Easiest Leather-Clad Piece to Remove in W210? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gmercoleza · #1 04-01-2010, 10:10 PM

Need to get some leather dye mixed to re-do the driver side seat cushion. In the past I have removed a piece such as a visor or headrest and left it with the shop so they have it for color-matching at their convenience. I find this usually yields better results than by rushing them.

Anyway, in my W210 it doesn't seem I can easily remove a headrest. I found an old post with instructions for removing the rear headrests, but the pictures don't load, and the black tab I found ended up falling way into the recess somewhere. I also nearly cracked the plastic pieces surrounding the posts, so I decided to back off and put everything back.

On the front headrests, I'm used to the little bump in the seatback that you press to release the posts, but I'm realizing this W210 doesn't have that bump.

The visors don't exactly match the seat upholstery really well, so they're not a good candidate to leave for color-matching. I bought new floor mats at the dealer yesterday, and they told me apparently there is a multi-color scheme on the W210s with different shades everywhere. For instance, the leather is called mushroom, whereas the new floor mats I bought were called parchment. The material on the lower door panels as well as the knee-height fabric beneath the dash are what appears to be an entirely brighter shade of parchment altogether.

I could remove the rear seat bottom, but it's way too large to leave with the shot. Ditto for the rear seat back. And it appears the rear armrest doesn't come off without removing the seat back. The front arm rest is rubber-wrapped and doesn't match the parchment either.

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! Help! What can I easily remove?

RichardM98 · #2 04-02-2010, 02:20 AM

There's a panel on the back of the center console. Below the air nozzle. See how well it matches. Pry gently along the top (or bottom?) to remove.

Another would be the glove box's door. There are just 4-6 screws (phillips). Two near upper corners on front edge (not the ones with a rubber washer - they can stay in place). Two in the bottom of the box. They are covered by rubber/plastic plugs. Just feel for them and then pop them out. Maybe two in the roof of the box near the light. Those are sometimes missing. You will need an L shaped or stubby screwdriver. It tends to catch along the top center. Use something dull like a butter knife to pry down near the top center to free it.

LUVMBDiesels · #3 04-02-2010, 06:54 AM

and here I was going to say the easiest leather to remove would be my girl's leather miniskirt!

gmercoleza · #4 04-02-2010, 03:15 PM

Thanks, the plastics are not a good match in my car. Very beige compared to the mushroom leather. Looks like they were a different shade altogether even from the factory. It's weird - the door fabric, plastic, leather, carpets, and even headliner are all slightly different from one another, plus there is a contrasting brown used throughout on the dash and door panels. More like an overall color "scheme" than any singular color.

Anyway, I feel like an idiot. Did another search and this time used the word "front" in it, found out the front headrests just pop out with a firm tug. Went downstairs and tried it, took about 2 seconds - success!

The headrest was dropped off a couple hours ago and they are doing the color match now. I'm scheduled to pick it back up along with the dye on Monday.

The rest of the interior looks nearly mint, and I got new floor mats a couple days ago, so after I re-dye the driver seat bottom cover it will look like new again. Meanwhile, I'm choking on the new carpet fumes, not to mention the scotchgard I sprayed on them fresh out of the plastic!!!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode