500SL seat cushions are EASY to remove!!!

[G-Benz]

First of all thanks to MBenz for pointing me in the right direction!!!

After waiting several months for my wife to quit driving the car (it's 30-40F avg. last weekend) I could finally attempt to repair some problems with the driver's side seat.

Five screws hold everything together!!!

There are two 10mm anodized machine bolts under the front of the seat cushion. Remove those and lift and slide forward. Front cushion out!!! You can then see the two prongs that hold the rear of the front cushion in place. So install is the reverse of removal.

Move the seatback forward and there are three screws that are located underneath the seatback. Two take a 4mm hex wrench and the larger one requires a torx or a larger hex wrench...I found them to be different on each seat, so I think it had been worked on once? Anyway, it slides down, then out...prongs are also used to hold the upper portion of the seatback.

Turned out the grinding noises were caused by a variety of loose change that had fallen across the seat tracks...also fixed the seatback latch whch had misplaced a screw.

Still have other things to fix (intermittent seatbelt warning light), but with the seat cushions out, EVERYTHING is in plain view for repair or maintenance!

Thanks again, MBenz!

Hope this helps anyone else interested in saving A LOT of $$$$$

When you took out the seat cushion, did you notice any springs or similar load-bearing elements in the frame or the cushion itself? For some reason, my driver's seat squeaks whenever I go over bumps or dips in the road -- I've been told by my local dealer that the squeaking is symptomatic of a seat frame suffering from fatigue. Sort of a strange explanation to me as the car only has 56,000 miles and the seats (at least the cushions) are in perfect condition (leather looks brand new).

[G-Benz]

I can't imagine seat frame fatigue...after removing the cushions, I was impressed by the robust metal seat shell...looks like a fighter jet seat frame! It would take repeated blows with a sledgehammer to do any kind of damage to the seat frame (and it would be surface damage at that)!

I don't think the seat cushions have internal parts that would be prone to squeaking, but I would guess a loose bolt on one of the frame mounts or seat track could cause a squeak to occur. I saw no springs or suspension mounts of any kind, except for cables and tension springs for moving the seatback to access the rear package area...everything else is bolted down.

As I said, EVERYTHING is easily accessible with the cushions out...so you can troubleshoot that issue at your leisure if you so desire...

[MBenzNL]

G-Benz, glad I could be of some help...

acm#, the front and rear of the seat frame (the frame holding the cushion) is clamped by plastic parts...maybe one of these plastic parts are broken/cracked in your car causing the squeeking noses (had it in my car as well).
There are springs inside the seat cushion, but I doubt whether the squeeking problem is to be found in those springs...

greetingz,

MBenz-

As always, thanks for the helpful tip. I'll check it out later this week when I take out the seat cushions. With your car, was it fairly obvious to notice the cracked plastic parts or did you have to remove the parts first to observe the cracks?

how do you take the cushion out, I suspect that I have a loose screw cause I feel the seat moving forward at stops and moves back at take off Just a little click kinda a move but very annyiong , so if anyone can tell me how to take the cushion out please make note it has contour seats
thanks

[Gilly]

I'd be careful about wanting to bang on that frame too hard---it's magnesium!
Gilly

[Eddie Gilmartin]

My passenger seatback latch works rarely. Was that easy to repair? Sounds like getting the cushions out is simple, but what next for the latch. Remember it does occasionally work.

Thanks for the great tip. I have been having some driver seat problems, however my wife likes driving as much as I do. I will remove the seat cushion and check some things out. Will let you know.

how do you take the cushion out guys please tell me I don't wanna just pull on it and break something it's the contour kind any idea anyone?

[G-Benz]

There are two 10mm anodized machine bolts under the front of the seat cushion. Remove those and lift and slide forward. Front cushion out!!! You can then see the two prongs that hold the rear of the front cushion in place. So install is the reverse of removal.

Otherwise, if you just start yanking, you WILL do considerable damage!!!

Originally posted by G-Benz


Otherwise, if you just start yanking, you WILL do considerable damage!!!

G-benz does the same procedure apply for the contour seats?
thanks

[G-Benz]

I'm not sure what the "contour" seats look like, but suffice to say, they should be the same. The seat frame is identical, so the attachment points would be as well.