Ok, so I bought this 85 300SD, and the thing I hate most about it are the seats. They aren't in terrible condition, but they are uncomfortable as hell. The springs are either broke or worn, and I have to literally hang on to the door when going around a turn. Plus they are vinyl, so after 10 minutes my back and ass are all sweaty. I tried seat covers, but they are almost impossible to get them to fit right. So, now I am thinking of completely replacing the seats with cloth seats from another vehicle. I would like to keep the electric forward and reverse, but would rather have a manual recline, so I am wondering if it would be possible to unbolt the old off the track, and replace with something else? I am thinking the end result would be too high, considering the track elevates the whole thing a few inches, but has anyone here done something like this with any success? Or does anyone have any different suggestions?

Do a search for pool noodles for firming up the seat. For seat covers, you are probably going to have to go for higher end, maybe even semi-custom to custom, to find decent ones to fit. I doubt you will find anything off the rack at a discount auto parts store. Performance Products has really nice wool ones. Or if you want the ultimate, sheepskin is fantastic. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Seat covers are one of those items you get what you pay for.

Another option is finding later model MB seats and bolting the spring and pad assembly to the same seat mechanism.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I'm currently doing this to my car with seats from a 98 BMW 750iL. I have the passenger seat out and I'm working on the mounting. Not a job for a beginner, but with patience and care it's doable.

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

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

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

The problem with seat covers, other than not fitting right, is that they slide around on the vinyl. Besides, I would like something that fits my body more, the originals remind me of the bench seat in my truck.

On my 85 300sd I had the same problem.

Just yesterday I pulled out the drivers side seat and stuffed it with pool noodles, extreamly cheap and VERY effective. The difference is night and day, you should try this before you go replacing a whole seat.

I also agree on nice sheepskins as apposed to anything else.

do a search.

What color and where are you for those seats?

My 300SD has some pretty cool racing seats in it they look like they belong in a Civic with Chinese symbols and a cofee can exhaust tip. I want to put them in my Bronco.

They look just like these here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-BLUE-BLACK-UNIVERSAL-RACING-SEAT-SEATS-W-SLIDER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33701QQitemZ7997334515QQrdZ1

The power seats still move forward and backward and tilt.

Does anyone know if 124 front seats will fit in a 126 without mods?

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Bruce

73 220D (never left Germany)
81 300D (totaled)
84 300D (Purchased '03, sold '17)
85 300SD (purchased 10/01/03)

be able to find some cloth euro seats that will bolt in.

personally, i prefer vinyl or leather to cloth. i just wear long pants most of the time. this is preferable for me to a cloth seat that begins to smell like bo after a while...

but different strokes for different folks!

tom w

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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.

I too hate the MBZ seats made before 1989.

My old butt is accustomed to 911 seats but just when I was getting ready to weld up the brackets for them I found a pair of black leather 1985 Buick Riviera, 8 way adjustable and heated seats for $100 on Ebay in perfect condition. What's not to like?

A word of warning!! I saw this happen:
A fellow built a very nice little Japrod from a little Mazda. 2.5 turbo w/intercooler and a bucks up job throughout. He put in NSX power leather seats. A Budweiser truck didn't see him and hit him in the rear end hard enough to total the car. Bud offered him blue book on a stock car. He sued. Their lawyer focused on the seats with such questions as: Are you a Master Mechanic or an engineer? Did you have a safety survey on your "shade tree" installation? Is this a factory approved swap?

He ended up with blue book value, no medical bills or attorney fees paid. His insurance cancelled him due to his unapproved modifications.

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You can get farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.

1984 300D
1985 300CD
1980 300SD
1993 SL500

I bought my 82 240D over two years ago and the driver's side seat was in the same condition as yours. The springs were broken. I found a perfectly matched front seat set at a MBZ repair shop from a wrecked MBZ they were canabalizing and got each for $50. Good Luck!