Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-11-2002, 08:42 PM
240DBenzer
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Red face 240D Crushed Driver's Seat

The driver's seat on my '81 240D sags. It seems that the bottom springs have given out and the pad is worn as well. The result is being lower than the passenger. I have the seat hight ajustment all the way up. Do I just get a new spring box? And pad? How hard is it to replace? Where can I get this stuff? I searched all the online parts stores such as Fastlane and no one seems to have what I need. Any solutions?

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-11-2002, 09:13 PM
engatwork's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Soperton, Ga. USA
Posts: 13,647
Get in touch with Phil in Partshop tomorrow. You can just replace the springs. You will more than likely find the seat cover "cushion inserts" missing too. Do a search - Steve B mentioned that he usually has an upholstry shop sew new padding in. You will find that the padding in the seat cover is more than likely gone. This is a good diyer job.
__________________
Jim
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-11-2002, 09:38 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Posts: 502
Ridge

240Dbenzer,

The upholstery is quite easy to remove and reinstall. take the seat out of the car, unbolt the bottom from the top at the side of the seats. Take the seat bottom out into the yard, turn it upside down and kneel on it. Fold your hands..... just kidding.

Now as you're kneeling on it, you can untuck the bottom edges from the metal slot all the way around. Once you've untucked it, stop kneeling, get off seat, turn over and lift seat cover off. Reinstalling is just the reverse.

As to the springs, I usually get a good set at the junkyard from the passenger side seat, as it's always used less. Removing and installing the springs is more difficult, as you have to take off the seat adjustment mechanism which can be a bear. But that's only because it's difficult to line up the holes in the adjustment mechanism with the screw locations. I fact, I can't even describe it to you without having a seat unsidedown in front of me. A reasonably good DIYSer can do it.

My neighbor around the corner tells me that he bought a brand new set of bottom springs from www.performanceparts.com for $91.00. Don't know whether that's a good price or not. Good luck.

Ben
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-11-2002, 09:39 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Posts: 502
Seats

240Dbenzer.,

Me again. The actual upholstery can be purchased from if Fastlane doesn't have it.

Ben


EDIT: The upholstery link that was provided in this post was incorrect. The link was for a place that reupholsters furniture, not cars, and they do not sell car upholstery. A representative from the company contacted me to ask that I remove the link because she was having to answer all kinds of inquiries all of a sudden for Mercedes seats, and she was getting rude responses in replies.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-11-2002, 10:59 PM
The Warden's Avatar
Certified diesel nut
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Pacifica (SF Bay Area), CA
Posts: 2,946
Re: Seats

Quote:
Originally posted by Ridge
The actual upholstery can be purchased from if Fastlane doesn't have it.
Ben, do they just have the cushioning, or do they have OEM fabric as well?

My 300D's seats leave a bit to be desired (actually, I think I've got a similar problem to 240Dbenzer's, except the previous owner put tennis balls in the springs on the left side), and I'd love to put new stuffing in and go with a cloth exterior (almost nonexistent on U.S. models, but I never liked leather/vinyl) for the seats...someday, depending on price.

Fortunately, I got a "new" spring set with the car; it's sitting in the truck...haven't done the swap yet mainly due to lack of time...I still gotta change the oil, re-do the air filter housing mounts, and replace the sway bar bushings... Haynes manual comes in tomorrow.

EDIT: Removed incorrect link from quote, see original reply above.
__________________
2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-12-2002, 12:02 AM
Kyle Blackmore's Avatar
Mostly Harmless
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: almost beyond Hope...B.C.
Posts: 979
Hmmmm,so there aren't any hog-rings like on NA cars? Sounds very easy if I can just get my height adjustment to slide(it's rusted solid),because my outer springs are pretty soft.Great,more stuff to fix
__________________
Democracy dies in darkness, you have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-12-2002, 06:39 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Brandon, MS
Posts: 116
240DBenzer,

I had the same problem with my 83' 300 cd. The drivers seat was sagging on the back left side. I priced a new spring box from that Worlduphostry place, $250.00. I think that the coupe seat springs are harder to come by. I settled with swapping the drivers with the passenger side. It took me about 6 hours to do it, but I took my time and gave the interior a good cleaning while the seats where out of the car. The drivers seat is a whole lot more comfortable and the passengers seat sag is hardly noticeable.

Marks88

83' 300 cdt
88' 300 e
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-12-2002, 11:57 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Posts: 502
Upholstery material

Warden,

You may like the cloth but the vinyl seats last forever. Guess after awhile you'll start raiding the local junkyards like me. If you've any used parts that you need call me, I'm trying to clean out my garage.

Ben
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-12-2002, 01:48 PM
NIC
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I did the same thing Marks88 did....swap driver's seat for passenger seat. Kind of a pain but nothing really problematic and got to clean well in process (and lube adjustment mechanisms). This seems a reasonable way to improve driver's seating without spending money.

Nic
'85 300CD
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-12-2002, 05:11 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 48
I've recently been going through the same driver's seat repair. The PO was a "whole lotta man," I guess you could say. Anyway, my dad and I took out the seat, saw the broken springs, etc. Like most people, cleaned out under there, and 24 years means a lot of garbage and change! Even found a few packs of hot sauce from a Mexican restaurant I frequent. Anyway, the job was out of my league, as the only tool I'm proficient with is the ubiquitous hammer.

Instead, I called my mechanic, asked for auto upholstery recommendations. He told me a shop that was familiar with Mercedes (even had a MB calendar in the shop), on the phone the guy even talked about the horse hair mats, so I felt pretty comfortable. They told me $100 for parts and labor. That sounded like a fine price to me, knowing how much the parts alone cost. The only negative is he was booked for three weeks, so I'm not scheduled until the 31st. Anyway, might be worth getting some estimates to see if you really save much by doing it yourself.
__________________
Simon
78 280E "Sally" 130k
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-13-2002, 12:01 AM
240DBenzer
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I found out that I can get the seat springs and pad for $200.00. I don't know, that kinda sounds a little steep. I might just try going to the salvage yard first and see if I can find a decent set of springs and a pad.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-13-2002, 12:36 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northern Calif. (Fairfield Area)
Posts: 2,225
Kyle,
MB also uses hog rings.

240D Benzer,
Spend the $200 and get the pad and seat bottom. If you spend alot of time in the car, what's $200 over many years. You won't believe how much easier it is to climb out of a good seat after an hour of driving.

Good luck'
Peter
__________________
Auto Zentral Ltd.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-30-2002, 02:01 AM
TANK
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I pulled my seats out and placed medium-grade tough green foam padding between my springs, no more sag and seat is like new after re-dying. Should hold up for years to come. Lots less than $200 x 2 +rear seat and I like the feel even better.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-30-2002, 02:20 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: kansas
Posts: 47
seat mech. swap

I did a driver's side for pass. side seat swap a month or longer ago...search my threads, and I detailed the steps to removing all the linkages etc., lining up the screw holes etc. it took me a looooong evening...but it was done..and $0 cost. My springs were broken too!...but this fixed it right up! I kind of layed everything out on the garage floor in the order I took it all apart...then I just rev. the order putting it back together... Only thing I would've done diff. is take dig. pixs of the linkages on the bottom of seat to ref. to..

I dunno... it was a cheap fix..that's fer'sure..
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-30-2002, 09:22 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northern Calif. (Fairfield Area)
Posts: 2,225
Tank,
I still have to disagree with you. I know it didn't cost anything, but I'll bet that instead of sitting in a nicely contoured bucket, you are sitting on a big marshmellow.

Peter

__________________
Auto Zentral Ltd.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:56 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page