Recover or Replace Seats

[Jim]

My drivers seat back is worn on the LHS bolster; where they always wear and is hardly ever is seen in the cars for sale pictures. Also the power function on the lower squab does not work making the seat feel very odd in some positions. This is apparently a common problem and is due to the drive cable being worn and disengaging.

I have a quote to recover the seat but am wondering about an up-grade having seen some Recaro Thread Traffic here recently.

I found this informative thread

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/1450180-recaro-cse-ebay.html

I am a keen "originalist" meaning I tend to keep stuff stock but with seats it is fairly easy to change back to OEM if required.

www.lena-shop.com

looks like a good source.

Is it a no brainer to go with the Recaro C Classics or what?

How easy is it to connect the power functions to, say, the Recaro's

Thanks...

 

[need2speed]

Hi Jim: As another "originalist", I'd suggest that you re-dye or recover the original factory Recaros (check out Liquid Leather for DYI dye kits). IMHO, the Classics by themselves, ie, not part of a clone E60 or Hammer build, may be out of place and are not any lighter. You certainly could have both and swap back the originals as you say, but then you are still left with having worn-out factory seats. FWIW, the slide and tilt functions are built into the seat base and are functional regardless of what you mount, but I can't say how easily you will be able to integrate the other functions like back tilt, etc. However, the Classic was designed for retrofitting and should be pretty friendly to wire in...perhaps others have done this?

 

[Jim]

I managed to get the two front bolts loose on the drivers seat. I could just get a 10mm ring spanner on the rear bolts but could not get a decent feel. I do not want to round the head or shear the bolt.

The Upholstery Foreman was no help with the bolts but he did raise a question about the SRS. He wants to take the passenger side seat as a template for the drivers seat. I go back and they fir the new cover to the drivers seat and re-install the passenger seat.

I still did not get a warm feeling despit assurances that they can get the seat out. They was a BMW seat finished out side the shop that looked rubbish. That pretty much finished me with that Best Shop.

So just to follow up regarding the SRS...what is the advice if I were to remove the PAX seat and still drive the car while thay make the cover.

 

[Jim]

Re: Recover Drivers Seat

Finally managed to get the two rear bolts out with out damage,

I find underneath a 4 pin pin plug and a small red plug both disconnected OK and harness going forward over the drivers floor pan in a large conduit along with many other wires... Nowhere to disconnect?

The seat still moves so the "still connected" harness controls the seat functions. Not sure about the seat warmer.

How do I disconnect the harness to allow the seat to be removed?

Later...

Well as it is my daily driver I put it all back together after a superficial clean and WD40 some threads. Should be a more pleasant job next time.

A tip for reassembly is to make sure the seat belt rail is engaged at the front before bolting the seat in. You will see what I mean when you do the job.

That Drivers Seat need major work so it will get fixed later. The car runs so I am OK for work tomorrow.

I will plan on putting a plug and socket in that harness under the seat.

 

[gsxr]

To access the rear 2 mounting bolts from the seat frame to the floor, raise the back of the seat cushion up (vertically) as far as possible. This allows easy access to the bolts.

 

[Jim]

Thanks Dave,

I was being paranoid about shearing those two back bolts. The WD40 soaked in to give me dutch courage and I managed to get a small 10mm socket and ratchet on. I put a small adjustable spanner on the bar to provide extra leverage and gently applied some torque. Thanks to Mercedes Quality way back then the bolts gave and they ratched out OK.

Part of the problem with re-assembly was the seat adjustment is all skewed due to the failed cross drive cable...that I was going to repair if I had got the seat out. With many seat adjustments I got the four bolts back in.

Even though I did the re-assembly last thing in the afternoon I was still drenched in sweat when I finally got it back together.

I need to check how many cables run in that harness and try to find a suitable in-line plug and socket.

 

[bing]

Does anyone have the correct part number for front seat base leather cover in parchment 036 specific ??

Cheers!

 

[nocfn]

What year?

 

[bing]

Sorry ,1994. EPC kinda confusing so I though I'd ask more experience users here .[emoji3]

 

[nocfn]

275 - 8f19 see my signature - at least that's my experience (hard to get)

 

[gsxr]

Does anyone have the correct part number for front seat base leather cover in parchment 036 specific ??

Cheers!

P/N for parchment ("facelift mushroom") is: 124-910-30-46-8F33

It appears to be NLA, but you'd have to ask a dealer to check status in Germany.

275 - 8f19 see my signature - at least that's my experience (hard to get)

Louis, the four-digit color code varies depending on the part in question (leather covers, plastic trim, carpets, etc). Not all facelift 275/265 items are 8F19. For example, the seat frame plastic covers and front pleather electrical cover piece are 8F30, door panels/pockets/leather are 8F33, carpets are 8F32.

You MUST use the EPC footnotes to determine the appropriate 4-digit color code suffix for the year/model on the specific part in question. Then, watch out for supercessions... MB has been superceding some colors to different colors, including black. You MUST ask the dealer if you will receive the color code you ordered, or if you will receive a superceded number/color.

 

[nocfn]

Perhaps a continuation of the how to EPC Is in order - EPC for dummies sub topic?

Thanks! All this skoolin!

 

[bing]

Thanks, Dave! This mushroom/champignon/parchment is a PITA to match... You are correct that all interior pieces have different color codes and this is where you have to be careful.

 

[need2speed]

Gliptone UK who make Liquid Leather matched my sample of 275 and can provide the correct dye if you want to try their Scuffmaster system on worn areas of existing seats.

 

[bing]

Will check them out . Cheers . Helping a friend refresh 275 interior at the moment .