Hi everyone, I've just bought my first CL500 2007 C216 after having owned 4 S classes. My multifunction seats, driver and passenger, are not working. They won't hold their settings at all. I've read a bit about it but wonder if someone can direct me to a schematic of the system or a video of how to approach fixing them. There seems to be a pump working overtime in the passenger (Australian car) side of the boot towards the front of the car. I can also hear a leak in the centre console on the passenger side. I wonder if maybe this hose supplies both seats and hence why neither of them work.
Thank you very much for your help.
Regards,
Boolean

 

Actually on closer inspection the leak seems to be coming from the bottom right area of the passenger seat. I am hoping if there is a leak here then maybe the whole system will not work ie why the drivers side seat doesn't work either. Thanks again.

 

I wouldn't keep trying to run the system, until you get it fixed. The pump you mentioned in the trunk is going to burn out. When you say the settings will not hold, you mean it immediately flips back to 0 when you try to start the massage feature? Not sure how Ebay works in Australia, but you can buy used bladders on there. Having just done repairs to the passenger seat and replaced the pump, I can confirm it is extremely expensive to buy new parts. You could check out the video below for some idea of how it looks to open up the seat and try to fix your issues....

 

Thanks for getting back Nath. My car is the non update so I don't think it has the massaging function although I could be wrong. It does have settings to change lumbar support and side and back of the seat support. When I try to set them they just revert back to 0 straight away. Whenever I start the car up I can hear the pump working and an air leak in the passenger seat lower right. Both stop after a short time. I have watched the above video thank you and can feel the elastic straps under the seat. However, if feels like someone has reattached them before because it feels like there is a tied knot and a plastic tie already at the front of the seat. How hard is it to take the seat out do you know? Thanks again.

 

I'm not sure about the plastic tie, but the elastic cord does come with a knot. To access it, I put the seat at its highest setting, then reached under the seat around the back with one arm and around the front with the other arm. Doing this, I was able to feel where the connection/strap met and was able to release it. You almost certainly have a leak in a bladder, connection, tube, or some combination of those. The pump shuts off to prevent itself from burning out, but in my experience it burns out anyway. You can check lastvin.com to see what options your car has on it. The massaging seats are one of its best features, so you'll want to get those working if possible. Others on this forum have taken the seat out, but I have not. I think it is just connected w/ four bolts and a couple wiring harnesses you'll have to disengage.

 

Thanks again nath. I will give that a go.

 

Ok back again. I just cut the elastic cords leaving them as long as possible and worry about it later.
Got the back off the passenger seat and found a leak at the bottom right corner of the seat. It was really difficult to get to but I tried to push the pipe back on (if that is even possible) and now that sound has gone (maybe just for now). Side seat and side upright bolsters now work but the lumbar even on 1 goes all the way up and then all the way down over maybe 20 seconds. Any ideas? This is what is used to do sometimes before but mostly just didn't work. I don't want to try the lumbar on the passenger seat in case is doesn't go down.
Thanks again.

 

Did you put a little glue on the connectors, to make sure they don't fall off again? As for the lumbar, no idea about that. But, have you searched the W221 forum? There's lots more activity there, as there are so many more S classes on the road than CL's. I usually end up looking/posting in both places, as they are essentially the same cars except one has 2 doors and one 4 doors.

 

Thanks for getting back Nath. The leak was coming from just at the end of my very outstretched fingers so I don't think I could get glue there. I just pushed the pipe hoping that maybe there was a connection there that I could push back on.
Good idea about checking the W221 forum. Will do.

 

I found on my S63 Coupe after taking it in for warranty work, it was the pump. I was told it’s a common failure do to the heat build up in the electronic circuit.

 

Hi Nath and 2014 CL600. Thank you for your suggestions. I've seen that video thanks Nath. My leak is coming from under the seat and not the back. I also don't think my problem is the pump 2014CL600 as I can hear the air being pushed through from the pump in the back each time I start the car or turn the ignition on. As for not using it and burning the motor out Nath the pump just starts automatically and stops by itself after a minute or so (haven't timed it) when I guess it realises there is a leak. A video I hope will help in my situation is another of MGuy's about the seats in his R230 which I guess are the same as in the CLs. It is epidode 64 if you are interested. Great video and sounds like where my leak is coming from except mine is under the passenger seat. My CL500 is in the having the valve blocks and accumulators replaced to hopefully fix the ride and stationary height of the car and the bumpy rear end. Replacing the valve block in my 2003 W220 S350 has fixed how the car sits and the 'floating' feeling and overreaction to uneven roads. It handles and rides as good as it ever has now. I know one is Airmatic and the other ABC but here's hoping.

 

Just FYI, my pump was supposedly "burned out" even though it would still make noise before shutting off after 10 seconds or so. I'm taking my dealer's word for it here, that the burned out part is correct, so not sure if this is technically true. So maybe your pump is damaged, even though it is still making noise?

My driver seat is now occasionally misbehaving, so I'll soon be addressing that side of the car. I suspect more plastic parts have broken/failed.

 

Thanks Nath. The more info the better but that doesn't sound really positive. So did your dealer fix your seat and if so how much did it cost?

 

It was $8000 USD. MB does not make individual parts for the massage system, so they replaced the entire seat bottom, and much if not all of the seat back, and pump. And a few more small broken plastic bits they found along the way.

In general, I'm finding a lot of broken plastic parts on my car. It seems like every time I work on it, something brittle and old made out of plastic breaks. I've already replaced a few things, with more coming each month. Are other folks finding this problem, too? I suppose it depends on what climate our cars have lived in for the majority of its life. Mine spent most of its life in Texas, before moving to Iowa where I live.