rccmerc

True to form I have the cracked plastic seat trim base cover problem.

Do you either one of have a write up on this?

I am pretty sure you do not have to remove the seat from the car, right?

But you need some special tool for the seatbelt bolt?

replacement parts are cheap, both in price and errr quality!

See diagram - I need to replace "10".

Thanks for your help in advance.

fusion2007

iv done this before its reallly really easy.. it takes time though and some of the screws/bolt are hard to reach...even have to go to autozone/walmart somewhere that sells a those tool like screw driver things expect like it has 8 sides and come in different sizes....lol sry i dont know my tools but its nothin really special tools.. it took me 1hr and 10mins to do.. i had to buy both parts. costs me 100$

and noo u do not have to remove carseat

rccmerc

Thanks!! Did you find there was a best position (Forward/backward up/down etc.) to put the seat in to work on it?

Yeah, I got those 8 sided thingies

Skylaw

The only real difficulty I had was breaking the seat belt bolt free. It was TIGHT!

sessayan

My seat has the same issue. I thought I was just too fat for the car and figured I should lose weight. Totally pisses me off now that I hear everyone else has the issue. Any other solutions out there other than to replace plastic parts that I will have to replace again?

rccmerc

Don't be too hard on yourself it has nothing to do with your weight. The original plastic is crap, the new parts are crap. But hey, its 'german' crap

Skylaw

And for the price they charge, they must be very proud of it.

2H S5

I had the same problem too.
Couldn't believe how flimsy and cheap they were and I'm only 145 lb.

I forgot how much they were for the replacements but they were pretty outrageous (over $100???). If they broke before, what's the point of replacing the same cheap pos again?

I bought a wood cover from this seller (not me nor do I know this person).
I was surprised the wood matched too and much cheaper than oem
It came with 2 piece, don't be surprised that it looks like it won't fit, but it did!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...em320207294271

Skylaw

That's an really good looking solution, much less expensive to buy, and it looks as if it was much easier to install.

It bothers me a bit that the vendor said his dealer said the whole seat had to be replaced, when that is absolutely untrue; it doesn't even have to be removed.

But it still seems a good solution to an annoying problem. Was the kit for both front seats, or were the 2 parts just for the driver's side?

I'd order it for my '05, except that the seat side molding has been redesigned and it would likely not fit.

ksc

i've always wondered about that eBay seller and his kit...it sounds like you are pleased with it?

is it just a piece of wood with adhesive that you stick on and you're done?

mine is beyond cracked...there's a big hole where the plastic used to be.

2H S5

It was for 2 pieces, since both the driver and passenge side were the same.

Yeah, I checked on one vendor and they said you had to change the whole freakin seat!!! That's crazy.....in that case I'd rather buy a whole new bucket seat from an S55 AMG

2H S5

It's a thick flexible adhesive that you lay over the broken seat trim.
It came with a plastic primer that you clean the trim, peel and stick.

Driver side was cracked pretty bad, but it had enough surface area for the wood trim to stick to.
If it's broken too much, you would have to find a way for that wood trim to stick to, maybe cutting out a stainless or metal sheet and have the wood piece lay over it.
It's very flexible so it will give way.

ksc

thanks...i might give it a shot.

2H S5

No problem. Just a note that the piece is rectangular shaped and it tapers towards the front.

The yellow arrows show that when we slide in and out, all the force is applied there and that's where the cracks happen the most.

Skylaw

My '00 was cracked there when I bought it; I replaced the plastic - then, kneeling on the seat (while vacuuming, or possibly during installation of one of my mods) I cracked the new one! It doesn't take much.

Have had much better luck with the newer trim design in the '05 - but with that fix, your seats look better!

2H S5

It does add an extra wood look to the car. I would say it matches perfectly!

You proved my point in not getting a replacement b/c it's same old crappy part that's going to break again

kor

Bad thing about forums is that you are pointed out all possible defects.
You look at your own car and then you discover: samething over here.

So I will be looking for replacement/repair for this one as well.

2H S5

But the good thing is that there are repairs that you can do yourself to save lots of $$$ for other repairs

Plus it's good therapy to talk about it

kor

I guess you are right.
A lot of simple things you can do by yourself. (and yes, I get relaxed by doing them)
Replace the interior filters yesterday. (both pollen filter and active coal)
Cost less then an hour.
Next is the engine airfilter and oilfilter (incl oilchange of course) But it rained so I did not start with it.

Stupid thing is that in order to reach the oil-filter (with my engine) I first have to remove a cover that is fixed with a torkx screw that I do not have a bit for yet.
Housing for airfilter is also fixed with very special form bolts.

Cracked seat trim I will also try to do myself. (first have to obtain the repair kit for it

greetings

A-PHI-A-S500

I need to do it too. Where did you get your parts

A-PHI-A-S500

Clarification- Where do you get the seat plastic parts? I'm a NEWBIE, but this site is great!!! So many of you know so much about my favorite brand of car. I wish I had found this sooner, but I'll be on it more now!!!

rccmerc

It's a dealer only - Have your VIN ready and order.

A-PHI-A-S500

thanks

ksc

there are a bunch of these plastic replacement parts on ebay right now for $20...not a bad price and they're new OEM.

pointing it out for folks who are looking for them.

JAM

Interesting.... I have one of the earlier w220s, purchased in 99, have 85k miles and have not encountered this problem. Very strang, since Ihave encountered jus about every other w220 issue.