I'm truely baffled re the posting on bad seats in the W123 cars. I have found the seats in my W123 to be, by far, the best seats I've ever had. I've spent many 10-12 hours days in W123 seats and never got out of the car with the slightest back or leg pain. As Larry said the seats do have a tendency to break springs after a couple of hundred thousand miles but a replacement seat frame is only $100 and a couple hours of labor to fix.

I even use a W123 seat as my shop workbench seat... Go figure.

Though I don't have a W123, I can comment on the seats in the '89 190D. Compared to many other cars of the same age or older, these seats are pretty bad and nearly everyone that rides with me will agree with that. They are very unsupportive and, to sum it up, they are just done all wrong.

The "bolsters" don't hold your ass or your back in a sharp turn, they just sort of roll over. After about 2 hours of driving, my lower back becomes sore, and I WANT to get out of the car. My tailbone gets sore from the seat cushion too... I'm just under 6' tall and around 165 lbs.

There's no such thing as a perfect car... a car may excel in one area but suck in another. I can think of many ways that this 190D is an excellent machine... but the seats, the non-logic of the climate controls, and rear seat legroom are some of the things that suck.

Sadly, I have been spoiled by my Peugeots, which have the most comfortable and *properly* supportive seats on the planet, as my passengers ALWAYS agree. In fact, Peugeot seats and suspension tuning are their claim to fame. However, their rattly dashboards and wiggly speedometers could use a little work!

-Joe

Simon: What I do to remove window trim, is gently pull out by grabbing from bottom of B pillar side of window and lifting up. As you pull, the rubber gasket will partially lose its seat in its channel, but you simply press back.

Good luck. It will look a whole lot better.

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2008 GL320CDI 6K
1970 280SL 112K
1982 240D 210K (Sold)
1973 220D 220K (Sold)
1967 200D 160K (Sold)
1992 400E 139K (Sold)
1988 300E 148K (Sold)
1987 300D 257K (Sold)
1991 300E 108K (Sold)
1987 300E 131K (Sold)
1978 300D TMU (Sold)
1980 300D TMU (Sold)
MBCA Member

I thought that mine was getting a bit mushy. However, at the NJ diesel meet, I sat in one that was rebuilt and it felt about the same as mine. I find the seat comfortable. I have done 21 hours straight from FL and 13 hours straight from Ohio and gotten out fresh as a daisy. I rent a Nissan Altima at times when I take the 3 hour ride from NJ to Baltimore. I am alot more tired and sore from that trip than I am after 13 hours in the 300D.

nothing can be added and nothing taken away.

I'm happy to have the door pockets, and grateful for the hint on how to snug up the netting behind each front seat.

Vacuum locks are fine, and I could live without any central locking system.

No problem with seats...and it seems that the construction is straightforward enough so that you could work with an upholsterer to achieve something comfortable.

Unless carrying many passengers, 240 acceleration not a problem ('83). I can be comfortable in any weather with just window/sunroof ventilation. The only time I really NEED AC is in traffic...the one time you shouldn't use it.

These cars are among the last great works of man.

Yes, they may well have been amongst the last great works of man. I have enjoyed my 78 300D for many years, and expect to for many more. It has now traveled the last 94k miles (of a total of 345k) without a repair. I have to replace the front crankshaft seal now, but that is great service by anyones measure.
If only the seats would not give me a pain....

I'm not presently a 123 owner, so I guess I'm trespassing on this post for a moment, but....

I'm also surprised at Greg's dislike of the Mercedes seats. I think the seats my SD, and other MBs I've driven or been a passenger in, are excellent! Very comfortable over long road trips, etc. Maybe yours are just worn or broken, Greg? Perhaps the horsehair pads need replacing. I have seen some that are VERY worn, and of course were not comfortable, but if they're in good shape, they should be nice and cozy!

On another note, I'm glad that the SD doesn't have the "wrinkly door trim" problem that you always see on the 123s...I like the door panels/map pockets/armrests/etc. on the SD much better than the 123 design (sorry guys...don't mean to offend any 123 guys! )

Of course I share everyone's pain when it comes to the ACC. I wish they ALL had the manual system, like Bill's 240D! I think we all know if we need to turn the damn temperature up or down!!! I guess the engineers didn't trust us to figure that out on our own???...

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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Yeah, I really wish my car had the manual AC system. just because it's either too cold (too much air) or less cold air (when I turn the temperature up on the dial).
I would rather have the ice cold air at a medium fan speed setting..

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe