My extremely modest mechanical abilities have been pushed to the brink yet again as I cannot figure out how to unbolt my driver's seat on my 1983 300D. I've searched the forums and it said I need to push the seat all the way back and undo the front two 10mm bolts (no problem)—then push the seat all the way forward, undo the little plastic covers on the end of each rail, then unbolt the rear two 10mm bolts.

Where are the rear bolts? I can't seem to comprehend how the seats are attached to the floor at the rear.

(Yes, I'm embarrassed to be asking this as I know some of you can do this with your eyes closed, one hand tied behind your back, and no tools at all.)



Thanks all.

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Douglas
New York

You have to scoot both the "sloping" front/rear adjustment (side lever) and the "level" front/rear adjustment (front lever) all the way forward to see the rear bolts. They are 10mm head bolts into the floor.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

If it hasn't been used much, the 'up' or 'forward' position of the up/down mechanism needs to be encouraged to move by someone in the back seat pushing hard, perhaps with their feet, on the front seat.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The seatbelt re-inforcing slide rod between the seat and center hump. You won't believe how many seats I've taken out and I still sometimes forget that thing.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

and the seat-belt warning plug on the driver's seat.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Thanks. I don't quite understand how the level adjustment works. I think mine is jammed. Exactly how do you operate it on an old, possibly gummed-up seat?

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Douglas
New York

I almost always have to have my wife come out and pull up on the side handle {slope/height} while I sit in the back seat and push the seat forward/up with my feet. Several occasions it has been impossible to do it just myself.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

and whatever you do, don't pull that lever again after the seat is out!!!! Wait until you have all 4 bolts back in otherwise you lose your alignment and it is hard to get the holes realigned.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Think of it as a wedge that the seat slides on....as the seat
slides along the wedge, it will rise or fall.
As for operating it on an old seat, I get it the back seat, put my
knees on the floor, the tops of my feet on the back seat,
my left shoulder into the back of the front seat. I reach forward
with my right hand and grab that lever between the seat and
the hump, lift and push like hell with my shoulder.

It ain't pretty, but it works for me

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

I guess I've been lucky with w123 seats. I've always managed to be able to pull up on the height adjustment lever and move it ....when sitting in the seat. I never could get the right leverage on the handle if not sitting in the seat.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

When you get it out, that would be a great time to lube the sliding mechanisms.

Okay, so I took your advice and got married this afternoon. Then my wife helped me adjust the seat and it worked perfectly.



On a serious note, the thing did budge after a few very Neanderthal tries. Thank you all for your advice. And, of course, thanks to the Mrs.... yours and mine both for their help.

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Douglas
New York

I am sorry, but as a side note, but related to this to this, how in the world does that height adjustment work? I can't seem to get it to do anything. I had a 300TD before and never knew what it was for. When I pull on it in my new 240d, it doesn't seem to do anything. I tried rocking back and forth in the seat, etc, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere.

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Posts #3 & #7 are the answer

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'83 300D 198,000mi Howard
'03 Saturn Vue CVT 75,000mi(wifeys)

Once the seats are out I highly suggest you lube the rails generously as well as the biting "teeth" for the fore/aft and height adjustment levers. I can easily adjust mine anytime now after I did foam install (to replace the horsehair that was crumbling) on mine from another W123 that had foam pad instead. Two years and so far, so good...

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