WTB: REAR HEADRESTS FOR 450 SEL 75'-79'

[jsilverman_nyc]

Anyone have a pair of rear headrests for a 450 sel? I need all the hardware and mounting bars as well. Thanks

[Raptelan]

I've got a couple extra sets of these...do you have your own skins for them or do you have a specific color you are looking for? I have passable pairs in bamboo and parchment (both real leather). One of the other parchment ones I have shrivelled up from the sun and should probably have the foam pad replaced (compatible with the front headrests). The blue pair is a clearly aftermarket reskinning. The skins are the same as for front headrests, so they can either be pulled from extra front seat headrests you've found or obtained new from places like GAHH or World Upholstery.

http://gallery.w116.org/dl/37848-4/31.JPG


$150 for a set complete with mounting hardware (I can provide more photos if you're interested).

P.S. If you haven't already, check out w116.org - it's a fantastic resource for these cars!

[jsilverman_nyc]

I'm definitely getting new skins for them to match my interior color. I only planned on re-padding if I had to, but I'd prefer to get ones that still have some life left in them. How's the blue pair feel? Also, do you have the mounting bars as well? I'm actually fitting these into my 73' 280 sedan, but I was told that they should fit fairly easy as long as all the hardware and mounting bars are there. Thanks for the fast reply btw.

[Raptelan]

Originally Posted by jsilverman_nyc

I'm definitely getting new skins for them to match my interior color. I only planned on re-padding if I had to, but I'd prefer to get ones that still have some life left in them. How's the blue pair feel? Also, do you have the mounting bars as well? I'm actually fitting these into my 73' 280 sedan, but I was told that they should fit fairly easy as long as all the hardware and mounting bars are there. Thanks for the fast reply btw.

Yes, two additional vertical bars screw into the rear seat frame, and then two shorter pieces bolt on to the existing vertical bars present in all seat frames. All the holes are already there in your seat, so it's plug and play. Then there's a triangular plastic piece on each one that's basically for being able to remove the headrests from the seat without removing the rear seat frame, and a little spring that pushes it back into the up position if it's been pressed down - you press down on a certain spot on the top of the seatback to release the lock. I can grab a spare seatback and put some photos or a video together for you to show the process. I think I am short on springs because they tend to go springing somewhere and end up lost forever but that's my problem - I'll worry about ordering some more.

All of the pads are perfect except for that one shrunken one that has had the old shrunken hardened leather skin peeled off. I imagine I'll probably fix that one myself as donor front headrests aren't hard to come by. If you're going to reskin anyways, I'd recommend the blue pair simply because somebody else might have a want for the existing OEM bamboo or parchment skins. There is likely some light surface corrosion on the posts near the bottom and/or the bars that install in the seatback - it's very common. So I'll also get some closer-up pictures for you this weekend; perhaps tonight.

P.S. I highly recommend World Upholstery for new skins as I am very impressed with their new leather seat skins; GAHH also does an outstanding job. They'll also do vinyl. My example:
http://gallery.w116.org/dl/35519-4/photo_3.JPG
http://gallery.w116.org/dl/35517-4/photo_1.JPG

[Raptelan]

W116 rear headrests - YouTube

Seat posts are in better condition than expected, but as expected I don't have any hardware in perfect shape. Video shows condition as well as assembly overview. I can provide more pictures or detailed video as needed.

As a side note the plastic triangular piece and small spring are actually completely unnecessary if you don't care about pulling the rear headrests out without removing the rear seat frame. I have pulled at least one set of these that did not include them - once the seat frame is out you use a screwdriver to press the release button instead.

But as for what I'll sell it'll be a complete kit that includes everything but the plastic trim pieces for the seat skin.

[jsilverman_nyc]

Thanks for the video! I was originally going to bring the car to someone to have these installed as I live in the city and have no where to work on the car at the moment. Now I'm thinking of taking the car to my parents for the weekend and working on it there. Is the rear seat difficult to remove? Is the w114 rear seat assembly much different than the w116?

I definitely want the set, they look good. The foam is in real nice condition, I thought I would end up putting in new foam but now I'm seeing its not necessary.

I'll pm you my email and we can figure out the details. Thanks so much!

[Raptelan]

Originally Posted by jsilverman_nyc

Thanks for the video! I was originally going to bring the car to someone to have these installed as I live in the city and have no where to work on the car at the moment. Now I'm thinking of taking the car to my parents for the weekend and working on it there. Is the rear seat difficult to remove? Is the w114 rear seat assembly much different than the w116?

I've never pulled the rear seat from a W114/W115 but I imagine it's exactly the same. It's the same between W116's and W123's. First you pull out the seat squab (using the two release buttons on the bottom front) and then there are 3 bolts to remove to free the back - one on either side of the bottom of the seatback, and one centered under the armrest. Then the seatback lifts upward to unclip and pulls right out. It's not a hard job at all and if you have a place to sleep, you have plenty of room for it. I suspect the most difficult thing will be getting the holes aligned properly - you don't want to make them in the wrong place and ruin your skin! Once the hardware is in place, you can feel where the receptacles are and poke small holes just enough for the headrest posts to fit in. Once you have new plastic trim pieces, you can probably find a measurement of exactly how far from the back they're supposed to be - other than that I think they are simply centered within certain pleats just like the front ones.