swapping MB-tex skin on 123 seats - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

funola · #1 08-28-2009, 03:58 PM

I want to take the skin from a seat and move it to another where the cushion is not sagging. Is it do-able without destroying the skin?
How do I get the MB-tex off? Is it glued on or just hook on with what looks like a metal strip? Thx!

Squabble · #2 08-28-2009, 04:02 PM

it's pretty easy to take off but i would suggest the seat repair using pool floaty noodles in the resources wiki at the top left of this page. it's under resources: DIY articles. no need to get another, better seat with that article. i've done it twice so far and love the result that link also covers how to take the tex off.

basically you put pressure on the seat as if you were sitting in it and then pull the flaps out from the edges of the seat. they are folded/tucked under and when pressure is off of the seat, they pull tight and tuck into the tabs on the underside of the seat. they're loose when the pressure is on.

i know it's hard to visualize but it makes sense once your seat is out.

funola · #3 08-28-2009, 04:07 PM

Hey thanks squabble, I'll take a look at the wiki later. I love how you can repair individual parts in these old Mercedes and the seat is another example!

charmalu · #4 08-29-2009, 01:01 AM

Funola, hope this helps you if you want to remove a seat cover.

After the back is removed, turn the seat over and push down to compress
the springs. then grab the edge of the fabric and pull it out of the groove it
sits in.

there is a stiff piece of cardboard that the vinal is sewed to. it is folded over
and fitted into the grove. then when the pressure is let off the seat, the
springs keep it in.

there are some Hog Rings to snip off also, then the cover lifts off.

Charlie

JimmyL · #5 08-29-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Charlie

Is that linoleum or tile in the background????

charmalu · #6 08-29-2009, 11:42 AM

Linoleum. I was doing this on the kitchen floor, with mama`s permission.

Nothing but the best out here at the Ranch.

I had that old piece of carpet to protect the floor. I was actually replacing the spring box that had two broken springs.

Charlie

funola · #7 09-01-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Funola, hope this helps you if you want to remove a seat cover.

After the back is removed, turn the seat over and push down to compress
the springs. then grab the edge of the fabric and pull it out of the groove it
sits in.

there is a stiff piece of cardboard that the vinal is sewed to. it is folded over
and fitted into the grove. then when the pressure is let off the seat, the
springs keep it in.

there are some Hog Rings to snip off also, then the cover lifts off.

Charlie

Thanks for the pics Charlie! Isn't the bolt cutter overkill on those hog rings?

What did you do to replace the hog rings? Do you have the special pliers and are they absolutely necessary? I took the skin off one of the seats and it has foam and no horse hair and is good shape, no sag! Jim Smith gave me that seat so I'm not sure what year it's from. It has a flat back map pocket which is different than the 83 which is curved.

ImBroke · #8 09-01-2009, 04:28 PM

I used two pliers to straighten the hog rings a little, and then pulled them out. I didn't put new ones back in.

280EZRider · #9 09-01-2009, 04:40 PM

This is a very straight forward job that can be easily figured out once you have the seat removed, but Charmalu's pics make a nice tutorial. And yes, the bolt cutters are way overkill.

When I did mine some years ago, I added some extra padding (dense rug pad) in the middle of the seat cushion and to the lumbar area. It makes a huge difference.

funola · #10 09-04-2009, 04:10 PM

You're right, it's pretty easy to swap the skin. Those seats are really heavy! Now that I don't have a sagging seat, should I throw out the sagging one or save it? That seat slide mechanism looks pretty well built and nothing much can go wrong with it. If that's true I will chuck it.

Brandon_SLC · #11 09-04-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Linoleum. I was doing this on the kitchen floor, with mama`s permission.

Nothing but the best out here at the Ranch.

I had that old piece of carpet to protect the floor. I was actually replacing the spring box that had two broken springs.

Charlie

You mean, Tile-tex?

Has anyone else tried the seat support foam that goes inside the coil spring? I bought a set for my drivers seat, but haven't put them in yet. While the seat is out, would be the perfect time to install them.

These: 1269142215 W123 & W126 Front seat foam support inserts

(I don't have any kids around to steal pool noodles from, anymore)

ImBroke · #12 09-04-2009, 05:40 PM

Havent' tried them, but I can imagine you at a public pool, stalking the noodles..

Brandon_SLC · #13 09-05-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Havent' tried them, but I can imagine you at a public pool, stalking the noodles..

I've been banned from the Municipal Pool

charmalu · #14 09-05-2009, 08:45 AM

NO, no Tile-Tex, just the real Gen-U-Wine real linolium, the stuff that comes in a big roll.

Yeah the bolt cutters do look a little over kill, think I had some I couldn`t get my hand in to cut them with the springs. their tuff little buggers.

I think they would be a little hard to straighten out, I just snipped them off. I already had the Hog-Ring pliers and a box of new rings.

Charlie