Why so tight!

[idej_z4]

Not a Z problem yet...

Want to recolour my leather seats so thought I would practice on the 1 series then do the Z later.

Straight away I'm stuck. The bolts that secure the seats are a nightmare to remove! I've got a small handheld drill and some allan keys. Sprayed with lube in prep but can't shift the buggers. I'm not even sure hex is the right shape for unscrewing. Image below of the fixings.

Before they warp and are completely unremovable I thought I would see if anyone has any ideas on what I should be using and tips if anyone else has ever actually managed to remove the seats!

Thanks in advance.

20190117_141020.jpg (328.56 KiB) Viewed 834 times

[adam1985]

looks to me that you need TX torque or also referred to as security star bits
like these https://www.screwfix.com/p/laser-tx-bit-set-23pcs/1414f
also available at halfords https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools ... g_q=tx+bit
the best ones imo are the square drive ones like these https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools ... mqEALw_wcB

[synthedup]

Not a Z problem yet...

Want to recolour my leather seats so thought I would practice on the 1 series then do the Z later.

Straight away I'm stuck. The bolts that secure the seats are a nightmare to remove! I've got a small handheld drill and some allan keys. Sprayed with lube in prep but can't shift the buggers. I'm not even sure hex is the right shape for unscrewing. Image below of the fixings.

Before they warp and are completely unremovable I thought I would see if anyone has any ideas on what I should be using and tips if anyone else has ever actually managed to remove the seats!

Thanks in advance.20190117_141020.jpg

Pop to Halfords and get the right tool or I have a set you can borrow if you're neat Sheffield?

[idej_z4]

looks to me that you need TX torque or also referred to as security star bits
like these https://www.screwfix.com/p/laser-tx-bit-set-23pcs/1414f
also available at halfords https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools ... g_q=tx+bit
the best ones imo are the square drive ones like these https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools ... mqEALw_wcB

Thanks for the tips!

[idej_z4]

Not a Z problem yet...

Want to recolour my leather seats so thought I would practice on the 1 series then do the Z later.

Straight away I'm stuck. The bolts that secure the seats are a nightmare to remove! I've got a small handheld drill and some allan keys. Sprayed with lube in prep but can't shift the buggers. I'm not even sure hex is the right shape for unscrewing. Image below of the fixings.

Before they warp and are completely unremovable I thought I would see if anyone has any ideas on what I should be using and tips if anyone else has ever actually managed to remove the seats!

Thanks in advance.20190117_141020.jpg

Pop to Halfords and get the right tool or I have a set you can borrow if you're neat Sheffield?

Cheers fella. I'm a bit far so will probably just pick some up from Halfords.

[Doddsy]

Looking forward to seeing how you get on

[idej_z4]

Looking forward to seeing how you get on

I'll do a before and after to show the results!

[patriot66]

Are you trying to undo them with the 'small hand held drill' ? If so it probably has nowhere near enough torque to break the bolts free. You need a decent ratchet or longer strongarm and a nice steady application of force. No sudden shockloading...Torx/Starbits are very brittle and break easily.
Torx bits are star shaped

038902004369.jpg (39.96 KiB) Viewed 728 times

and Allen bits are hexagonal

gearwrench-sockets-80662-64_1000.jpg (34.11 KiB) Viewed 728 times

[idej_z4]

Are you trying to undo them with the 'small hand held drill' ? If so it probably has nowhere near enough torque to break the bolts free. You need a decent ratchet or longer strongarm and a nice steady application of force. No sudden shockloading...Torx/Starbits are very brittle and break easily.
Torx bits are star shaped 038902004369.jpg
and Allen bits are hexagonal
gearwrench-sockets-80662-64_1000.jpg

Thanks mate. I got my old man round who is pretty handy and he used a hammer and a bit of steel to shock them and then popped them off with the allen keys! He said the drills used by mechanics shock the bolts at the same time as unscrewing them.

Oh, and yeah, you're right, my little drill had nowhere near enough torque.

Looking forward to getting them fully out tomorrow and having a go at recolouring the leather as its something I've never done before.

[brillomaster]

drills used by mechanics are impact wrenches... which need specially hardened sockets so they don't shatter. but those things can get off massively overtightened wheel nuts, or release 20 year old rusted on exhaust bolts and the like. would be overkill for a bolt holding a seat.

get yourself the right torx bits and maybe a 12" breaker bar and you'll be fine.

[unknownz4]

You need a powerful air or electric impact driver and the right set of impact bits to get them out. Then it will be a breeze