300E Seat Re-Padding - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sptt · #1 09-11-2010, 02:01 AM

Guys...I am going to attempt the repadding of my driver and passenegr seat in my '91 300E. I just had back surgery and am wondering what the best and cheapest route is for the repair (gonna tray pool noodles). Anyone have any other ideas or successes? It seems simple and I can easily access all bolts to get them out. I'm 6'1" and 210 lbs. As always, your help is greatly appreciated.

Steve

JamesDean · #2 09-11-2010, 03:16 AM

Best solution I found so far: steel cable+carpet padding.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/DeathInAHoodie/PaddingProject001.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/DeathInAHoodie/PaddingProject003.jpg

A note on using pool noodles.
1269142215 W123 & W126 Front seat foam support inserts

You might want to look into something like this:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-parts-reference-library/183654-1269142215-w123-w126-front-seat-foam-support-inserts-post1727328.html#post1727328

sptt · #3 09-11-2010, 06:26 AM

James...it's 3:20am. I'm giving up for tonight. I don't have the pool noodles yet but have the rail off and trying to figure out why my driver seat does not lower on the right side in the back, only the left. I read the article about what one guy did to fix his cable but so far, I can only get off two of the clips and both of those cablles were perfect and seated tight on each side. Any tips for the center ones? Also, take a look at my seat and tell me if you think I can get the noodles in there. It is tighter than a drum right now in there

Gilly · #4 09-11-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sptt

wondering what the best and cheapest route is for the repair
Steve

This might be the cheapest, but certainly not the best! How about replacing what is either broken or worn out (the spring pan or the padding)? Best and cheapest.......yeah.

sptt · #5 09-11-2010, 01:45 PM

Yeah Gilly, I'm thinking just some Joann's fabric pads. The springs are supper tight....just looks like the padding is scrunched down and it looks good, not old. But access to tearing it out seems like a super chore. Am I overlooking an easy solution? Thanks

JamesDean · #6 09-11-2010, 02:14 PM

You can detach the motor group and move it a little so you can get in better. Its held in by a few 8mm or 10mm nuts/bolts. I did this on my one 300SD and it was a big help. I'm gonna install some of those seat supports in the driver side today at some point.

sptt · #7 09-11-2010, 02:58 PM

Well...I think I found the culprit for the seat not lowering on the right side. Although the cable was still nice and square, where it was fitting into near the gear side was spinning in there and not turning the gears. I took out the cable, took off the guide tube, put it on my drill, stuck it in deeper (that's what she said), and it moved the gears! So then, I did the shorten of the tube method so each end stuck in plenty far. Hope this solves the issue when I reinstall into the car. Now, just gotta stuff some padding in and reinstall and I'll hopefully be a cappy hamper! Thanks for the help. I'll post some pics before I put back in.

sptt · #8 09-11-2010, 06:52 PM

OK. I'm done. That was probably the most difficult thing I have done on that car yet! I only did one seat...the driver's seat. I was so exhausted and stressed out that I didn't take any pictures of the noodles stuffed in there. But, what I did was go to Home Depot and bought the insulation noodles from plumbing and was able to get different sizes. That way I was really able to stuff it in there. Seat is nice and firm now! Also, I fixed the seat lowering issue by fixing that one drive cable and shortening the sleeve tube. Now, I don't feel like Herman Munster hitting my head in my car!!! Bad news is I split the old leather on each side of the seat near the rails. Now, I need to fix that

Well, it keeps me busy

Thanks for the help and input guys. I culd definitely do it easier the second time but I am wiped out right now.