3rd row seats for '05 ML?
 

Hello,
I just bought an 2005 ML350 and found out a week after that we are getting another baby. So I went to the dealer and he told me 3rd row seats are not an add on option anymore on the '05 ML's. You aparently have to buy it with the third row option or can't get it t all... So I am short on seating space and can't buy any from the dealer.
Here my question:
Can 3rd row seats from an older ML model be installed in my '05 ML?

If so does anyone have one or two laying around and wants to possibly sell?

thanks and regards,
Sab.

Looks like you can still buy third row seats here:

http://www.amgkit.com/Catalog/ProductList.Asp?GroupId=49&OrderBy=Model


But they are pricey, which is why I haven't done it.

I don't have any experience with these guys, someone else pointed me here when I was interested in getting third row seats.

Tim

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the reason you can't buy the third row seats anymore as an add-on item is that the "second row" seats are now different if you have the third row option. You can probably still install the third row OK, but there won't be a "reasonably easy" way to access the third row as the right seat in the second row won't tilt forward (unless it has the factory third row seat). Check out the 2005 and see if I am correct.

Gilly

Thanks Tim,
these guys seem to sell the seats, but at $2500 I think I rather buy a older model spare mini van. That's insaint. But I figure someone must have bought a car with the third row option and has them rotting away in his garage...

thanks Gilly,
yes I saw the pneumatic contraption they have in the '05 with the 3rd row preinstalled. I bet you it weighs 300 lbs and only gives you some assistance to fold the seat. I can still manually fold my seat forward and I can see the mounting points, so I assume it should still work.
I bet you the extra 300 lbs "seat folding assist mechanism" doesn't increase the whopping 12 miles per gallon I am getting out of this little toy...
I am a bit disapointed about the car to say the least, but I guess that's for another post.

regards,
Sebastian.

Mmmmmm, not sure if you have the whole picture; without that "gas strut" thingie, the seat doesn't tilt "forward" to access the third row. You can bring the whole seat "down" and of course tilt the backrest forward and flat, but with this different seat setup, the seat tilts forward so "the little rugrats" can clamber back there. Sure they can still manage to get back there without this different seat, and I also believe it could be retrofitted. As a matter of fact i think I DID retrofit one for a guy, but this also falls into the "insane" category if you ask me.
Gilly

It's a shame they got rid of this 2nd row seat; it was a really nice feature on the old ones.

What did they do to the 350 to bring the mileage down to 12? My '98 320 gets better than that towing a 5,000 lb. trailer, and I'm not an easygoing driver!

They haven't gotten rid of it, but it is not an add on option anymore. So you either buy one with it or you can't get it. The build in some sort of mechanism for the seat folding assist that apparently can't be retrofitted.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am about the gas mileage. Even if my wife drives it and she drives very slow, the car is dead empty after 260 miles. It is a real joke. I traded in my S320 for this one and I really miss it. I had a range over 400 miles and got about 18 MPG even in the city.
Anyone else has the same expirience or might there be something wrong with my car?

regards,
Sab.

I think this is wrong. As I stated, I did have to install a folding seat for a guy, he managed to find the third row seat and install it himself, I had to do the second row seat mod so it could be more easily used.

Gilly