Reclining W124 Wagon rear seat backrest forward?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

djankov · #1 01-03-2004, 12:49 AM

How do I move the backrests of the back seats on my W124 Wagon (300TD) forward? I spent 1 hour with a couple others at the Home Depot parking lot and no-one could figure it out. They seem to be locked in place. I removed the 3 head rests no problem, but I cannot release the seat backrest. Do I have some broken latches or an I missing something? The owners manual was no help.

1987 300 TD 196Km
1987 300D 186Km
2001 CLK 430 Convertible 31Km

rickjordan · #2 01-03-2004, 04:34 AM

You have to tilt the seat bottoms up first, then give the seat backs a good yank, they'll come down.

deanyel · #3 01-03-2004, 11:17 AM

I spent about 30 minutes once at a used car lot, non-Mercedes dealership, contemplating the same issue with about five different sales and service people. We never did figure it out although I've seen it done since. It's really one of the most amazing things I've ever seen on an automobile - that they would make it so un-intuitive, and not explain it in the owners manual - or at least we couldn't find it.

psfred · #4 01-03-2004, 11:56 AM

The seat backs are automatically released when the rear doors are opened, but they stick. Open and close the door while yanking on the seatback (with bottom cushion flipped up) and they will eventually release. I tend to operate mine once in a while to keep them working.

Seat cushion is latched by the red plastic "finger hold" piece -- just grab it and it will squeeze in and unlock the seat bottom.

Peter

HGV · #5 01-05-2004, 01:53 PM

First, move the front seats forward, especially if you are tall and have the seats way back. Then open the rear doors. The rear seat bottoms need to be flipped up. they hinge from the front bottom. Take a look and you should be able to see the hinge.

The reach and lift up on the seat realease which is located on the rear side of the seat toward the back. Take a look at the attached picture. I have circled the location.
(Excuse the crudeness of the circle)
It has finger holds as well. Sometimes the seat belts get in the way if the rubber retainers have let loose. Keep the out of the wat and lift up. Try the passenger side first. It usually is easier as it is the smaller seat. After succesfully doing this, you can either reomve the seat bottoms altogether by lifting up on the red handle. This is what I usually do as I don not have to remove the rear head rests. If you leave the seat bottoms in place, remove the head rests and store them in the location provided on the seat bottoms. They have block grommeted holes that you slip the head rests into. To remove the head rests, lift up and when fulyy extended, push down on the release that is located next to the head rest slideers. With the head rests out of the way and stored int he seat backs flip down the rear seat back. If it has the cargo net attachment, flip down the passenger side first. The seat backs are supported by the guide pins the hinge the seat bottoms. Make sure you guide them into the holes on the seat back or you can rip the upholstery.

If you have the cargo net holder, it can alos be removed by sliding it out thourgh the rear driver side door. Push from the passenger side. Mine was very stuck in place and required a good whack before it would come out.

Good luck.

Henry

HGV · #6 01-05-2004, 01:56 PM

ONe other point. THe seat back rests are released from a pin located above the door latch. Take alook at the picture and you can see a black bottom directly above the door latch. with the door closed, the seat backs are locked in place.
Henry

djankov · #7 01-07-2004, 02:18 AM

I tried to tug on the left rear seat with no luck. It moves a little but does not release. The black pin above the latch appears to have come out, but still no relase. The cable may be stuck so I plan to WD40 it this weekend. By the way, the seat is built so well, I'm affraid of injuring myself if I pull on it too hard.

Any other ideas?

1987 300D 186Km
1987 300TD 196Km
2001 CLK 430 Convertible 32Km

rickjordan · #8 01-07-2004, 11:06 AM

With the car doors open, the mechanism that holds the seatbacks in place is the lever at the bottom. With the seat bottom raised up you will see a lever/spring. Possibly yours isn't coming up all the way. It may just be matter that the seatbacks haven't been folded down in very long time and are stuck. This is what happened to me when we first got the '87 TD. I had to just keep yanking on it. I then lubricated everything with silicone spray.

djankov · #9 01-12-2004, 12:32 AM

I tried again today and no luck. The backs do release because I can move them about 1 inch forward, but the seat will not fold. It looks like the center hinges are stuck. I sprayed WD40 on them and will try again tomorrow.

1987 300D 186Km
1987 300TD 196Km
2001 CLK 430 Convertible 32Km

Ed Richardson · #10 01-12-2004, 12:01 PM

Maybe I am missing something in the previous responses. There is a safety release switch in the aft section of the door frame. This is cable connected to the seat release mechanism. When the door opens the button should lift slightly and release the seat back. Try working and lubing this , see if that helps. Ed

djankov · #11 01-14-2004, 09:05 PM

I finally got the seats down. Rickjordan was right suggesting the mechanism that holds the seatbacks in place was not releasing. This is the mechanism located in the middle bottom of the seats. I sprayed them with WD40 and had to pry them up with a hammer so the seatbacks would release. I wish to thank all for your help.
Thanks!

1987 300D 186Km
1987 300TD 196Km
2001 CLK 430 Convertible 32Km

95300YDT-A · #12 02-01-2004, 07:28 AM

There was not so long ago an extensif thread about this topic on the Tech Help forum. A search will provide you with more details and understanding about this mechanism.

Danny

95300YDT-A · #13 02-03-2004, 04:34 PM

As told, this thread is named "E320 wagon rear (2nd) seat is stuck" in the Tech Help forum.
Give it a try!

Danny

TROVERMAN · #14 02-03-2004, 05:16 PM

Is the car in the picture actually a 95 E320 Wagon? I didn't know they made them without wood on the doors...

HGV · #15 02-03-2004, 05:49 PM

No it is not a 95. I found the picture on an Ebay add and pasted it. My guess would be a 87 or so. You can just barely see the 16 hole rims.

My 87 300TD has wood door trims. The car was was either special ordered or the original owner had it installed. It has wood trim on the front and rear doors and wood trim on the trim piece that runs across the dash board directly under the instrument cluster and glove box.

Henry