switching interior? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DrewGerhan · #1 08-18-2006, 12:29 PM

my SD's mb tex interior isnt in that bad of shape for being 25 years old. however i have found a complete very nice interior from 1990 420sel with 69k miles. its complete with front and rear seats, seat controls, rear head rests

and its leather

.
my question to the experts is will that set drop right in if i remove my current interior? also the guy mentions something about having to modify the front tracks slightly? any ideas?

1985 300SD Sady · #2 08-18-2006, 06:45 PM

It is definately not a straight drop in... You will have to modify some things to get everything working.

Why not get your seats re-covered?

How much is shipping going to be for a complete seat set ?

Couldnt you find some nice seats at a junkyard nearby?

These all seem like easier solutions.

rrgrassi · #3 08-18-2006, 07:01 PM

If you plan on keeping the car for a long time, go for it. But remember there are purists out there and doing any type of customizing can hurt the value of the car, OTOH, there are those out there who love customized stuff, so it may add value to the car. I say it's your car, do what you want. Also check to see if you can use the same track with little modification for the new seats.

dmorrison · #4 08-18-2006, 09:19 PM

Rear door panels are different. Your is a SD and the donor car is a SEL. The rear doors are about 5.5 inches longer. Since their is 5.5 inches of extra rear leg room in the SEL vs. the SD. Is the rear seat an adjustable vs. your non adjustable?

Dave

Wes Bender · #5 08-19-2006, 03:58 PM

Even with fairly decent care, the leather probably won't last as long as the MBTex. I went the other way, exchanging fair leather for good MBTex.

Just my opinion though. Leather is really nice.

Wes

sixto · #6 08-19-2006, 04:18 PM

I'm with Wes. In the long haul you're better off with tex than leather for durability.

That said, it's pretty easy to peel the leather off the seats. That might be easier than forcing a newer seat into the car and sorting out the switch wiring.

Sixto
93 300SD

DrewGerhan · #7 08-19-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmorrison

Rear door panels are different. Your is a SD and the donor car is a SEL. The rear doors are about 5.5 inches longer. Since their is 5.5 inches of extra rear leg room in the SEL vs. the SD. Is the rear seat an adjustable vs. your non adjustable?

Dave

well i guess the only reasonable option is to cut the car in half and make everything 5.5 inches longer

but seriously i thought of that after the fact. i knew the sels and sdls were longer but i didnt know they were that much longer.

i also understand about keeping the car original. thats what i want to do i just think leather would be a nice feature.

my MB Tex is in pretty good codtion but like i said i really like the feal of leather better, but from a longevity stand point you a probably correct choosing MB Tex.

Boardmonger · #8 08-19-2006, 05:14 PM

Not sure if the later w126 seat covers are the same but if so that may be the way to go. If your springs and pads are good you can just switch them out if they are the same style. I thought it was hard to do but once the seat is out and apart it only takes like 5-10 minutes a seat section. That is always another option.

DrewGerhan · #9 08-19-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boardmonger

Not sure if the later w126 seat covers are the same but if so that may be the way to go. If your springs and pads are good you can just switch them out if they are the same style. I thought it was hard to do but once the seat is out and apart it only takes like 5-10 minutes a seat section. That is always another option.

my drivers seat springs are shot. also the PO did quite the splice job to my seat switch controls and the are all messed up. seat only moves forward and backward and the fron only goes down. and its got a short somewhere because after about 3 seconds of use the fuse blows. does anyone know the drivers seat switch schematic? i think im probably going to end up just running all new wires if that is an option. is there any "boxes" like the cruise amp for the cruise control integrated into the seat controls?

t walgamuth · #10 08-19-2006, 08:40 PM

maybe you can just switch the seats and keep your door panelsl what color is everything?

i wouldnt worry about later collector value. these are four door sedans. their value is in usability. i say anything that works will not hurt value.

ont he other hand a nice original car is always worth a little more. but that is not an option here, your interior is shot. recovering the seats is pretty expensive too.

tom w

DrewGerhan · #11 08-19-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

maybe you can just switch the seats and keep your door panelsl what color is everything?

i wouldnt worry about later collector value. these are four door sedans. their value is in usability. i say anything that works will not hurt value.

ont he other hand a nice original car is always worth a little more. but that is not an option here, your interior is shot. recovering the seats is pretty expensive too.

tom w

actually i would just have gotten the seats but some one else alreadt bought them. oh well. whats really bugging me is my drivers seat. the spring is saggin on the left side. im going to search and probably do the "pool noodle repair". but the worst part is the seat wont move. it will go forward and backwards fine and the front will only go down. it doesnt recline or move any other direction. how long do the seat motors last? i doubt thats it but i cant rule anything out yet. there is one hell of a cut and splice job that was done prior to me owning the car. if i can figure out how i will post a picture to show you what i mean.

is there anyone around the cleveland,oh area that would be willing to lend a hand and see what they think? i would greatly appreciate it

DrewGerhan · #12 08-19-2006, 10:28 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Used-Parts-Power-Seat-Control-Box-W126-300SD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33701QQihZ003QQitemZ130008506482QQtcZphoto

i know mespe is a member here and i just came across this. would this work for a non memory and non power headrest seat? or does my car have one? could this be what is causing my problems?

t walgamuth · #13 08-19-2006, 10:57 PM

i think most often it is switch problems. have you tried spraying electical cleaner in the switch?

tom w

DrewGerhan · #14 08-19-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

i think most often it is switch problems. have you tried spraying electical cleaner in the switch?

tom w

yes i have taken the switch apart and cleaned all of the tiny balls, springs, and little "teetor totter" things with rubbing alcohol. they are clean as can be. if my car has one of those boxes in it i would bet that thats what causing my problems. anybody know where its located if my car has one?