I have a 1983 300SD. I replaced the seat switch with the upgrade kit yesterday, and today I tried to replace the door panel. It's not easy, since there is a philips screw that wants to be tight that is at the end of the armrest ... and it gets covered by the plate, so I had to slide the plate halfway down the armrest, scuffing it all up, then trying to push everything back up, all of it being plastic. Either there is a trick to it, or I don't get it. Anyway, I think I may have destroyed the new switch. There is/was a protruding pin at the rear of the switch, and I had problems getting the plate to seat on the switch, and broke off the unused (?) pin. Any clue what that extra pin does? I heard that it might be for the security system, which my car doesnt have. Now it blew one of the 25 amp fuses, and only half of the switch works, and the seat is reclined too far, and I can't adjust it anymore. Any ideas before I pull that door panel back off? Anyone know what wires adjust the seatback angle, in case I did toast the switch. I just want to be able to sit upright again. Ideally, I'd like the whole door panel to be right, but it has me baffled.

Did you have to rewire the seat switch and add some new covers over the wires to complete the conversion? If so I would say that either two or more of the wires are crossed of one of the power wires is contacting a ground somewhere.

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Yesterday I desoldered all the wires from the existing switch and intalled the "upgrade kit" which is needed to replace the switch. Basically, it consists of two plugs and several connectors that solder onto the existing wiring. Everything was working properly until I attempted to get the door panel back on. I think perhaps I put too much force on the top piece that protrudes from the switch. I have a hunch that it's possible to get a screwdriver into the opening in the cover plate and thus tighten the top armrest screw. The way I tried to get the armrest back in, sliding the door handle cover down to get clearance for the screwdriver, was way too difficult, and probably something broke in the process. Thanks for the reply.