W203 Rear Folding Seats / Ski-Sack / Retrofit / Removing Back Seat Thread
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
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From: Nor Cal
06 c230 v6 SS
yea mine does hit pretty hard, but i just figured it come thru better if it had less blocking/trapping the subs air movement. the audio shop was going to do this for me, but ended up not having enuff time, and i jus said forget it, b/c they were taking forever as it was, and were complaining about how difficult my car was to work on. 
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From: NJ
'08 E550 4Matic
hey guys i was wondering if it is possible to somehow remove the plastic backing that is behind the rear armrest when folded down?, i dont have rear folding seats and i want to somehow create a simple way for my bass to come into the cabin, and this seems like a nice way...i dont have harmon kardon either, so i was wondering if all that junk where the rear sunshade is, is necessary? (foam)/ (speaker panels), which i dont think have speakers in them. lemme know if anyone has any suggestions...
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
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From: Denver, Colorado
2006 M3 Coupe 6MT
Pass Through Rear Armrest in C230
As I research 2005 C230K Sedan availability, I'm amazed at how many have a fixed rear seat! Very few appear to have been initially ordered with the split-fold down rear seat!
I read in one thread where someone had a fixed rear seat car, and removed the plastic panel behind the armrest, only to find metal backing.
Has anyone ever had a body shop cut out a hole so that one could at least have pass through capability?
Ideas welcome! Thx, Norm
I read in one thread where someone had a fixed rear seat car, and removed the plastic panel behind the armrest, only to find metal backing.
Has anyone ever had a body shop cut out a hole so that one could at least have pass through capability?
Ideas welcome! Thx, Norm
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
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From: Denver, Colorado
2006 M3 Coupe 6MT
It's just all one 'carpeted' piece; the entire back side of the rear seat.
From the front side, I see the arm rest that drops down, and a plastic piece behind it. But, I don't see that plastic piece on the back of the seat via the trunk view.
So, it looks like one would have to cut carpet-like material from that back side.
Thoughts?? Thanks, Norm
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Tucson, AZ
This is the procedure for my C320 - not sure if yours is exactly the same.
You'll need to take the entire rear seat out. There are four obvious bolts that hold the bottom in. Then four more bolts at the bottom of the upper section, along with four more that secure the latch plates. Open the trunk and you'll see two plastic covers concealing a latching mechanism that holds the upper section securely to the frame. Take a narrow screwdriver and release them by prying inside the small square holes. Now unbolt the center seat belt and disconnect the air hose for the fold down headrests at the quick connect.
Behind the fold down armrest is a plastic "bowl" piece held in place by four screws and a clip. To get to that all you need to do is carefully "pop" the three black christmas tree fasteners off the carpet backed board. The best way to pop those off without damaging them is to use a pair of angled needle nosed pliers and slip them in under the fastener - gently pry upward on both sides. Don't use a screwdriver or you'll probably damage them.
To get the "bowl" off you'll need to push the pivot points of the armrest in past the metal mounting tangs, they are spring loaded - it then slips right off. Now you can remove the plastic piece and you have a nice sized hole.
You can cut a hole in the carpeted board (probably with a jig saw) and trim it with rubber/metal trim that you can usually buy at any auto upholstery supplier or good hardware store.
You now have a "ski package" for the cost of the trim (maybe $10.00) and a generic ski sack.
Of course, if you want a sack with a star on it visit your friendly local dealer, but don't forget to bring plenty of astrolube. 
You'll need to take the entire rear seat out. There are four obvious bolts that hold the bottom in. Then four more bolts at the bottom of the upper section, along with four more that secure the latch plates. Open the trunk and you'll see two plastic covers concealing a latching mechanism that holds the upper section securely to the frame. Take a narrow screwdriver and release them by prying inside the small square holes. Now unbolt the center seat belt and disconnect the air hose for the fold down headrests at the quick connect.
Behind the fold down armrest is a plastic "bowl" piece held in place by four screws and a clip. To get to that all you need to do is carefully "pop" the three black christmas tree fasteners off the carpet backed board. The best way to pop those off without damaging them is to use a pair of angled needle nosed pliers and slip them in under the fastener - gently pry upward on both sides. Don't use a screwdriver or you'll probably damage them.
To get the "bowl" off you'll need to push the pivot points of the armrest in past the metal mounting tangs, they are spring loaded - it then slips right off. Now you can remove the plastic piece and you have a nice sized hole.
You can cut a hole in the carpeted board (probably with a jig saw) and trim it with rubber/metal trim that you can usually buy at any auto upholstery supplier or good hardware store.
You now have a "ski package" for the cost of the trim (maybe $10.00) and a generic ski sack.
Of course, if you want a sack with a star on it visit your friendly local dealer, but don't forget to bring plenty of astrolube.
Last edited by RonKMiller; Mar 4, 2007 at 11:35 AM.
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From: Houston, TX
2015 E250D
on cars that do not have the center pass through, the metal backing plate used to support the rear seats is solid with NO holes in it.
Last edited by SUNILP; Mar 4, 2007 at 11:38 AM.
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 113
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From: Tucson, AZ
I shoulda' taken a picture of that hole but it is indeed there!
Anyway, here's my new seat inserts, I really like the additional grip and comfort they provide (why the hell does Mercedes make such hard seats?) - and I know that when the hot weather gets here I won't be getting my panties in a bunch.
I considered imbedding some fans in the front seats but by the time I got done completely taking apart all the seats and sewing them back together I was totally burned out. A HUGE project...Next up, replacing the fake perforated vinyl inserts on the doors and solid vinyl face of the 5 headrests with more Alcantara.
Last edited by RonKMiller; Mar 4, 2007 at 02:07 PM.
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Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 113
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From: Tucson, AZ
I considered trying to modify the existing seat back to fold down, and I think it could be done. It would be great to have all that room... I make take a look at trying this once I'm done with the rest of the interior. It may look a bit strange since the side bolsters will no doubt rest against the doors, but they have plenty of "give" so this probably won't be an issue.
A couple of questions for everyone:
Has anyone attempted this?
Is there a schematic somewhere online that shows the individual components of the OEM folding seats? I'm looking for hinges!
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
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From: Denver, Colorado
2006 M3 Coupe 6MT
Guys, thanks for the information so far.
I've been way surprised at how few C230 Sedans - '03, '04, or '05 - have the split-fold option. There isn't one available locally, hence the OP.
I'll have to find out what a retrofit folding rear seat option could cost.
It might be better to just keep looking for awhile.
I've been way surprised at how few C230 Sedans - '03, '04, or '05 - have the split-fold option. There isn't one available locally, hence the OP.
I'll have to find out what a retrofit folding rear seat option could cost.
It might be better to just keep looking for awhile.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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One thing I noticed is that in our cars if you have the factory option, your rear seat bottom folds up, then the seat back folds down. This is pretty unique -- other folding seats I've seen only have the seat back folding down.
I believe you have the option of only folding down the back portion if you like. If you're doing the retrofit you might be able to buy less parts and only accomplish this portion.
I believe you have the option of only folding down the back portion if you like. If you're doing the retrofit you might be able to buy less parts and only accomplish this portion.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Denver, Colorado
2006 M3 Coupe 6MT
One thing I noticed is that in our cars if you have the factory option, your rear seat bottom folds up, then the seat back folds down. This is pretty unique -- other folding seats I've seen only have the seat back folding down.
I believe you have the option of only folding down the back portion if you like. If you're doing the retrofit you might be able to buy less parts and only accomplish this portion.
I believe you have the option of only folding down the back portion if you like. If you're doing the retrofit you might be able to buy less parts and only accomplish this portion.
Just the ability to fold the back down and have most of the potential space would be fine for a clean retrofit.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Denver, Colorado
2006 M3 Coupe 6MT
Problem Solved
I found one that had the split-folding rear seats.
I was initially looking for '05 cars, with the 1.8L Kompressor engine.
But this '06 had everything I was looking for.
After a test drive, and an overnight extension, I decided I'd be o.k. with the naturally aspirated 2.5L V-6 engine & 7G tranny.
The tranny is smooth, and I don't find this vehicle's VIN in the tranny campaign for the software to fix the jerking issue - so far, so good!
I was initially looking for '05 cars, with the 1.8L Kompressor engine.
But this '06 had everything I was looking for.
After a test drive, and an overnight extension, I decided I'd be o.k. with the naturally aspirated 2.5L V-6 engine & 7G tranny.
The tranny is smooth, and I don't find this vehicle's VIN in the tranny campaign for the software to fix the jerking issue - so far, so good!
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 1
Bla bla
07 C230 fold down seat pre-installed?
While in my car tonight i noticed that there are two hinges right below the rear seating cushion. I mean right in the middle of the cushion on left and right of the rear seat towards the front part. Looks like the hinge is used to handle the pull up of the rear seating. I wonder if the rear seat back can to folded somehow.
This of course makes sense, recently from a newspaper article somewhere I've learned that a certain cable company charged extra for TIVO ready cable box vs the regular box without TIVO. It turns out the "regular box" only had its internal harddrive unplugged. All the user had to do is connect the cable and then they had a recordable TIVO box.
So I wonder if the fold down rear seat is an easy mod.
This of course makes sense, recently from a newspaper article somewhere I've learned that a certain cable company charged extra for TIVO ready cable box vs the regular box without TIVO. It turns out the "regular box" only had its internal harddrive unplugged. All the user had to do is connect the cable and then they had a recordable TIVO box.
So I wonder if the fold down rear seat is an easy mod.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 503
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From: Bay Area
'05 c230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
Does this mean that the ones with "split rear seats" actually has split arm rests as well? Weird how the back of my trunk appears as though the seats do fold down. There's a gap all the way around the seats. Does anyone have a picture of how the "split" looks like? I bought my care used and don't know if it has seats that can fold down or not.
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
Does this mean that the ones with "split rear seats" actually has split arm rests as well? Weird how the back of my trunk appears as though the seats do fold down. There's a gap all the way around the seats. Does anyone have a picture of how the "split" looks like? I bought my care used and don't know if it has seats that can fold down or not.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: STL
W203 C230SS
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=228343 why two threads?
do a search- it's been discussed before. it's easy to see how everything comes apart/unbolts. the bottom comes out first- then take the back out.
do a search- it's been discussed before. it's easy to see how everything comes apart/unbolts. the bottom comes out first- then take the back out.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 503
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From: Bay Area
'05 c230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
Not all of them fold down. If you have a line down the front of the back seats on the leather, it can fold down. Otherwise, it cannot....even though in the rear trunk it appears that it may.
