Manual to Electric seats?

**SLKman** · 08-24-2006

Ok guys...
I have manual seats in my car and want electric seats....

Can this be done using my existing seats and adding the hardware from a wrecked SLK? (hurts just to type that!

)

I have not seen where the seat controls are placed in the SLK's that have electric seats, so I may have to figure a unique place to locate the controls.

If the controls are located on the side of the seat... then there should be no problem.

Am I investigating something that cannot be done?

What do you think?

DansSlk · 08-24-2006

It is possible but not practical.

About 90% of what your going to need is not installed in your car, the most difficult bit will be the wiring harness it will require the interior to be gutted to install it.

The only thing i can think of is an aftermarket type setup maybe an OEM seat base and motors and a simple form of controls that should only require 12V to operate but still a big job.

Hope this helps a bit

Dan

**SLKman** · 08-25-2006

I would have thought the motors and wiring would have been under the seats and just need a power source. Do you think they require connection to the computer and all?

Thought I could just change my seats to the base of the electric unit seat base. Just my simple minded thinking.

Thanks.
SLKman

DansSlk · 08-25-2006

Hi mate,

The manual seats have no motors or anything like that pre-installed they are purely mechanical, to add OEM seats to the factory standard requires more the just power sorry mate they communicate on the network and have to interface with many other on-board systems to actually work.

Like i said if you want an OEM look but are prepared to do the electrics in an aftermarket fashion and there is nothing wrong with that option at all then you could just source and OEM electric seat base and power the motors by a switch to position the seat but the auto stop would not work so you would have to be careful when adjusting them.

Hope this helps
Dan

**SLKman** · 08-26-2006

Thanks. Guess I will have to suffer with these old do it yourself seats! LOL

atebit · 5 Days Ago

I recently picked up a 2001 SLK230 with manual seats. There's nothing in the owner's manual that describes the manual seat I have...it only talks about the power seats.

So, I got the slide forward/backward thing figured out.

But, there is a small handle on the door-side of each seat that I can't figure out what it does. I assume it has something to do with the seat height or lumbar or something like that, but when I move the handle nothing happens. Any ideas?

**Gabus** · 5 Days Ago

Hi, and welcome
Guess it has to do with the hight adjustment.
On mine I have to be a bit "brutal". The lifting springs/mechanism is so strong that I have to use all my 90 kgs to press the seat down....

HBK · 5 Days Ago

Here is my question,

I have manual seats, but I really wouldn't understand the point of wanting power seats in a slk 230 or 320....I am only 5'9. There is not much room to go back and forth or up and down...do you really need power seats in this car?

320 dreamer · 5 Days Ago

i was surfing the r170 foto section on some of the other sites and saw some amazing seats that were aftermarket. massive lumbar and back supports awesome color combos maybe you just need more support rather than electrics! :}

atebit · 7 Hours Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabus

Hi, and welcome
Guess it has to do with the hight adjustment.
On mine I have to be a bit "brutal". The lifting springs/mechanism is so strong that I have to use all my 90 kgs to press the seat down....

Thanks...I guess I'll just try pushing harder then.

08-24-2006	#1 (permalink)
SLKman Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas Vehicle: 2000 Copper Designo Sport Posts: 1,063 Country: Thanks: 261 Thanked 73 Times in 35 Posts	Manual to Electric seats? Ok guys... I have manual seats in my car and want electric seats.... Can this be done using my existing seats and adding the hardware from a wrecked SLK? (hurts just to type that! ) I have not seen where the seat controls are placed in the SLK's that have electric seats, so I may have to figure a unique place to locate the controls. If the controls are located on the side of the seat... then there should be no problem. Am I investigating something that cannot be done? What do you think?

08-24-2006	#2 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	It is possible but not practical. About 90% of what your going to need is not installed in your car, the most difficult bit will be the wiring harness it will require the interior to be gutted to install it. The only thing i can think of is an aftermarket type setup maybe an OEM seat base and motors and a simple form of controls that should only require 12V to operate but still a big job. Hope this helps a bit Dan __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

08-25-2006	#4 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Hi mate, The manual seats have no motors or anything like that pre-installed they are purely mechanical, to add OEM seats to the factory standard requires more the just power sorry mate they communicate on the network and have to interface with many other on-board systems to actually work. Like i said if you want an OEM look but are prepared to do the electrics in an aftermarket fashion and there is nothing wrong with that option at all then you could just source and OEM electric seat base and power the motors by a switch to position the seat but the auto stop would not work so you would have to be careful when adjusting them. Hope this helps Dan __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

5 Days Ago	#7 (permalink)
Gabus Elite SLK World Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Søgne Vehicle: 96 SLK 230K Other Toys: Volvo L3314N Posts: 427 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 63 Times in 44 Posts	Hi, and welcome Guess it has to do with the hight adjustment. On mine I have to be a bit "brutal". The lifting springs/mechanism is so strong that I have to use all my 90 kgs to press the seat down.... __________________ Gabus The Rolls Royce is the Mercedes amongst cars To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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08-25-2006	#3 (permalink)
SLKman Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas Vehicle: 2000 Copper Designo Sport Posts: 1,063 Country: Thanks: 261 Thanked 73 Times in 35 Posts	I would have thought the motors and wiring would have been under the seats and just need a power source. Do you think they require connection to the computer and all? Thought I could just change my seats to the base of the electric unit seat base. Just my simple minded thinking. Thanks. SLKman

08-26-2006	#5 (permalink)
SLKman Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas Vehicle: 2000 Copper Designo Sport Posts: 1,063 Country: Thanks: 261 Thanked 73 Times in 35 Posts	Thanks. Guess I will have to suffer with these old do it yourself seats! LOL

5 Days Ago	#6 (permalink)
atebit SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Vehicle: 2001 SLK 230 Yellow Posts: 2 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I recently picked up a 2001 SLK230 with manual seats. There's nothing in the owner's manual that describes the manual seat I have...it only talks about the power seats. So, I got the slide forward/backward thing figured out. But, there is a small handle on the door-side of each seat that I can't figure out what it does. I assume it has something to do with the seat height or lumbar or something like that, but when I move the handle nothing happens. Any ideas?

5 Days Ago	#8 (permalink)
HBK SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: OHIO Vehicle: 2001-SLK 230 Posts: 52 Country: Thanks: 2 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Here is my question, I have manual seats, but I really wouldn't understand the point of wanting power seats in a slk 230 or 320....I am only 5'9. There is not much room to go back and forth or up and down...do you really need power seats in this car?

5 Days Ago	#9 (permalink)
320 dreamer SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: nashville,tn Other Toys: just sold my 06 harley Posts: 26 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	i was surfing the r170 foto section on some of the other sites and saw some amazing seats that were aftermarket. massive lumbar and back supports awesome color combos maybe you just need more support rather than electrics! :}

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