W210 estate - folding the rear seats

[alexspurs61]

Hi folks

Near (passenger side) rear seat catch which allows folding forward of the rear seat back appears to not work on mine. Pull the lever upwards and the red buton fails to pop as it does on the offside.

I'm reluctant to start tinkering about to much if it's an easy fix - or if I'm missing the 'knack'.

Any hints? Or is mine - to use the technical term - knackered?

Thanks as ever

 

[television]

We have had 4 cars in the last 5 months with this problem, our problem that no one come back with the answer. In most cases we asked the people to go to coachworks, cheaper than MB, and they are used to this sought of thing.
When you get an answer, Please come back and tell us.

Malcolm

 

[alexspurs61]

Rats! Will of course let you know how I get on Malcom; I was hoping the answer would be 'brute force and pig ignorance' which I'm sure I could rustle up

This would happen when I'm moving back into my house, wouldn't it? I'm looking longingly at the not-quite-useable enromours load area....

 

[pcman_jh]

Rear seat release

Not that I have the answer but if its any consolation I have this problem on my 99 E300TD. I was going to spray some WD40 down the gaps, but haven't got around to doing this yet.

I can get it to release but the force on the lever is uncomfortably high with me just waiting for it to go pop, or snap!

 

[alexspurs61]

Not that I have the answer but if its any consolation I have this problem on my 99 E300TD. I was going to spray some WD40 down the gaps, but haven't got around to doing this yet.

I can get it to release but the force on the lever is uncomfortably high with me just waiting for it to go pop, or snap!

I reckon the old WD40 might sort your issue pcman.

Unfortunately I think the spring has gone in mine; lever comes up but it's doing the square root of nothing!

Good luck with yours

 

[Sean Ng]

Hi Guys

Not 100% sure if the link below can resolve the issue but it may worth a go:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=189931&posts=4

Hope this will help somehow.

Regards
Sean

 

[alexspurs61]

Hi Guys

Not 100% sure if the link below can resolve the issue but it may worth a go:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=189931&posts=4

Hope this will help somehow.

Regards
Sean

Right. In a trail-blazing frame of mind, I shall get me Cats on tonight, lie in the boot, think very hard, put my ale down......and give the seat back an almighty boot.
I foresee three possible outcomes:
a) the whole bleedin' car falls apart; mine's a w210 rather than a 124 (see build quality issues passim) but HEY...someone's got to give it a go;
b) I end up in A&E with a busted ankle and no sympathy whatsoever;
c) it works and I start boasting about my technical expertise all over the forum.

I shall post a full report on my intrepid endeavours of course.......

 

[television]

The seat catches on the 210 are not the same as those on the124
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.626&CT=F&cat=65S&SID=92&SGR=015&SGN=01

Maybe the link will help, I see that a cable from the button goes to the lock in the center. with the half that does fold down, maybe you have access to the center cable.. with the squb removed maybe you can unbolt the whole thing.

Malcolm

 

[alexspurs61]

This is superbly helpful Malcolm...you've restrained me from my thuggery for a while at least.

That great Russian sit/forum again?....good stuff

 

[television]

This is superbly helpful Malcolm...you've restrained me from my thuggery for a while at least.

That great Russian sit/forum again?....good stuff

Its not always an ill wind that blows in from the East.

Malcolm

 

[Kallisti]

That benzworld link doesn't work for me - anyone got details that I can try? My driver side rear passenger seat won't "uncatch" - very annoying, can't even bring one half down because the dog-guard stops one from moving independently!

 

[hookedon210s]

I have tried posting to this query 2 times before this with no luck (does your computer reject Yanks out of hand?). Suffice it to say that I have recently performed this repair on my 2001 E320 Estate. Seat must fold forward since the entire seat back has to be removed from the vehicle and disassembled (upholstery, foam and all) to repair the problem. This is not a quick job (it took me about 4 hours in part due to the assinine WIS instructions) but I am glad that I attempted it and completed it. Now the seat back folds forward like a champ. Mark

 

[Dom320]

Add another rear seat that won't fold on a W210 to the list!!

How did you get the seat down in the first place in order to repair it??

You can say one thing for these W210's at least they are consistant!

Dom.

 

[WPR]

This is superbly helpful Malcolm...you've restrained me from my thuggery for a while at least.

That great Russian sit/forum again?....good stuff

I've got the same problem with my W210. Did you manage to free the locking mechanism in the end? V.interested to know how you got on and what advice you can give!

Thanks

 

[alexspurs61]

I've got the same problem with my W210. Did you manage to free the locking mechanism in the end? V.interested to know how you got on and what advice you can give!

Thanks

6 x 15 bottles of champers went straight in on the boot floor with no bother! Sorry guys, I've been really flat out dealing with a wedding - not mine: been there, done that - so haven't got round to implementing all the excellent advice. I feel bad, no really I do.....I'll be using the diagram from the Russian website anyway.

Seriously, I'll be getting round to it later this month hopefully. At least it shouldn't cost me, whereas the head gasket job.......:-|

 

[WPR]

Found this after a trawl through the forum threads.

I'm going to have go with this approach over the coming weekend.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

mercury
Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: chorley
Posts: 21

w210 rear seat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi guys
Problem solved at last-as follows:-
1) Removed cover to rear storage box by removing 6no hinge screws.
2) Removed 2no screws securing wooden platform (behind hinges)
3) Removed 2no bolts that secure backrests to body.
4) Pulled out defective backrest.
5) Removed plastic cover on mechanism (snapped off 2no securing pins so used a screw to re-assemble).
6) Discovered that the control cable had unscrewed from the mechanism so re-connected this and locked the nut tight. This connection is similar to that used on bicycle gear cables (hub type).
7) Re-assembled and hey presto all OK.

Hope this is of use to others with a similar defect.

NB. The mechanism is very different to that on the 124 as all the working parts on the 210 are hidden inside the seat back and are not accessible with the seat back in position.
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[WPR]

w210 - E class estate rear seat catach release repair

If anyone's interested I've successfully done this without removing the seats.

It's not a difficult job.

I had to replace the n/s rear catch release mechanism on my E class estate (2001 reg). The new catch cost £18 from my local main dealer and in it took me probably 2 hrs total time to remove and refit. However I would guess that next time round (I hope not though !) it would take half that time.

 

[television]

If you look at this piece it may help
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=97445#post97445

There is no other way.

Malcolm

 

[Sean Ng]

Found this after a trawl through the forum threads.

I'm going to have go with this approach over the coming weekend.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

mercury
Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: chorley
Posts: 21

w210 rear seat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi guys
Problem solved at last-as follows:-
1) Removed cover to rear storage box by removing 6no hinge screws.
2) Removed 2no screws securing wooden platform (behind hinges)
3) Removed 2no bolts that secure backrests to body.
4) Pulled out defective backrest.
5) Removed plastic cover on mechanism (snapped off 2no securing pins so used a screw to re-assemble).
6) Discovered that the control cable had unscrewed from the mechanism so re-connected this and locked the nut tight. This connection is similar to that used on bicycle gear cables (hub type).
7) Re-assembled and hey presto all OK.

Hope this is of use to others with a similar defect.

NB. The mechanism is very different to that on the 124 as all the working parts on the 210 are hidden inside the seat back and are not accessible with the seat back in position.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi WPR

So good to see you resolve the n/s catch release mechanism and have listed down the procedure. However, as a junior DIYer, I wonder if you can elaborate the procedure so that I can understand how to fix mine. If possible, availability of photos will be better.

Regards
Sean Ng

 

[WPR]

Sean,

can't supply photo's as I've done the job now - must remember to do this if there's a next time.

Background
*********
2001 E class estate.

n/side rear seat catch (the 2x seat one) broke. When I pulled the lever up nothing. WD40 failed to make any difference.

I guess that the procedure below would also work on the o/side catch too.

Procedure
*******
Remove all 3x headrests

Drop down o/side rear seat.

lift up the bottom part of the rear seat (as if in preparation for the seat back to fold down on to).

(V.carefully) prise up 4x plastic sleeve inserts that the headrests locate into. I used a large/long flat bladed screwdriver. If the inserts get damaged replacements are available from dealers

(V.carefully) prise up and remove the long plastic capping strip that covers the length of the top of the seat. This is held in place by catches moulded into the underside of the strip so go carefully when you're prising it up. You'll find access slots over a few of the clips to assist in releasing them. Remove the centre seat belt through the slot in the capping strip.

At the extreme edges of the seatback (the bit in the rear load space) there is a small channel into which is tucked the ends of both the carpet on the seatback and the leather edging of the seat covering. Discover this using a small flat bladed screwdriver and ease out the carpet and the leather (The leather is edged with stiff card/plastic which will need to be kept intact to ensure the leather can be refitted in the groove when it comes to reassembly - note how the plastic strip is folded back on itself to keep the tension in the fixing. You should only need to remove the leather from the groove along the top and side of the seatback.

Leaning on the seat to depress the wadding will take the tension away and helps in removing the leather from the groove. This is also a useful tip to remember when reassembling the seat.

Having freed the leather from the retaining groove you should now be able to peel the leather and foam away from the seat back and reveal the lock mechanism at the top right of the seat.

Observe how the mechanism works and what it connects to (or should do)
I had to replace the whole mechanism and it was a bit of a fiddle reconnecting the rod and the cable.

The lever activates 2 lock openers; 1 is a rod mechanism that opens the main lock over the wheel arch the other is a cable mechanism which releases a lock on the hinge at the other side of the seat (in the centre of the car)

Pushing the rod DOWN will release the main lock via another mechanism located lower down on the seatback. Pulling the cable will release the centre lock. When both locks have been released the seat will then go down - if you've got the loadspace cover/net 'roller-blind' assembly then remove this for now. Once down I covered the hasp on the wheel arch with an old rag to prevent the mechanisn relocking inadvertently - you may need to raise the seat back occasionally when mending the mechanism

Remove the lever mechanism by unscrewing the 3(could be 4) retaining screws.

I found that the cable can be easily released from the centre hinge lock by removing the plastic cover trim strip on the exposed vertical side of the seat. The cable is screwed into the mechanism and can be easily released (and reconnected) this will give extra length in the cable which will be needed when reconnecting the other end of the cable to the main, lever mechanism.

Replace/repair and reassemble the lever mechanism.

Re-attach lever mechanism to seat back. CHECK IT WORKS PROPERLY AND ADJUST IF NECESSARY!!!

Reattach cable to centre lock mechanism and replace plastic trim covering.

Carefully, using a small flat bladed screwdriver where necessary, re insert the seat leather edging strip into groove (leaning on the wadding will give slack to the leather and remove the tension)

Re insert carpet edging into groove on seatback .

Replace plactic trim on top of seat back - feeding centre belt through the access slot.

Re insert 4x head rest liner tubes making sure to insert the 2x locking ones correctly in the right-hand of each pair of holes and that all are correctly orientated to fit snugly on the capping strip.

Re insert all 3x headrest.

Re attach rear loadspace cover 'roller-blind' assembly if desired

Raise rear left seat to upright position and fold flat the horizontal section.

Raise right seat into upright position and fold flat horizontal section.

Raise arms in triumph and tell wife you ARE the greatest man that ever walked the planet. Insist on showing all your family, friends, neighbours passing strangers etc the miracle you have just performed.

Feel smug all day and drink lots of beer/wine that evening.

Best of luck - if you follow your nose you can't go far wrong. Let us all know how you get on.


Regards

Will.