124 seat in a 123? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 12-10-2009, 10:06 PM

I have a lovely pair of 124 leather seats in my stock of stuff. My driver's seat in my 123 dd is getting a bit shaggy. I am thinking swapping in the 124 seat would rule!

Anybody done it?

I'm thinking a little panel mounted on the seat with a series of two way toggles would take care of the controls.

JimmyL · #2 12-10-2009, 10:19 PM

I don't know what all would be involved in the swap, but W124 seats are sooo much better!!!!

Joseph_Conrad · #3 12-10-2009, 10:32 PM

Are the w123 seats really so bad? I thought mine were pretty comfy. Or, are the w124 seats that much better?

andrewjtx · #4 12-10-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph_Conrad

Are the w123 seats really so bad? I thought mine were pretty comfy. Or, are the w124 seats that much better?

When they're worn out they are...

One of my cheeks is slightly irregular than the other from a nasty spring poking me on my daily commute.

I'm actually looking to invest in one of the more conservatively-styled Recaro models, color matched to the Palomino door panels.

That's after some manage to stop working on the mechanical issues for a while...

daw_two · #5 12-10-2009, 11:00 PM

Guys......As I recall, a seat bottom can be changed out. And no, w124 seats will not exchange into w123 ---- With modification, I guess anything is possible.

I have some seats. Blue --- either pattern, early Palomino pattern......I need to keep some of these in reserve to see what the gold 300D needs......

babyjames · #6 12-10-2009, 11:38 PM

The manual seats I transplanted from a W124 2.6l car into my (currently in pieces) '87 300D are great! They'd be the ideal candidates for use in 123 cars, as there is no electrical element to deal with....

Jay

BodhiBenz1987 · #7 12-10-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

Guys......As I recall, a seat bottom can be changed out. And no, w124 seats will not exchange into w123 ---- With modification, I guess anything is possible.

I have some seats. Blue --- either pattern, early Palomino pattern......I need to keep some of these in reserve to see what the gold 300D needs......

I have a bare pad from a 124 seat ... I thought maybe I could stuff it into the 123 seat cover. Maybe not. I could always do the pool noodle deal but I'm going to try to find a way to get the 124 pad in there first.

t walgamuth · #8 12-11-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyjames

The manual seats I transplanted from a W124 2.6l car into my (currently in pieces) '87 300D are great! They'd be the ideal candidates for use in 123 cars, as there is no electrical element to deal with....

Jay

How tough was that?

daw_two · #9 12-11-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyjames

The manual seats I transplanted from a W124 2.6l car into my (currently in pieces) '87 300D are great! They'd be the ideal candidates for use in 123 cars, as there is no electrical element to deal with....

Jay

Well....this would be putting a w124 seat into a w124, correct? I doubt the holes will match up --- the seat holes to the w123 frame NOR the w124 frame holes to the w123 body (mounting points).

t walgamuth · #10 12-11-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

Well....this would be putting a w124 seat into a w124, correct? I doubt the holes will match up --- the seat holes to the w123 frame NOR the w124 frame holes to the w123 body (mounting points).

The base of the seats tend to be flat in most vehicles. Assuming the flat place is similarly related to the seating area in both cars it should be fairly simple to makd an adapter.

I was thinking the wiring and switches would be a more significant challange.

babyjames · #11 12-11-2009, 03:32 PM

If the spring is the same, and I think it is, for both 123 and 124 cars, then just switch the seat tracks.

As for swapping the 260 seats to a 300 (both W124), there were no challenges whatsoever.

The width is the same for both chassis (transverse dimension), not so sure about the length. Looked to me like the 124 rails were slightly shorter (longitudinally). Might be wrong, though.

Jay

TylerH860 · #12 12-11-2009, 03:35 PM

I've sat in some really tired W124s, and they don't develop the seat sag like the W123s.

t walgamuth · #13 12-11-2009, 05:47 PM

sounds promising.

Yak · #14 12-11-2009, 07:10 PM

Maybe info here, if you're a benzworld member.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1233806-new-member-photos.html

If not, and the width of the seats is close then it should be a simple drill-and-tap issue and you can re-use the manual mechanism from your 123. I had mine apart the other day to repair the spring and the seat box itself is a flat bottom with six holes in the rails.

babyjames · #15 12-12-2009, 02:38 AM

When I sell the '87, I'm definitely going to hold on to the 2.6 seats!

The 124 side bolsters are better. I feel like I can throw the car around with much more confidence, as I'm "part of the car". W123 front seats are too flat.

Jay