Easy Removal of Mercedes R107 450SL Seats

I was shocked at how many different stories and methods of removing the driver seat of a Mercedes 107 there are online. So I decided to post on just how simple and straight forward this job really is for both seats!

The passenger seat is very straight forward. Four 13mm bolts and two countersunk Phillips screws. Getting a good photo was harder than taking the seat out so several diagrams will be used for explanation. The following shows the set up of the passenger and driver seating rail systems and function. The following diagrams and images are from a 1975 450SL. Check your model for variations.

To operate the driver seat hight adjustment: If adjustment knob handle is horizontal the seat is in the low position. To raise the seat, pull knob handle straight out and rotate as shown on both rails. This step must also be taken to gain access to the screw that retains the knob in order to remove the seat.

The passenger seat is removed as shown below.

As for the driver seat you will need a large flathead screwdriver bit to do this job correctly. Too often jobs are very difficult because the correct tools are not used.

Do not attempt to do this with a standard screwdriver. You may also benefit from heating the screw slightly with a pencil torch. 

Other than a few changes to the mechanism of the seat, the driver seat comes out just as easily as the passenger. 

I purchased a Pittsburg socket screwdriver set from Harbor Freight with a 1/2 in. driver socket. Largest driver bit however needed modifying as the flat head screwdriver was too thick and did not properly seat. I simply ground the flathead down on a bench grinder until it fit snuggly and will remain in my Mercedes specific tool kit.



The following shows the removal of the driver seat. Again, very straight forward. As you will see in the digram below only two of the three screws are removed. The lower screw is secured at the back by a nut and does not attach to the body of the car.

Once the seat is free to be removed, lift up on the side closest to the door opening, while tilting seat toward center console. When free of door sill, withdraw seat. It is best to do this with the hard top off or convertible top in the down position.

The seat is not exceptionally heavy but awkward, so be careful to have good control when removing to avoid damaging interior or paint work. Unplug seat belt warning light from under seat.

It is recommended that when you have the seat out you throughly clean the rails, guides and re-grease with the proper lubricant. Your seat should slide like new again. You will also find amazing things under the seat as I did from the previous owner!

42 years in the desert will do strange things to products like the three petrified cigarettes
(can you find them) and paper that was turning to powder.


I was however able to subsidize a portion of my lunch with the .62¢ I found.