88 740 rear seat won't unlatch to fold

[122sPhil]

the shorter side folds fine. the larger section it has a spring loaded latch, it unlocks on the drivers side, but the passenger side of that larger section just won't unlock no matter what I do.

it seems to be a "catch 22" , I cant remove the seat back, because I can't fold it foreward. I need to fold it foreward to undo the bolts. so I'm basically screwed !

it seems like ai have a choice of tearing off the leather or lying under the car trying to drill out the bolts that hold the rear seat back to the floor. I was not able to pry the latch open , it sort of has a C shape whrere it locks around a pin. remo=ving the seat bottom didnt provide acess to the bolts.

there is a spring loaded carpet covered flap behind the seat, I removed that, but that did not help me.
It must have some internal linkage that has come apart?

maybe if I knew just were I could make a small cut in the leather to pull on the disconnected linkage, or something similar?