I could have sworn I saw a thread regarding an aftermarket manufacturer of Mercedes horsehair seat pads. I need seat backs for a w115 chassis and refuse to spend so much money for so little - Other than World Upholstery and GAAH - other sources please? Thanks!

On the seat - I removed the horsehair and replaced it with 3" of medium foam and 1" of memory foam.
On the back - I cut 3 pieces out of a cheap foam mattress cover and taped them to the seat backer. I covered it with a sheepskin seat cover.

The shop redoing my seats is basically doing the same thing, going with foam. I have to believe that had the Tech been there 30 years ago, the seats would have been foam to begin with.

The foam (did the passenger side this way already) creates a very soft feeling - unfortunately, you can only get that nice firm feeling with the molded horsehair pads - think I want to stay with the pads, just need to find a reasonably priced pad -anyone? Thanks!

Really? I would have thought that good-quality, high-density foam or memory foam over HD foam would be close to the horsehair pads.

Many years ago some of the online parts suppliers brought in the HH pads at a discount, I guess directly from Germany. But that was when the w123s and w116s were still the majority of cars in the older Mercedes community and there were still a fair number of w115s around. These days you're talking about a pretty small market segment.

I'm afraid our cup is half full, not half empty -- we're fortunate World Upholstery et al. are supplying this antique trim stuff.

Did you ask Phil if he can do something for you?

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Try German Auto Tops in LA (Porsche Convertible Tops : BMW Seat Covers : Mercedes Leather Seats : Soft Top : Porsche Carpet : German Auto Tops Inc.)

Thanks! I have taken the seats apart - part of the reason the pads work is both their rigidity and they are formed to the spring sets -makes sense once you look at them. Otherwise, I agree - foam (the good stuff) would seem to be a much better alternative than the stock horsehair -

Foam padding will not create a firm surface of support like the original rubberized horsehair padding provides. Been there, done that. Tried the pool noodle approach, and it actually made things WORSE. The cushion was stuffed too much and forced me to roll from side to side.

Found a cheap orange foam pad from a junkyard 300D (1980 or 1981), installed it and have no problems since. Renewed the feel, is cheap (remove at the yard, $10 later you're set). No need to take entire seat unless your springs are broken.



However for the backrest, plenty of the used ones are in horrible shape that new ones are the way to go.

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And to further complicate things - I need the backrest for an even older car , a '75 W115 chassis -