--DIY Vented upgraded Seat Fans--
#27
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
#28
MBWorld Fanatic!
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#29
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
not that long..... seat covers takes 2 min, take the fans off 10-15 min, making the cuts is the longest process and grinding down the fans... having the fans done before the job is the way to do it and you can get it all done in an hour or so
#30
Senior Member
Let me first say whatever that cork/glue/padding stuff is made of, I hate it. Outside of dremeling the fans, cutting that stuff without cutting the strings behind it, and having to go around the metal supports made for an interesting 30 minutes.
One important thing to remember, don't discard the grey fabric piece that the small fans attach to. I see in your pic you reused it and at first I just allowed the metal cross bracing to hold them in but they were rubbing against the blades. I just cut out a larger opening for each fan (which you did) and it provides enough spacing to keep anything from touching. Works great! Lots of flow, and once you're driving you can't hear it running.
I'll post some pics in a while.
One important thing to remember, don't discard the grey fabric piece that the small fans attach to. I see in your pic you reused it and at first I just allowed the metal cross bracing to hold them in but they were rubbing against the blades. I just cut out a larger opening for each fan (which you did) and it provides enough spacing to keep anything from touching. Works great! Lots of flow, and once you're driving you can't hear it running.
I'll post some pics in a while.
#31
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Nice work! There has to be a fan that fits better so there no cutting needed that also has a higher CFM/flow.
Here's a tip to truly cool the bottom cushion. After the fan mod cut a 3 inch diameter hole in the top of the plastic vent that's under the seat/carpet which is there to heat/cool the feet of the back seat passenger. Then get some foam and plug up the rear facing openings. When you run the AC set it to bilevel and the cold air that passes under the seat will shoot up and get sucked up by the fans directly into the seat bottom cushion. The shop foreman at our Cadillac dealership did this mod on a DTS and the cushion got so nice and chilled; everyone that tried the seat loved it!
Here's a tip to truly cool the bottom cushion. After the fan mod cut a 3 inch diameter hole in the top of the plastic vent that's under the seat/carpet which is there to heat/cool the feet of the back seat passenger. Then get some foam and plug up the rear facing openings. When you run the AC set it to bilevel and the cold air that passes under the seat will shoot up and get sucked up by the fans directly into the seat bottom cushion. The shop foreman at our Cadillac dealership did this mod on a DTS and the cushion got so nice and chilled; everyone that tried the seat loved it!
Last edited by RJC; 05-23-2012 at 08:42 PM.
#33
Super Member
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...I have a spare seat sitting in my garage that I should poke around on....
I should look under there and see what the fans look like.
BTW...anyone worried about actually removing a seat, it take about 10 minutes..maybe: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-2006-e55.html
I should look under there and see what the fans look like.
BTW...anyone worried about actually removing a seat, it take about 10 minutes..maybe: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-2006-e55.html
#36
Super Member
Probably won't do the bottom fans as it turns out, they're made of some sort of flexible housing - so that when fatty boombalatties sit in the seats they flex.
Would be hard to find replacements I think.
Hmmmm...but since I have a "no fat chicks" rule for my car, maybe I will.
Would be hard to find replacements I think.
Hmmmm...but since I have a "no fat chicks" rule for my car, maybe I will.
#41
Super Member
Fans arrived last night. Will dive into this this weekend - just in time as things are about to get hot as hell here in Atlanta.
#43
Super Member
Done! Took me about 2 1/2 hours I guess. The worst part is dremmeling the fans down. Makes a total mess! Other than that, pretty damn straight forward!
The fans are substantially louder than the stock ones (you can hear them if you have them on and the car isn't running...)...but guess what? YOU CAN ALSO FEEL THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great write up and thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!
The fans are substantially louder than the stock ones (you can hear them if you have them on and the car isn't running...)...but guess what? YOU CAN ALSO FEEL THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great write up and thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!
#45
Super Member
these should be like this from the factory, i have a 2012 cls, and with the fan speed on 3 i cant even tell i have ventilated seats... lower back still sweats...
Last edited by mainly; 06-10-2012 at 02:46 PM.
#46
Senior Member
Did the install today, thanks for a great write up and great install instructions. This upgrade works great especially for me since I use it almost everyday. I think I will pull apart the lower section sometime this week and try to figure out how to do the lower part of the seat.
#47
MBWorld Fanatic!
I upgraded my fans in the seat back a while ago, but never made any progress on the seat bottom.
I saw a good idea posted earlier which was to block the A/C vent on the floor under the seat and drill holes in the top of the vent housing. Theoretically, cold air from the A/C vent would be sucked up by the seat bottom fans, thus cooling your buttocks.
Tried it, but can't feel any difference. I think the bottom fans may pull air away from your body.
I saw a good idea posted earlier which was to block the A/C vent on the floor under the seat and drill holes in the top of the vent housing. Theoretically, cold air from the A/C vent would be sucked up by the seat bottom fans, thus cooling your buttocks.
Tried it, but can't feel any difference. I think the bottom fans may pull air away from your body.
#48
Out Of Control!!
I upgraded my fans in the seat back a while ago, but never made any progress on the seat bottom.
I saw a good idea posted earlier which was to block the A/C vent on the floor under the seat and drill holes in the top of the vent housing. Theoretically, cold air from the A/C vent would be sucked up by the seat bottom fans, thus cooling your buttocks.
Tried it, but can't feel any difference. I think the bottom fans may pull air away from your body.
I saw a good idea posted earlier which was to block the A/C vent on the floor under the seat and drill holes in the top of the vent housing. Theoretically, cold air from the A/C vent would be sucked up by the seat bottom fans, thus cooling your buttocks.
Tried it, but can't feel any difference. I think the bottom fans may pull air away from your body.
#49
MBWorld Fanatic!
Iinstead of cutting the fans with a dremel couldn't you simply cut a square instead of a circle in the back of the seat? Also, it appears that the fans you linked are 48CFM. Is it possible to install fans that have a higher flow rate? I'm sure if you look around there are fans that are dual ball bearing instead of brushless which will last longer and likely run more quietly thus allowing you to get higher CFM fans. Though I'm not sure if you have to stay within a certain current range.
Here's a sight for various fans, I don't work for them but have bought several products from them over the years; http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g36/Fans.html
Here's a sight for various fans, I don't work for them but have bought several products from them over the years; http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g36/Fans.html
#50
Member
Iinstead of cutting the fans with a dremel couldn't you simply cut a square instead of a circle in the back of the seat? Also, it appears that the fans you linked are 48CFM. Is it possible to install fans that have a higher flow rate? I'm sure if you look around there are fans that are dual ball bearing instead of brushless which will last longer and likely run more quietly thus allowing you to get higher CFM fans. Though I'm not sure if you have to stay within a certain current range.
Here's a sight for various fans, I don't work for them but have bought several products from them over the years; http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g36/Fans.html
Here's a sight for various fans, I don't work for them but have bought several products from them over the years; http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g36/Fans.html
Frozen CPU is awesome.