Hi all - I am putting out a cry for help to get the third seat installed in my new (1985) 300TD. It has become a huge frustration. Those of you who pay attention to such things will know that I lurk here a lot but don't post often. I bought the car a couple of months ago and have been meaning to post a thank you to all on this forum whose input was so helpful in the process of looking/deciding/buying, but I thought I would wait until I could post a pic of the car, complete with third seat; unfortunately it is beginning to look like that is never going to happen.

The story so far... knew I wanted another wagon, need the 3rd seat for my 5 kids, their buddies and their dog but was having a hard time finding a good wagon with the seat. Posted here and learned that it is feasible to install the seat into a wagon without one, so when this car came up I snapped it up (it is a beauty) even though it didn't have the seat. Thanks to the generosity of a fellow forum member, I was able to get a rear seat for it, but I didn't know until it arrived that it came without the hardware to install it.

I have been trying for almost 3 months now without success to get what I need to make this useable. I have tried Phil, of course (dealer only part was his message), every MB place I can think of or that has been posted here from Potomac German in FLorida to TriStar Pete in Arizona and as many places in between as I can think of. PGA said they had the hardware, took my credit card #, it never showed up. Two weeks later a sheepish reply to my phone call that they didn't have it after all.

Finally I thought okay, dealership it is, no matter what the cost. Was told it would take 10 - 14 days. That was 5 weeks ago. Phone calls in between assured me it was just on back order until today, when they said MB will no longer supply the hardware installation kit. I am so frustrated at having wasted over another month and being no closer to getting this seat in. So my hope is that one of you will have a suggestion as to where else I could look for this (the MB Dealer's suggestion was to get the yellow pages and look under salvage yards - very helpful)or even better yet have a wagon with a seat that's not being used

At this point I don't care if I can get the whole original installation or not, I just need it to be safe and useable, which means bolted in,seat belts and the clip that holds the seat in place while you're using it (rather than folding down and squashing the little kiddies flat every time you brake I guess)Since I will be using it almost all the time that I am in the car, I can live without the sliders etc that usually come with it, I just need to be able to bolt it in place and for the odd time that I will need to move it up and down it is manageable. If not I guess my next option is an aftermarket seat, but it seems a shame when I already have the original seat (not to mention they are pricey).I did try the aftermarket guys for hardware, but they won't sell it separately. So if anybody has any bright ideas I would sure love to hear from you. Sorry about the long post - needed to get that off my chest I guess - good things don't always come easy I keep reminding myself. Thanks for any help you can give.

edited - little easier to read I hope

Long posts aren't a problem, but it is nice if you can hit the enter key once in a while to break it up a bit .

What don't you have yet? Or maybe it's easier to describe what you do have... is it just the seat back and bottom and nothing else?

Salvage yards really are a good idea; if you can find one with a wagon in it your problem is solved for just a few bucks.

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'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

I go to them often myself, but compared to prices members here quote from other salvage yards they seem a tad pricey (perhaps because they're mercedes-specific). CDN might be better off finding a local salvage yard (then again, since he didn't say where he lives, Sun Valley might be local :p).

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'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

They are pricey, I think they ask 1/3 of the new price. But mostly they had the parts I needed. In that erea are a couple of Mercedes only salvage yards.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

call up tri-star again and yell at them! just kidding. dont yell. im pretty sure they have the hardware since they have quite a few sitting around in their yard.

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

Thanks you guys - I will give the above link a try. I did call TriStar Pete's twice (but I didn't yell!)The guy I talked to said he would walk the yard but called back to say they had no wagons with rear seats. I tried again yesterday and they said no go. And yes, I do just have the seat and the back. There is one of the black plastic sliders still attached but that's all.

I'd love to have a 3rd row in my wagon as well. Who are the aftermarket suppliers? Website links?
thanks!

World Uphostery has them.

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'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

A junkyard near me has an '82 wagon with a complete 3rd seat. I plan to go there the weekend of 6/18 and pull some other parts off this same car (if it's still there, of course). I'd be willing to pull some seat parts for you, within reason. In other words, I'll grab the "low hanging fruit" that can be pulled quickly, but I won't be able to remove seat belts and other stuff that's hard to reach under trim panels, etc. Like, you said you need the latch that holds the seatback upright. That's the kind of thing I'd be willing to pull for you. You would have to pay my cost for the parts and shipping to your location.

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'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

Hi CDN.

Try here:

http://www.jjproducts.net/Mercedes/StationWagon3rdSeat.html

Altough someone said that they don't sell the
hardware seperate you could try.

The are expensive, atleast that is what I heard.

Louis.

WannaWagon that would be great. I would truly appreciate it. I will send you a pm with my details - I am in Florida but I don't think the shipping would be a lot for the parts that I need. Thanks a million. The 2 suppliers that have links above are the ones that I enquired to for after market seats. Don't know of any others. The seats from these two look good, just are a bit pricey compared to salvage yard prices. But the trouble is finding a yard with a wagon of course.

Debbie,
I will keep my eyes open for the hardware. I have been busy lately but plan on hitting the yards here soon. Sorry things didnt work out with the seat so far.

I also have 2 tan Volvo 3rd seats from our volvo wagon days and they are complete with belts and mounting hardware. Should you have no luck finding H/W for the benz seat I will be happy to send you one of these with instructions on how to mount.
let me know

Hari

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1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7

Hari - you are a prince of a guy. I didn't think it would be such a job to find the hardware for this (as you can see)Thanks for your generous offer and I will let you know. Deb
(grimgaunt was the kind donor of the seat which I am trying to get installed)