craigc

I decided to dye my parcel shelf because it was purple rather than black. It turned out to be a 3 hour job to get the headrests out and remove the parcel shelf. I ran into many problems trying to remove the headrests because there is no detailed info on the process. I hope this helps others.

I've attached the MB W211 document.

craigc

- remove bottom rear seat
- remove rear back seat by removing 3 nuts and lifting carefully
- remove pull rubber door seal from around both c-pillar covers then carefully remove both c-pillar covers

Now for the hard part removing the headrests. I'm going to show the pictures so you have a good idea of what needs to be done to release the locks on the headrests and mechanisms.

Here is what the mechanism looks like after the headrest is removed



This is the notch in the headrest that the spring in the mechanism sits in to lock the headrest in.




here is the mechanism, look in the holes and you will see the spring in the top that has to be lifted to release the headrest.




I put the headrests up one at a time and remove the headrest. They have to be in the up position to remove them.
Heres the black levers that have to be pushed down towards the molded white stop. This raises the spring on each tube of the headrest. There is two on each of the three mechanisms, both levers are on the outside ends of the mechanism and can be accessed once you slide the plastic hole covers up the rods of the headrest. Note: you do not have to remove the mechanisms, I did so I could see exactly what I was up against once I discovered the missing lever.




You can see the black lever locations below.



You can release one side at a time as long as you keep pressure on the side that is released then put pressure on both sides as you release the other side and it should slide out towards the rear window.

I fought with one release lever for about a half hour then discovered the black lever was missing so I couldn't release the last lock !!!!
this is the mechanism after I got it out. Notice no black lever on the right side.



I thought I was screwed because you can't remove the mechanism without removing the headrest. Heres how I got it out, I used the pick in the photo to lift the spring by sliding the pick into where the Lever should have been and only lifting the headset to about 45 degrees.

Then I looked under the mechanism in the metal mount and I found the intact lever !!!!



Finally now to remove the parcel shelf, there is two obvious plastic push retainers in the front of the parcel shelf the six not so obvious snap-in connectors on the rear of the parcel shelf two white two blue and two black. You can see them in this photo.





Heres the before and after of my parcel shelf.







and heres what I used to return the parcel shelf to black again.

clvincent

that is an excellent write up

thanks for posting this, seems it should go into the stickys

craigc

Thanks, hopefully it will help a lot of people with the mostly undocumented removable of the headrests. I put it all back together today and now I'm giving all the leather the leatherique treatment.

Efivehundred

Nice write up!

I've read all the other info I could find about removing the the headrests because I've been thinking about replacing my parcel shelf. It led me to believe that the levers are supposed to be push in (towards the front of the vehicle) not down towards the front of the vehicle. Your pics really clarify things.

Do you have any pics of your dyed parcel shelf installed? Either through the rear window or from inside the vehicle.

craigc

I am happy to send you pictures of the shelf. I am happy with how it turned out. Looks like new and left no smell after 24 hours. I am glad I could fix it this way, a lot cheaper than the replacement part ($400 or more)! I will get pictures up this afternoon. Thank you.

Efivehundred

Yeah, please post some pics when you get a chance. Thanks.

Which color did you use, the Charcoal Gray Satin?

craigc

Sorry folks, I'll get pictures up asap. I used the black satin dye. I'm traveling with my wife and 1.5 hours from home and the front right airmatic strut blew while on the highway. Just so you know you can get the arnott replacements at Orileys auto parts for around $500 with a lifetime warranty. I've replaced the front left already. It only takes a half to three quarters of a hour. So called a friend to come get us and will return in the morning with tools and new strut. Once home with a working car I'll post the pics.

craigc

craigc

I suggest really cleaning the inside of the rear window while you have the parcel shelf out, as you can see I didn't

craigc

I am happy with how the dye seemed to penetrate rather than coating the fine fibers like paint would. It still is fuzzy like it was before I dyed it.

fsj201

craigc-thanks for the write-up. Everything good to include removing the passenger headrest, that one was easy. The right black toggle on the center and left headrest seem to be impossible. I've tied string, tried my hand (on the middle. I can almost reach it). Going down from the top is difficult because there is a steel stamped piece in there. How did you actually get those two toggles to move toward the plastic stop? I've been playing with this for about an hour per day for several days. Steve

craigc

Try either a long flat screwdriver to push the black lever down or try what I did to get the headrest out on one that didn't have a lever earlier in this thread. If you dont have a pick like I show in the previous posts, you could try one of those smaller diameter metal coat hangers straightened out with a small length 90 bent into it. What you have to do is get under one of the spring legs with your coat hanger and try to slightly lift one of the legs in the picture on the right. as I mention I had to have the headrest at about 45 deg to be able to see and have access to the spring. Hope this helps.
If you are still having trouble just PM me and I'll give you my number if you want.

cMazara

Nice !!! This will surely help me out with the black headliner interior I want to do.
Bad thing is that it does not match that much with the headrest color/finish.

fsj201

craigc-thanks. I have the picks from Harbour Freight and your encouragement helped me (with the aid of lights and mirrors) find the black levers on the drivers side rear head rest. I can at least see it now and play with it although I have yet to release it. It's hot, frustrating and tiring. I will keep at it. I see there is no easy way, just poking, pushing, pulling and hopefully it will click in time. Thanks. Steve Jarrett

craigc

I don't want to sound like a smart @#$ but have you popped out the plastic inserts around the headrest arms that are flush with the back tray. If not you should, it will give you way more room to work. I just don't remember having that much trouble other than the one where the black lever was actually missing.

Look at the picture in post #2 of this thread, I have the plastic inserts pooped out.

fsj201

craigc-yes, I took those out like you suggested, they were easy. steve

Broly

just removed the headrests. took me 20-25 minutes thanks to reading this post, but really you have to figure out how to push the levers down.

they're tucked quite high up. the nice thing is that mercedes left a short metal notch on each side where the lever is, so you can pivot off it.

just push "in" and the lever will move down. don't be too gentle, it takes a bit of force but not a massive amount.

once i figured out that it's not whether "i pull the lever up from the the bottom notch" or "push it down from the top notch (which is VERY hard to get at, by the way)", but instead just pushing inwards and feeling the mechanism move downwards, it was cake.

certainly can see how it'd take a noob a few hours. anyone with reasonable dexterity should be able to achieve this feat in less than half an hour. i found the clips around the seat rests to be more annoying, tbh.

NewShockerGuy

I used this how to as well when I needed to remove the shelf so that I could then add the nuts to the power rear trunk motor when I retro fitted the power motor on our w211.

These aren't hard vehicles to work on but sometimes certain things can definitely get you hung up if you aren't going in a specific order or see how something needs to come apart first in order to get to the next thing that needs removed.

-Nigel

Azeem

Despite following the instructions I cannot get the headrest off! these levers are very confusing, which should they go if you are poking a screw driver or whatever tool in it,
- if I push them towards front of the car with some force, the tools slips
- should i move the lever towards roof of the car
- should it be moved down towards floor!

Sorry for these dumb questions but i really need to get these out to fix my rear sun shade.
Thanks

Azeem

So the levers have to be pushed down towards floor. Managed to get two out but the last one driver side rear will not come out because I can’t see the lever due to confined space. Headrest off after a lot of swearing and frustration!
- Managed to get head rests out!
- C-pillars were removed
- removed 4 bolts for sunshade from the boot.
Question - My sun-shade is stuck in up position, I cannot get the rear shelf out since the speaker assembly is in the way? Any pointers on how do I get it out?

Azeem

- Managed to get head rests out!
- C-pillars were removed
- removed 4 bolts for sunshade from the boot.
Question - My sun-shade is stuck in up position, I cannot get the rear shelf out since the speaker assembly is in the way? Any pointers on how do I get it out?

Matt8all

Finally find someone else who has the same nightmare issue removing these rear headrests......the last black plastic clip has snapped off and will not release.........

I note you released with a curved pick (brilliant!!.....how did you get that to release the headrest)?

konigstiger

Azeem

Welcome! You need a flash light to look inside the confined space. Its tough but trust me if I can do it anyone can! Your headrest with lever off would look something like in the picture. Insert the pick tool under the release mechanism of the lever and pull mechanism upwards using the pick tool. Keep pressure on the headrest and it will come out eventually! By the way, to do this you have to keep the headrest in slightly up position. With the headrest in down position you won't be able to do it.