I have finally found my 250c. I bought a 1970 Euro car with a 4 speed, roll up windows, and sunroof. I was wondering if any of you have had any experience with the leather upholstery kits that I see online. The car has black leather seats that are in poor shape with cuts and holes. Do the kits actually look original? Are they relatively easy to install? Can anyone recommend a company? Richard

I ordered a kit from World Upholstery for my 107. Couldn't be happier. Check them out on the web. I had them professionally installed.

www.worlduph.com.

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I really gets fun when they all don't run

84 500SL
99 Jeep XJ
93 Jeep YJ
03 Custom Softail

World Uphosltery will be very close to original.

MB seat covers are the easiest I've ever heard of -- no hog rings, no clips, no nasty "gottyas"

You will need some heavy cotton thread or light string to sew the listings to the pad, and some tools to take the seat apart, otherwise its all by hand -- be very careful prying the center out of the seat knob and the plastic trim off the side of the seats, the plastic mars easily and the trim piece is both very brittle and no longer available....

The back cover comes off by taking the screw out of the bottom of the back cover and pulling the cover down and out, the work the sides out (usually stuck) and the bottom edge out of the slot -- it will then slip off after removing armrests and so forth. Bottom cover is held in by an inverted edge in a slot with a fiber strip, just squash the springs down and work the fiber strip out of the slot. The bottom cover will be clipped to the fiber pad with some circular steel clips, you can either re-use these or simply sew the fabric flap (listing) to the pad with a large needle and some heavy cotton or nylon thread. Smash the springs down and work the strip back into the slot (start in the center, watch the corners so you don't get the strip kinked) and you're done.

For the back, slip the cover on, install the strip in the slot for the bottom of the back, flip the tip strip up and into the clips on the back, then fit the sides into the slots. Insert the back cover, push all the way up, and install the screw, then re-assemble the seat.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Man, they sure must have made some changes when they did the 107 chassis. My seat covers were fastened with hog rings. You are dead on about the trim and plastic pieces.

After looking at the seat assembly, I decided I did not want to screw up $900.00 worth of leather so I did have them professionally installed. I took the seats out, dropped them off and he charged me $275.00 to recover them. To me it was worth every penny.

__________________
I really gets fun when they all don't run

84 500SL
99 Jeep XJ
93 Jeep YJ
03 Custom Softail

Hey, I was in Upland once!

Hmm. I've never heard of hog rings (except the listing fastners) on MB seats.

Wonder if those weren't the original seat covers.

The W114/115 and all later chassis were fiber strip in a slot types, don't know why only the W107 would be different.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I just recentley dissassembled my drivers seat on a 71 250C (Richard I was the one who got the 250C you were bidding on) ((same seller by the way)) and my seats are exactley as were described above. If the adjuster (tilt back) is not working or has worn you can get the square shaft from Home depot, fits perfectley and can be cut a tad longer so it will not pop out.

Ron

I sold my 280C with ViseGrips clamped to that rod to keep the seat upright. Wish I'd know then what I know now.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Funny, when I took the seat apart, there was a new pair of needle noosed vice grips clamped to the old rod. They are now in the tool box.

Ron

Could you explain how you go about this. The passenger seat on my 250C has a similar problem. The valve under the seat does not hold any pressure (if that is how it works) and the right hand side of the seat flops back. I can see (feel) what needs to be done - but don't want to reinvent a solution if others have already worked one out.

The vacuum element under the seat keeps the seat back from flopping forward. None of mine have ever worked and I've not bothered to fix them. You can get diaphgrams from Phil or the dealer.

If you have mighty vacc'ed the element and it leaks, you will need to replace the diaphragms but there are many places this part of the vaccum system can leak.

The dome light switch in the door jam has a hole in it that will bleed the vaccum off if the door is open. There is also a black button that may be hidden by the vertical part of the seat belt. It allows back seat passengers to relaese the seat back so they can reach the door handle.

The ViseGrips where clamped to the square rod that runs across the width of the seat at the hinge and controls the seat back tilt rather than the flop forward. Mine kept tilting backward a bit every day 'till I couldn't see over the steering wheel.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

The seat covers go on most old Mercedes without too much trouble. Old original covers (both tex and leather) had a fabric under sheet that wrapped around the edges to protect the seating material. This is attached to the seat frame/seat cushion with "hog rings". Additionally, the seat cushion is attached to the frame with hog rings. Sine the whole thing is under a certain amount of tension when assembled, I am not sure how critical they all are, but I have always tried to replace them as close to how they were. If you are replacing the seat coverings, it is well worth double checking the condition of the cushions/pads/buns. these make a great difference in comfort. I would also echo earlier posts in that I have ordered seat covers, seat cushions, carpet sets and door panels from World Upholstery and have always been pleased with the quality and fit of everything.