Seat pleats

[RAY]

Hi All,

Can someone remind me of the difference between the ' seat pleats ' of a 230/250 which i believe are the same and a 280 when i believe they changed and are they the same for all of the 280's

Thanks

Ray

[114015]

Oh well...,   

Marilyn Ray;
 In 2015 my humble me wrote an article on the differences of the Pagoda seats,
and that one was published sometime in 2016 in PagodaWorld.
You were already member back then - should have received that issue by then...
Don't you perhaps ....? 

Well,
basically...,
the difference on the seat pleats is mainly between 230/250 SL on the one side (basket weave pattern & fine structured MB-Tex) versus 280 SL (pinhole perforation on the pleats, coarser vinyl surface of the MB-Tex), but mainly with MB Tex.
The leather-equipped cars did not show these differences here.

Yes..., there is one more difference on the later 280 SL seats, both leather and MB-Tex.

[Citation on:]
In October 1969 (from serial no. 013417 onwards) the very last change on the 280 SL seats was introduced. [...] The pleats of the seat covers were now stitched together at the visible ends (i.e. below driver's knees and behind shoulder). No technical reason or requirement can be seen for this last change; it must be assumed that only vague optical reasons counted for this change. Interestingly, the hidden ends of the pleats where seat cushion and backrest cushion meet each other are not stitched together.
[/Citation off]

Best,
Achim

[johnk]

Interesting.

heritage leather makes a big point of saying that the end of the leather pleats should be stitched together. Is that not the case then?

John

[RAY]

Achim, I knew i,d seen it somewhere, just could not remember where.

Opened up Issue 18 and there it is, all the information anyone could ever want.

Many thanks

Ray

[johnk]

I don't have issue 18. Is there any way I can get that article? I need to get my leather ordered soon but want to make sure I am doing it right.

John

[Garry]

John,


Most back issues of Pagoda World are available to Full Members for $11 an issue.


https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11537.msg177366#msg177366

[Aaron h]

Interesting.

heritage leather makes a big point of saying that the end of the leather pleats should be stitched together. Is that not the case then?

John

If any pagoda is before serial number 013416 then no, that is not the case.  Any pagoda before that serial number would have open pleat ends that aren't sewn together.  Many places aren't aware of this change, or in some cases they are aware, but offer only one style of pleats to cut down on production costs. It's always more about the money than it is being cosmetically correct.  In these cases you simply ask for what you want.  If they won't work with you then go elsewhere. 

[johnk]

Thanks Aaron
They made it sound like they all should be pleated. Mine shouldnt be pleated as it’s an early 280 and I was curious why my MB text wasn’t.

[johnk]

John,


Most back issues of Pagoda World are available to Full Members for $11 an issue.

Thanks Gary. I will get one ordered!
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11537.msg177366#msg177366

[Aaron h]

Thanks Aaron
They made it sound like they all should be pleated. Mine shouldnt be pleated as it’s an early 280 and I was curious why my MB text wasn’t.

You're welcome, John!  Maybe kindly let Heritage know of this information so they'll be ahead of the game?  It's always awkward trying to figure out how to bring this type of information up in a diplomatic way to places like Heritage because a lot of places won't take the word of anyone else.   All we can do is try. 

[johnk]

Aaron
Along that line, what should I tell Heritage is the source of noting when they started tying the end of the pleats together?

[mbzse]

.../... a lot of places won't take the word of anyone else.   All we can do is try

He, he, Aaron, I'll quote myself:

One cannot expect an upholsterer/vendor to know what was original, so treat their recommendation accordingly....!

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=30283.msg219388#msg219388

Just to expand on this; what I mean is that vendors are businesses. It is not cost effective for them to dwelve into all the "nerdy" details. Further, perhaps they work with a wide selection of car models and car manufacturers. This means, the amount of data is just too much to handle.

[Aaron h]

You tell them that this is noted on this forum, and that there are pictures and VIN references to prove it.  Or, you could tell them that Aaron Householder said so.   

[johnk]

Will do!

Thanks