I have a small pillow that I use for some extra lumbar support in my driver's seat. I still get back pain sometimes but it is worse without it. My girlfriend calls it my "old man" pillow.

Does anyone else find these seats uncomfortable and use something to support their lower backs or am I the only one? Please tell me I'm not the only one...

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Your the only one dude. Or should I say old man!
He He

Danny

I don't have any lumbar problems in my 300SD, though the seat was pretty miserable until I replaced the spring base. My guess is that the springs and or padding in the back are shot on yours.

Kevin

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'85 300SD

My girlfriend uses one, but it's so she can reach the pedals

I actually love the seats of my MB and they feel better than in my Jetta.
For the long trips i always prefer my panzer over the jetta
my girlfriend is using an old man pillow to reach the pedals..and i always get ***** for driving "her" car cause i mess up the seat position and the mirrors...and because i always clean the car after my little girl and her..

Last year, When I rebuilt Marlene's front seats, I installed some chunks of pool noodle in the seat backs, 'strategically placed' in between the spring frame and horsehair at a lumbarsomething height. They aren't perfect but they function fairly well for lumbar support.

On a parallel topic, I recently added some padding to the seat bases. This amounted to laminating a 3/4" layer of medium density foam over the seatbase horsehair. I also added another layer of foam to the seatbase so that they would be located underneath the bolster segments of the seat cover, on each side of where your butt goes. The end result is a seat that is soft but not 'spongy'.

The combination of the lumbar support and the padding has added measurably to my driving comfort (I can drive well over 2 hrs without wishing for an epidural and SWMBO immediately noticed the improvement!!).

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I have added a "lumbar support device", Not a pillow to aid in my driving comfort... Yeah...my driver's seat sucks too. I plan to rebuild it very soon. I travel about 4 hours at a time 5 to 6 times a month. You are definetly not the only one!!!! Has anyone found a kit that is reasonably priced that will yeild a comfortable seat??? I'm thinking of starting to search the junkyards to pull the passeger seat and/or innards to transfer to my driver's seat. Happy motoring.

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83 300sd, 280K Blue/Blue Leather (~24mpg)
95 E300D, 150K Champaigne/Parchment(~33mpg)

but then I am suffering w/a slipped disc right now (nerve involved). I'm lucky to make it 10 mins before I need to get out and walk...I have 3 pillows of varying thickness and size...dear husband thinks the Mercedes seats are comfy, but could use a little more padding. I think they are ok, but the Golf seats offer far more lumbar support...The MB tex makes it much easier to get into the car though

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3Diesels
1987 Mercedes 190D 2.5/non turbo/auto
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins auto
2003 VW Golf TDI 5 speed

My own feeling is that, given the labor involved, you're better off just buying a new spring base for around $250, plus a replacement rubber-horsehair pad. Many Mercedes seem to have had their seats collapse by 150K and 20 years of age, so the junk yard examples might not buy you very much time.

The new spring bases are reinforced compared to the original design, should you try to keep your car for another 20 years

Kevin

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'85 300SD

I love the seats in my wagon, especially the way the headrest functions. But my wife finds them to be extremely uncomfortable. This makes me wonder if it isn't a guy/girl thing, but maybe a size issue. I'm 5'11, and my wife is 5'4. How tall are you Scott?

Damon Fite 1983 300TD Wagon---300,000miles+

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1984 300TD Wagon--Astral Silver--Retired
1983 300TD Wagon--Dark Blue--Retired

I find the seats great and way more comfortable than in the Audi or the Jetta once I have it adjusted perfectly. Was driving for 5 hours yesterday with no back pains or anything whatsoever. I am 6'2" .. if height makes any difference.

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1991 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo (207000km) (now gone)
1993 Audi 100 CS Quattro (300000km)
1999 VW Jetta TDI (290000km)
2002 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro (150000km)
2005 MB E320 CDI (34000km)

i dont think i'd be needing that right now.. the way my seats are bulging.. hehe.e they look like they are pregnant. ehhee.. and besides.. i'm still young.. ehhe. yeah right.. wishful thinking..

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Mike

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1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...

Damn! Back problems are common in this group. Suffering from a "bulged disk" myself and so I use an "old man" lumbar pillow too. I rebuilt the seat base but now the set back needs to be done. It just hold the spine in a nice curve, no lumbar support anymore. I am planning on simply putting the lumbar pillow inside the seatback under the MBTex and using a little spray adhesive to keep it there. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

My seats are pretty worn as well, but I think I would rather find something nice used instead. 2 friends of mine have Volvo wagons, those seats are in an entirely different class IMHO. Great, adjustable lumbar support, and really nice heaters. The older one (89) has a similar leather pattern to the MB. Now, if I can find a nice pair in gray..................................

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

I'm NOT an old man (~12yrs mentally), but I also have a pillow for a lumbar support. I plan to buy one of those supports specifically made for that and instal it under some sheepskin covers. Of course, all it takes is $'s and right now I'm doing everything I can to pay bills.

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol