and found this thread. So I just spent 10 minutes removing the tabs from both my driver and passenger side on my 2008, worked perfectly.

For those who are questioning how to remove the headrest, once it is in the highest position, press in on the button at the base of the outer track, and wiggle up on the headrest. I did have to tilt the seats back to get them out, as they extend WAY beyond the roof in a normal sitting position.

[Coderedpl]

Mine already moved like that and so did the passenger side. 2006 model year

[JPT]

Mine already moved like that and so did the passenger side. 2006 model year

I think it was only later years...

[RichieG]

wow just read this and ran out to the garage and did the passenger seat first to see if it worked.... and it did... took 5 min for both seats.. very cool....

[bmc333]

Sweet-doing this tomorrow

[Audi_Fan]

Sick! Can't wait to try it.

[lumberwood]

Did this today, it was a piece of cake and worked like a charm!

I can't believe I didn't look into this earlier, I've been so annoyed with the neck craning position of my headrest since buying my car I even considered replacing the seats LOL.

Thanks, Audi Juice!

[QuattriumMT6]

Picking up an exacto knife just to do this mod later too!!

[aluthman]

My Recaros adjust just fine...

[z_wrecker]

Cam across this thread when I was researching B6 and B7 Recaro headrests. Pretty useful info.

[Charles.waite]

Whoa. This always bugs me as my B6's headrest was adjustable but not my b7s. Going to add this to the list of things to do. Can't believe I never saw this until today...

[z_wrecker]

I ordered a replacement headrest and it was from a B7. I thought it was broken so I started researching and came across this thread. Since then I've done it on my factory seats as well