Auid, SAAB, Volvo Seats in w126

Ok...I wouldn't have posted this but I searched and nobody has adressed this or talked about their experiences.
Has anyone attempted to transplant a SAAB, Volvo, or Audi seats into a mercedes w126, w123, etc?

At the local u-pull-it there is a Audi or SAAB with very nice leather seats that I wouldn't mind having if they would bolt in sorta close to the mercedes.

I can managing the wiring (since I have power seats) if I can find a power version.

Anyone have experiences?

Thanks!

I like MB seats but I'd love some good bucket seats with more support. Mid 80's Tercel seats are not very good in the softness but very high on the support/comfort.

Originally Posted by 82-300td

I like MB seats but I'd love some good bucket seats with more support. Mid 80's Tercel seats are not very good in the softness but very high on the support/comfort.

Not too sure about tercel seats in a mercedes benz :-D

[Pete Burton]

I've been toying with the idea for several months now. I'd been thinking Volvo, maybe Saab. Audi is another possibility I hadn't considered. Do most Audis have seat heaters? Many Volvos and Saabs do, and they are excellent. I've been looking through some listings to see what is available. I seriously hope I can do this swap in 2005, as I love my SD, but I really think the seats stink. I don't want to fix them either, because I've sat in much newer seats of the same style and they aren't half as comfortable as the ones from an old Volvo or Saab. Brandon, have you found anything specific that wouldn't look too out of place? A friend has a 89 740 with black leather seats that have a wide panel on the front and sides much like the SD. But, if I go to all the effort of doing the swap, I need to get seats in decent shape, not something worn out.

[boneheaddoctor]

You can make almost any seat fit that doesn't excede the physical lspace you have......you can do it safely if you know how to weld and fabricate a new mount. Now if it looks right thats something else.....its your car....if you can live with it who is to say you are wrong for doing it. But first and formost do it safely, or not at all.

I put '92 prelude front seats in my '89 Civic hatchback. That was not a bolt in afair.

Originally Posted by Pete Burton

Brandon, have you found anything specific that wouldn't look too out of place? A friend has a 89 740 with black leather seats that have a wide panel on the front and sides much like the SD. But, if I go to all the effort of doing the swap, I need to get seats in decent shape, not something worn out.

There was a mid/early 90's Audi at the wrecking yard today with black leather interior and it looked like you could have taken it right out of the mercedes. Very similar patterning with the big blocky styling.
The seat was basically very similar but nicer to sit in.
There was a few SAAB's there as well with okish interiors but I am not sure if I am down with putting in crap (espically if this wrecking yard is going to shaft me as hard as they did yesterday).

I didn't look for seat heaters in the Audi althought that is a good point. My recent use of a heating pad on my back in the car has shown me how nice they can be

I've not no problem doing fab work but I don't want to be trying to breed apples to oranges in this project...I will take a closer look at the seats there and keep my eyes out for nice ones. Just wish it wasn't 40min away and 1 dollar to even see what is there (anything new).

[fahrgewehr2]

Why don't you put in seats from a newer 126 car? Or maybe fix what you have? They wre not uncomfortable seats when new. TO make them comfortable you will need to rebuild with new parts.

Seats from any other brand in that car will look like ****. How you are going to get them to work sounds like way more time than it would take to just fix what you have.

[cscmc1]

I can't imagine removing Mercedes seats and replacing them with anything but another set of Mercedes seats! My 88 190E has 190K on the chassis and original seats. They are STILL far more comfortable than any other seat my a$$ has graced (besides other MB seats, of course). I only wish my Mustang had a quarter the support and comfort that the baby Benz has! A close second were the Recaros in the Scirocco... but I still prefer the basic MBTex seats in the 190E.

Chris

[Pete Burton]

Comfort is personal. IMHO, the seats in my long gone 75 Saab beat my SD hands down. Most of the Volvo seats I've been in beat the Saab. I have some sensitivity to how it looks, but my back and a** tell me everyday that my priorities are off track. I have to live with them too, and I expect they will win out eventually. They for sure are not going to give up. Rebuild the MB seats or buy really nice ones - either way it's time and money. Why not make it something we'll all like?

[cscmc1]

Originally Posted by Pete Burton

Comfort is personal.

Very, very true... I didn't mean to come off sounding preachy. I apologize if I did! I just love those MB seats to death, but I like a very firm seat. My friend's Saab is "ok," but it's a post-GM-acquisition Saab. Her earler 900 was much nicer inside. My buddy's Audi 200 Turbo Quattro is pretty comfy, and launches like a bat out of hell with that AWD. My late 300TD and current 190E take the cake for driver comfort, though, esp. on long drives. Those seats are so simple but so incredibly functional.

I would take the seats in my Subaru over the ones in my 300CD any day.

The 190E seats are, yes, comfortable but remember this is a w126 we are talking about
Unless they are a direct bolt in (there was a 190E with tan power that I would have snatched up if it were not for the Audi saying "look at this black leather baby!"

Audi, SAAB, and whatnot are very similar to mercedes seats. The asthetics of the whole thing isn't a big concern to me but I do want them to "look right" if I am going to take the time to do everything.

I am 6'6" so lumbar is a MUST and the w126 seats (atleast early) have nothing.
I don't want to rebuild them becuase they really aren't in that bad of shape physically but cosmetically they look like hell..torn...etc.

The Audi and SAAB seats looked similar enough to merc seats and comfortable enough that I would be willing to take the time and whatnot to retrofit a nicer feeling seat in.

I won't find a w126 at the yard with good seats in it because even the gassers last long..
I could have everything on mine redone but its still just a question of do these other cars have things that are nicer and will they fit.

Anyone that visits the wrecking yard, please take a look at the SAAB and Audi Seats and see what it looks like. Next time I will take a camera for forum member to see asthetics.

Anyone have a SAAB or Audi they want to pull the seats out of and compare?

(I sorta looked over volvo becuase their headrests are very VERY volvo...)

If I remeber right, from my old Audi's, the seats look very similar, the only differnce is being in the head rests. One thing to keep in mind is that the control swiches are on the seats, and the memory switch is on the door panal.

Here are some pictures:
The cars are the names of the pictures

SAAB Audi Audi

Question,
Will 190E Seats bolt onto my seat rails in my 300SD (1981)?
And/or will the motor assembly go in?

I am gonna do some more investigation tomorrow

Btw I have 2 mint 190E tan sun visors I will be offering here soon...as soon as I take some pictures.


Brandon