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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
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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
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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.
E 270 Avantgarde Stc. fra 2001. Pt rundet 492.000 km.
