W114 - 280ce. Looking for parts for seat locks

[RGT]

First time user here.

I have a 1973 MB 280CE which I am restoring. I need a new set of bellows for the front seat vacuum locks (I need 8 bellows in all).
The complete vacuum actuator units (there are two, one fitted to the underside of each front seat) are numbered 88 457 013 and I think these may be available but only at huge cost and the units I have are fine, it's just the rubber bellows that have perished.
Does anyone know if the bellows are available separately (and where I can get them)?

Thanks guys

 

[ahok19]

First time user here.

Thanks guys

welcome to MBclub

 

[Charles Morgan]

I've had a good hunt around on the various part sites for W114s (fortunately those in my coupe are fine) and the rubbers aren't available separately.

Short of getting some made, or finding functioning secondhand ones (all my seats are fine) hopefully others might pipe up with suggestions for repairing rubber?

 

[grober]

Try this guy in the USA - I believe he supplies diaphragms
Performance Analysis | Climate Control | Diaphragms | Blower Motors | Pushbutton Panels | Vacuum Door Locks | Autotemp | Cruise Control | Engine Oil Analysis | Mercedes-Benz Parts | Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Oak Ridge | Car Care

from

Vacuum diaphragms for seatback latches | Mercedes-Benz Club of America

 

[RGT]

Found the perfect solution!

Thanks for all your comments. Thought I’d give you an update.

I was getting concerned that my only solution might be to purchase replacement pneumatic units (at considerable expense) if I could not find any new bellows. Even then I would probably be buying second hand units with bellows that were perished, or at least on their way out.
So I was very keen to find a better way forward.

After a lot of digging, I managed to find the perfect solution to my problem.

It turns out there is a rubber valve part for a particular type of toilet cistern which, with some minor modification is a viable replacement for the official (and unavailable) MB bellows.

I got the part thru Ebay where it is described as:
DUDLEY PINTO SINGLE FLUSH VALVE PNEUMATIC AIR TUBE DIAPHRAGM BLACK BELLOW 318947
(It apparently suits the Pushflo Cistern range so it should be possible to source the part from other suppliers or Dudley themselves if Ebay doesn’t carry it)

The Ebay link is:


What you get for your £5 is a rubber valve which actually consists of two rubber diaphragms, one nestling inside the other. If you tease out the inner diaphragm (the one with the flat top not the nipple) and then reduce the diameter of the inner diaphragm by taking off about 1-2mm around the outside edge with a sharp knife/scissors you will find that that inner diaphragm makes a bellow that perfectly fits the VDO 88457013 plastic pneumatic unit.
I found the seal that was made by re-installing the original plastic fitting ring was perfectly adequate so I didn’t need to bother with sealants etc.
Next you need to take the old bellow and remove the skirt from the top (with the metal fitting) by cutting around the top with a sharp pair of scissors. Don’t be tempted to cut the metal out of the rubber as the rubber covering is required to make a firm connection with the control rod system.
Finally superglue the old top onto the new bellow (rubber to rubber joint).
Job done, and it looks like OE as well.

I did try to utilise the outer bellow as well (just to keep costs down) but that was nowhere near as good so unfortunately to restore both front seat units I had to buy eight valves….still £40 for a new working seat locking system is not bad!

Hope this is helpful to other w114 coupe owners….it’s possible the same solution might fit the later coupe models as well but I’m not familiar with those units.

Regards

 

[Charles Morgan]

That is wonderfully inventive and so cheap! Well done, take the Blue Peter badge for W114 help!

 

[grober]

Excellent you could set up a nice little business repairing these if you wanted. I took the liberty of posting a link to your post on the official Mercedes-Benz Club forum where I am sure it will be appreciated.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Inspecting my seats back from re-covering I think I'll be doing this to get a really good seal on my air bellows.

 

[mountez]

Hello,

While searching the net for the solution to problem I have, I found your thread.
I have broken diaphragm in my seatback actuator and can not find replacement.
I would like to assure that I have the same actuators in my car.
Could you please check attached picture and confirm that this diaphragm would fit my actuators? Thank you in advance!

 

[alabbasi]

You sir are a scholar and a gentleman.

 

[Rose250CE]

Found the perfect solution!

Thanks for all your comments. Thought I’d give you an update.

I was getting concerned that my only solution might be to purchase replacement pneumatic units (at considerable expense) if I could not find any new bellows. Even then I would probably be buying second hand units with bellows that were perished, or at least on their way out.
So I was very keen to find a better way forward.

After a lot of digging, I managed to find the perfect solution to my problem.

It turns out there is a rubber valve part for a particular type of toilet cistern which, with some minor modification is a viable replacement for the official (and unavailable) MB bellows.

I got the part thru Ebay where it is described as:
DUDLEY PINTO SINGLE FLUSH VALVE PNEUMATIC AIR TUBE DIAPHRAGM BLACK BELLOW 318947
(It apparently suits the Pushflo Cistern range so it should be possible to source the part from other suppliers or Dudley themselves if Ebay doesn’t carry it)

The Ebay link is:


What you get for your £5 is a rubber valve which actually consists of two rubber diaphragms, one nestling inside the other. If you tease out the inner diaphragm (the one with the flat top not the nipple) and then reduce the diameter of the inner diaphragm by taking off about 1-2mm around the outside edge with a sharp knife/scissors you will find that that inner diaphragm makes a bellow that perfectly fits the VDO 88457013 plastic pneumatic unit.
I found the seal that was made by re-installing the original plastic fitting ring was perfectly adequate so I didn’t need to bother with sealants etc.
Next you need to take the old bellow and remove the skirt from the top (with the metal fitting) by cutting around the top with a sharp pair of scissors. Don’t be tempted to cut the metal out of the rubber as the rubber covering is required to make a firm connection with the control rod system.
Finally superglue the old top onto the new bellow (rubber to rubber joint).
Job done, and it looks like OE as well.

I did try to utilise the outer bellow as well (just to keep costs down) but that was nowhere near as good so unfortunately to restore both front seat units I had to buy eight valves….still £40 for a new working seat locking system is not bad!

Hope this is helpful to other w114 coupe owners….it’s possible the same solution might fit the later coupe models as well but I’m not familiar with those units.

Regards

 

[Rose250CE]

Thank you so much for fantastic idea and real solution to fix seats VDO pneumatic valve. I followed your instruction and both seats working as they should.