Orthopedic Seats?

[John Hubertz]

Hey all....notice this extra string hanging down from the center seatback in Max?  Is that the orthopedic seat option?

[oscar]

Where your cord goes in at the top, there's a hidden button in mine that releases the headrests.

[John Hubertz]

Yes...you depress the hidden mechanism on all the 126s I know to release the headrest shafts....  but I think this is a manually adjustable lumbar thingie.... anybody familiar with this option?

[Mforcer]

I have never seen anything like that before. Looks interesting. Anyone seen this before?

[Tomi]

With that strap you can adjust to the seat back in some way. I think it is the orthopedic seat option.

[oscar]

I'll ask the obvious.  Have you pulled on the straps yet John?  What happens?

If there'd be one thing more annoying than kids kicking the back of a car seat whilst drving, it would be them pulling on the strap to make your seat recline flat whilst overtaking another car at speed.    . Then again, what the hell are kids doing in the back of a 116!!!?  If it wasn't for appearances, you could take my other seats away.  I'm the only one who appreciates my merc, who has no name.  I've also decided it is of no gender, unfortunately.  I so much wanted to give it a racy, feminine, sexy name.  But nothing suits.  So for now, its "the merc".

I'd assume the pulling of the strap would cause a less noticeable effect than a violent 90o recline.  Is it lumbar support?  Are you sure it doesn't release the headrests?

[OzBenzHead]

... I so much wanted to give it a racy, feminine, sexy name.  But nothing suits.  So for now, its "the merc".

I've known Benzes called Mercy and Grace (both being meanings of the Spanish name Mercédès). Feminine for sure, but not particularly racy or sexy, I'll admit!   

[Denis]

Hey John

If you pull the string what happens ?

I bet that it ejects the seat through the sunroof, that was the "disposable security guard" option available on all sunroof equipped W116s. In fact, in the first portion of the string movement, a microswitch triggers the sunroof open. Pulled further it triggers the pyrotechnics that eject the seat and dismisses the disposable servant. 

What ? you have no sunroof ? oh, that  prooves that it was not an original option on your car, you are driving a sadly defaced W116 

Please, please tell us what it is ?

Denis

Paris, France

[John Hubertz]

I just confirmed with a 6.9 owner - it is the manual adjustment mechanism that is correct for this model/year "orthopedic seats".  He wasn't specific about what it adjusts.

I can't test it just yet - I got an email today from Mr. Joppe, the man I am purchasing the car from.  He arrives from Florida April 18th - and I will be picking up the car on the 19th.

He's very excited the car is going to an enthusiast rather then someone who would just use it up.  He and his family loves this car.