DIY: Plastic seat trim creaking fix

[desired_speeds]

Ever since I got the car, the plastic seat trim next to the door on the seat has always creaked. It was a minor annoyance, but it eventually got on my nerves. This weekend I removed the seat and fixed it using some thin felt (moleskin for door panels). I cut pieces out and stuck it to the seat frame where the plastic contacted. The result is no more creaking! My next project is to fix the rattle that the headrests make. My w210 has quite a few rattles. I'm not sure if its just mine or is it all 210s. Does anybody else's car have a bunch of rattles? Few pics on where I placed the felt: Basically all these baffles that stick up from the plastic trim is what caused the creaking when it rubbed against the metal seat frame. On the other hand, I hit 140k mi last week. Still runs like a champ and I'm loving every second of it!

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[raymond g-]

adding a seat TSB to the thread in case someone else has similar noise

[mistertonyn]

Originally Posted by desired_speeds

Ever since I got the car, the plastic seat trim next to the door on the seat has always creaked. It was a minor annoyance, but it eventually got on my nerves. This weekend I removed the seat and fixed it using some thin felt (moleskin for door panels). I cut pieces out and stuck it to the seat frame where the plastic contacted. The result is no more creaking!

My next project is to fix the rattle that the headrests make. My w210 has quite a few rattles. I'm not sure if its just mine or is it all 210s. Does anybody else's car have a bunch of rattles?

Few pics on where I placed the felt:



Basically all these baffles that stick up from the plastic trim is what caused the creaking when it rubbed against the metal seat frame.






On the other hand, I hit 140k mi last week. Still runs like a champ and I'm loving every second of it!

Nice work on the fixes.
My e320 creaks when I accelerate, brake and I think maybe turning as well.
I also feel like the seat moves about 1/4" or so....and thinking perhaps the seat frame is cracked or broken.
It sounds more like a metal creaking and not a plastic creaking...but who knows...you may have solve my problem.
How easy to remove the seat and put back? any special tools required?
thanks

[raymond g-]

if you dilly-dally, it may take 5-10 mins. it's that simple. even the power
connectors are easy as they only fit into one possible socket. still, it wouldn't
hurt to label them as you unplug.

i seem to recall that it may be easier to remove the 2 rear anchor bolts first before
the front 2 bolts, then unplugging the electricals.

requires external torx #15 to unfasten the 4 bolts, each of which are behind
small plastic valances. good to mark which end up or you'll stare at it trying to
figure how to fit back into the rails.

[Musikmann]

Once in a long while I hear the infamous thump in the sunroof area, other than that, none.

[mistertonyn]

Originally Posted by raymond g-

if you dilly-dally, it may take 5-10 mins. it's that simple. even the power
connectors are easy as they only fit into one possible socket. still, it wouldn't
hurt to label them as you unplug.

i seem to recall that it may be easier to remove the 2 rear anchor bolts first before
the front 2 bolts, then unplugging the electricals.

requires external torx #15 to unfasten the 4 bolts, each of which are behind
small plastic valances. good to mark which end up or you'll stare at it trying to
figure how to fit back into the rails.

You have the same year as mine...did you have the same creaking problem? and if so how did you fix yours?

[desired_speeds]

Originally Posted by Musikmann

Once in a long while I hear the infamous thump in the sunroof area, other than that, none.

over really bad roads I get a few loud thunks from the headliner. It's bearable on a daily basis though. My center console creaks/shifter area creaks also. I gotta get around to that next.

[raymond g-]

Originally Posted by mistertonyn

You have the same year as mine...did you have the same creaking problem? and if so how did you fix yours?

i dont recall any annoying squeaks and creaks. but be aware that I also swapped
out all of the seats and replaced them with Designo multi-contour seats from a
wrecked E55. i wanted more lumbar support for my back and the air bladders
did the trick. i used a pillow for a few months then was alerted that the E55
seats were available.

[raymond g-]

Originally Posted by desired_speeds

over really bad roads I get a few loud thunks from the headliner. It's bearable on a daily basis though. My center console creaks/shifter area creaks also. I gotta get around to that next.

headliner chatter. this is what i did (overview):

• removed hand rails above rear doors,
• pulled out door gasket
• removed C pillar cabin liner
• popped off rear dome light
• carefully lowered headliner and slid in a sheet of 1" bubble wrap from each side
• sewed it back up

very quiet now

[desired_speeds]

Originally Posted by raymond g-

headliner chatter. this is what i did (overview):

• removed hand rails above rear doors,
• pulled out door gasket
• removed C pillar cabin liner
• popped off rear dome light
• carefully lowered headliner and slid in a sheet of 1" bubble wrap from each side
• sewed it back up

very quiet now

so I basically insert the bubble wrap between the headliner and the back of the sunroof assembly? I will try that this weekend along with pad up the passenger side seat trim that was rattling today. Thanks!

[raymond g-]

Originally Posted by desired_speeds

so I basically insert the bubble wrap between the headliner and the back of the sunroof assembly? I will try that this weekend along with pad up the passenger side seat trim that was rattling today. Thanks!

try this thread. note some pics i attached to post #74

[Holbay]

The creaking from the front seats in my W210 E300 has been driving me nuts now i know how to fix it thanks mate..George