I couldn't find this specific detail in the archives:

I am going to install rear head rests in my w123 wagon and I have the grommets for the place for them to rest out of the way in the seat *bottom* when the seat back is folded down for a flat expanded cargo area.

However, there are no rails for these or any other parts. My question is, is there an appropriate place to cut the upholstery? Is there a reason to remove the upholstery from the seat bottom to install these?

Thanks in advance,
KenB
1980 300TD

If the car did not come with rear headrests, the hardware is not in the seat to accept them. You can feel the holes in the foam of the seatback, but once you cut your upholstery you will find that the headrests just flop around in the seatback.
I know this from experience. I ended up pulling factory headrest seats from a junkyard after riding around with holes cut in the top of my middle seat for about a year.

__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

chad has a write up on here somewhere... perhaps it's a link to another site where he installed the headrest hardware into the seats of a wagon...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Not sure you got my meaning (or maybe you did?): I am talking about the place to stow the head rests in the seat BOTTOM when they are not in use (removed from the seat back so as to fold the seat flat.)

If this is what you are talking about, then why is it so bad if they're a bit floppy?

If this is not what you meant, then I still am not sure what to do...

Chad's post was great but didn't address this issue.

KenB

The storage place for the headrests does not have any internal support for the shafts. So cut the wholes in the seat and install the "grommets".

For the normal installation. A kit was available years ago. I do not know if it is still available. Try a Mercedes dealer or the classic center. The receivers must be pop riveted in the seat frame and the grommets installed.

Dave

for the money I would buy these.

http://store03.prostores.com/servlet/twigapartsdirect/the-645/Mercedes-W123-S123-C123/Detail

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Thank you! Done and looks fantastic.

KenB

Yep I misunderstood. Thought you were talking seat backs

__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

Show us a picture. I've always just put them in the garage.

__________________

1981 300TD "The Green Lantern"
1980 300TD
1983 300D Euro "China Cat"

Well, sure. That works too!

Anyone who has this set-up stock (whether it be 2 or 3 rear head rests), I'd be interested to hear how close I got to imitating it. I was just going by glimpses I had caught from pics on the internet.

Attached Thumbnails

   

I saw the write up sometime back and now I can't find it. Does anyone know where it is?

thanks.

upper search,
advanced search
username chad300tdt
keyword: head rest...
first response
BenzObsession.com • View topic - w123 Wagon - Adding Rear Headrests - DIY

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Link doesn't work.

true, but search still does...
Anyone know the part number for w123 TD headrest frames?
apparently he has deleted the other thread on the other forum that the buildup was on.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I had started to look up the part numbers for you before realizing that you already had a link to the part numbers.

I know the damn search works and it took me right to the dead link. Thank you so much!

The other site is down until the new owner can get a database issue resolved. Until it's fixed, all my DIYs there are offline.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys