I've finished the "practice" vinyl seat covers for the front seats of the 280 -- I will take pictures tomorrow when I install the driver's set and post them when I get them scanned in (no digital cam yet, I'm old fashioned).

Turns out to be fairly easy, except for getting the bottom edge the right length (the passenger side is too long, will need to re-do that someday, or not, since I'm making leather ones next).

The only real problem is that I cannot get the vunyl or leather perforated, and will have to live with non-perf leather. I did find one place that could perf it, but would only do a side at a time, and wasn't interested in the 7.5cm separated by 1.5cm of non-perfed leather pattern ---- someday.

Peter

__________________
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!

There is a firm in New Jersey (Basic Inc) that makes perforated leather seat covers for mercedes. They are very reasonable ( I bought jus the drivers seat for my 450 sl 1977). Try them. good luck, Abe G

Here is the old seat after I pulled it. I'd already pulled the headrest, but the armrest is the factory color. The seats had been "dyed" a lighter blue.

Peter

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
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!

Here is the new seat cover installed, ready to go in.

This was a nightmare, all told -- started about 8 pm and got done at 1 am. Some idiot used locktite on the screws that hold the brackets on, I broke my big screwdriver and ruined the upper screws on the backrest getting them out. You'd think the fact that they were cross-head screws would indicate a limited need for torque......

Better yet, one of the rear hold down nut plates was bad, I couldn't get the screw started, so I had to scrounge around and find a nut plate and screw, since it simply isn't possible to get the front screws in until you have the rears tight..... I think I must have put that seat in the car and then taken it back out five or more times.

Anyway, it's done. I'm not completely happy with the result -- after I put it on, I decided that I didn't sew the welting down properly on the bottom cover, and I didn't made the top one tight enough (wrinkles at the top corners), but hey, it beats what I took out!

Peter

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
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!

That looks great. I don't suppose you have all the dimensions listed down so that someone might do a pattern from it? I'd love to do a temporary job on my seats, but have not had the time to pull it all apart and do a pattern.

Cheers,
Frank

Frank:

funny, I just happen to have a set of paper patterns.......

I need to do some more adjustments first, though -- the bottom edge is too long, and I don't really like the fit at the moment, but I will be happy to let you know when I get these changes made and will trace you out a set of newsprint patterns and write up some instructions.

I used 1" polyurethane foam from the Hobby Lobby on these covers, but on the leather I will probably either recycle the old cotton or get new, it's cheaper and sits better, believe it or not. Besides, it lasted 31 years!

Peter

__________________
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 think you will have a lot of request for these patterns!!

Because I want one to...

Will you do the back seat as well?

__________________
http://w3.uqo.ca/gravelle/images/250S/flood.jpg
DAN
1967 250s The Monster Project a.k.a "The Monster" a.k.a "Rolling Coffin" --sold--
The photographic ART thread
+++Price Guide+++

Dan:

Yes, I plan to do the rear seat as well, it's in only marginally better condition, mainly because no one sits in it.

I may also need to buy some more vinyl to finish this, I seem to be a bit short. Got it cheap on the sale table, so I don't expect it to last very long, but hey, I've already gotten some compliments on work I don't consider finished!

remind me later, I'll make up some patterns when I get them them fixed the way I want.

I'm also doing a set in leather to replace the MB tex seta covers in my brother's 75 300D, so will have patterns for the W115, too!

Peter

__________________
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!