foam or "horse hair" seat pads

[merrill]

in the next month or so I will be re covering my seats with MB tex.

I will need to replace the seat pads.   I currently have foam and one is damaged.

Both types are available and depending on were you source them the prices are comparable.....

any recommendations would be appreciated.

matt

[mrfatboy]

I just replaced my seatpads with Mercedes horse hair pads ($200 each) with new MB Tex.  Fits and looks nice.  I have heard so so results with foam.

[doitwright]

I already purchased foam replacements from a company in Germany. I know most of the interior suppliers are leaning toward foam. If originality is top priority, you do not have much of a choice.

Looking at how my original horsehair pads deteriorated (foam may deteriorate also after 45 years) the foam pads seemed a good choice. I have not installed mine yet because of indecision on my new leather.

[specracer]

I just ordered new leather from GAT, have my fingers crossed the pads are good enough. Will see when I get the old leather off over the next couple weeks. Seems crazy that the pads are more valuable then the leather covers.

[bjudd]

I put memory foam over the compressed horsehair and I am very happy with the support and comfort. I put a bit extra in the lumbar area and it doesn't show as a bulge, but definitely adds support for the lower back.

[kampala]

Bjudd,

Sounds interesting.  Would you know the thickness of the memory foam or a spec?  Any photos showing it with the horse hair pad?   

Would appreciate any more info.

Thanks

[Shvegel]

I think the horsehair is stiffer and would hold up better at the edges of the seat where there is less support from below.

[teahead]

My upholsterer really prefers foam over horsehair.

Anyone know of an outfit that sells it besides these guys (who never answers my emails on whether they can ship to the USA):

https://cabrio-shop.gambiocloud.com/product-121.html

[zak]

 I had my MB Tex seat covers and carpeting replaced last year by a very reputable and expensive restoration shop - Paterek Brothers in Chatham NJ. The seat covers and carpet set came from GAT.
They did the seats first and everyone agreed that the  old smooth, but deteriorating  tex material was original to the car. After removing the seat covers they found the original seat pads were in decent condition and not rotted, just soft in areas especially the drivers seat. The advise I got from Paterek was to firm and stiffen up the pads with foam in certain areas and re-create those nice firm corners. They could make the seats as firm as I wanted. I took their advise and am very happy with their work and the way it turned out.

BTW, they told me that the original pads are not horsehair, but are in fact coconut husks with some sort of glue to bind, mold and shape the pads. 
Has anyone heard of this ?

jz

[lreppond]

You are correct.   The seats pads are made of shredded coconut fiber bonded together with glue. It’s definitely NOT horsehair!  Horsehair stuffing, though still available is seldom used as an upholstery stuffing.  Hogs hair is more common but only in very high end pieces. 

Shredded coconut fiber is  stable and won’t turn lumpy or solidify and decompose as quickly as foam does.  Foam is cheaper and more easily handled and therefore many upholstery shops prefer using it. 

Most w113 owners drive their cars sparingly.  As such, either stuffing material or a combination of the two should give many years of satisfactory performance. 

[Lorsar]

Teahead,  Authentic Classics has the foam pads

[teahead]

Teahead,  Authentic Classics has the foam pads

Awesome!

https://www.authenticclassics.com/Left-side-Seat-Cushion-Mercedes-230SL-250SL-280SL-p/auth-009865.htm

[lowpad]

Zak,

Where did you find the original "smooth" MB-Tex covers? I see many early cars incorrectly refitted with the later elephant-grain covers (including one from the Classic Center, no less). Several years ago, I redid my seats with new springs and pads a few years ago and the seats turned out great, but now the covers are showing a bit of wear (not bad for nearly 60 years of use...) and I'm thinking about new ones.

Thanks,

Lowell

[zak]

Lowell, I bought my MB Tex seat covers from GAT about 2 years ago. ( GAT has been since purchased by GAHH , but still operate).  They had both smooth and grained tex. 
I was well satisfied with the quality.
They will send you samples.

jz

[teahead]

Well...I bought the foam pad.

Guess what...it's actually horsehair (ok, coconut husk) w/a foam wrap!

[lreppond]

Well...I bought the foam pad.

Guess what...it's actually horsehair (ok, coconut husk) w/a foam wrap!

I bet these are going to be very comfortable!  After you get them installed, please report back. 

[teahead]

Will do.

My seat guy not fond of using pool noodles and wire tires to fix the sagging spring problem.   Will be interesting what he comes up w/a solution for that.

[Jack the Knife]

Will do.

My seat guy not fond of using pool noodles and wire tires to fix the sagging spring problem.   Will be interesting what he comes up w/a solution for that.

Hey Rob. My seats are killing me. They creak like an old cushion sitting in a sunroom for 60 years. I need to do something. Looking forward to how comfortable you/your wife find the seats when they're done.

[teahead]

Hey Rob. My seats are killing me. They creak like an old cushion sitting in a sunroom for 60 years. I need to do something. Looking forward to how comfortable you/your wife find the seats when they're done.

Try the pool noodles and zip ties (use the stainless steel ones; not plastic) trick first.

I mainly am having the driver's seat done is because something broke on the top side where a wire is sticking through the vinyl, so have no choice to redo the seat, so might as well figure out the sagging issue on the bottom.   Passenger's seat is pretty decent, but I'll try a noodle there on that one.