1985 300d Seat Removal - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

montuckyride · #1 06-29-2015, 06:23 PM

Hi Forum:

I am experiencing difficulty removing a front passenger seat in a 85 300d. It is a parts car and i am attempting to salvage the seat springs and pad. I moved the seat all the way forward, tried to raise the seat all the way up, removed the two front 10 mm bolts then the two rear 10 mm bolts. then I removed the cap and removed the 10 mm bolt on the side track. I've taken a few pictures, please let me know what i am missing. The seat is stuck in the back.

montuckyride · #2 06-29-2015, 06:28 PM

I believe there are two bolts below the two rear 10 mm bolts in the rear. These are the bolts that bolt the seat to the car frame. I don't know how to remove these. I have tried my 10,9,8 mm wrench and it doesn't fit because the bolt is round. Here are a few more pictures including a couple of the bolts that I think are what's hindering me from removing the seat.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks forum.

montuckyride · #3 06-29-2015, 06:31 PM

Also I sprayed the seat track with PB Blaster.

Rogviler · #4 06-29-2015, 06:45 PM

Having just taken mine out twice, I do believe you've gotten all the bolts. I'd just try sitting in the seat. That out to pop it loose.

-Rog

DieselClan · #5 06-29-2015, 06:46 PM

The (2) 10mm bolts on the rear you removed weren't the bolts holding the track into the floor. They were the ones holding the seat frame to the seat track. You probably haven't moved the seat far enough up and frontward if you can't see any other bolts. The 2 holding the seat frame in the rear are a bit stubborn to find sometimes. Also, you may want to remove the entire rear carpet out to free up some space which may help too.

Here's a link to a DIY that may help you locate the other bolts:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mercedes+W123+Front+Seat+Replacement/33146

I just R&R'd my front seats in my '84 Sedan to swap out some nice mint ones. I also had to remove the seat tracks which I documented but have yet to place it on here for others to see. Lots of folks get lost at that stage and I was too for a while until I figured it out.

DieselClan · #6 06-29-2015, 06:50 PM

Oh and the reason I swapped my seat tracks was because my 'mint' replacement seats I got were exposed to the elements and the rear of the seat tracks (where they bolt to the floor) were rusted just as it appears to be in your case. If the tracks on your current seat are in better shape you'll need to keep those and junk the track pictured.

Here's a photo from my swap. This is the replacement seat bottom with the rusted seat track. That noticeable screw is the screw that holds the seat base onto the track and is the one that looks like you removed

montuckyride · #7 06-29-2015, 07:01 PM

Dieselclan and rogviler, thanks for your replys, I'll sit in the seat and pull it forward some more, and i'll see if I see anymore bolts. I took pictures of two bolts that bolt to the frame, and please let me know if you have any idea of how to remove those bolts, as i've tried to use my metric wrenches but, I don't think that is the right tool as the bolts are round. Andrew

montuckyride · #8 06-29-2015, 07:03 PM

Thanks for uploading the pic dieselclan, how did you manage to pull the rusty section out? My car is almost so rusty that I can pull it out, but I think i need a tool to get to the rusty bolt holding the seat to the frame of the car.

sleepstar · #9 06-29-2015, 07:10 PM

the seat needs to be all the way forward and all the way up to get the ones in the back.

DieselClan · #10 06-29-2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montuckyride

I believe there are two bolts below the two rear 10 mm bolts in the rear. These are the bolts that bolt the seat to the car frame. I don't know how to remove these. I have tried my 10,9,8 mm wrench and it doesn't fit because the bolt is round. Here are a few more pictures including a couple of the bolts that I think are what's hindering me from removing the seat.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks forum.

The 'bolt' you pictured there (below as well) I believe is a screw too and it's only accessible when the seat is out of the car and your attempting to take the seat track off. I believe that screw holds the seat frame to the track and it may be the one pictured below from my swap:

DieselClan · #11 06-29-2015, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montuckyride

Thanks for uploading the pic dieselclan, how did you manage to pull the rusty section out? My car is almost so rusty that I can pull it out, but I think i need a tool to get to the rusty bolt holding the seat to the frame of the car.

You're welcome. I purchased my replacement seats from a fellow member who already had them removed from the car he parted out. However, I don't think they were rusty to begin with but I couldn't say for sure. He stored them in a 'barn' and they were probably in there a year or longer and I think the elements just made them rusty, or that portion of the seat track could've been in some standing water for a period of time and created the rust.

Here's another picture of the donor seat with seat track showing the extent of the rust.

Actually, I still have the old seat tracks in the garage and just took a look at them to see how they were removed and it looks like they were rusty to begin with when they were removed. The 10mm bolts holding the track to the floor were still in and rusty as well. He must've cut around the floor pan to get them out which may be evident in the photo above as there's extra rusty metal shown (you can also see the bottom of the bolt remaining).

DieselClan · #12 06-29-2015, 07:35 PM

I went and snapped these photos for you in case they could help. These are the rear bolts that held the track to the floor.

Alec300SD · #13 07-01-2015, 02:55 AM

I believe the procedure for removing the manual W123 front seats is the same as listed in post # 5 of http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/352422-diy-%96-pictorial-w126-front-seat-cushions-w116.html.

As I recall you have to take out the rear 10mm hex head anchor bolts first.
If you reinstall the two front anchor bolts and raise the seat up as high as it goes and as far forward as it goes you will expose the rear anchor bolts. Take out the rear anchor bolts and re-position the seat to take out the front anchor bolts. Since you already ave removed the seat belt guide rail anchor bolt on the rear transmission tunnel, the seat should then be able to be removed. You might need to rock the seat a bit if the seat frame has rusted solid to the floor pan.

Hope this helps

BillGrissom · #14 07-01-2015, 03:16 PM

Confused me too when I rebuilt the seats (both 1984 & 85). Pull up on the side handle and slide the "height adjust" rails forward. They ride on the lower rails which bolt to the floor. That will expose the rear hold-down bolts. Easier said than done. I spent much time spraying WD-40 and moving the tracks (using screwdriver pry thru holes) before I was able to slide the tracks by hand. Seemed it was mostly gunk from drink spills and such stopping them. There are ball rollers that are in tight, even without gunk. I can't imagine how bad they could be in eastern states w/ a little rust added. My height adjust slides easy now.

BTW, the bolts go into removable "captured nuts", so if you end up having to strip the threads to get it out, those can be replaced. You might also hacksaw the bolts if you get enough gap.

cooljjay · #15 07-03-2015, 11:24 PM

Wow no one knows about the hidden bolt?

There is a bolt that goes straight through the track into the sill...