2012-C-2-5-0

C250 Coupe Seat vs. Water Bottle....the seat lost....

I have a 2012 C250 coupe....an empty water bottle rolled under the passenger seat unbeknownst to me, and the next time someone went to move the power seat forward, the seat rolled forward over the water bottle. It was stopped as soon it was apparent something was obstructing it, but the seat appeared to be off the rail after that and if you tried to use it, it made a noise and it was like it tried to slide in a slightly sideways direction.

I do not believe the seat motor is broken, but the seat is off the rails. However, the dealer told me that I would have to replace the entire seat rail assembly because it was bent (and said the seat rail is all one piece and we can't replace just the problem area) and quoted about $2,000 to do the job. I have a hard time believing an empty water bottle being under the seat when it was moving for a few seconds caused $2,000 worth of damage.

Any advice?

edgalang

Just like you, I have doubts. Give more detail on this water bottle. Is it plastic or an all metal one?

2012-C-2-5-0

It was a plastic Smart Water bottle. (Ironically....)

tpliquid

pics?

2012-C-2-5-0

Of the water bottle, or....? I don't have any useful pics of the seat / problem or anything. The water bottle was one of these....



It's a fairly rigid plastic (i.e. not one of those really thin Nestle type ones that crinkle) but still....not to get all "jet fuel doesn't melt steel beams," but uhh...plastic bottles don't usually bend steel, or so I thought....

tpliquid

pics of rail that came off.

2012-C-2-5-0

I might be misunderstanding you, but to be clear....nothing came off. Everything is intact, the dealer just says the seat rail is bent. I haven't seen it myself and I actually kinda doubt the dealer removed the seat to look but who knows. All I know is the power seat doesn't move right anymore so I haven't used it since.

tpliquid

use adjuster move seat higher so u can look at rail then take pic.

dchar

Fairly certain the dealer is screwing you over. No way a Smart Water bottle will bend a metal seat rail.

Atlas Grey

Agree with Dchar. No way a standard plastic water bottle even if full would have caused any damage. No way it bent a rail. Seats aren't incredibly complicated units. Lift the seat up as high as it will go. Disconnect the electrical connectors under the seat. Lay the seat back towards your rear seat and look for anything jammed in there. Unlikely it caused any damage but it may have moved something or jammed something that you just won't be able to see without seat removal. Look for anything that looks odd under there. Shouldn't take more than an hour

Tanqueray

Like everyone else, I doubt that the seat motor even has enough power to bent the frame by pushing against a plastic bottle. Good luck with your fix though.

superangrypenguin

I thought SmartWater was good for you.

Those lying b*stards

Alfadude

It IS good for you. It's your car it is not good for, at least not good for the seat.