Replacing seat pad in W210?

[jeremy156]

Hi,

I bought a 1998 E-class recently and having been 130k miles with a heavy bloke in the driver's seat - it's sagging to say the least!

Wondering whether anyone's attempted to dismantle the driver's seat and replace the base pad (do I call it a "squab ?). Can you buy replacement pads of the correct size, if not I'll try and cut some new foam to size... but wondering how on earth to get the leather off in one piece!

Any thoughts/suggestions/experience?

Many thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Dieselman]

The pads can be purchased from your dealer. They are made of coconut fibre.
You need to remove the seat from the car then turn it over to remove the material from the frame.
To remove the seat unbolt the seat runners from the floor then the seatbelt anchor and electrical connection under the seat.

 

[jeremy156]

Thanks, I'll give it a go - sounds daunting but would be worth it.

Cheers!

 

[Shude]

Do you have heated seats? If you're going to the trouble of taking your seats apart you might want to consider retrofitting heating elements too

 

[1998K]

Do you have heated seats? If you're going to the trouble of taking your seats apart you might want to consider retrofitting heating elements too

Really? How easy is this work? But I'm wondering it's not a cheap modification (cable, element,...)

 

[Shude]

Really? How easy is this work? But I'm wondering it's not a cheap modification (cable, element,...)

Elements are about £50 each, cables, relays and switches etc is about £100 and you need to either cut your existing fascia for the switches or swap the fascia for one that already has the holes for the buttons.

I could do a howto for this couldn't I? So many mods, so little time.

 

[1998K]

Elements are about £50 each, cables, relays and switches etc is about £100 and you need to either cut your existing fascia for the switches or swap the fascia for one that already has the holes for the buttons.

I could do a howto for this couldn't I? So many mods, so little time.

OK! So only 50£ (abt.80Euro) for the elements! Nice.

As far as the fascia, yes it's only a matter of time and work to cut 2 holes, I'm not worried about this.

Do you have already done this mod? Yes a howto will be really a big gift for all of us :bannana:


But before, I'd like to swap for a leather interior

PS: if I'm not wrong, I remember an old W202 depliant that installing heating seats did involve a bigger alternator and/or battery, and, if I still well remember this (I refer to the alternator/battery) was not foreseen for kompressor engine.

 

[Shude]

OK! So only 50£ (abt.80Euro) for the elements! Nice.

You need two for each seat though! The ones for the a-class are a little cheaper IIRC and they look the same.

As far as the fascia, yes it's only a matter of time and work to cut 2 holes, I'm not worried about this.

Do you have already done this mod? Yes a howto will be really a big gift for all of us :bannana:

I would prefer to install power adjustable seats with leather and heating at the same time rather than just heating. I was part-way through this mod on my previous car before it was totalled

if I'm not wrong, I remember an old W202 depliant that installing heating seats did involve a bigger alternator and/or battery, and, if I still well remember this (I refer to the alternator/battery) was not foreseen for kompressor engine.

If you have air conditioning or climate control then you already have the high capacity battery and alternator.

 

[1998K]

You need two for each seat though! The ones for the a-class are a little cheaper IIRC and they look the same.

I would prefer to install power adjustable seats with leather and heating at the same time rather than just heating. I was part-way through this mod on my previous car before it was totalled

If you have air conditioning or climate control then you already have the high capacity battery and alternator.

So now you don't have neither leather nor el.control? Same boat as me

OK My factory battery, with air conditioning, is only 62 or 64 Ah, I was wondering that involve a bigger components.

 

[Shude]

So now you don't have neither leather nor el.control? Same boat as me

OK My factory battery, with air conditioning, is only 62 or 64 Ah, I was wondering that involve a bigger components.

I have leather seats, but that's it.

 

[1998K]

I have leather seats, but that's it.

it will be enough for me, considering I'm quite tired of my
cloth interior.

Not so easy to find around.

PS: installing electric cotrol you should modify (I belive changing them) your front door card, isn't?

 

[Shude]

PS: installing electric cotrol you should modify (I belive changing them) your front door card, isn't?

The door trim is essentially the same but has a shorter strip of wood/faux carbon etc and a small panel.

The panel is available separately though so I would try to fit it without changing the door trim, I think the trims all start off the same...

 

[1998K]

The door trim is essentially the same but has a shorter strip of wood/faux carbon etc and a small panel.

The panel is available separately though so I would try to fit it without changing the door trim, I think the trims all start off the same...

OK nice info. I was asking this because I'm wondering for an used set of leather seats...if I'll find a good set but with el-control, how hard should be to install necessary el-cable?

Does el-cable into door card panel come to the el.box hidden behind the door card (i.e.: the same module that control my paddle light) or do I need to re route the cable to somewhere else...to the seats?