bobafett

So, I was thinking of ordering all of the replacement parts for the rear seats from an E350 wagon, then swapping them into the E63. Anyone tried it before? Any logistics reasons why this wouldn't work? Seems to me that once you've pulled all of the spare tire parts out including the well, you can simply drop in and replace all the parts as they should bolt up perfectly. Only things that might be of issue are exhaust (easy to re-route / fab) and possibly suspension (unsure).

Thoughts? Looking for answers about logistics.

Best,

--Dan

hyperion667

don't know the answer, but I have a sweet autographed
picture of BobaFett....by Jeremy Bullock, the dude that played him

mhh

I don't need it personally, but is there even room for it? I imagined the floor pressing was somehow different but perhaps not.. The belt housings might be tricky but someone should give it a go.

bobafett

I guess I'll be the guinea pig. I have to imagine that the E350 wagon chassis and the E63 wagon chassis are the same. Everything should bolt in perfectly as far as I can tell, but no one seems to have pulled one apart enough to give me a definitive answer.

Any one else?

--Dan

PS: Hyperion - that is AWESOME

otakki

Having the third row seat will increase the utility and totally increase the wagon's appeal to me, as it is more useful than the standard pano which I hate.

Well, somebody's gotta do it. It looks like it will be you. If it does work, then I wonder what's MB's rationale for making the it unavailable.

Snipe656

I thought I read somewhere that they stated it could not or was not done because of interference with the exhaust.

otakki

I remember reading that as well. I believe that was the reason given by MB.

bobafett

Good to know, thanks. Any thoughts on the source? If it's just the exhaust, that's awesome. I'm sure my guys can fab up some kind of alternative routing or solution. Probably start by looking under an E350 with the seats and then compare.

--Dan

Snipe656

Sorry but I don't recall where I read it. I left reading it with the impression the car was notched for the AMG exhaust and therefore the seats could not physically fit. I hope I am wrong on that but if I am wrong then I question Mercedes's wisdom in not allowing the third seats since to me that is a big benifit to having a wagon.

mhh

I wouldn't call that an easy fix. The only reason the exhaust routing would be a problem to the seat fitment is because it has presumably affected the rear pressing which houses the spare wheel. Having to remodel factory bodywork and fit a different exhaust system? You'd be better off choose a different car, IMO.

bobafett

Right, but it can't be too radical a change given that there's a factory version. My guess is one side is an issue, but it's a superficial one at best. After all, the E350 exhaust routes in similarly on one side. It's unlikely that there'll be something asymmetrical in the seat pressing. I don't think the techs will have to do anything in terms of bodywork, simply plumbing.

Unfortunately, there's nothing close to a fast 6/7 seater out here. We don't even have any 'utes. As factory options go, the MB63 is the best wagon on the market. There's a factory MB wagon with the rear seats - so this seems simplest to me. A very simple project.

If you've got any suggestions on alternatives, I'm all ears.

--Dan

Snipe656

Does the ML63 have a third row seating option?

I highly doubt that the E63 Wagon is going to have "superficial" reasons as to why no third "row" seating option exists in it over it's sister models(E350). But perhaps I am wrong and MBZ was just being boneheads to not go through some simple task to offer such a highly desirable thing.

CanuckRRS

i would imagine the seat belt anchors are also an issue..... I wouldn't be brave enough to start cutting up/welding steel in the trunk area while the car still has a warranty!

As disappointed as we all are about the missing back seats, I'm sure no one wants to risk their kid's life by inserting seats that were cut up and made to fit, that MB took out for a reason!

Derek@MACAutoCouture

I'd imagine the rear pans will be completely different. Sometimes these are bolt in, often spot welded. When my wagon arrives I'll put it on a lift for you.

otakki

I would rather MB had put in thinner profile and narrower 3rd row folding seat than no seat at all.

Snipe656

Isn't the "3rd row" seats on the non AMG wagon just two very small jump seats in the very back of the car that allows small children to watch cars approaching from the rear of the car? I remember looking at it on a wagon at the dealer a couple years ago but my memory could be wrong. From what I remember I could not imagine something smaller being of much use to even kids.

otakki

Yes, that is correct. But I figure a slimmer and narrower seat could be useful just in case someone needs a short distance lift somewhere, where discomfort will only be a short while.

mhh

We have the rear seat in our '04 E500. Our 14 year old can just squeeze in there with a friend for party pickups, but it really isn't made for it. Her taller buddies would rather walk.

Snipe656

Wonder which is easier: buy an E500 and modify it for performance or buy an E63 and modify it for the extra seats ....

bobafett

Good points, all. Thanks Derek - that's a possibility. Would you be able to reference a standard E wagon for comparison's sake?

Frankly they won't see any use outside of drunken frat buddies on short runs when I'm on DD duty or the occasionally uncomfortable airport run (I'm 30 - I better not have any kids). I wouldn't dare put someone else's kid back there (for fear of trauma, staring at cars barreling down at you if nothing else). Frat buddies or friends from med school? Yeah, world can do with fewer of both ;-)

I guess the biggest thing is I find the stupid temp wheels to be absolutely useless (nowhere in my use-profile would it be conceivably of benefit), so if I can do some work to find something of value to replace it, why not? They seem very slim to me, we'll see.

Snipe: I have to imagine that starting with an E350 4matic (only other W212S available) and trying to make it an E63 is going to cost more than an E63 itself. Even if we went "by the book" and had to drill or potentially spot-weld and cut up / modify parts, that'll run 10-15k tops.

--Dan

Snipe656

When I made that comment I thought they sold an E550 Wagon but looked just now and see they do not. If they did then I'd figured making an E550 faster than stock would not be some major undertaking.

As far as seats for frat buddies, have you tried to get an adult into those rear seats in the E wagons? I could not imagine it being possible, the things are tiny.

xxGenericSNxx

Get the 2013 GL63.

1 minor detail is that the quality of the leather on an E350 is different grade than the nappa leather on the E63. Assuming the third row option in the European E63 doesn't exist, then you're stuck with mismatching leather seats which to me would be kind of annoying.

If you get one of these, are you not considering the R63 anymore?

Snipe656

I thought the R63 has not been made in awhile. I was on the AMG site the other day and did not see it or a GL63 for that matter. I also saw no 3rd row option for the ML.

xxGenericSNxx

1. R63 was only made in 2007. So that option would be if the OP doesn't mind buying pre-owned (which he has expressed in the past is not an issue).

2. GL63 is coming out Q1 2013 after the new style X166 GL is launched at the end of this year.

3. No third row option available on the ML63 and none foreseeable in the near future.

otakki

And the R series is one of the most problematic cars in the MB line-up. Thus the R is probably not a good path to head into.