1989 300te. The coverings are mint, but the innards are dead. They are hard, lack any cushioning and seems like the seat springs are worn out. Are there replacement springs/ insides for the seat portion- not the back. M- tex NOT leather.
How difficult is it to repair? I am very good with the ole hands.

Favorite back yard repair...

Pull the seats, flip them over and jam some open cell foam between the springs , sit in the seat and check it out , add as required. Sounds like real hack work but I did it on my own 560 SEL and the drivers seat feels like new, looks great and cost me nothing as I had some left over foam from upolstering my boat... Don't tell anyone I told you.

Chris

__________________
******************************
1971 Porsche 911 Targa RSR rep.
1968 BMW R60/2
1981 BMW R80GS-PD, dual plugs, 1000cc jugs, 10 gal "Gaston" tank.
1982 BMW R80GS-PD, duplicate of above.
1988 Neoplan/Mercedes 40' Bus
2002 SLK32 AMG
2013 Smart Electric

The seats consist of the covering material that has a foam lining, then there's a formed "horsehair" pad mounted on a spring base. Creaking springs might indicate a broken spring or support in the base, but usually sags are from the pad getting old. Places like adsitco.com and worlduph.com sell the replacement pads and covers. As for the spring bases, see if you can find a recycler.

Has anyone had much luck with re-skinning the pad with a new or lightly used MB-Tex cover?

Replaced springs and horsehair pad on my W123. Makes a big difference.

Took a lazy 4 hours to do which included removing the passenger seat at same time and swapping its seat cover to the drivers side cause it was in better condition. Is a little difficult getting the springs on and off; have to keep adjusting the height of the seat while out of the car to get the screws exposed and/or lined up so you can undo and then reinstall. Not hard; just time.

As I remember was $200 for the springs and $100 for the pad.

Usually one or two springs are broken and then the pad impales itself down onto the springs. Folks stuff foam, towels and ol clothes up in there for support.

If keeping the car, a couple hundred dollars for a non lumpy seat is money well spent.

Your seats are probably electric? Might be easier to replace the pad only.

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)