1955 to 1989 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Seat Cover/Upholstery Installation Instructions

To Order this product by Phone, Call (805) 921-0100 or (800) 222-9577, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm PST

The following information is supplied as a customer service guide only. World Upholstery & Trim recommends professional installation of all our products. No guarantees are granted with regards to the use of this guide.

Tools required:

• Phillips and Slotted Screwdriver
• Single-edged Razor Blade
• Hammer
• Contact Cement (Tube or Can)
• Curved Needle and Waxed Sewing Thread (For Older Seats)
• Scissors
• 2-3 Cofee Cans or similar (For Parts Storage)
• Hog Ring Pliers and Hog Rings
• Metric Sockets
• End-Wrench and Allen Wrench Sets
• 1-inch Paint Brush for spreading Glue

Additional parts not included that may be required:

• Cushion Seat Pad
• Backrest Seat Pad

Special Note: Many original Mercedes seats would have shrunk with age by this time. It you suspect this has happened to your seats and you do not wish to completely replace the horsehair pads, you will need some foam to build the old framework up to its original size . A few yards of 1/4" or 1/2" polyfoam from an upholstery supply house should be adequate. You will need to glue the foam onto the bolsters before installing the cushion and backrest cover.

General Preparations:

1. Do not begin this job until you know you have sufficient time to finish. It is wise to allow a full weekend for recovering your seats.
2. Work in a well-lighted, well-ventilated, neat area where you will not be interrupted. A work-bench and a stool are the only furnishings you’ll need.
3. Set out all the tools in a space where you can reach them and also keep track of them.
4. Re-upholstering seats are essentially a matter of removing the old covers and installing the new ones. Theoretically installing a seat cover only requires you to follow the same steps as removing it - only in reverse. The following instructions will take you through this process, step-by-step.

Disassembly of the Seats:

1. Using metric sockets and end wrenches remove seats from car:
   1. Mercedes seats are generally held in by 10 mm (x4) hex head bolts located inside the tracks.
   2. Slide the seat forward to get at the rear bolts, backward to get at the front bolts.
   3. If the bolts will not turn they may be seized in their threaded receptacles in the floor boards. Soak thoroughly with Liquid Wrench or WD-40.
   4. If this fails to loosen seized bolts, you may need to apply heat. Beware of the extreme fire hazard.
2. After you have removed the seats from the car, place one seat aside so you can use it as reference.
3. Remove the side hardware from the other seat noting the spacers and other attachments. You will need a large Phillips screwdriver to remove the chrome-plated screws on early seats. Later seats require metric wrenches.

Cushion Cover Removal:

1. Set backrest aside and begin work on cushion.
2. Turn cushion up-side-down and compress springs. You may need to place cushion upside-down on floor and kneel on underside.
3. Gently pry leather and cardboard out of the channel running around the perimeter of the cushion.
4. Turn cushion right-side-up and pull skirting upward so as to expose springs. It may be necessary to cut some of the hand stitching at the rear corners. Use a fresh single-edged razor blade.
5. Once the springs are exposed and the skirting is pulled up over the top of the cushion, you will see how the top of the cover is affixed to the cushion. There will be white muslin material (listing) sewn to the cover and somehow attached to the upper outside edge of the cushion (Rubberized Horsehair Pad). It will be hand sewn, glued or hog-ringed. Carefully unfasten the listing and further remove cover.
6. The pleated insert of the cover may also be attached to cushion pad. Note method of attachment and un-do.
7. Remove the old cover but do not discard. Also retain any loose stuffing.

Cushion Cover Installation:

1. Turn the new Cushion cover inside-out. Make sure you have the correct cover for the correct seat since some cars have non-identical right and left cushions. Some cars do have identical left and right cushions.
2. Place the cover squarely on the cushion and attach the pleated insert of the cover in the same manner as the old cover was attached.
3. Some early models have a series of ties about 8 inches back from the front edge. You will need to attach and thread these through the seat at this point. Use a straight sail maker’s needle.
4. When the center section of the cover is attached, pull the listing around over the sides of the rubberized horsehair pad.
5. Attach the new cover in the same manner the old cover was attached — glue, hand sew or hog-rings. Make sure the piping on the outer edge is straight. Use cotton stuffing to fill in any wrinkled or loose areas.
6. Turn Cushion up-side-down and compress the springs while pulling the skirt of the cover up toward the channel.
7. Beginning with the rear edge of cushion, force the cardboard inward and flip it into the channel.
8. If cardboard is loose, it maybe necessary to squeeze the channel using a clamp or vice grips.
9. If there are wrinkles around the lower edge, it may be necessary to reposition the cardboard by cutting the stitching and stapling it back in place.
10. Hand sew rear corners if necessary.
11. With a fresh razor blade, carefully cut holes for the hardware removed before the cover was removed and replaced.
12. Put the cushion aside and work on the backrest next.

Backrest Cover Removal:

1. Lay the backrest face down and remove back panel. This is generally held in place by channels on either side. Sometimes the lower edge will be held down by a couple of screws and the top may be hand-sewn to the backrest cover.
2. Place weight on back of backrest so as to compress springs.
3. Pry the leather and cardboard out of retaining channels. Older cars may have the edges nailed down. Later cars may have the edges glued down. Remove both in the appropriate manner.
4. Pull the side bolsters around to the front of backrest.
5. Look for listings just like on the cushions.
6. Un-attach the listings and remove the backrest cover by lifting from bottom of the cover and then pulling up over top of backrest.
7. If applicable, remove the headrest grommets from the old cover but do not discard the old cover for now and set it aside.
8. Retain any loose stuffing.

Backrest Cover Installation:

1. If necessary, first install headrest grommets on to the new backrest cover.
2. Place the backrest in an upright position.
3. Cover the top of the backrest with a thin plastic bag (a bag from the dry cleaners works well).
4. Drape the new backrest cover on top of the backrest and then pull down. Make sure that the corners are filled out (use any loose stuffing if necessary).
5. Affix the lower edge of the backrest cover at the bottom of the backrest.
6. Secure the new backrest cover using the same method the old cover was attached: clips, cardboard in a channel, nails or glue.
7. Insert the top cardboard (1“) in the channel on the upper back of the backrest.
8. Reach inside the sides of backrest cover and pull the listings located inside so as to straighten the vertical piping along the two outer edges of the backrest.
9. Affix the listings to sides of backrest using the same manner the old listings were attached: hog-rings, glue or hand sew.
10. Use more loose stuffing to fill in any loose areas.
11. If the seat has any cardboard along the sides, compress the springs and snap them into the channel. Otherwise glue the side boxing to the framework in the rear of the backrest. While World Upholstery and Trim tries it best completely eliminate any form of sewing, some rare seats may need some hand sewing at the bottom corners to completely secure it.
12. Re-install the back panel and cut holes for the external hardware. Use the old backseat cover for reference.
13. Re-assemble the seat, backrest and cushion together, and set the first seat aside.
14. Repeat entire procedure for the 2nd seat.

Please highly consider professional installation as these covers are difficult to install!