w123 seat rebuild - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Peyton300TD · #1 10-31-2003, 05:37 PM

I am in the process of reupholstering my front and rear seats. I'm nearing completion of my passenger seat at the moment and thought I'd post some pictures.

As you can see the foam is new. I took the old foam and had it cut to size with new foam - both front seats and back seats only $21. the old foam was crumbling off and though it still worked, i thought might as well replace it. i used 3M spray adhesive and hog rings to hold it down. i only lightly placed the hog rings on until the adhesive dried - at which point i will remove them.

the white peice in the middle is a heating element. seat heaters, wiring and switches for ALL four seats was only $30.

i figured since the covers are off, might as well put in heaters since they are that cheap.

next step is to put the covers on, and ill update the thread then

Peyton300TD · #2 10-31-2003, 05:41 PM

seat bottom - new springs and horsehair. haven't yet put the foam on

Judge · #3 10-31-2003, 05:44 PM

huh, looks quite do-able. Where does one buy the foam and heater elements from? Any issues on powering the heated seats??

Peyton300TD · #4 10-31-2003, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Judge
huh, looks quite do-able. Where does one buy the foam and heater elements from? Any issues on powering the heated seats??

Foam- i bought this from a fabric store. they have tons of it for recovering chairs and what not. in raleigh i bought it at Mill Outlet Village.

Heater elements - go here if you are interested.
Ever wish your MB had heated seats? What if you can...

GottaDiesel · #5 10-31-2003, 06:13 PM

Eric,

Simply AWESOME!!!

Tell us more tell us more!!!

About the covers, and I have to ask, what's a hog ring? How thick of a foam did you go with?

Looking *very* forward to hearing more,

GD

kerry · #6 10-31-2003, 07:53 PM

Be very careful on what kind of foam you use. It's not just the thickness. There are different densities of foam. I don't know how that density is measured but I know it will make a big difference in longevity and comfort. If the foam weighs the same amount as the old foam, you ought to be close.

Stevo · #7 10-31-2003, 08:26 PM

"what's a hog ring? "

Its like a nail bent around in a circle, with a point on both ends. When you buy baby pigs you put a "hog ring" in their nose

so they wont dig crater size holes in your pasture when they grow up. I guess in upholstery work they hold things together.

Steve

Wasuchi · #8 10-31-2003, 09:25 PM

Yeah, there is a lot of different types of foam. I would be inclined to try to find a closed-cell foam (rubbery type) if I ever do this... and if I could find one that is soft enough. Closed cell is what I use for saddle pads for my horses, it doesn't compress over time badly but if it is really smashed for a long time it does have a memory.

unkl300d · #9 11-01-2003, 01:14 AM

Hats off to you peyton300td!!

That wagon is going to be real nice.

What color and material was your old upholstery of?

sixto · #10 11-01-2003, 04:10 AM

Is it possible to unhook the upholstery that's retained along the forward edge of the seat bottom without taking the seat apart, in fact with the seat in the car? There's a tear in the top forward edge of the SDL passenger seat. A topside repair might not hold because of the the tention in that section - the tear is kind of pulled apart. I think a quickie fix will hold if I do with the leather relaxed and/or with a reinforcement patch below. I don't want to pull that heavy motorized seat if I don't have to.

Thanks,
Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

CSchmidt · #11 11-01-2003, 12:00 PM

Sixto,

I believe if you compress the front of the seat ( sit or kneel on it maybe), you can pull the seat cover down in front. It clips on the frame all the way across the front ( on my 126) and is held in position by the spring tension.

Chuck

Peyton300TD · #12 11-01-2003, 07:41 PM

thanks everybody!

I was taking apart my original seat cover for the seat bottom only to discover it wasn't horsehair underneath as I expected. Instead it was this foam.

See below. The foam is much softer than the horsehair and fills the upholstery better. I don't understand why the horsehair is being sold for seat rebuilds then. shouldn't they be selling this molded foam?

I already bought a new spring set and horsehair pad for it and maybe i don't need or want the horsehair. Any ideas?

FineOlBenz · #13 11-02-2003, 01:03 AM

I'm looking to rebuild seats in a 1980 116 model. Any good sources for springs, padding upholstry?

Or can someone tell me if 123 model will fit my 116, front and rear seats.

unkl300d · #14 11-02-2003, 01:08 AM

Hey, if the foam pad is good and holding form and density.....and feels better than the horsehair, keep the foam and return the horsehair.
I wonder if foam lasts longer than horsehair anyway.
My car has horsehair and the stuff falls apart under the seat.
"Horsehair rainfall" under the seat!!

(PS I sent you an e-mail)

GottaDiesel · #15 11-02-2003, 08:51 AM

Eric,

Dish the info on the lower seat cover... I think the welting looks great in the darker color... talk!... where, what material... and most important... How much $$$.

GD