Thanks for the follow-up, including the photo!!

It's the same design as our 2014 Base model, i.e., it has the "3 panel inner section" (I've seen some models have 2 panel inner section). Thanks.

So, curious at this point ... I know, a bit in the early stage of replacement

Any thoughts ?

Think I may try an inexpensive ebay cover. I was just looking at a listing $74.37 for two or $34.42 for one cover using an ebay coupon. There is one review with a photo and it looks ok to me, a little wrinkled but im guessing it came folded and wasnt ironed before installing,. I'll have to contact the seller to make sure its the alpaca grey to match what I have.

I went ahead and ordered one. Will see how well it matches.




The above photo looks like a really good match.

I found a listing specifically for the GLK350 and there is one review with a photo and the seat appears a little darker in color compared to the upper seat in my opinion. I dont know what the review says though its in spanish.

To replace the cover what is the process, disconnect the battery?

Also i have heated seats. Does the heater part have to come off and be installed in the new cover or does it stay on the foam part of the seat?

So... the material feels a little softer than the original oem cover. A little more stretchy too. Seems to be ok for now. The question is... will it last as long... My car is older so maybe I don't care, but if it was newer I may go OEM.

Last time I replaced my seat cover, before this, I received a cover with a heated seat piece in it. I ended up using the cover even though I didn't have a heated seat. The OEM cover can be ordered with the seated heat piece. Then there is just a wire with a connector. You can google and look up how to replace the cover, but the bottom seat cushion is basically two T30 Torx screws. The heated seat wire is just a plug-in that you unplug. The hardest thing is stretching the new material over the seat and getting everything lined up.

I think I saw a video from this manufacturer, where they had you removed the heated component from the factory cover and attaching it to their cover. So I don't think Richmond sells them with the heating element.

In answer to the person talking about the Ebay version:

Yeah...it's just vinyl, so I don't see why these couldn't be $50-100 rather than $200-500.

Received the cover today. At first when I opened the package I thought there is no way it matches it looked like a darker grey. But when placed on the seat I just cant tell if i like it or not. It is def not a perfect match. Didnt open the package yet since im not sure I want to keep it.

I'm not "there" but it looks like quite a good match to me.

Well ?? Did you keep it and install it?

Or return it?

I opened the package so will be keeping it. I'm updating a thread I made on it here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...y-special.html

I want to be sure that I will maintain the heating function so its taking me some time planning exactly how to do it. One thing i wasnt sure about it what exactly the heating element is. I can see the wires taped to the pad in photos but was not sure if there were more wires imbedded in the padding that arent visible. Now I dont think that is the case and the wires taped on are the only heating wires.

I'll update when I do it.

Calder-Cay, my apologies for not seeing your question. The side bolsters are the MB tex stuff (correct name?). They are not leather.

No prob ... many months gives me time to think

Sadly, I still have a black t-shirt covering the seat bottom (we drive maybe once a week for groceries, etc)
I'll make a decision ... might go with MB branded

( NO, will not consider FCP Euro )

The split in my cover is getting to the point where I'm concerned it might stress the heating pad to the point of failure. Overnight temps have been running in the single digits below zero F and I don't want to loose the heater!

Any more feedback on either the eBay specials, or the Richmond option?

TIA

My second Richmond (replaced under warranty) driver's seat bottom is looking like it may be starting to split. I can see some of the dots are beginning to connect. The sides are great. It's the perforated section that seems to have durability issues.
I don't think you need to worry about the heater. If it's the same as the 2010, it's a single wire that wiggles around a bit. That's likely why the heating performance is so poor.

I'm sure many/most know but a great way to break heated seat heating wires is to kneel on your seat when doing something in your vehicle. Too much pressure applied in a small area.

So, I went ahead and replaced the cover on the driver's bottom cushion. I decided to go cheap, and ended up with a cover from Professional Seat Covers on eBay. I didn't buy it the first time I looked, so they offered me a discount. I think I ended up paying about $32 including shipping.

Cutting the seat heater off the old cover was tedious but not difficult. I ended up trimming one of the attachment flaps attached to one of the crosswise seams on the new cover to fit around the heater wire. Otherwise installation was straight forward. The fit was good enough for everything except my OCD, as was the color match.

Two things I noticed. First, the new material is not as "slippery" as the original so you can't slide around on the seat as easily.(*) Second, the heater is definitely working, but doesn't seem to be as hot as before. It may be my imagination, or it may be that the new material conducts the heat from my butt better. IDK... I had considered putting some reflective tape on the seat cushion under the heater wires to reflect the heat up, as there was some discoloration on the cushion, but decided not to take the time given it might not hold up well, being less flexible.

All in all, well worth $32 plus 3-4 hours of my time.

The before photo:



After I hacked it up to get the heater pad off:



I thought I had an after pic, but I guess I don't. I'll get one tomorrow and add it.

(*) Does anyone have a recommendation for something I could treat the seat with that would make it feel less "rubbery" and more slippery?

I ended up buying the original dealer part that in my 2014 GLK 250 had the seat heater built in so it was plug and play I didnt have to remove it reattach it. But if the seat wasnt 100% identical i would lose my mind so I paid the money to have OEM. I think it was 500 Canadian pessos. like 350 US.

Pictures, as promised.