For Mercedes Sprinter van owners embarking on a camper conversion, maximizing interior space and functionality is paramount. One modification frequently lauded for its transformative impact is the installation of Mercedes Sprinter Swivel Seats. These ingenious devices allow the front cab seats to rotate, effectively integrating them into the living area of your van. This simple yet brilliant upgrade can revolutionize the usability of your Sprinter, adding valuable living space and creating a more sociable and comfortable environment. Many van conversion enthusiasts consider a passenger swivel seat indispensable, often equating its utility to adding several extra feet to the van’s length. It becomes a favored spot for relaxation and interaction within the compact living space. While the passenger swivel seat enjoys widespread popularity, some users find the driver’s side swivel to be less frequently used, though still a valuable addition for many.
Operational Considerations for Sprinter Swivel Seats
While the benefits of mercedes sprinter swivel seats are undeniable, it’s crucial to be aware of potential operational nuances. Users have reported several issues that are worth considering before installation. These include the necessity to adjust seat positions back and forth during swiveling, the risk of seats colliding with doors unless they are fully opened, and managing the seatbelt attachments during rotation. Furthermore, some swivel mechanisms may require raising or lowering the seat to ensure clearance of the plastic trim around the seat base, or even trimming parts of this trim. Other points of concern can include potential wobble in the swiveled seats and sharp edges on some swivel structures. It’s important to recognize that each manufacturer of mercedes sprinter swivel seats may implement slightly different design solutions, each with its own set of advantages and potential drawbacks. Therefore, thorough research and comparison of multiple models, drawing upon online resources and user reviews, is highly recommended to make a well-informed purchase decision.
Beyond the rotation itself, another practical aspect to consider is the accessibility of the seat base. The factory foam cover on top of the seat base, which often provides access to storage or wiring within the base, may become less accessible after installing a swivel mechanism. Depending on the swivel design and how much it obstructs the top opening, accessing items stored in the seat base might require disassembly and removal of the swivel. If you have circuit breakers, fuses, or switches located in the seat base that require occasional access, you might need to relocate them to a more readily accessible position after installing mercedes sprinter swivel seats.
Swivel Seat Theory and Practical Implications for Mercedes Sprinters
The core concept of a mercedes sprinter swivel seat is straightforward: introduce a rotating joint between the factory seat and its base. This allows the seat to pivot and face the rear, becoming an integral part of the van’s living space furniture. However, the practical execution involves several considerations specific to the Sprinter van’s design and seat mechanics:
- Rotation Space and Interference: As the seat rotates, it sweeps through a defined space determined by the swivel’s pivot point and the seat’s dimensions. Naturally, parts of the van’s interior, depending on seat position (forward/backward, seatback angle), can intersect with this rotation space.
- Driver’s Seat and Emergency Brake Conflict: The proximity of the driver’s seat to the emergency brake handle is a guaranteed point of potential interference during rotation.
- Seat Skirt Obstruction: The seat’s lower skirt, designed to conceal the base connection, is not configured to rotate freely around the base and may require trimming or modification.
- Airbag and Wiring Harness Management: Seats equipped with airbags and heating elements have electrical connections running through the base. These connections must be accommodated during rotation to prevent damage from over-twisting.
- Seat Restraint System Integration: The seatbelt system, with one end anchored to the seat itself, rotates with the seat. The swivel design must account for this and ideally provide a secure attachment point for the seat restraint.
- Added Seat Height: The swivel mechanism, positioned between the seat and base, inevitably increases the overall seat height. The extent of this height increase varies depending on the swivel’s construction.
For model year 2017 and similar Sprinter vans with “comfort seats,” several adjustable seat features directly influence the potential for interference during rotation:
- Fore/Aft Seat Adjustment: A generous sliding range of over 10 inches significantly impacts the rotation space. Adjusting the seat forward or back is crucial for minimizing interference.
- Seat Height Adjustment: Approximately 1 inch of vertical adjustment affects how the higher parts of the seat might interact with elements like door armrests, B-pillars, cabin walls, and the dashboard during rotation.
- Seatback Recline: Tilting the seatback further back increases the radius of the swept area, potentially leading to greater interference with doors and walls.
- Armrest Adjustment: The outboard armrest’s rotation from vertical to near horizontal also influences potential interference with cabin elements during seat swiveling.
Some degree of interference during seat rotation is almost unavoidable across all adjustment configurations. Achieving completely free rotation throughout the entire adjustment range is generally not feasible. However, a well-designed mercedes sprinter swivel seat can strategically position the center of rotation to minimize interference. Specifically, an inboard and/or aft offset of the rotation center from the seat base’s center can significantly reduce the chances of collision with van components.
For instance, the image below illustrates how a seatback can collide with the door when the seat is positioned too far back during rotation.
Conversely, the next image demonstrates how adjusting the seat forward before rotation, combined with an offset swivel design, effectively reduces the seatback-door interference.
By the time the seat reaches a 90-degree rotation, the combination of forward seat adjustment and offset rotation largely eliminates door interference. It’s worth noting that even with these measures, at a 180-degree rotation, there might still be slight interference between the seat armrest and the door armrest. Seat height adjustment or a more pronounced swivel offset can further mitigate this minor issue.
Factory Swivel Seat Implementation vs. Aftermarket Options
Mercedes-Benz offers a factory mercedes sprinter swivel seat option, which addresses the height issue by utilizing a lower profile seat base. This factory solution allows for a more substantial swivel mechanism compared to aftermarket designs that are intended to be installed on top of the standard seat base. The factory swivel also features a shorter seat skirt, eliminating the need for trimming during rotation. Furthermore, when a Sprinter is factory-equipped with swivels, the emergency brake mechanism is modified to ensure clearance for the driver’s seat rotation. However, the factory swivel option has limited availability and is notoriously difficult and expensive to retrofit after the initial vehicle purchase.
Acquisition Alternatives: Aftermarket Swivel Seats for Mercedes Sprinters
Retrofitting the factory mercedes sprinter swivel seat components can be prohibitively expensive, reportedly reaching upwards of $3,000 for a pair, including new lower seat bases. Acquiring these parts may even require providing a VIN from a vehicle that was originally equipped with the swivel option. Installation involves replacing the original, taller seat bases with lower ones, which also reduces the valuable storage volume within the seat bases, often used for auxiliary equipment in van conversions.
Aftermarket mercedes sprinter swivel seats present a more accessible and cost-effective alternative. Available from several specialized suppliers, these units range in price from approximately $250 to $500 per seat. Beyond price, several crucial factors differentiate aftermarket swivel products:
- Safety and Approvals: Safety is paramount, and the presence of crash test ratings and certifications from European (like TUV) or U.S. (FMVSS) motor vehicle authorities is a significant differentiator. The swivel seat market is relatively niche, and obtaining these approvals is a costly undertaking, meaning not all swivels are certified.
- Height Increase: The added height from the swivel mechanism varies, ranging from a minimal 1/2 inch to over 2 inches. Sprinter seats, even at their lowest setting, can be too high for some drivers with shorter legs. Adding swivel height can exacerbate this. While lower factory seat bases can offset the added height, this sacrifices under-seat storage space. Alternatively, adding a platform or footstool can compensate for the increased height, at least for the passenger side.
- Rotation Offset: The presence and degree of rotation offset is critical for minimizing interference during swiveling. Some swivels are designed to allow rotation without needing to open the van doors, a significant convenience.
- Locking Mechanism: For safety, a robust locking mechanism to secure the seat in the forward driving position is essential. Some swivels may also offer locking in other rotational positions.
- Operational Smoothness and Noise: The smoothness of rotation and the presence of any noise during operation are indicators of build quality and user experience.
- Seat Restraint Attachment: Ideally, the swivel should include an attachment point for the seatbelt end that is normally fixed to the seat. This ensures the seatbelt rotates with the seat, preventing excessive extension and wrapping during swiveling.
A Look at Aftermarket Mercedes Sprinter Swivel Seat Brands
Based on user reports from Sprinter forums and online sources, here’s a summary of some popular aftermarket mercedes sprinter swivel seat options. (Note: Accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed, and prices/features may vary. Always verify current information with the supplier.)
Maker: Mercedes (Factory)
- Cost: ~$3000/pair (swivels, bases, possibly more)
- Approvals: Yes
- Height: ~3.75 inches (estimated)
- Offset: Yes (apparently)
- E-brake kit: Yes
- Forward Locking: Yes
- User Anecdotes: Ordered through dealers, requires VIN of swivel-equipped van for purchase, expensive retrofit.
Maker: Sportscraft
- Cost: ~$255 – $339 per seat (from various retailers)
- Approvals: Varies, check specific product details
- Height: ~1.5 – 1.9 inches (various sources)
- Offset: Yes, designed for door clearance
- E-brake kit: Yes
- Forward Locking: Yes
- User Anecdotes: Generally smooth operation, some users found seat height too high, leading to use of lower seat bases or footrests.
Maker: Alpine Mechanisms/LuftKraftFab
- Cost: ~$515 (driver), ~$495 (passenger)
- Approvals: None reported
- Height: ~0.5 inch (very low profile)
- Offset: Unknown
- E-brake kit: Yes
- Forward Locking: Unknown
- User Anecdotes: Low profile is a major advantage, good quality reported.
Maker: Discount Van/Truck
- Cost: ~$200 per seat (approximate)
- Approvals: None reported
- Height: ~1.75 inches
- Offset: Apparently not significant, some door contact reported
- E-brake kit: Unknown
- Forward Locking: Unknown
- User Anecdotes: Affordable, but raises seat height considerably, potential wiring harness routing issues, some reports of misaligned mounting holes.
Maker: Scopema/RIB Seating
- Cost: ~$309 – $400 per seat (approximate)
- Approvals: European TUV, some models tested to US/Canadian standards
- Height: ~0.9 inch (low profile)
- Offset: Yes
- E-brake kit: Yes
- Forward Locking: Yes
- User Anecdotes: Popular choice, low profile, smooth rotation, some users report minor wobble, but generally considered a top choice.
Maker: CTA (Swivels R Us?)
- Cost: ~$300 per seat (approximate)
- Approvals: Unknown
- Height: ~1.75 inches
- Offset: Unknown
- E-brake kit: Unknown
- Forward Locking: Unknown
- User Anecdotes: Potentially rebranded European-made swivel, possibly similar to Reimo or RIB components, but specific details are unclear.
User Experiences with Height Compensation and Swivel Seats
Increased seat height due to mercedes sprinter swivel seats is a common concern. Users have employed various strategies to address this:
- Raised Flooring: Some users have built up the van floor to compensate for the added seat height, creating a more level floor when the seats are swiveled to the rear.
- Footrests/Stools: Folding stools or custom-built footrests are frequently used to provide comfortable foot support when the swiveled seats become higher relative to the rear van floor.
- Lower Seat Bases: As mentioned earlier, swapping to lower factory seat bases can offset the swivel’s height increase, but it reduces under-seat storage volume.
Scopema Swivel Seat Details and Installation Insights
Scopema swivels are a well-regarded option for mercedes sprinter swivel seats, known for their relatively low profile (approximately 0.9 inches height increase) and robust construction. They carry European TUV approvals, and specific 2019+ models are tested to meet US and Canadian safety standards. They feature an offset design, with an inboard and rearward offset of the rotation center, contributing to better door clearance.
My personal installation experience with Scopema swivels on a 2017 Sprinter 2500 highlighted a few key points. The 18-inch square dimensions of both the Sprinter seat base and the Scopema swivel are closely matched. The offset of the Scopema swivel becomes apparent as soon as it’s mounted to the seat base.
During installation, I encountered a minor issue with a slightly damaged threaded hole in my seat base, requiring thread cleaning with a tap. The bolt hole alignment between the Scopema bottom plate and the seat base was very tight, requiring careful alignment and alternating tightening of bolts to secure the swivel.
Modifying the seat skirt trim was necessary to allow for full rotation, especially at the lowest seat height setting. Significant trimming on the inboard side of the skirt was also needed to provide clearance for the swivel’s operating lever throughout the seat’s fore/aft travel and lever movement.
Measurements confirmed the Scopema swivel’s height increase to be approximately 0.9 inches. This adds a noticeable, but manageable, height increase to the seat’s lowest adjustment point.
The image below illustrates the offset center of rotation of the Scopema driver’s side swivel. The mechanical center (string crossing point) is offset inboard and rearward from the rotation center.
This next image clearly shows the offset rotation of the passenger Scopema swivel, rotated approximately 85 degrees. This offset is instrumental in minimizing the seat adjustment needed for door clearance during rotation.
In conclusion, mercedes sprinter swivel seats are a highly valuable upgrade for van conversions, significantly enhancing interior space and usability. When choosing swivel seats, carefully consider factors like safety approvals, height increase, rotation offset, and user reviews to select the best option for your needs and enjoy the added functionality they bring to your Sprinter van.
