W124 drivers seat not comfortable - need input
 

The driver’s seat in my 92 400e is just not working for me. I’ve had the pad and the seat spring replaced and I still can’t get comfortable. The seat feels as if it is ever so slightly sagging to the left. It’s subtle but after a short time in the seat, my left leg starts to hurt (upper leg where the hamstring tendons are). My upholstery guy swears that the mechanical parts are in correct alignment. Yesterday he built up the left side of the seat with extra padding. This helps a bit but I’m still feeling discomfort. I do not feel any of this type of discomfort in my wife’s 92 Q45 that has 103K with the original seat padding and springs. The Q does have a significantly longer seat cushion and I’m wondering if that might be part of the problem. The seat cushion in the W124 feels really short to me, and I’m a short person!

I’ve priced out Recaro seats but the fact that they cost so much ($1200 in leather + 180 for armrest) and lack OEM appearance and power controls makes me hesitant to go this route.

Is a W210 seat any more comforable and or supportive (ie longer seat cushion) and if so, would it be a direct bolt in?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Answer your question with a question:

Can the seat be shimmed up from the mounting bolts? Could your upholstery guy have forgotten a spacer or something?

do you have the seat relatively flat? i used to have discomfort when i set up my seat that way. i adjusted it so that the front part is raised acting like a bolster near the back of my knees. i was amazed at the difference..

I agree with Jsmith- try raising the front portion of the seat, so that it is more like a recliner. This makes all the difference for me. We have the same seats, by the way.

I know what you mean about the seat seeming to lean to the left a tiny bit...My old 116 body really leaned to the left, but my 126 car feels much more even, but still slightly uneven in this respect. I believe old MBZs feel this way because most poeple lean slightly towards the window, and the car will usually lean a bit to the right because of the crown of a road. Naturally, you try and compensate, by leaning a tiny bit towards the window. This is my theory...hope it makes sense.

I rectified the problem by jacking up the leading edge of the seat bottom..makes all the difference...

Mike

And I thought it was a problem only I had! I wore a pair of pants I never wear because the only rear pocket was on the left-seat felt normal! I'll have to adjust the side up one of these days!
Thought it was just my car!
-M

Id take the passenger seat bottom and switch it with the drivers seat bottom. Good saturday afternoon project.

Good idea! I wonder if she'd notice?! (HEE HEE)
Thanks! -M

Glad to know I'm not the only one! It's been a few days since I had the mod done to my seat. I have to say it's actually LESS comfortable than how it was before the mod. Needless to say I'm ready to put a gun to my head! I I have tried the "recliner" style position in varing degrees. It does help some but I'm still in discomfort.

I was studying pictures of W210 seats and they seem to be longer in the seat cushion. I was wondering if a W210 seat might be able to be directly bolted into a W124? Or maybe I could just use a W210 seat cushion, leather cover and box spring in place of the stock parts?

I've also considered installing a Recaro seat. I saw some Japanese modified W124s that had Recaros installed in them.

http://homepage3.nifty.com/s124factory/hard.html

http://homepage3.nifty.com/s124factory/kei.html

http://homepage3.nifty.com/s124factory/shin5o2.html

But I'm not sure how they secured the seatbelts to the aftermarket seats. Don't want to do a mod that will let me go through the windsheild in a crash!

Forgot this attachement!

Its about you man, you drive the car the most. W210 seats are really nice, but I dont know if they would fit.

Id get some 95 E320 leather seats and put in there, if swaping the cushions doesnt work.

Ive sat in the first set of recaros, they are nice, but the buttons always break.

I am not sure what you are posting with the pictures... Are those your seats?

If your seating arrangement is similar to the W201, then I have found some peculiarities that might be affecting you if you are tall (I am not, but quite long-waisted, so I 'sit tall'). The floor of our car is high under the feet due to the unibody channeling, wiring and ventilation ductwork, thick foam, multiple carpets. This puts feet high relative to the ceiling, which is low due to the sunroof. I must adjust the seat bottom to the minimum height in back to get enough head clearance, which leaves my feet and thus knees too high relative to the posterior. I compensate by reclining the seatback more than I otherwise would, and raising the front of the seat. It works for me, but I wonder if the problems you have may be similarly related to the short distance between the floor and the ceiling, and no seat will solve that issue of posture compression.

Try removing the lowest layer of carpet with the foam padding, and any mats on top, to see if you can get more comfortable. This can be done in about a minute, but if it works for you, I don't know what is a good permanent solution.

Steve

In case anyone from Mercedes Benz ever reads this post - your seats suck! Sure, the person who posted this comment drives a car that is almost 10 years old, but I've sat in '80s vintage Saabs, Volvos, BMWs and even Japanese cars that have seats significantly more comfortable than those in Mercedes. I don't understand why this should be. Heat, adjustable lumbar support, supportive side leg bolstering, adjustable seat cusions, and extandable leg support (like that found in BMW seats) should be standard, no-questions-asked, equipment. Why does the world's leading auto manufaturer give us wet sponges to sit on????? MB puts so much engineering into the rest of the car, I don't understand why so little appears to go into seating comfort. If Toyota can put comfortable seats in a Camry, I'm sure Mercedes can afford good seats too.

And guys, don't tell me to rebuild the seats in my w123 - I did, and they still are a poor excuse for a seat.

GregS
'84 300D, 173k
'90 300CE, 163k

Just got a ride home in a W210. The seats are definitely superior - in their shape/support but...the leather looks/feels REALLY cheap. In fact I now know why so many have commented on the "lower quality" feel of the W210. Though I think the design is well done, the materials used are SUB PAR!!!!!! Material wise it is the level of let say a Ford Tarus or Honda Accord!!!!! I couldn't believe how inappropriate it felt for the price point and brand. I couldn't get over the cheap looking fake wood trim! Not to mention the sceamingly cheap plastic parts all over the dash. The experience was positive in that it did make me feel better about owning a W124!

Anyhow, does anyone know if W201 seats/seat tracks/seat controlers are the same as W124? There's someone who has the deeply contoured Recaros that came on some sport version of the W201 for sale. Anyone ever sat in these seats?

You know what seats are really really nice R129 SL seats, they fit like a glove.

I just put some Mercedes w123 seats in my friends ford festiva, I got some festiva seats that you could have =)

I think you should look into Corbeau seats, they are really nice, see dean albrecht's post on racing seats in the 500E. Lots of great comments there.

I have been in cars where the seat was leaning on the left and it was because the seat was worn out and needed new springs.

I have been in cars where the sides were even and the middle felt like it was hollowed out.

Neither is normal!

I don't believe any other MB seats will fit your 124. You may have better luck finding a used 124 passenger seat and having that converted to a drivers seat. It can be done in and hour and a half and involves moving frame rails, etc. The pass. seats "never" wear out and the drivers seats alway seem to.

HTH

I think that there has been a steady decline in the comfort of Mercedes seats, at least in the 124 models. My 99E300D seat is hard as a board and in no way compares to the seats in my 87300TDT.
In the 99 there is also an almost completely unpadded bar at the bottom of the seatback that hits me right on the tail bone! Unbelievable. To me the second most comfortable seat in the W124 models is the MB-tex seat that I had in my now sold 95 E300D. Enough padding, enough support, plenty of adjustment, with the bonus of being easily cleanable. The leather in the '99 is apalling--looks more like plastic than plastic does. All that being said, I still like the car. Now if I could shoe horn a seat from an '87 300SDL in to it... As far as what you can do to make your seat more comfortable, I don't know, other than to find a car with the Tex interior and see if you like it better.
Steve

Agreed. They were not that great when new, and just get worse from there. Most comfortable seats ever were in an '84 Audi 5000 I had. Awful mechanicals, but great seats! I had an '83 Mazda 626, which also had wonderful seats.

Funny how everyone tends to agree when seats are comfortable, regardless of height/weight/etc., but manufacturers are somehow unable to figure out the science behind consistently building a comfortable seat. This does not map to price, either. Cheap cars can have simple comfortable seats, and expensive cars can have seats that adjust in 80 uncomfortable ways. Should be easy to standardize on a successful design. It's not like humans are evolving too fast to keep up!

Has anyone tried bolstering the seats bottoms by adding additional padding?

I was thinking about adding a layer of closed-cell foam.

csnow,

Yes I have added a closed-cell high-density pad to seats, inserted between the foam pad and the seat cover material. I found that the best thickness is no greater than 3/8". Sometimes even this is too thick. I often find this material at camping stores, the idea being to be used as a ground matt for sleeping bags. My guess is even less than 3/8" might be ideal. It really depends on the wear and age of the seats; their covers and pads.

I also found that if the very back of the bottom cushion has pulled away from the back of the base (metal) then the whole pad/cushion will move forward making the seat feel odd and uncomfortable. I have installed an approximately 3-4" strip of the closed-cell high-density pad along the back. After re-inserting the back of the cover into the frame, the whole seat cushion was re-tensioned and felt revived.

Another area that I check is the rear of the seat where the very back part of the metal spring contacts the cushion. Often the metal frame will slip over the cushion material and needs to be repositioned.

I have found the seat cover material tends to migrate forward over the years. Getting the proper tension on the cover so that it is held tightly, pulled towards the back is what works best. Additionally, I will push and prod the covers to move back. This makes the seats feel refreshed and compliant again.

Hope this helps.

Haasman

Thanks for the advice. I think I will try a padding upgrade when the weather changes.

I just went out and slipped a half inch piece of leftover hardwood flooring material in the far back end of my drivers seat between the seat cushion and the back of the frame. About a foot long and it slid right in place. Previously the back of the seat was sagging, like there was practically no support for my tailbone. What a huge difference. I have not road tested, and I'm sure since it is not attached it will soon fall out of place. If I want to leave it in, I'll find a way to attach it with some plastic ties. Will let you know how it does after a day or two.

95E320cab-

The is exactly the effect I was talking about. It seems to shift one's body weight so that it is more evenly distributed across the seating surface.

Make sure your rear section of the seat cover is properly "inserted" into the metal seat frame.

Keep us posted,

Haasman

Interesting thread! The most comfortable seats I have found, outside of an SUV, are my 124s, both 300E and 500E! However, I have had to do some alteration.
First, my back is most comfortable when my seat is as high as possible, with my knees being as low as possible. I do that by inserting a triangular cushion in the seat in such a way that the rear of my seat sits a bit higher than the front. It works perfectly for me. I have a long trunk, and relatively short legs, although I am six ft one in. I also put the seat all the way back, and the steering wheel all the way forward.
The worst seats I have ever had was an Acura Legend coupe--way too low to the ground. I had to get out of the car every 20 minutes.

It is a totally individual preference--what works for one back doesn't work for another.

Tom
92 500E

UMM.... Thanks for the post-I'm sure it will be appreciated!-M

I had the same problem in my w201, the driver seat had two of the four springs on the left broken!

first I tried to fix the problem, but I realized that the car was extremely uncomfortable for a longer drive, my back and my left leg would start to hurt really bad.

I switched the driver seat with the passanger seat, just the bottom parts, and so far so good, I still had to adjust it a bit to get as much comfort out of it as possible, and I have to say that this area in an MB could use some improvment.

Nevertheless, I don't notice it anymore and I'm able to drive the car without any problems.

xp

Well, my piece of scrap wood is still in place. Makes a huge difference. I actually sit up higher in the car. I haven't been in the car for more than 15 minutes consecutively, but previously on hour long rides my lower back would fatigue. I hope I have found a solution, albeit jerry-rigged. Hey, you can't see it, so what the heck.

Sagging seat
 

I had the same problem with my 300D. Talked to a trim man and he told me to get some foam padding about 6" thick from an upholstery shop and wedge it in the area where it is sagging. Worked pretty good for me as the seat is alot firmer now.
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80 450sl
85 300D
97 E320

There are other seats that are good besides Recaro (which are hideously expensive). Koenig for one, Corbeau, Sparco. Pretty much anything is cheaper than Recaro. They all made comfy seats as well as racing seats.

I had 88 420sel and now I drive 90 300E. Well of course 420sel seats were more comfortable since theyre bigger and the whole car is bigger. But legs hurted on long trips out of state. I started driving 300E and legs hurt on shorted trips even around the city. I dont know whats going on. I tried adjusting seat in many ways but still not that comfortable. I had other cars and I never sat in better seat as it was in my fathers 83 Renault Fuego. I have no clue where he found that car in NYC but I gotta say In those seats you can seat for days. My friend just bought 96 bmw 328is and to me his seats are even worse than my Benz seats. When I ride in his car I always feel discomfort. Can somebody tell me if 300E seats are spring loaded as my 420sel or just foam in them? 300e seats deffinately feel harder than 420sel seats were. thanks

I also have a 124 body, and my seats are very comfortable. It sounds as if there still is something wrong with your particular seat

I suggest that you sit in another 124 body, and see if it feels any different.


Phil

Just a suggestion guys, do you think your bodies are aging and the 'horrible' mercedes seats are worse because your comparing your seats to ones you sat in 10 years ago?

Personally, I like my butt as low as possible. Also prevents sliding under a seat belt in an accident.

I installed GTI seats in my VW, and I like them much much more. Long trips are no longer a problem. I plan to purchase a W124 in the future and have been wondering what I could do in the seat department as these cars are getting on in their years and will need some freshening.

Anyone try the Sportline seats? These are the same as the 500E seats right?

About how much have you guys jacked up the front of the seat? Did you have to buy a longer bolt so it still reaches to the floor?

What did you use for "jacking material"? Washers?

Thanks...


85 300DT

seat swap
 

hey there...

does anyone know how to swap JUST the seat bottom of the driver's and passenger's seat? is it relatively simple?

i rebuilt the front seats of my w123, and it didn't seem like it was possible tos wap seat bottoms because of the way the seat belt attached and the seat adjustment (foward/backward) lever. maybe the w124 is different? i hope?

i ask because despite the fact that my w124 wagon has only 100K miles, the driver's side sags just slightly and it annoys me. i want extra support on the window side.

thanks!
eric