[nucci]

Some time ago I purchased a pair of AMG Recaro Classic C power seats from eBay (Poland). The seats took four months to arrive in Australia. The next task was to source the original sports fabric that came with my 560SL. I thought this would not present a problem seeing there are few auto trim suppliers in America along with the fact over 49,000 Mercedes 560SLs were produced with the majority made for the American market... WRONG!
The Australian 560SLs are different from American 560SLs and only 3800 Australian 560SL made. The Australian model came with sports fabric inserts similar to the material found on some European R107s. The search turned to German auto trim suppliers. Finally after months of searching the internet I eventually found a company that stocked the original 1980s 'Karo' sports fabric design produced for European R107s. All the colors in stock except for the one I was after (Middle Red). I had to wait further three months for the company to search warehouses all over Germany. Then wait further for the fabric to shipped to Australia.

It is now been just on two years since I originally purchased the AMG Recaro Classic C Seats. Today the seats returned back from the upholsters. Was it all worth while? I think so, however I'll reserve judgement until I see the seats fitted in the car - in the meantime lets hope I don't run into any other obstacles.

 

[jaymaynard]

They do look great sitting there...I bet they'll look even better in the car.

 

[nobby]

Wow, Nucci,,,,,they really look well done.

 

[Fonzi]

Truly impressive.

For the mounting brackets, are you using the recaro ones, or making custom ones with MB seat bases?

I've taken note that the recaro adapters for r107/c107 don't look as strong as MB seat bases where the "T" fits into the MB seat tracks.

My SLC convertible has MB seat bases cut with bars welded on in the same fashion as @48hp did in his thread "Hello Recaro. Have a seat".

I believe @rowdie mentioned that the inside bolster can interfere with the console, and I assume he was using Recaro adapters. You may find that the concept of fabricating your own adapters may allow you to off-center the seat a little towards the outside and maybe eliminate or minimize the inner bolster interference with the console.

My SLC Recaros seem to be a hybrid of orthopad bases (narrower, no real side bottom bolsters) with Classic/C upper backs. (There's a small difference between orthopad uppers, not having the full outer "horseshoe" shape on the top like the Classic/C.) Having never seen another set of seats like mine, I wonder if the builder of my SLC Convertible custom made my seats, possibly due to the console interference mentioned by @rowdie. I don't know.

In any case, I really need to get on my fabrication of my adapters for my 1985 280sl. I should be at the same point as you, and perhaps we can share notes about possible center console interference and document it here.


Beautiful work on those seats!


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[gwg]

Wow, these look absolutely fantastic. Looking forward to seeing pictures of them in your car.

 

[nucci]

Fonzi,

I think the mounting brackets are custom made. I purchased them with the Recaro Classic C seats. The Recaros were installed in an SLC and the seller included the original w107 mounting brackets and AMG badge with the deal. The seller had listed a number of other AMG items that came from the same SLC (including one AMG steering wheel). Unfortunately I only purchased the Recaro Classic C seats with the w107 mounting brackets. He claims the mounting brackets were custom made to make the seat sit lower and provide extra head room.

Given all issues I've had up to now - I'm preparing myself for having to undertake modifications. I'll let you know.

In the meantime just trying to work out where to connect to in 560SL in order to power the seats. Any suggestions?

 

[nucci]

Also got the rear fold down 'kinda' seats re-upholstered to match in the original middle red Karo sports fabric.
I take more photos when I have the whole lot put together. I may take three weeks.

 

[ChiefRider]

Very nice that you were able to track down the material, and they have come out beautifully! Are your door panels upholstered with the fabric panels as well?

 

[nucci]

The following picture is of the existing interior with the original 'Karo' sports fabric inserts. Sorry about the quality of picture, the interior is really faded as it appears in the photo.

I believe R107 owners in 1986 were able to order AMG Recaro Classic C seats made to match the original Mercedes factory trim. This is why l began to looking for the fabric in Germany to it all matches the VIN plate. I believe you can now order the Karo sports fabric from the SL Shop in England.

 

[ChiefRider]

That is going to look great when done!

Have you looked into replacing the cloth on the door panels? I'm not sure it is doable, but thought I would ask.

I found a trimmer in England that makes new seat upholstery using MB tex and the proper sport cloth, will be ordering a set from them so I can do this over the winter. I'd like to do the doors as well since that cloth is a bit faded.

Anyway, looks great! You rarely see this in red.

 

[107merc]

Just curious. Do you have the center handbrake like the English RHD cars?? Thanks.

 

[daryn]

Man those seats are tits, love the wreckaros I have in my car, best mod I ever did but they need reupholstery. You definitely had to do some leg work there.

 

[nucci]

Centre handbrake

Just curious. Do you have the center handbrake like the English RHD cars?? Thanks.

Yes, have the center handbrake lever, just like the Right Hand Drave English Mercedes 500SLs. All Australian 560SLs were Right Hand Drive with centre handbrake.

 

[nucci]

Update, the Recaro Classic C seats have now been installed in the 560SL. I used seating mounts that were custom made copies of Recaro original mounts for the R107. Thanks to earlier posts found on this forum, I was able to understand how to assemble the sliding lock mechanism. I happy with the results:

 

[nucci]

Now working on the rear speakers. I want them installed on the rear side panels so that i can fit rear fold down seats. Some time ago, I picked up a pair of damaged r107 rear side panels. I used them rather that cut up my original side panels (I want the option of going back to stock if I wish). The old damaged side panels were blue, therefore I had to get them recovered to match original trim.

I decided to fit the speakers to inside body work so that the weight of the speaker is not on the side panel. This should prevent cracking/splitting of side panels. The final part was to look for (old school style) speaker grills. The following pictures show how the speakers are fitted to the body work and how repaired and refurbished side panels fit around the speaker:

Next job is to fit the rear folding seat that has been reupholstered to match the Recaros and original trim. Before I do this, I need to work out how to connect vacuum hoses and power to the Recaros. Can anyone help or provide information?

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[Fonzi]

The Recaros normally only require two wires for power, hot and neutral/ground. This is typically under the bottom of the seat base.

What you are seeing is likely the connections that allow the top seat back to be separated from the base.


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[nucci]

Thanks Fonzi,

I can now see where the two wires for power are... This makes sense about the connections that allow the top seat to be separated from the base.

What about the vacuum hoses? As you would know Fonz, the stock 560SL seats do not have vacuum lumber support, where would you suggest I tap into for the vacuum?

 

[Fonzi]

I assume that you see three "vacuum" hoses. Right? If so, those are not vacuum hoses, but the air pressure lines that go from the three levels of air lumbar across the back of the seat. The air pump fills all three, and blue buttons release pressure from each of the three rows. Just like the wires, these need to be connected to the base, which is probably easier with the seats out of the car.


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[nucci]

Fonzi, you are a legend!!!

For some crazy reason, I had assumed they needed to be connected to the vacuum line.

Thanks Buddy for all your help and assistance.

 

[nucci]

Job complete, thank you for all support and guidance. The Recraro seats operate, rear fold down seats match and the rear speakers work well. Could not have done it without support of the forum, videos on mounting bases were extremely helpful. The seats are great! Just the right height any higher would have caused problems.