W203 Rear Back Seat Stuck Down - Help!
 

I folded my back seat down in my '04 C32 to haul a few tools. The backseat can no longer fold back up due to an apparent middle seat belt lock. I tried tugging the belt with no luck in getting it to loosen up. After searching through the web, it appears this is common for the ML benz, but for the W203 C-class, I did not find many people with good solutions other than cutting the seat belt.

I've begun to disassemble the back of the seat (I see the metal backing of the seat only at this point), but before I completely tear it apart, does anyone have any easy solution to fixing this problem? What a PITA!

strange issue, never heard of that one before. sorry cant help

Could be the belt lock is under tension, and you could try pushing it down to release it. Seems counter-intuitive, but it might work.

I fixed the problem.

I removed the 2 plastic covers on the bottom front cushion to reveal 2 bolts that holds it in place. Once the bolts were removed, I was able to pop the bottom cushion off to access a T45 bolt anchoring the center seat belt.

Yes the belt was under tension and had very limited movement, and literally tried everything to get it to loosen up. I was prepared to just drive with the seat backdown hoping it will UNDO the lock after many cycles of braking and hard cornering. Luckily I didn't have to resort to that or cut my belt!

For anyone having the same issue in the future, you do not have to disassemble the backrest of the seat at all. Removing the lower cushion is all that is needed.