I spent many hours trying to remove the front seats. I could not get to the front bolts. Found out the up/down mechanism was stuck part way. Rust had invaded the track. Oil loosened it up. I then removed a dime from the track and it magically moved all the way back to expose the front bolt heads. I hope you have better luck...that dime probably fell in there 20 years ago...drove me crazy
The "two 10 millimeter bolts at the rear of the rails" are accessible ONLY if the "height adjustment" (and, indeed, the driver's side seat in the video shown has such a seat) is elevated to at-or-near the uppermost position. Mine was stuck for 30 years, so I never knew this secondary position (height) was adjustable. My passenger-side seat lacks the height adjustment, as does the seat example given in my Haynes Manual. In such cases, the 10 mm bolts, at rear of rails, are easily accessed.
I was able to get the rear bolts out no problem. I can't get the seat tracks to slide far enough back, even with the seat elevated to its top position, to uncover the FRONT bolts. Weird. BTW-I didn't know what the second lever did either had this car for at least 25 years...haha!
Thanks but we wanted to see you wrestle your seat out of the car! I just pulled out my W126 front seats to clean the carpets. I have to admit it was pretty tough.
Well, it wouldn't have been entirely 1:1. I've owned and worked on W126 cars in the past. Part of the difficulty is that the W126 power seats are significantly heavier than the W123 non-power seats. Besides, I often result to complex geometry and contortions to remove these front seats from the car. It can be done, but I don't know what the official, factory-approved, best way to lift them out of the car is. Glad you got it done, though. Thanks for watching.
@@MercedesDieselGuy Good to know. They are heavy and the electrical plugs fall apart (male end) and then lining up the bolt holes and then the chore of getting the rear bolts in where there is no clearance. Then the seat belt rail. Getting grease on upholstery and breaking plastic trim pieces on seat. Oh well it's done and I hopefully wont have to do it for a while. :)
+Denise Petersen The seatbelt sensor wire is plugged in under the driver's seat. You need to disconnect that connector once you have the bolts removed. THEN you should be able to get the seat out.
Tim Archibald Are you talking about the plastic trim on the lower sides? If so, then you probably need to take the seat out of the car. It pretty much just pulls straight off the seat. Be forewarned that after 30-38 years, depending on the age of the W123 you're working with, the trim will likely be brittle. It's likely to crack and mounting tabs may break off. It may not be avoidable. Best of luck.
MercedesDieselGuy I got them off! Not one broke! One last question, I am installing new carpeting and I think I know how to remove the black center console to get to the carpet that goes up inside it, but I am not seeing how to remove the track that lines the area where you get into the car. Do you know how to get these off? The carpet goes underneath it and it stretches from front door to back door. I see a little piece of plastic trim that is held by one screw that it also goes through. Anywho, any pointers will help! Thank you
Tim Archibald Hey there, Tim. It sounds like you're talking about the door sill plates. If so, they're just clipped on. Pull straight up to remove them. Simple as that.
I spent many hours trying to remove the front seats. I could not get to the front bolts. Found out the up/down mechanism was stuck part way. Rust had invaded the track. Oil loosened it up. I then removed a dime from the track and it magically moved all the way back to expose the front bolt heads. I hope you have better luck...that dime probably fell in there 20 years ago...drove me crazy
Thanks for watching. That's the plan. Trying to document as much of this car as I can upon teardown.
The "two 10 millimeter bolts at the rear of the rails" are accessible ONLY if the "height adjustment" (and, indeed, the driver's side seat in the video shown has such a seat) is elevated to at-or-near the uppermost position. Mine was stuck for 30 years, so I never knew this secondary position (height) was adjustable.
My passenger-side seat lacks the height adjustment, as does the seat example given in my Haynes Manual. In such cases, the 10 mm bolts, at rear of rails, are easily accessed.
LOL me either. Had mine for 3 years had no clue
I was able to get the rear bolts out no problem. I can't get the seat tracks to slide far enough back, even with the seat elevated to its top position, to uncover the FRONT bolts. Weird.
BTW-I didn't know what the second lever did either had this car for at least 25 years...haha!
Keep putting stuff like this up! :)
Thanks bro!
0:51 not on the older models, you can only move forwards or backwards. I've got a w123 from early 1976.
Good to know. These seats were in a 1979 model year W123. If yours is a 1976, where do you live? The US didn't get the W123 until model year 1977.
Thanks but we wanted to see you wrestle your seat out of the car! I just pulled out my W126 front seats to clean the carpets. I have to admit it was pretty tough.
Well, it wouldn't have been entirely 1:1. I've owned and worked on W126 cars in the past. Part of the difficulty is that the W126 power seats are significantly heavier than the W123 non-power seats.
Besides, I often result to complex geometry and contortions to remove these front seats from the car. It can be done, but I don't know what the official, factory-approved, best way to lift them out of the car is. Glad you got it done, though. Thanks for watching.
@@MercedesDieselGuy Good to know. They are heavy and the electrical plugs fall apart (male end) and then lining up the bolt holes and then the chore of getting the rear bolts in where there is no clearance. Then the seat belt rail. Getting grease on upholstery and breaking plastic trim pieces on seat. Oh well it's done and I hopefully wont have to do it for a while. :)
Any chance there are bolts in the middle because I still can't get the driver seat out of my 83 W123
+Denise Petersen There are definitely no bolts in the middle.
Weird because I cant get the drivers seat out. Seems to be stuck or something.
+Denise Petersen The seatbelt sensor wire is plugged in under the driver's seat. You need to disconnect that connector once you have the bolts removed. THEN you should be able to get the seat out.
Denise Petersen I also have the same problem and can't get it out
Any idea how to take the seat trim off?
Tim Archibald Are you talking about the plastic trim on the lower sides? If so, then you probably need to take the seat out of the car. It pretty much just pulls straight off the seat. Be forewarned that after 30-38 years, depending on the age of the W123 you're working with, the trim will likely be brittle. It's likely to crack and mounting tabs may break off. It may not be avoidable. Best of luck.
MercedesDieselGuy I got them off! Not one broke! One last question, I am installing new carpeting and I think I know how to remove the black center console to get to the carpet that goes up inside it, but I am not seeing how to remove the track that lines the area where you get into the car. Do you know how to get these off? The carpet goes underneath it and it stretches from front door to back door. I see a little piece of plastic trim that is held by one screw that it also goes through. Anywho, any pointers will help! Thank you
Tim Archibald Hey there, Tim. It sounds like you're talking about the door sill plates. If so, they're just clipped on. Pull straight up to remove them. Simple as that.
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Anyone know how to remove a pedal rack?
Offhand, I don't recall it being difficult. It's far easier with the dashboard out. But, I really don't remember the details of the job.