Mercedes-Benz GLE Headrest Replacement Parts

The GLE has run across two main generations: the first generation (W166, 2015–2018) and the second generation (V167, 2019 onwards), and headrests are not interchangeable between these two generations as the seat designs differ. If your car sits near the 2018–2019 boundary, confirm the exact generation with your breaker against your registration before buying. Within the same generation, headrests are much more likely to match, but trim level can still affect seat style, so always verify. No fitment can be guaranteed without checking your specific vehicle.

Yes, trim level can affect headrest fitment on the GLE because different trims — such as Sport, AMG Line, and the higher AMG variants — can feature different seat designs, including sports seats with integrated or differently shaped headrests. A headrest from a standard Sport-spec GLE may not look or fit the same as one from an AMG Line car with contoured sports seats. Always tell your breaker which trim your car is and ask them to match accordingly. Cosmetic differences in stitching or leather grade are also common even where the physical fit is correct.

Yes, front and rear headrests are different parts and are not interchangeable, so you must specify which row of seats you need the headrest for when contacting a breaker. Within the rear row, the centre position headrest is often a different shape or size to the outer positions, so be specific about which seat position you need. The GLE is a five-seat SUV in standard form, though some configurations offer a third row, so also confirm your seat count with the breaker. Getting the row and position right from the start will save time and avoid mismatched parts.

This is a critical year boundary: the 2018 GLE is the first-generation W166, while the 2019 GLE moved to the second-generation V167, which brought an entirely new body and interior. Headrests from a 2018 W166 are very unlikely to be compatible with a 2019 V167 due to the change in seat design across the generation change. You should confirm the exact generation of both the donor and recipient cars with your breaker against both registrations before purchasing. Never assume fitment across this boundary.

No, the engine and drivetrain make no difference to headrest fitment on the GLE — whether your car is a diesel, petrol, or plug-in hybrid, and whether it is standard 4MATIC or otherwise, the headrests are determined by generation, trim level, and seat position rather than what is under the bonnet. This means you can source a headrest from a GLE with a completely different engine to yours without any concern on that front. Focus your questions to the breaker on generation and trim instead. This makes sourcing a used headrest more straightforward than drivetrain-dependent parts.

Standard passive headrests are not safety-critical components in the same way as airbags or seatbelt pretensioners, so a used headrest from a matching GLE is a practical and commonly sourced second-hand part. However, some Mercedes-Benz models have been fitted with active head restraints or seats incorporating airbag systems, so if your GLE has any seat-integrated safety systems, confirm compatibility with the breaker against your registration before buying. If in any doubt about whether your seat has an active or airbag-linked restraint system, have the part inspected and fitted by a qualified technician. A straightforward passive headrest can generally be swapped without specialist tools, but confirming the type first is always worthwhile.