Driver's Seat Motor Repair
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Driver's Seat Motor Repair
The motor that moves the driver's seat fore and aft in my 2000 CLK320 has failed. Replacement part is available from the dealer. Just wondered if anyone has replaced one of these, and could provide some information regarding how it should be done. If the seat has to be removed, which it appears is the case, how is it detatched? Do the tracks remain in the car, or must they be removed as well? Many thanks.
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From: Bay Area
03 C32 gone, 06 CLS55, 16 Tesla X
Take a look at this http://forum.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=188329&highlight
<a href="https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=188329&highlight">Take a look at this</a>
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
You did check the 25 AMP fuse in the trunk already, right? The fuse usually blows a half million times or so before the seat motor actually burns up. IHTH
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
They burned at least once before and now everything else works -- seat back reclines, etc -- it's just forward/back that doesn't work, so I'm thinking it's the motor.
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I haven't repaired the seat yet, but the replacement motor is quoted by my local dealer at $153. And, unfortunately my seat is in the forward position also.
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
Was this at the dealer's parts department or did you have to wait for him to order it? My CLK is parked waiting for me to fix it... I was thinking of taking it in but if it's a 15 minute job then I'll just get the part and do it myself.
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Thread Starter
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I think I'm gonna let you guinea pig this one then and see what happens... hopefully you can do it sooner rather than later.
Was this at the dealer's parts department or did you have to wait for him to order it? My CLK is parked waiting for me to fix it... I was thinking of taking it in but if it's a 15 minute job then I'll just get the part and do it myself.
Was this at the dealer's parts department or did you have to wait for him to order it? My CLK is parked waiting for me to fix it... I was thinking of taking it in but if it's a 15 minute job then I'll just get the part and do it myself.
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
I intend to get to this within the next week, but since my wife drives the car, it is not mandatory at the moment..... I don't think that it is too simple, since the dealer quoted a price of over $500 to make the repair... that means about $350+ in labor, and at about $90 per hour, I'm calculating about 4 hours for someone who should know what they are doing...... on the other hand, that might be the "book" value for labor and the mechanic can actually knock out the job in an hour..... I will certainly post my experience upon completion...... If anyone else has any experience with this job, I would certainly appreciate any advice / direction...... errors can be very expensive!!
-- edit --
I'm on the same boat because my wife is driving it and I'm driving my G35, so it's not urgent. Otherwise I probably would have taken it to the dealer.
Not sure that it's worth 3-4 hours worth of labor though, but either way keep everyone posted. I'm sure we're not the only ones that are gonna run into this.
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2000 CLK 320
I also have this problem
My wife moved the seat all the way up and then the motor died. I've been searching for a place to buy it without going through the dealer. I've tried a few places online but they dont carry it. Any suggestions? Need to get this fixed quickly. I'm stuck driving the Toyota until I can get my seat fixedhttps://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
My wife moved the seat all the way up and then the motor died. I've been searching for a place to buy it without going through the dealer. I've tried a few places online but they dont carry it. Any suggestions? Need to get this fixed quickly. I'm stuck driving the Toyota until I can get my seat fixedhttps://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif
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From: TN
2002 c240
Thread Starter
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Sorry for the slow progress. I have removed the fore/aft motor by removing the two screws that hold the rear ends of the two tracks to the floor. This allowed me to lift them about 1.5" which was sufficient to get my hands and a torx bit to the two machine screws that hold the motor in place. Remove it carefully since there is a shaft extending from the gear box that drives the pinion and that shaft enters the motor, rather than having the motor shaft extending into the gear box. (The screws holding the front of the two rails to the floor are inaccessible because the seat is so far forward.) I am looking to bench test the motor before I buy a replacement, but I have found a replacement at Mercedes Parts Superstore on line. Price is about $65 + shipping and tax for a total of about $85. Will provide additional information as I learn more.
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
My passenger seat motor started smoking this past weekend, so I dropped it at the dealer Monday. If it wasn't covered by Starmark, I'd change it myself.
Thanks for the Mercedes Parts Superstore tip. I'd never been to that site before.
Thanks for the Mercedes Parts Superstore tip. I'd never been to that site before.
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
Well the motor arrived and I'm off to see if I can try to replace it...
Looks like it would be a lot easier if I could remove the whole seat, but that in itself looks like a chore. I would imagine it's an hour's worth of work or so, plus the part... if the dealership was reasonable I wouldn't mind, but they're saying 4 hours labor + $135 in parts, where it's a $65 part online and takes an hour to do (hopefully).
Let's see where this goes...
Looks like it would be a lot easier if I could remove the whole seat, but that in itself looks like a chore. I would imagine it's an hour's worth of work or so, plus the part... if the dealership was reasonable I wouldn't mind, but they're saying 4 hours labor + $135 in parts, where it's a $65 part online and takes an hour to do (hopefully).
Let's see where this goes...
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
Well the motor arrived and I'm off to see if I can try to replace it...
Looks like it would be a lot easier if I could remove the whole seat, but that in itself looks like a chore. I would imagine it's an hour's worth of work or so, plus the part... if the dealership was reasonable I wouldn't mind, but they're saying 4 hours labor + $135 in parts, where it's a $65 part online and takes an hour to do (hopefully).
Let's see where this goes...
Looks like it would be a lot easier if I could remove the whole seat, but that in itself looks like a chore. I would imagine it's an hour's worth of work or so, plus the part... if the dealership was reasonable I wouldn't mind, but they're saying 4 hours labor + $135 in parts, where it's a $65 part online and takes an hour to do (hopefully).
Let's see where this goes...
Old motor is out, new one is in. Works like a charm. I seriously recommend that you don't mess with this unless you don't mind working in cramped spaces in strange twisted positions. But if you feel like spending an hour or two of your Saturday and saving $600+, be my guest.
You can get the part -- 208 820 08 42 from the super store for $65. Or you can pick it up from the dealer (mine had it in stock even) for $134 + tax.
The front/aft motor is the middle one -- of course, the hardest one to get to -- out of the 3 under the seat. The other two are 12 42 instead of 08 42.
The absolute hardest part is getting to the bottom torx under the motor (there's a shaft blocking the easiest path of course)... but once you're in there it's all good. I suggest a really thin screwdriver if possible, although I have a reasonably thin power screwdriver (Black and Decker) that worked even though I had to jam it in there to get to the bottom screw. That helps a ton because the screws are LONG, so getting them out manually takes some effort. The box with the connectors needs some pushing around but it moves relatively easily so again it's not a big deal.
Definitely watch out for the little shaft extending INTO the motor when you take the old one out though. Doesn't look that flimsy but it's small and you need to look out. And btw the connector is easy to find but you'll have to cut some zip ties which should probably be replaced after you're done...
So that's it... one bruised knuckle and a lot of sweat, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to, now that I know how.
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2000 CLK 320
I ended up taking mine to my trustworthy mechanic. I bought the part at the dealership for $100. I told them I was a mechanic. Normal rate was $140. My mechanic charged me 140 labor. So all in all $240 parts + labor but after not driving the car for over a month it was well worth it. Just got it back yesterday and am enjoying every minute of it.
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From: BAY AREA S.F.
CLK320 2002
wusup everybody, my seat is stuck all the infront and wont move backwards or forward the fuse blew like 10 times in a month. now im 100% sure the motor is done for. so which motor is it that you replace there are 3 motors under the passenger seat is it the middle one. i took it to the dealer and the quoted me $254 for install and labor.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
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From: Hollywood North
CLK 55 ///AMG Cabrio, ML63 ///AMG
Thanks for the thorough write up.
My passenger seat is stuck from moving forward and back. The other 2 motors work. Do you recommend moving the seat as high as possible to get better clearance? I can do that with one of the two power buttons that still work. Also, has anyone considered swapping the good motor from the seat that works with the one that doesn't to see if it really is that motor?
I'm thinking about swapping the driver's side with the passenger (broken) to be sure. Anyone do this?
My passenger seat is stuck from moving forward and back. The other 2 motors work. Do you recommend moving the seat as high as possible to get better clearance? I can do that with one of the two power buttons that still work. Also, has anyone considered swapping the good motor from the seat that works with the one that doesn't to see if it really is that motor?
I'm thinking about swapping the driver's side with the passenger (broken) to be sure. Anyone do this?
Just about an hour later... mostly because it's REALLY cramped down there if you don't take the seat out...
Old motor is out, new one is in. Works like a charm. I seriously recommend that you don't mess with this unless you don't mind working in cramped spaces in strange twisted positions. But if you feel like spending an hour or two of your Saturday and saving $600+, be my guest.
You can get the part -- 208 820 08 42 from the super store for $65. Or you can pick it up from the dealer (mine had it in stock even) for $134 + tax.
The front/aft motor is the middle one -- of course, the hardest one to get to -- out of the 3 under the seat. The other two are 12 42 instead of 08 42.
The absolute hardest part is getting to the bottom torx under the motor (there's a shaft blocking the easiest path of course)... but once you're in there it's all good. I suggest a really thin screwdriver if possible, although I have a reasonably thin power screwdriver (Black and Decker) that worked even though I had to jam it in there to get to the bottom screw. That helps a ton because the screws are LONG, so getting them out manually takes some effort. The box with the connectors needs some pushing around but it moves relatively easily so again it's not a big deal.
Definitely watch out for the little shaft extending INTO the motor when you take the old one out though. Doesn't look that flimsy but it's small and you need to look out. And btw the connector is easy to find but you'll have to cut some zip ties which should probably be replaced after you're done...
So that's it... one bruised knuckle and a lot of sweat, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to, now that I know how.
Old motor is out, new one is in. Works like a charm. I seriously recommend that you don't mess with this unless you don't mind working in cramped spaces in strange twisted positions. But if you feel like spending an hour or two of your Saturday and saving $600+, be my guest.
You can get the part -- 208 820 08 42 from the super store for $65. Or you can pick it up from the dealer (mine had it in stock even) for $134 + tax.
The front/aft motor is the middle one -- of course, the hardest one to get to -- out of the 3 under the seat. The other two are 12 42 instead of 08 42.
The absolute hardest part is getting to the bottom torx under the motor (there's a shaft blocking the easiest path of course)... but once you're in there it's all good. I suggest a really thin screwdriver if possible, although I have a reasonably thin power screwdriver (Black and Decker) that worked even though I had to jam it in there to get to the bottom screw. That helps a ton because the screws are LONG, so getting them out manually takes some effort. The box with the connectors needs some pushing around but it moves relatively easily so again it's not a big deal.
Definitely watch out for the little shaft extending INTO the motor when you take the old one out though. Doesn't look that flimsy but it's small and you need to look out. And btw the connector is easy to find but you'll have to cut some zip ties which should probably be replaced after you're done...
So that's it... one bruised knuckle and a lot of sweat, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to, now that I know how.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: NY/CT
CLK 320
wusup everybody, my seat is stuck all the infront and wont move backwards or forward the fuse blew like 10 times in a month. now im 100% sure the motor is done for. so which motor is it that you replace there are 3 motors under the passenger seat is it the middle one. i took it to the dealer and the quoted me $254 for install and labor.
If you feel like getting your hands dirty and cramping yourself under the seat and saving some dough, you can do it yourself.
If my dealer had quoted me $250 instead of $600, I probably would have done it and called it a day. But with that said, now that I know how to do it, if/when the passenger side goes, I'll probably do it myself again.
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Posts: 268
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
I can do that with one of the two power buttons that still work. Also, has anyone considered swapping the good motor from the seat that works with the one that doesn't to see if it really is that motor?
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2001 clk55 amg
Im on the MercedesPartsSuperstore.com and the price is $98.40 am I looking at the right part. You did say the part # was 208 820 0842? Saw that you said the part was $65. But I dont see $65 anywhere.
Thanx for the info
Thanx for the info
