Multi-contour/heated seat conversion
12-29-2009, 12:21 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Multi-contour/heated seat conversion
My son and I finished the conversion from standard to multi-contour/heated seats on his ‘99 E320 and we wanted to share our experience with others who might like to do the same thing.
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The seats came from a ’99 E320 donor car with an identical interior that was being parted out. We bought the seats, upper console panel complete with switches, and the vacuum pump complete with vacuum lines and reservoir. Separately we bought a heated seat wiring harness from our local MBZ dealer [$105]. We went this route because we found that trying to remove the heated seat wiring harness from the donor car was time consuming and might not be worth the effort if later we found that the harness wiring had been damaged.
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Because we couldn’t get access to a copy of the factory DVD-based service manual, we subscribed to MBZ’s STAR TekInfo online workshop manual for a day [$18.00] and printed out the sections dealing with retrofitting heated seats and multi-contour seats. We also subscribed to MBZ’s EPCnet on line parts listing for a year [$1.00].
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Technical-mechanical skills to do this job are minimal, five on a scale of one to ten. No special tools other than a plastic panel removal tool and an E12 external star socket for seat rail removal were required. You need to remove the rear seat bottom, door sill moldings on both sides, driver side lower A-pillar molding and both lower B-pillar moldings, seats, center console and rear carpet. The entire process is spelled out in the workshop manual. We found postings on youtube of factory videos dealing with the removal of the center console and other related jobs. Installing the wiring harness is easy. Three connectors go to the seats and console switch panel and two wires go to the front and rear fuse boxes. Every thing is plug and play.
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Tips we would like to pass along.
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1. Experienced technicians can probably do the job in a few hours; first time DIYers should plan on a little longer.
2. You really need the MBZ online material. The $19.00 is a worthwhile investment and will allow you to become familiar with STAR TekInfo and EPCnet.
3. If you can get the vacuum pump from the donor car you avoid paying to have your original pump programmed to recognize the multi-contour seats. Obtaining the vacuum lines and reservoir saves you the time and expense of buying and fabricating your own.
4. When inserting the wires into the bottom of the connector blocks in the fuse boxes, slide the red locking bar about 1/8 inch to the right which will allow you to insert the connectors.
5. The factory type radio removal tool can be used to remove both the factory radio and climate control unit.
6. A 7 or 8mm open end wrench can be used for leverage when removing the vacuum line connections on the seats and vacuum pump.
<o:p></o:p>
This project was well worth the time and effort and was made much easier by postings on this forum by Mark Cummins, raymond g-, and Ikchris who have done this work and were willing to share their knowledge through postings and PMs. Thanks, guys!
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
The seats came from a ’99 E320 donor car with an identical interior that was being parted out. We bought the seats, upper console panel complete with switches, and the vacuum pump complete with vacuum lines and reservoir. Separately we bought a heated seat wiring harness from our local MBZ dealer [$105]. We went this route because we found that trying to remove the heated seat wiring harness from the donor car was time consuming and might not be worth the effort if later we found that the harness wiring had been damaged.
<o:p></o:p>
Because we couldn’t get access to a copy of the factory DVD-based service manual, we subscribed to MBZ’s STAR TekInfo online workshop manual for a day [$18.00] and printed out the sections dealing with retrofitting heated seats and multi-contour seats. We also subscribed to MBZ’s EPCnet on line parts listing for a year [$1.00].
<o:p></o:p>
Technical-mechanical skills to do this job are minimal, five on a scale of one to ten. No special tools other than a plastic panel removal tool and an E12 external star socket for seat rail removal were required. You need to remove the rear seat bottom, door sill moldings on both sides, driver side lower A-pillar molding and both lower B-pillar moldings, seats, center console and rear carpet. The entire process is spelled out in the workshop manual. We found postings on youtube of factory videos dealing with the removal of the center console and other related jobs. Installing the wiring harness is easy. Three connectors go to the seats and console switch panel and two wires go to the front and rear fuse boxes. Every thing is plug and play.
<o:p></o:p>
Tips we would like to pass along.
<o:p></o:p>
1. Experienced technicians can probably do the job in a few hours; first time DIYers should plan on a little longer.
2. You really need the MBZ online material. The $19.00 is a worthwhile investment and will allow you to become familiar with STAR TekInfo and EPCnet.
3. If you can get the vacuum pump from the donor car you avoid paying to have your original pump programmed to recognize the multi-contour seats. Obtaining the vacuum lines and reservoir saves you the time and expense of buying and fabricating your own.
4. When inserting the wires into the bottom of the connector blocks in the fuse boxes, slide the red locking bar about 1/8 inch to the right which will allow you to insert the connectors.
5. The factory type radio removal tool can be used to remove both the factory radio and climate control unit.
6. A 7 or 8mm open end wrench can be used for leverage when removing the vacuum line connections on the seats and vacuum pump.
<o:p></o:p>
This project was well worth the time and effort and was made much easier by postings on this forum by Mark Cummins, raymond g-, and Ikchris who have done this work and were willing to share their knowledge through postings and PMs. Thanks, guys!
12-29-2009, 12:36 PM
#2
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'99 E320 4matic Wagon
This would make a great diy sticky. I assume that if you'd taken pix they'd be posted, right?
Congratulations on a nice upgrade -- how much did everything you bought from the donor car cost, if you don't mind sharing?
Congratulations on a nice upgrade -- how much did everything you bought from the donor car cost, if you don't mind sharing?
12-29-2009, 07:10 PM
#5
Newbie
Thread Starter
The tools are standard items we bought from Harbor Freight. A six piece 3/8inch star socket set [95178-OVGA] for $9 and a five piece trim and molding removal set [67021-OVGA] for $8.
