identify seats

[drewsalisbury]

Are there any part numbers or id codes on the seats for our cars?  I would like to verify a pair of seats to be correct for a 1965 230sl.  Should be 'skinny backs'?  If there aren't any identifiers, can someone provide a few detail photo images?
Also, can these seats be knocked down to facilitate shipping?
Thank you, and Happy Holidays to all!
Drew Salisbury

[rwmastel]

Drew,

I don't think there are any codes on the seats, at least I've never heard of that.  The only thing I've heard of is on factory original seat material (and other matierals) one member found the build number.  Could you provide pictures of the seats in question?  Then we can comment on their correctness for a particular VIN.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[A Dalton]

You can tell the early .042  seats by the outer panel on the bottom cushion.  The early ones are straight and the later have a large curve
 on the outside panel [ next to door panel] that tapers back in at the mating with the back-rest cushion.
 Also, if they are Tex, they should have Basket Weave inner panels...
 not Pin Cushion  [ .044 series]

[n/a]

On a 1970 Euro model, with leather seats, does the insert use a pin-cushion material, or is it the same as the rest of the seat? Also I have been sent two types of leather, one with a grain showing, and one without grain. Which one was correct?

[114015]

Hello Drew,

there are lots of little differences with the seats indeed.
Arthur is right, the first (about) 2000 230ies had slightly different seat cushions where the left and right one are identical and not like left and right hand.
Also the backrest changed around VIN 012466 form "skinnier" (= flatter, not as thick) to later style. Also the mounting hardware between cushion and backrest changed including the chrome parts and the black backrest adjusting wheels - and many more very little details.

Rodd is right, a picture of yours would really help. From when is your car? 1965? When was it built, in 1964 or early 1965? If it has a serial no. befor 012466 (the last number before the big change in 230 production - adaptation to newer 250 S/SE sedan series), the back rests should be flatter.

And ah yes, you can find a "date" of production or something like that.
If you remove the rear panel of the seat - the one with the carpet on it (which was always the same as the rest of the carpet!!!) you can see the horse-hair upholstery (well, it's synthetic, no horsehair, rubber only) and often there you can find a little 2 x 4 inch sized paper label with the manufacturer of the padding (Emil Hauenschild, Hamburg or Fehrer (forgot what city they were)) together with the DaimlerChrysler spare part number of this cushion. The same is true for the seat cushion. But often these labels are already missing.

Please send us your picture for further details.

All the best,

Achim
(original seats, rotten leather, original two-tone carpet panels)

[114015]

Hello SD280,

does your car already have factory leather interior? Then you can see perfectly what kind of grain the leather should have. The original leather has "some" grain but not much. Also, when new it is pretty flat, not glossy - perhaps satin-like. Only with age it shows the beloved slightly glossy appearance - the wear, this slight form of patina which looks best to our cars interior.

The inserts of the seats, the pipes, on any 280 SL with leather seats are perforated with the same basket weave pattern that 230ies (and 250ies) use. This is different from the pinpoint hole pattern that 280's MB Tex seats have.

Douglas' SL has original (and  very beautiful) leather seats. He is certainly willing to upload a good pic for you/us. I don't have one by hands right now, sorry.  

All the best,

Achim
(113042 Euro, 573G 040G, 201)