Has anyone done this? I have an 87 300TD that I want to install some newer e320 seats in. The passenger side hooked right up. But the wiring connections for the driver side are not the same. The car has three plugs, one has 16 pins. The new seat also has three plugs (different shapes) - with the biggest one having only 8 pins.

I looked carefully at the wires, there is nothing really in common between the colors of wires between the two cars (I was hoping there would be, that would make things easier).

I do not have the old seats from the car (they were actually beat up and were the wrong seats for the car), so I don't have the proper control modules or the door switches, all I have are the seats and about 12 inches of the wiring harness (that were clipped and came with the seats).

I'm thinking I'm going to have to look at the wiring schematic and figure out what wires control what. I envision pulling the connectors, getting out my VOM and start hitting seat switches, building a schematic of what pins do what. With that knowledge I should be able to pull the connector apart and re-position the critical wires into the smaller connector to where they are needed. I'm not interested in seat memory or anything like that.

Thoughts, warnings, tips?

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)

Get a seat base from an older car.

I think the wiring changed with the 94 model.
There is also a potential difference between memory seats and non memory seats since the memory module is under the seat.

I've got an 87 300D parts car close to you in Tidewater, VA. It's got the correct 87 seats still in it.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

I love this forum! JimFreeh invited my Son, JJ, and me down to his Tidewater, VA estate yesterday to collect some seat's (and whatever else I needed) from one of his parts cars.

We got down there early, hung out and looked at his restored cars (more than he has in his signature line). He had already towed the parts car up to the driveway / garage area and let us work away. I got the seats out (am now pretty good at doing that - 3 months ago it was a big deal, now it's easy). We also collected a few other small parts - I may be back for some serious picking very soon.

This morning I removed the seat base from the donor drivers seat and am right now soaking the mouse nest in vinegar and other cleaners so it'll be ready for the transplant. I'll also take the time to clean and lubricate the tracks since this is the drivers seat and will be used the most.



JJ removing the driver side rear view mirror, he is starting to really enjoy car-work.



Pulling the screws, is being careful not to drop any down the inside of the door panel.



Jim pushing the 300D back into it's backyard "stall" - my Son getting his first driving lesson.



Reminds me of those aircraft tugs you see pushing airliners back out of the gate.



JJ getting a free ride back to the top of the hill, all of our work is done for today (except for that 3 hour drive home, oh yeah - might as well goto the beach since we're all ready down here- got directions to Dam Neck Navy Base from Jim - only another 45 minutes away).

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)