milist

This might have been asked before, but I'm not sure it was answered.
My E350 4matic doesn't have fold down rear seats, but I'd like to add a ski passthrough for...skis. Has anyone done this? Can you cut a hole from the trunk? Can you buy a passthrough kit that will fit? Many thanks-I really would rather not have a ski rack.

BenzE350

This doesn't sound like a DIY project for a $50K+ sedan.

Diesel Benz

On a W212 I think it is much more realistic to add the ski pass-through than it was on previous models that had the body frame parts differently built for cars with and without the feature.

I assume the owner would change the rear seat parts with those for a folding rear seat. It would not be cheap, I did not check if parts like the rear window shelf needs to be changed but it should be simply swapping parts plus installing the wiring and coding the car so that the cluster can give warnings if the backrest is not properly locked etc.

BPhillyBenz

I'd love to do this as well for my hockey sticks. Checked into it and it was CRAZY expensive...they wanted to replace the whole seat, etc...
It's too bad you cant cut a hole throught the rear seat armrest (which my family has never used), clean it up with a removable panel and be done with it. If anybody has a solution, I am all ears (don't say buy a new car).

milist

I'm with you brother-that's the way I would want to do it, too. I'm not interested in swapping seats. Ideas??

BPhillyBenz

BenzE350 has a good point that you don't wanna be hacking up a 50+ sedan. I went to 2 after market guys. 1 said "yeah, I can do that, pretty cheap" which had me run in the other direction, and another said he "wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole". I really think there is a way to cut through the mettle backplate, add a hinged door that somewhat matches the decor and create a pass through via the armrest. Doesn’t have to look exactly OEM because it will be hidden by the armrest while it's upright 99% of the time. Looking for other "helpful" suggestions (I don't want to open this up to a bunch of smart a## responses that have littered this forum in the last week or so). Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!! B.

will4iron

Better have a roof top ski rack..after season, just simply take it off...simple and easy life! I install it to my Pilot near Thanksgiving day every year and take it out around end of February depend on winter weather..

MCF

I am glad that I got the fold g rear seats but it still blows my mind that MB has two assembly lines for something so siMple. Folding seats should be standard.....especially for sport trim (hehehhe)

Diesel Benz

Why wouldn't you be able to cut a hole to your rear seat? Just by a big enough saw and start cutting. You could leave it for a specialist too.

But you should not expect an MB dealer do it for you this way. The OEM approach is to use OEM parts. It would not even be expensive if you pay attention to the features you need when ordering the car. Note that it should not be standard, a lot of owners do not want direct access to the car from the boot.

By the way, the 221 does not have any folding rear seat option but there is an option for the ski pass-through. I prefer it a lot over the option to play with roof top ski racks (for someone else that option may be a lot better, just not for me).

WGB

There was an option for folding rear seats when I ordered my 211 E 320 in late 2003 in Australia but from memory it had to be part of a package with something else.

I guess it wasn't available in the US.

Bill

petee1997

How a car is built as a base car is determined by the marketing dept of each country. For example, a Canadian car comes standard with the fold down rear seat and 4 Matic. Of course it's not free. we have a higher base price. MB surveys probably show less demand for this stuff in the US therefore it is optional.

Tjdehya

I dont complain about the stuff Canada get as Standard, I complain about the stuff that Canada gets that we cant even get as an option. If they make it why cant we get it if we want it? Folding mirrors and rear climate controls are my biggest complaints. I just dont understand why its not at least an option for US buyers.

WGB

Folding mirrors, rear climate controls and folding rear seats are standard in Australian 350's and above.

But then to get an E500 on the road in Australia is $209,000 with all taxes paid so you do expect something for the money.

And at the moment the Australian Dollar is worth more than the US Dollar so you guys get a bargain by comparison.

Bill

will4iron

When I bought my BMW number of years ago, split folding rear seat was an option. I had to pay more money for that even I haven't used it.

petee1997

I didn't realize the option was unavailable. Maybe you can get it as a special order but there usually is a fee for special orders.

BPhillyBenz

Brilliant. Too bad I didnt order the car.

Diesel Benz

Neither did I know MBUSA would not offer it as a normal option.

There are more difficult options to retrofit than the folding rear seat. I guess this was still a new car, I understand you buy from the shop new cars more often in the US than in Europe. In Europe it is a rare case to purchase a car like an E-class MB from the shop (instead of a factory order). One is free to choose the options then, of course it takes some time for the car to be delivered.