StephenK

I noticed on the ventilated seats that if you press the heat button and the cool button all the lights turn on, all the heat lights and all the cool lights. This doesn't make any sense, does anyone no about this.

giffSCPA

Regarding the seats. These are never, ever, cooled. They are simply ventilated--meaning that small fans pull the regular cabin air so that it goes behind your back to help avoid moisture build-up. (our bodies are generating heat all the time)

I frequently use both the heating (of seating) and ventilation (of back) feature at the same time.

GIFF ALBRIGHT gha1@psu.edu State College, PA

LovinMercedes

Learn something new everyday. Thank you.

StephenK

Thanks for the info.

xclens

This topic is yeeeeears old, but I was searching the forum in finding answers regarding the 'ventilated seats'.

My 2011 Escalade EXT actually cools my buttocks and lower back. Or at least it feels cool, even though I don't think it is connected to the AC. In my 'new' 2011 SL550 I can't feel a thing when I turn on the 'ventilated seats' feature. I have now learned that I'm not supposed to. I heard the fans turning on, but felt nothing. I'm glad there is nothing wrong! Just wanted to post a thanks for clarifying that for me.

Rudeney

Yeah, the ventilated seats are very weak. When it's hot and I really need them, they seem to do nothing. When it's cooler out, can actually feel some air movement and cooling effect, but of course then I don't really need it. Other cars my wife has owned (a Lexus IS and a Jeep GC) had great ventilated seats. I have heard of some SL owners replacing the fans in the seat with larger ones to get better airflow. One day, maybe I will have time to investigate that.

Aussiesuede

It's definitely worth the time to switch out the weak MB units with more powerful PC cooling fans. The PC Fans flow at 49cfm, more than double the rate of the weak stock 20cfm units. For future searchers, these are the highest flowing 80mm fans that will fit: : PC Fans

xclens

Thanks for that valuable piece of information! Now to the follow-up question.. Is it a difficult procedure? Have you seen a DIY guide anywhere online?

marko69

I replaced my driver seat backrest fans with some pretty power fans but it only made a very slight difference, so slight of a difference, that I didn't bother to do the lower cushion fans. The problem is that the multicontour seats have a bladder in the middle part of the seat and non perforated leather on the bolsters. The air has nowhere to go except for the space between the bolster and the middle cushion so you don't get much airflow there. If they used perforated leather on the bolsters, like the leather in the middle of the seat, you might get some decent airflow.

Frederick NL

To the best of my knowledge this is more about moisture than about temperature. We have just had a heatwave and I found the vents to be very effective against getting sticky against the seat.

In another car I had a Scheel brand orthopedic seat, the stronger ventilation of which would immediately stiffen up my spine(-muscles), most irritating. Although in my case my back is a health issue (hernia), I really cant imagine a strong airflow being a bonus to anyone.

Aussiesuede

Swapping the fans is quite easy. The worse part is just getting the seats out due to their weight, but that just qualifies as a nuisance as opposed to difficult. Here is a DIY guide on a W211, but the procedure is the same: Unbolt seat, locate and remove fan, trim computer fan casing to fit, attach stock fan plug to new fan, Test fan operation, reinstall.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...seat-fans.html