I'm just wondering if there's anything that can be done to firm up the seats. Seems like every old MB has those seats that plunge down when u seat on them, especially when you're a bigger guy they have no thigh support whatsoever, I had to stick an old book inside the seat on my 84 sd just to get some support, I would've loved to see how they felt when new. Has anybody found a kit to firm them up? stronger springs maybe?

Sit in the passenger seat. See if that is any better. They usually are since they rarely used or used by a petite wife or kids You can switch the seats! One of the few things I bought from Mercedes source that really ticked me off was their seat repair and odometer repair manuals. However the seat manual gives you step by step method of how to do this. It should be obvious. The only thing that is not intuitive is drilling the holes to attach the arm rest to the new drivers seat(passenger seat). I was hoping it would give good tips on how to rebuild the seat in an affordable manner

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

I've tried the pass and rear seat, the pass is a little better but not by much the rear is better than both but still not firm enough, maybe is the way they were designed, I rented an 04 trailblazer the other day and found the seat extremely confortable, very firm up to the last inch of padding then they get a little softer to avoid sore spots, I just wish I could get the benz to feel that way but I do know there's a 18 year difference and designers now use computer modeling to get the right firmness and shape, I think is called biomechanics (interaction between man and machine). Every other feature on these seats is great, mines have 10 way power adj, power headrest, they are heated and also have the multi adj lumbar support.

You probably need a new horsehair seat pad, and possibly and new spring. These things wear out after a couple of decades.

Mike

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1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
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1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

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Try finding a 126 in a junk yard with a firmer seat. The seats were not really designed for heavy folks. However the cars are great for tall. You could probably take the cushion to someone who does upholstery and have it redone! That would be expensive. I have not seen a do it yourself rebuild of the seats

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

mbonly,

Look up in the search. It will at least give you some ideas.

Somewhere in the archives, I've listed a part # for MB add-on seat stiffeners.The above sure worked for me. 6'3" 210 lbs.

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Here's a couple of threads I've started on the topic:

helped my tired driver seat

W126 front seat springs pictures

Refurbishing the seat cushion is not a difficult DIY.

I've been in SDs with collapsed and lopsided seats. Probably need a new spring base at that point. I've heard of folks putting tennis balls in the coils but that only addresses the corners. In the SDL's case it just needed some additional padding to not feel like a stadium bench.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Make sure you sit with your rear-end all the way back, pressed firmly against the back of the seat. These seats are not made to be lounged in. My dad is 6'4" 230lbs. When he sits in the passenger seat he slides his butt down into a kind of lounging position. His butt is probably 5 inches from the back of the seat; this is a disaster for this type of seat design. The front of the seat totally collapes and the spring compresses all the way to the bottomming out point. Unlike the new foam under foam under foam seats, the spring loaded seats have only one way to be sat in; butt all the way back. I can drive for hours, step out of my 300sd and feel loose and ache free. If I do the same with foam seats (2004 Lexus, 2004 MB C-class) my lower back, ass-bones and hips scream at me for about 30 seconds untill I stretch and walk. I love the spring seats.

Recaro makes a replacement seat for the 123, goes for about $500, same price as a new seat upholster....

I have yet to get that problem in my SD but in my freinds i am sure it will happen eventually, as it has in other mercedes i have been in.

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81' 300SD AKA "Big Helga"
84' 300D Euro spec (Veronika)
85' 300D NonCalifornia (Heidi)

"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job."
-Winston Churchill, 1941

"I'll have a Chinchilla!"

There's an article in our DIY section that might help.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW

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Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
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i have been around the horn on this subject with the 123 cars and my best recommendation is to replace the spring and pad. this can be done and retain the original skin. switching the seats is not worth the effort and when youre done with it youre embarrassed to have a passenger. also the odds of finding a good seat in the yard are two: slimm and n0ne.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

T_walgamuth,

If you get a passenger seat- you re-use your arm rest and the driverside track. The idea is that the actual seat frame, pad, and cover are the same from side to side.
Yes, changing the frame rails is some work. You pull the back cover off the seat back and cut the hole for the arm rest. You'll add a cross brace/bracket.

I've done several seats and always felt it was worth the difference. My 86' it was the first part I ordered- a new pad.


Best of luck,

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

I did this swap with a passenger side seat, and the passenger seatback frame already had the holes for the armrest.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The set spring is probably broken. You can change it yourself and they are not to expensive.

If it really bothers you can could have the seat re- upholstered for $500 or so.

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1999 SL500
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