I did this yesterday to my 300D. I could forego some of the steps listed here because they apply to W123s without height adjustment. I didn't even take the seat out completely, I just undid the bolts at each corner, lifted the seat up just a little bit, and stuffed a pool noodle under there, while scraping some skin off of my hand, which must mean I did "something" right. I'm not sure if I stuffed the pool noodle in there like the photos show, but there definately is some improvement, although it still lists to the left side a little bit. I even found a bit of foam in there from someone else's previous attempt to firm up the seats, I left it in there because it was in the back of the seat box, and I needed it in the front. I'm probably going to go back and reposition the foam tommorow and wrap part of it up with an old T-shirt so rear passengers won't find green foam on the rear floor!
-Joe

P.S. If $1.30-1.40 is too much for you, I saw some pool noodles at Dollar Tree for a dollar, or less. Save yourself 30 or 40˘+ for something else.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Well, I went back and repositioned the foam, and this time, my hands were unharmed... without gloves! This time, I took the seat completely out, and I got it back in. The only little quirk the seat has now is that when I raise the lever on the side to adjust the seat height, it raises up all on its own with no input! I'm not in the seat when it does that though. To get it back, I have to pull up a little harder now and push back a little harder, and it goes back down like it should, and stays there. It feels a lot better now.
-Joe

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

For those of you who are considering the pool noodle seat repair, get your pool noodles soon. Summer is ending, and the pool noodles are on sale at Wal-Mart for 50 cents each. I got a couple and put them in the back seat, and the passenger side seat.
-Joe

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Timly post;
I will be out in the AM shopping for Pool noodles at WMArt...

This will be for the drivers seat in my '85 300D.

__________________
'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

One noodle along the front of the rear seat bottom did the trick for me.

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

Exactly what I did.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Great idea! The drivers seat in my 240 could use a little help. Thank you for the info/pics!

Cheers,

Bill

Funny this thread would make it back, as I just got done doing this treatment to my “new” ’87 300SDL this weekend. Should have taken a few pic’s. It’s not really any harder than the W123, except access is very tight when packing the noodles in.

My Steps: Not by the book, just through experience and observation. Your mileage may vary…………

1.Take out the lower bench on the back seat. This will give you lots of room to work without having to totally remove the front seats from the car.

2.Move seat all the way forward and up to access and remove rear bolts.

3.Remove the black bar attached to the rear hump that secures the seat belt thing and slide out to set aside. The plastic covers over the bolts are a bit*h to get off. They are clipped on with a plastic thing that fits under the washer that you can’t see. Move cover toward rear of car while prying gently from the back of the cover, at least that worked for me.

4.Move seats all the way to the rear and tilt up front to access the front bolts.

5.Remove the plastic covers over the bolts, just pull straight forward and then up.

6.Loosen the front bolts just enough so you can reach under and pull that carpet ramp thing off of the bar so you can see the wiring hookups. The carpet is just held to the bar with a “C” shaped plastic thing. You may have to remove the front seat bolts all the way and tilt the seat back to get it off.

7.Now you can see the electrical connections, there are three “blocks” and one wire for the seat belt warning sign. Remove each block carefully while trying to hold the carpet out of the way, prying gently and swearing. If you still have the front seat bolts attached this may be easier. There is also a removable wire tie to open up.

8.Once the seat is free, just let it tilt into the back and ‘rassle it around to get it up on the shelf where the back seat was and you can see the bottom. Use pads underneath so you do not break any of the plastic trim.
8b.Pick up loose change, vac and clean.

9.Look at all those motors and gears! I love my 123’s simplicity more every day!

10.Figure out what you want to noodle and how to shove them in. All parts are sharp and will cut you!!!!!!

11.I cut two pieces of a fat noodle (4” diameter) that I found to 120mm long for the front corner springs. I cut diagonal lines to match the coil of the springs and shoved them in there like post supports. The rest, I just shoved regular noodles into the Z shaped springs. I did use a few wire ties here and there to make sure nothing shifted during flight.

12.Reverse order to re-install and repeat on passenger side. Keeping the seats in the car worked well and I did not have to worry about breaking anything taking them all the way out. They are heavy!

The process was much slower than on the 123 and took me the better part of the day. I did the back seat bench as well. Despite my training on the 123 and wearing gloves where I could, my hands still look like I was trying to put a cat in a bag. However the results were excellent!

Good luck,

Clay

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

Clay;

Q: 1st time today I checked to find bolts on my '85 300D. Front 2 are bolts, but in rear can't find bolts. What I do see is phillips head screws that look like they hold seat to a track.

NO BOLTS....
anywhere....

__________________
'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

Lift up on the height adjustment... then put the seat all the way to the front... you may have a double slide arrangement sorta like good tool chest drawers which will come all the way out supported... which will hide the rear bolts until you move the seat all the way forward... it may still be hard to get a straight shot at them with the ratchet. And be sure you don't mess up the heads.. I had a real job with air chisel getting one out lately...

Look at the pic's (#2,3 and 4) on the first post of this thread. Leather is right, you must have the seat forward and all the way up to see the rear bolts. Remove the plastic covers at the rear of the rails and you will see the bolts.

Clay

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

I was wondering for a few years what those handles were on the outboard sides of the front seats in my 79 300D. Nothing happened when you pulled up on the handle because they were seized. If necessary, you need pull up on the side seat handle and force the seat forward (the seat will raise at the same time) to reveal the 2 rear bolts attaching it to the car body. 10mm head.

I put 2 3 inch pool noodles in each front seat, tossed the horsehair and replaced it with foam and scrubby-pad-type upholstering material and a short section of pool noodle on the left and righh hand side. Also shoved some of this into the back for lumbar support. The back seat got the same padding and 2 pool noodles.

I use to feel that my behind was almost draggin on the street while behind the wheel. Now I feel like an old man in a lazy boy, or even a kid in a booster seat. Way easier to get in and out of the car now and more enjoyable.

Thanks for the posting. I 'stuffed' the front seats of my '84 300TD last weekend and WHAT a difference! I used heavy work gloves and prevented a lot of cuts, if not lacerations. Oh yeah, I found @ $10 in change. I highly recommend this repair and thank the person who posted the info.

Thanks for the idea and postings. I recently stuffed my 82 380 SEL and the improvement is 100%. The driver's seat still leans slightly toward the door, but I may stuff another noodle on that side to try and correct it.

My only other concern is about a potential fire. Does anyone know if the heated seats pose a potential fire hazard?

WILL I END UP WITH FRIED NOODLES?

Adam- I have a 1983 300D with height adjustment. Is that what you have? Should I take the whole seat out or just reach under there and stuff? Thanks. Lance