Wow, what's up with the seats? When I sit down in my car feels like i'm riding on the floor board. How should I repair? Is there a place where I can get these springs replaced? What's the cost affect? I love my '86 300sdl. Is this common in all mercedes?

Tom, Almost any upholstery shop should be able to replace the springs. It's a dealer order only part, so cost would vary, mine was 200.00, and the shop cost would be under 75 bucks. Cost benefit, you won't believe the difference, it's almost like having a new car.

Refurbishing the seat/interior is an investment with one of the highest owner reaction, since it's "where you live" in the car and more importantly, it's where the car communicates with you and your body. The seat springs are probably okay so long as they're not broken or cracked. The formed pad under the seatskin might be what's worn.

BY FAR the absolute best thing I have ever done to any of mine is replace the seat spring with a brand new dealer spring.

It is a pia diy'er job. Easier on the seats without power.

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Jim

I am looking into salvage yard seat springs to bring the cost down a little. (broken spring drivers rear left area [to make it safe{not cutting wires} I had to remove a vertical section of the spring and zip-tie/duct tape the two horizontal pieces together - much better but not adequate])

From an outside exam the cushion above the spring seems a little deformed and generaly beat. I will have to look into that part with my dealer.

I have read that tieing the springs together can add support as well.

My plan is to also get the vinal repair/cleaner/conditioner stuff from Leather Magic and see how nice I can get it.

All your talk about the high quality experience of an upped to snuff seat is starting to get me exited.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

have not done my seats yet. But I did work in upholstery shop as a kid. Tieing the springs togather is easy and works to force the springs to compress down instead of out.

Another trick is lace on a piece of scrap carpet over the springs which keep the springs from massaging your butt and worst case poking through the cover. If the pad has some shape left, you may be able to wrap it with that spun Dacron fiber padding to build it back up.

It's the $140.00 for each seat bottom that's got me slowed down! I had thought about simply glueing a new leather top on and tested that with a piece of saddle skirting...it was like sitting on a brick. Back to do it right and make it cushy on the tushy.

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Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

Hey Tom, I'm right down the road from you in Wimberley.

I recently replaced my seats in my 88 560SEL with seats from a 91 that were in good shape. What a difference!

There's a trick people on the forum have done using, of all things, pool noodles, to support the springs. It's a cheap fix if you're not ready to replace the springs and pads. Do a forum search on pool noodles and/or check the DIY section. There's at least one thread with photos that demonstrate how it works.

All the best,

Bill

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_______________________________________
1988 MB 560 SEL 138k - Desert Taupe w/ Cream Beige Interior.

Mods:
Euro Headlights w/Smoked Corners
New seats from a `91
ASA 15-Hole Replicas
Sony HU, JL Audio 400/4 Amp, JL Audio 2-way Components on rear deck, JL Audio 3-way Components in door & dash.


2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster 33k
2002 Toyota Rav4L 50k

I've been told many times that I have the most comfortable W123 seats ever. I have NOS springs on the driver side and the originals are fine on the passenger seat. Both seats have new horsehair pads and an extra layer of foam done by a friend in the bolsters to give extra support. The rear bench has one pool noodle strung out lengthwise along the front edge to give it more support. I payed $100 a piece to have my fronts re-done by my friend who also repaired a few rips on the side where the plastic trim wore through as well as lather them in leather conditioner. I've had this car on a 5 hour road trip (a few 5 hour trips) and personally only start to feel fatigue in my body around 5 hours of straight driving.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

are dealer springs / padding available for e430 w201 style as well ? seat on mine is like a board by now !

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Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.

What are these NOS springs you speak of my good man?

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Hey Tom , long time no hear...
On the south side of Austin there is a place which sells upholstery stuff... Capitol may be the name... about the second street west of IH35 and north of Ben White behind the truck rental place basically from Ben White... They have the legit foam for seats ... reports are that the cheap pool noodles deteriote pretty fast...and may be lumpy... which makes sense... They also have stuff like the webbing and even the tool which is used to restore the bend in old back and forth type springs... although if you can find new metal that is certainly better... but most of these type things can be done DIY one piece at a time low tech... I got a stack of the heavier density foam ( technically it is plastic ..not foam ) ... about five two inch thick pieces about 22 inches square for about $20.. should fixe several seats around here... when I looked at the 1980 240 seat from the underside I decided all I was going to need to do was to trim a piece and then make a metal support piece to go in the odd shaped hole into which I will sqeeze the foam...
There are nice articles in the Diesel Forum.... Jabaj007 even found ' orthopedic ' seat springs available somewhere... use his name for the search... Greg

i just purchased a cherry 89 560 35000 miles. the only problem i have found is the drivers seat is hard to move forward and backwards. how do i remove them and clean the guides. is it a pia. any answers
thanks

Has anyone seen or used these before? Mercedes Part?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150152826220&rd=1

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1985 300D burning WVO using 26 FPHE, half gallon heated fuel filter,glow plug heater,home made injection line heaters. Home made cold air induction. ALDA full out.
2003 F350 7.3(the last of the great motors)
1987 Paint Horse-non running too, just walks!

does anybody know of a good place to purchase leather seat covers for my benz? The car is in mint condition, but the seats look worn. The frames are still really supportive. Thanks!

Look up World Upholstery on the web, they manufacture top quality replacement leather and MB Tex seats.

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I never go far without a little Big Star

1994 E500 199/Gray 82k
84 300D (Salty) Orient Red/Palomino 141k
88 300CE (Ersatzhammer) 904/Java 163k -- Turbo Technics twin turbo kit, AMG Gen I body kit, Sportline steering box and steering wheel, Sportline/Eibach /Bilstein Sport/500E suspension, Quaife LSD in 210 mm diff case, Silver Arrow brakes.
88 300CE Brabus 3.6 199 on Black 44k