clb0099

Hey everyone,

So as many know about 6 months ago I updated the interior of my 07 interior with designo door panels which I dyed to match my black interior. While doing the update I custom installed led lighting on all 4 door panels and dashboard which are built into oem ambient lenses. One of the perks of doing the designo door panels was that I was able to install the rear side door sun shades. Which to me is a pretty cool feature and my kids use them so it’s a plus. After months of thinking of updating the leather seats with something newer I’ve decided to have seat covers custom made. These will replace the oem leather seat covers for both front and rear seats. I already removed the rear seat covers which wasn’t a terrible process just time consuming. Today I will move onto removing the front seats covers. Once they are out I will bring them to my interior guy and have him start to make a pattern of my covers so that he can’t make new covers. I am looking to do a very similar pattern which is in the s65 diamond stitched perforated leather but for the fracture of the price than what Mercedes will charge me for the covers. For the time being since I use my car I bought some cheap seat covers from Amazon to put on the front and rear seats. I will post pictures of the process as I go. Hopefully it turns out good.

vettebk

Please keep us all posted. I have a 2007 Designo and the seats are beginning to wear so your upgrade is of high interest.

clb0099

Update: So the driver’s side seat is complete stripped of the oem leather. It’s alittle more time consuming than the backseats but definitely doable.A couple things I learned along the way while I was dismantling the seat.The heating pads for the heating seats are sewed to the leather covers and are not reusable.Not really the end of the world cause I am going to buy an aftermarket heating seats kit and just attach the oem harness to the aftermark pads wires.The oem wiring has brown and blue wire. Obviously brown is the ground wire and blue wire is the power source.The next thing in order to remove the upper leather seat cover you need to drill out a rivet on the side airbag.There is a fabric sleeve that goes around the airbag itself that attaches to the oem leather cover. Other than those couple of things I said the remove of the covers is pretty straightforward. The leather covers just clip in just use a screwdriver and pop it out of the clips. Hard to really explain but you will know what I am talking about when you are at this point. Here below is the driver’s seat stripped. My upholstery guy said it will take about a week or two to make the covers. I am in no rush I have 3 other vehicles to use in meanwhile. Plus it gives me time to fix other stuff on the car.

BenzV12

Take it easy on your current project . Diamond stiches are way to go

Senecat

You're nutz dude. You must really love this car, you've done so much work to it! You will be the go-to guy soon when anyone has a problem. You know everything about the car!

clb0099

lol, thanks I am a little nuts I have to admit.So today when I get home from work I will finish the passenger side seat and then drop off the covers to my upholster. Here is a few pictures of what I plan to go with. I think this pattern will make the interior more clean looking. Plus I am planning on keeping this car a few more years.I don’t put a ton of miles on it a year.

clb0099

So I am waiting on the covers from my upholstery guy but wanted to point out something for those who are going to attempt this project.When trying to remove the headrest make sure you are gentle in removing them from the headrest actuators.The previous owner of my car definitely removed the passenger headrest and while doing so broke the headrest actuator which has a bracket to hold the headrest posts in place. Because he broke them him has zip ties, electrical tape and other things to hold the posts to the actuator. It was an absolute mess and looked very much like garbage.

The black circles are where the headrest posts clip into. Unfortunately the previous owner broke the bracket.

This is what the bracket should look like when not broken. Mercedes sells this part for $220. I was able to buy it at a junkyard for $20 and it fits perfectly.
I will post a picture of the broken bracket in my car and then a picture of what the bracket should look like.

clb0099

Here is the front 2 seats custom covers.

BenzV12

These look outstanding ,what a job

chassis

Looks great! Let’s see them fitted onto the cushions.

What grade/thickness/finish leather did you choose? Are these aftermarket W221 replacements or did your “upholstery guy” sew them from raw leather?

clb0099

Specs of leather are the same as the factory leather. My guy has been doing upholstery for years and has done 4 cars for me. Yes, they are aftermarket as no company sells them except for Mercedes which if you were to get the same design I got it would cost well over 5k. I priced out just the regular oem seat covers without diamond stitched or perforated and for the driver’s seat alone it was $1500. If you add another $1500 for the passenger side then of course rear bench seat top/bottom probably looking at 5k. Since he has never done this car before and didn’t have a pattern already he charged me $350 to make them. There is a ton work involved in making these covers. While the seat covers were out I decided to add cooling ventilated front seats. Lastly I am not worried about fitment cause I know they are going to fit.

Senecat

Ah, cost and material, thanks! I'd really like to get ahold of your guy to make me a set of fronts!