A mod worth doing?? See inside.....
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 2
From: Wyckoff, New Jersey & Alphabet City NYC
86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
A mod worth doing?? See inside.....
So, I'm beating around the C class the other day, which right now has 245/30/19s. Tires are some General sport tires (exclaim uhp I believe, and yes I wanted cheap sport tires) and the car handles much better than stock and stock wasn't too bad. I had the 17"s btw. So I'm doing some hard cornering and I realize that that car goes in the direction I point it rather easily, but my body is moving all over the drivers area. I make similar turns at speed in my CL and those AMG really hold you and your passenger in there no problem. They do have that bolster inflation mechanism but just the sheer size of the seat and the sportier bolster I believe would really make a difference. SOOOooOo, as you may have already guessed, I want to replace the seats. AMG C63 seats? possibly, but maybe even some 55 seats could work? What I'm wondering is if I would be able to retro fit the new seat command in the door panel as I believe the 09"s will have. A little wiring but I don't think it couldn't be done. Any opinions, thoughts, feelings, part numbers or prices anyones got would be great appreciated. Has anybody else decided that the stock seats suck? Lets hear from ya! 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 0
From: N. California
2008 Arctic White C300 Sport 6M
I have decided pretty soon after I got the car that the stock seats suck. I like driving around on some friendly neighborhood mountain roads, and in hard driving situations, there's not nearly enough support. So for about 2 weeks a while ago, I considered putting in one of those sport/race seats in (Sparco, BRIDE, etc). But then, I decided that this car is no race car. It's a semi-lux car. So no race seats. Maybe later on (years down the line) I'll make that mod if I decide to go all out modding on this car. By then, I'll have to have another car for normal uses.
I've sat in C63 seats, and though they are a bit more bolstered (I thought?), I dunno if they will provide significantly more support in hard driving. Didn't get to test drive it.
Whether it'd work or not, don't you think the cost of the mod would be just prohibitively expensive for a car of this price range?
I've sat in C63 seats, and though they are a bit more bolstered (I thought?), I dunno if they will provide significantly more support in hard driving. Didn't get to test drive it.
Whether it'd work or not, don't you think the cost of the mod would be just prohibitively expensive for a car of this price range?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
W204, W220, S15 Silvia
i been through this delima!
the seat was the first thing that came in my mind of something that needs to improved from the car when i first drove it
it might have been that i been in a sportier seat for quite some time
any how i decided to pull back because
1. it defeats the purpose of a daily driver car, the luxury of MB, the eletric seats
2. I would not stop at the point of seats, if i really went for it, I will not be satisfed of the handling, hence i would be going to do something about it, once thats done i would decide there is not enough power, and then brakes etc. ... so on and so forth
3. What option really is there for the MB, I've never been in AMG seats but I LOVE BRIDE seats, plus the cost for AMG or other compatible would be quite dare too i suspect
so i decided if i want a car to have fun in i will just get a proper sports car, its the best of both worlds
bottom line is, its not worth it. well at least to me
the seat was the first thing that came in my mind of something that needs to improved from the car when i first drove it
it might have been that i been in a sportier seat for quite some time
any how i decided to pull back because
1. it defeats the purpose of a daily driver car, the luxury of MB, the eletric seats
2. I would not stop at the point of seats, if i really went for it, I will not be satisfed of the handling, hence i would be going to do something about it, once thats done i would decide there is not enough power, and then brakes etc. ... so on and so forth
3. What option really is there for the MB, I've never been in AMG seats but I LOVE BRIDE seats, plus the cost for AMG or other compatible would be quite dare too i suspect
so i decided if i want a car to have fun in i will just get a proper sports car, its the best of both worlds
bottom line is, its not worth it. well at least to me
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
2014 Ghibli S Q4 & 2008 C350
While I don't think the seats suck, I would like more side support for aggressive driving. I find them comfy enough for my needs, I usually don't drive for more than 20-30 minutes at a time.
Not sure how a conversion to Brabus or other higher end seat would cost compared to buying C63 seats and doing some sort of retro fit. If I recall correctly the entire Brabus interior package w/ both front seats, rear seat, all door panels, headrests, etc. was under $5K. I think you can pick the leather color and stitching color too, add strips ect. I priced it out last fall before I ordered the car. I decided I'd rather put the $1500 leather upgrade towards an interior conversion if I ever really wanted to do an upgrade.
Not sure how a conversion to Brabus or other higher end seat would cost compared to buying C63 seats and doing some sort of retro fit. If I recall correctly the entire Brabus interior package w/ both front seats, rear seat, all door panels, headrests, etc. was under $5K. I think you can pick the leather color and stitching color too, add strips ect. I priced it out last fall before I ordered the car. I decided I'd rather put the $1500 leather upgrade towards an interior conversion if I ever really wanted to do an upgrade.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 2
From: Wyckoff, New Jersey & Alphabet City NYC
86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
Seats will become more attainable as people start to wreck the C63. I'm sure there are plenty of wrecked 55's out there w/ seats just sitting in them.....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 0
From: N. California
2008 Arctic White C300 Sport 6M
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 17
From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
You did think through this right? AMG seats are like $4k for the advanced ones. Second, they have different air bags than standard C seats - for example, no headrest, no headrest actuator for accident assistance and no pelvic airbag.
Sounds like a ton of grief - but I say go for it. The C63 seats are the bomb.
Sounds like a ton of grief - but I say go for it. The C63 seats are the bomb.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 2
From: Wyckoff, New Jersey & Alphabet City NYC
86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
You did think through this right? AMG seats are like $4k for the advanced ones. Second, they have different air bags than standard C seats - for example, no headrest, no headrest actuator for accident assistance and no pelvic airbag.
Sounds like a ton of grief - but I say go for it. The C63 seats are the bomb.
Sounds like a ton of grief - but I say go for it. The C63 seats are the bomb.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 418
Likes: 1
08 MB
i been through this delima!
I would not stop at the point of seats, if i really went for it, I will not be satisfed of the handling, hence i would be going to do something about it, once thats done i would decide there is not enough power, and then brakes etc. ... so on and so forth
3. What option really is there for the MB, I've never been in AMG seats but I LOVE BRIDE seats, plus the cost for AMG or other compatible would be quite dare too i suspect
so i decided if i want a car to have fun in i will just get a proper sports car, its the best of both worlds
bottom line is, its not worth it. well at least to me
I would not stop at the point of seats, if i really went for it, I will not be satisfed of the handling, hence i would be going to do something about it, once thats done i would decide there is not enough power, and then brakes etc. ... so on and so forth
3. What option really is there for the MB, I've never been in AMG seats but I LOVE BRIDE seats, plus the cost for AMG or other compatible would be quite dare too i suspect
so i decided if i want a car to have fun in i will just get a proper sports car, its the best of both worlds
bottom line is, its not worth it. well at least to me
I'll most likely just move up to a used CLS or E63 in a few years and be done with it instead of throwing thousands at this car. Mercedes makes much nicer cars so no point in acting like we don't have options.
