fatherhood

Just picked up an 07' E350 4matic wagon for my daughter and we ran into the problem of the front passenger seat not moving back when we folded the rear seat down. My daughter, who's all of 5'2", was forced into the passenger seat was not comfortable at all, since I at 6' didn't have a prayer. Fortunately it was a short ride. Thinking there's a problem with the car, I called the dealer and CSR knew exactly what I was talking about. She also has a e-class wagon and agrees that this is a design flaw, along the the lines of the wiper blade arms interfering with the hood. She could not recommend a work around, because of liability issues, but strongly hinted that I look online.

SO THANKS to all those who suggested a work around, now I can use my front passenger seat again!

On a side note:

The Aztec is even uglier in person.

I agree that station wagons are better for dogs and people than SUV's, unfortunately most Americans, US, don't see it this way.

ksan

I just closed the latch that I needed to open to drop the seat back on our 2007 E350 sedan. Basically I told the trolls that run all the systems that the seat back was up and locked so the driver's seat could be positioned anywhere wanted. Never fight with the trolls, outsmart them! Let me know if this works for your wagon. I have a 2014 wagon and nothing happens when the rear seats are folded.

fatherhood

The issue is with the passenger seat, not the driver's seat. Maybe the sedan is different, but the issue on the wagon is not resolved as easily as you suggest. When one returns the seat back in the upright position does one hear a beep, and at that point the front passenger seat is able to move back. Hence the need to trick the locking mechanism, "trolls", into thinking the seat back is latched in the upright position.

Good to know that the 2014 wagon does not have this "feature".

mattschilds

I need to do this too. Does anyone have a photo?

The Righteous

Thanks for the post, I just bought a used 2006 E350 Wagon after my 17 year old son totaled my E320 wagon (he's fine, just embarrassed) and was vexed by the automatic adjustment when the rear seat was put up.......hopefully now this will solve this problem.

Long Islander

The solution to tricking the car into thinking that the rear seat back is upright is very simple and costs just a few dollars. Go to a hardware store and buy a snaphook that is a few inches long. Stick the large end of the snaphook into the latch that the seat back catch hooks into. When you do this, the latch closes over the snaphook and this completes the circuit that makes the car think the seat back is upright. When you want to put the seat back into the upright position, remove the snaphook.

JT Fields

I figured out that the easiest fix for reclining the passenger with the back sests down requires two people.
The the first person pulls the backseat down on the passenger side. At the same time the second person hits the recline on the passenger front seat. This stops the auto forwarding of the passenger seat. At least it does on my 2018 E350
Hope this helps...

kajtek1

it takes +- 5 seconds to push the latches with flat screwdriver and avoid whole problem.

Frank Barrett

Had the same problem with my '05 E55 AMG Wagon, so glad to see these suggestions. I did try "fooling'' the latch with finger or screwdriver, but that didn't work. Will try again with a carabiner or a "snaphook." Will also try the two-person adjustment trick. Wish whoever got a dealer to fix this would let us know the procedure, as some dealers have no clue and could care less.

Frank

Strigoi

And here I am being annoyed with my W210 wagon when I have to move the front seats forward to get the rear seats to lay flat.

kajtek1

W210 also will not call MB emergency when you roll over from the road on Mt Diablo, where nobody will notice your car for several days.
@Frank Barrett what "did not work" when you tried to fool the latches with screwdriver?

Strigoi

Good thing I rarely go up there. Last time I did was to run RC rock crawlers at Rock City.

I've got a modded Axial Wraith for sale if anyone is interested. I got bored with the RC stuff and spent way too much money on it when playing around with 1/5 scale gas and brushless cars (those have been sold).

konigstiger

You will need to find someone with MB DAS (diagnostics) to recode right front seat from “anti-crash with rear seat active” to “not active”. If your only choice is dealer expect to pay minimum one hour labor charge to recode. Reference attached bulletin although for 212 it will give direction to support your request.

Geraldine Olsen

Thank heavens I found this page, I have been struggling with this situation for nine years. It never dawned on me that it was designed this way since I have a Mercedes wagon for ten years prior which did not have "this feature". Quite honestly I would take my old wagon back in a New York Minute. I can only use the wagon feature when I am alone in the car no one can sit in the passenger seat. I cannot believe that Mercedes thought this was OK! I will try each and every solution posted and hopefully get a solution to this problem after nine years of dealing with it. Thanks to all for bringing this out in the open.

Frank Barrett

Konigstiger:

Thanks for the service info reference. I took a copy to a dealer today, and they re-programmed the seat control to work properly.

Success!

Frank

tjts1

If you press in the rear seat back latch the front seat functions normally even tho the rear seat is still folded. Also the rear seat bottom cushion is removable for extra front seat room with the rear seat folded.

Keith Studnick

Had the same problem with my wagon and the safety thing. The easiest was to keep the windows open on the front door and hit any button for the seats and problem solved. Now I am trying to sell the wagon with 107,000 miles on it as i need either a wagon with more clearance or SUV as need to go off road with my dog for search and rescue training and call outs. Its listed in the Philadelphia Craigs List as 2008 E350 Wagon. Its White and in great shape with tons of parts replaced very recently including the air system in the rear.

tjts1

Weird I've never had a problem off-roading mind. Have you considered taller tires?

Keith Studnick

Really, the car is almost touching the road in the front on pavement. What kind of tires are you using. I probably need another 4 inches of ground clearance to be safe with the terrain that we have to go on.

Frank Barrett

tjts1 writ:

"If you press in the rear seat back latch the front seat functions normally even tho the rear seat is still folded. Also the rear seat bottom cushion is removable for extra front seat room with the rear seat folded."

That latch trick worked on my '06 E55 AMG Wagon for a while, then not. The factory bulletin mentioned above let the dealer fix the issue.

Tried to remove the seat cushion, but the latch at the bottom wouldn't move. Will try again, maybe give it a shot of lube.

Frank

Frank Barrett

Copy of service bulletin LI91.10-P-052336 attached as a PDF file. Give this to your mechanic, and he can re-program to eliminate unwanted front seat movement and allow full adjustment.

rshelb7

jdotom - Brilliant solution. Thank you so much. Works like a dream on my W211 wagon. Except for this it is a brilliant car. Thanks, again, man.

rshelb7

Confirming this works well. Can do it alone, if I just put both passenger side windows down. Thank you.