250SL seat patterns wanted

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Guys,
I am looking for 250SL seat patterns, drawings or old seat covers to use as a pattern.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[Pastarnac]

I doubt you can get something like this. Maybe somebody has an old set around.

They are pretty intricate, you must be really committed to do it yourself.

In US we buy these covers ready made from companies like this one: https://www.germanautotops.com/product/mercedes-benz-w113-1963-1971-230sl-250sl-280sl-front-seat-covers-vinyl/

[Klaus Pieper]

Hi Chris,

I have a set of used, but not original, loose leather seat covers from a late 230 SL.  I don't know if the seat shape of the 230 SL and 250 SL are the same or not.

Regards,
Klaus

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Gents, thanks for your replies.
Pasternac,
I realise that the best option would be to purchase a complete upholstery kit and have it fitted by professionals. Unfortunately, my car is not nice enough to warrant the expense. 600US, plus shipping, plus import duties, plus VAT and exchange rate is a huge amount of money in this part of the world. But point taken, thanks. I have already bought the leather and my upholsterer insist that I supply detailed patters or an old sample, before he will commit. The worn leather seat covers on my Pagoda are not original and reminds me of poorly replicated 190SL seat covers.

Klaus,
Thank you for the offer. I assume you have new covers fitted in your car.
Although the old loose covers are not original, are the patterns and the flutes the correct shape and dimensions of your new covers and of the originals. In other words, do you think that my upholsterer will be able to use your old covers, in order to replicate the originals?
The upholsterer and I know exactly what they should look like, but he wants the exact details, which I can understand and appreciate.
Would it be possible to send me one of the covers. I will gladly reimburse you the postage and return the covers.
The late 230 SL seat shapes are probably the same as the early 250SL. If not, he can use the shape of my covers and the flutes of yours.
Regards
Chris
cfm65@me.com

[114015]

Very late 230 seats and 250/280 seats have the same "shape" and technical specs...; however, there are some differences with the Vinyl though. But not between 230 and 250.


Hello Chris,
If you haven't found a solution yet
please contact me off-line...; I might be able to help out a bit...

Best,
Achim

[Klaus Pieper]

Hi Chris, if you would like, give me a ring on 083 256 55 88 and we can discuss.

Regards, Klaus

[SEB]

Hello Gentlemen,
May I use the possibility and have a question related to the seats? Am I right that there were at least two shapes of the backrests? One for the 230/250 were thin? And  the second for the 280SL with thick backrests - so you can mount a headrest? Many thanks! Sebastian

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Seb,
I believe you are correct.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[SEB]

Hi Chris!
Many thanks! I am not familiar with the seats. So do you know, in case of an upgrade in the future, if I need to change the whole seat or only the backrest to install the headrest?

[cfm65@me.com]

Seb,
Many years ago I fitted headrests to the seats of my 220SE Cabrio. I think they came out of a 114/5, they looked great and worked fine. I think the early Pagoda seats are think enough to fit headrests without going to the thicker 280 seat backs. However I stand corrected.
Regards
Chris

[114015]

Hi Chris!
Many thanks! I am not familiar with the seats. So do you know, in case of an upgrade in the future, if I need to change the whole seat or only the backrest to install the headrest?

Hallo Sebastian,

Greetings to Berlin.
Well, to your question..., no problem for your 1967 2250 SL at all. You can (pretty) easily retrofit headrests to your seats.
Basically, there were quite some technical changes to the Pagoda seats, which were all performed without exemption  on the 230 SL seats..... with the thicker backrest being introduced during the late 017000 serial numbers.

Thus, technically - but not with regards to the MB Tex seat covers - all seats from late 230 onward were identical (280ies had a coarser grain on the MB-Tex though).
Nevertheless, all Pagoda seats can be retrofitted with headrests, although it is a very little bit more tricky on the narrow seat backs of the earlier 230ies, but not much.
You can use the rails from the W114/115/116 donor cars (don't know about W123....) but those need to be a bit shortened by about a couple of centimeters. The headrests themselves are the bigger problem. Although all the ones between 1968 and about 1978 fit our cars, the different series do look different and will look strange in the Pagoda if you don't use the correct ones. Only the headrests until 04/1972 are correct, the ones with the "earholes" in the sides.

There was an article on the differences of the seats some years ago in PagodaWorld. I believe in 2015 or 2016 - but I do not prorerly remember. You may want to ask our editor (JonnyB.) whether there are reprints left or not.

Good luck - schaffste schon! 

Achim
(230 with retrofitted headrests)

[SEB]

Hallo Achim!
Really many thanks for this detailed explanation. I have the feeling, that my backrest are not so thick like the other one, but I have to check it again. For sure I will start to look for some W115/W116 donor cars to get the necessary parts.
Many thanks and best wishes!
Sebastian

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Guys,
I managed to borrow a used seat cover locally, which helped me a great deal. I have since returned the cover to it’s rightful owner. Thanks Klaus, much appreciated.
Thank you for your input guys.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town