300 TD second row headrests - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TantaElsie · #1 11-15-2019, 08:38 PM

Hoping to put some headrests into the second row of my '85 300TD. I have the headrests but, predictably, am stuck on sourcing the frames. Anyone on the board have a set they'd be willing to part with, or know of a place that might have some?

If not I was wondering if I might make some. I'm a somewhat capable woodworker and thought it might be possible to fabricate a solution. Be interested in knowingif anyone has ever heard of anything along these lines.

vwnate1 · #2 11-16-2019, 12:46 AM

? Frames ? .

The head rests come with the long round chromes steel supports that slide right into the rear seat .

FWIW, they're the same as W123 sedan .

dcraigk · #3 11-16-2019, 09:02 PM

They are different if you have the 3rd row. You can’t pull the headrest forward like the front seat headrests.

vwnate1 · #4 11-16-2019, 11:50 PM

Thank you ~ I looked at some and they were the same as sedan so that's what I'm using .

My TD has the third seat and they fit & work fine, I'll keep looking for some .

TantaElsie · #5 11-18-2019, 10:04 PM

My current understanding is that 123’s and w126’s have the same front headrests.

Sedan versions of W123 and W126 could have rear headrests as an option. However, the rear headrests for the sedans are different than the ones for the front. They have thinner posts and a curve just before the post meets the headrest. As such these headrests as well as the frames they fit into can not be used for the second row of the wagon version of the W123.

If you bought your W123 wagon with a third row included as a factory option it came with three second row headrests because without them rear facing passengers in the third row heads would smack into the back of the heads of passengers in the in the second row. Since most 300TD were sold without a third row most W123 wagons shipped without second row headrests. However the mounting holes for the frames the headrests fit into are present in all the second row seat backs.

With this in mind, there are tons of front seat w123, w126 headrest floating around but very few second row headrest frame kits.

Like others, I think it seems a little weird to have back seat passengers without headrests to support their cervical spine in event of a collision.

The best solution would be to find a factory second row frame/brackets probably from a donor car and install them as intended.

Another idea would be to repurpose the frame’s/brackets from a donor front seat and install the front seat frames into the second row seats. It’s unclear to me if this is possible as I’ve never heard mention of it.

Finally I wonder if it might be possible to build my own frame/bracket for the second row from wood that can accepts a w123 or w126 headrest post. Could be fun, I’d be interested to know if anyone else has tried this.

Some helpful links:

https://www.benzworld.org/threads/300td-rear-headrests-project.1630466/

w123 Wagon - Adding Rear Headrests - DIY

Anyone know the part number for w123 TD headrest frames?

http://www.superturbodiesel.com/std/attachment.php?aid=7413

vwnate1 · #6 11-18-2019, 10:19 PM

Thanx ! .

I got lucky some years back and found a near pristine gray market 240D with the beat seat and head rests in Palomino, I bought the entire upper back seat with head rests for under $20, it remains in the car to - day .

dcraigk · #7 11-18-2019, 10:21 PM

Why don’t you search car-part.com and search the salvage yards for TD’s? That’s how I found my 3 headrests (I have the 3rd row seat).

I called to confirm they were still in the car and then drove 5½ hours to get them. I also took the 3rd row seat and a long list of other parts even though I didn’t need them. I just couldn’t let good parts get crushed.