The driver's seat in my old thing leans so far left it caused my back to go out. I'm going to pull the seat and fix it. My plan is to do the pool noodle, poly pad replacement as found through some searches. This a good long term fix for the seat? The springs seem available but at a steep cost.
Car just turned 192,000 this morning, figure I've got about 200K more to go.

__________________
1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.

Not good long term I would think.

__________________
[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 agree with above post. Go to the P & P and find one or get one from someone who is selling one. I have one in "parchment" from my 85. It isn't perfect, but it sits good. Anyway, find one that doesn't lean, any color. If your upholstery is good, it is not difficult to change that over.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

The spring box is the same for passenger and driver seats. Passenger seats are typically in much better condition.

I've done the pass. to drivers seat bottom swap. You have to remove the tracks from the bottom of the seat. Pretty easy job. Just be careful there is a lot of sharp metal on the under side of these seats. A good junkyard seat usually isn't too hard to find.

__________________

As Andrew said, just swap out the seat bottom from the passenger side.

I had the same problem with our 85 back in 07. coming home from a long trip, the drivers seat suddenly droped down on the left side.
pulled the seat, and fount 2 broken springs.

A trip to PNP, I found a good firm pass seat, and used the spring box for the drivers side. Just have to swap over the seat tracks. be sure to take pictures of how it comes apart, so you know the sequence of how to put it back together.

A complete seat is around $30.
I also read the W126 seat spring box is the same.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Yeah, I'll try the P & P first. Never remember seeing much MB-wise but I haven't been junk-yarding in a long time. Used to be my every weekend enjoyment. So many don't let you poke around anymore though. I may just do the passenger side thing as I generally am the only one in the car. I'll pool-noodle the pass side for when my wife rides with me.

__________________
1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.

As others have said, find a passenger seat. If you don't want to do the seat bottom swap, you can just swap tracks and put the passenger seat on the driver's side. The bolt hole for the arm rest is there, only the back adjusting wheel ends up on the wrong side.

__________________
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

I did the pool noodle fix immediately prior to a road trip from denver to LA. By the time I got to Santa Monica, C1-C2 were sticking out the top of my skull. After I got my spine back in place I removed the noodles.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I have a set of the Mercedes foam spring inserts in my parts bins.

They are infinitely more firm than a pool noodle, very hard foam indeed.

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I repaired a seat using spring steel and some cool little saddle clamps from Kent B.

The kit is a bit over-priced for what it is, but Kent did do some good research and the kit is very complete, and is enough for a couple of seats.

Good luck!

-PE

__________________
83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!

Charlie,
You know a little bit of everything! I like that about you :-) can you count cards playing black jack too?

__________________

2006 Jetta TDI DSG 320k miles
1997 Ford F150 325k miles 4.2L V6 "Work Truck"
2008 Tundra 225k miles 5.7L
1982 240D.....sold
1984 300D...Totaled OUCH!
1985 300D Turbo 222k miles "Dos" sold to 79Mercy
1986 300SDL 98K miles "The Beater"....sold
1987 190E 2.3 16v Euro spec 115K miles....sold

Yeah I know a little about a lot of things, but not much about any one thing.
what`s that saying? "Jack of all trades, and master of none".

Cards? well I can play Gin Rummy. and like to watch Strip Poker.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

LOL

__________________

2006 Jetta TDI DSG 320k miles
1997 Ford F150 325k miles 4.2L V6 "Work Truck"
2008 Tundra 225k miles 5.7L
1982 240D.....sold
1984 300D...Totaled OUCH!
1985 300D Turbo 222k miles "Dos" sold to 79Mercy
1986 300SDL 98K miles "The Beater"....sold
1987 190E 2.3 16v Euro spec 115K miles....sold

Thanks for the tip on putting a passenger box on the driver's side. I did the pool noodle repair about 4 years ago and it has worked really well. My back doesn't hurt anymore because of the seat. I do need a new skin for the upper half of the seat - anyone have one to sell?

__________________
Brad
1981 300TD - daily driver
1963 Chevy II
2001 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke