W203 Partial Electric Seat Tilt Adjuster

[Gavmack]

Hi newbie here but I've been here for over a year thanks to google, great informative site I will say. Now I need to ask something I can't seem to find so hello everyone.

On my 53 plate w203 220CDi Estate drivers seat I have the star wheel to adjust the upward tilt of the seat, I can adjust it upwards but with small lateral movement it drops down again. Suggests to me in my mechanical brain that either the cog or the seat retainer is broken. One Mercedes specialist said get a new seat but I get the feeling that's a drastic measure and the part itself could be quite easy to fix bearing in mind it's strictly mechanical and not electric.

I have another question that also has me stumped regarding folding mirrors but I'll stick that in the right place.

Many thanks if someone could help a skint father of three out!

 

[markjay]

If yours is a facelift, the star-shaped wheel is lumber support and it works just as you described it.

The tilt is electric - push the base of switch upwards and the seat will go up and tilt back at the same time.

Not sure if it's the same with pre-facelift though.

 

[tor_ake]

Au contraire,
The default seats in W203 have no lumbar support. The adjustments are height and backrest position electrical, lateral and tilt manual.

Remove the seat from the car and have a look. Something mechanical has broken under there, but might be easily fixable.

 

[Gavmack]

Au contraire,
The default seats in W203 have no lumbar support. The adjustments are height and backrest position electrical, lateral and tilt manual.

Remove the seat from the car and have a look. Something mechanical has broken under there, but might be easily fixable.

Yes it's a pre facelift - I think I'll pop into the local Mb dealer and have a look at their schematics. From seats I've seen from other manufacturers that have similar adjustment it's usually a couple of plastic cog wheels on a metal spindle rod connected to the star wheel and two hooked bars governing seat height of which the ends fit into the cog. The way the seat collapses suggests its the cog/bar closest to the door that's gone to my untrained Mercedes eye. If anyone has had to fix this I wouldn't mind knowing if my hunches are correct!

 

[markjay]

Is this the seat you have?

 

[Gavmack]

Is this the seat you have?

That's it - the fault is with number 2. It spins and adjusts the height up then a wiggle on the seat drops back down.