How To: Remove seats from a 1998 Beetle

[Mello Mike]

Tools you'll need:
1. Phillips Screwdriver
2. T-40 Torx (star-shaped) screwdriver
3. Small Pocket Knife

FRONT SEAT REMOVAL:

Note: Regarding the airbag system, you do not need to do anything special to remove the front seats. Just ensure that there is no power going to the car. Some people prefer to disconnect the battery first. That's your choice.

Step 1: Push the seat all the way forward in order to expose the rail covers in the rear. Fold the seat forward for extra room. Use the pocket knife to remove the small round plugs covering the rail screws. Now use the Phillips screwdriver to remove both rail covers.

Step 2: Now push the seat all the way back. Look under the front of the seat. You'll see two 8mm torx head screws bolted to a lip attached to the body of the car. Using the torx screwdriver, remove both screws. Note: in my car, one torx screw had seized and in the process of trying to remove it, I striped the head. The screw had to be drilled out to remove it.

Step 3: Now push the seat back further. The seat's rail wheels should now be completly exposed in the rear. Don't lift the seats up yet. First, we need to disconnect the wiring.

Step 4: Pull the seat back and up, exposing the bottom of the seat. Now locate the wiring harness(es) and wiring plug(s). Note: the driver seat has two plugs while the passenger seat only has one. Remove any wire-ties from the wiring in order to give you more room to work with the wiring. Grab hold of the wiring plug and pull them apart. There should be a little tab that you'll need to press to disconnect the two.

Step 5: You may now remove the seat.

To install, simply reverse the process.

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REMOVING THE REAR SEAT:

Tools you'll need:
1. Large Flat-head Screwdriver
2. T-40 Torx (star-shaped) screwdriver

Note: the rear seat comes in two pieces.

A. Removing the bottom seat cushion:

Step 1: Locate the small material loop strap. Pull on the loop until the seat slides forward. The cushion should now be at roughly at a 90 degree angle.

Step 2: Now locate the two L-shaped hooks on the bottom of the cushion. Press one of the hooks inward to remove it from the frame. Remove the other hook. You may now remove the bottom seat cushion.

B. Removing the backrest:

Step 1: Open the rear hatch. Fold the backrest down, so that it is laying flat in the horizontal position. Now locate the zipper on the backside of the backrest and unzip it. Locate the two Torx screw heads. Using the Torx screwdriver, remove both screws and pull the mounting plate back.

Step 2: Now on either side of the backrest on the bottom, locate the latch housing. You'll see a metal tab covering the seat mount. Using the large Flat-bladed screwdriver, pull this tab back, exposing the seat mount. Repeat this process for the other side.

Step 3: Now pull the backrest forward to remove it.

To install, simply reverse the process.

[Mello Mike]

to install tan leather seats from a 2001 1.8L Diesel. I got the leather seats from LKQ auto wrecking here in Phoenix for only $250!!

The seats were a perfect match for my '98 Beetle and installed just fine, hardware-wise. The wiring, however, didn't match and will require some modification in order for the side airbags to work.

Another minor difference worth noting is that the Torx mounting screws for the front seats were replaced sometime after 1998 with 8mm threaded posts which are attached to the seats directly. You simply mount the seats using regular 8mm locking nuts. I think this is a marked improvement over the mounting used in the 1998. Why? Because one Torx screw on each seat seized and both became striped trying to remove them. I had to drill both screws out to remove both front seats. A royal PITA.

[LadybugEwa]

In my '98 the screws on the back seat were METRIC HEX not Torx. You sure yours were 'star-shaped'? That's weird because mine were hexagon-shaped.

[Mello Mike]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

In my '98 the screws on the back seat were METRIC HEX not Torx. You sure yours were 'star-shaped'? That's weird because mine were hexagon-shaped.

Yep, mine were Torx. So, yours were allen screws? That is strange that VW would use different styles.

Where did you get the nice wheels? Who makes them? Were they pre-painted?

[LadybugEwa]

I'm thinking your screws could have been replaced/modified just like on your front seats, because just the other day I was talking to Titchy who has a '05 and she's got Hex there too.
Wheels are BSA, came with red spokes from factory. Bought new from eBay for less than half retail price
I get a huge kick out of them, and thank you for the kind words

[Mello Mike]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

I'm thinking your screws could have been replaced/modified just like on your front seats, because just the other day I was talking to Titchy who has a '05 and she's got Hex there too.

I don't think that's the case. I've read posts on other websites where the owners stated they had Torx style screw heads on the mounting plate on the backrest.