The power seat in our model will only operate when the drivers door is open with no key in the ignition and won't operate when the door is closed unless the car is started. Also, the drivers headrest won't operate unless the engine if turned off and the drivers door is open. This was confirmed by my dealer. Is the engine running or the key in the start position during the wait? Or is it running? It is a crazy system and drove me crazy for a while, until I found out how they work. Safety features. Sometimes I think Mercedes overdoes the safety a bit. If you have the power passenger seat if should operate all the time, if it does, then there is probably nothing wrong except for Mercedes design.

I don't know about the delay thing you speak of, as I usually adjust my seat once and leave it that way, no one else in the family drives my car. But as I recall as long as the engine is running the seats adjustments work. You did someone to test the fuse under the hood when this delay happens and see if they are OK. Perhaps playing with the door jam button loosened a wire up?

I am going out today for a few hours I am going to check my seats and see exactly what they do under the conditons we spoke of. I never really paid attention, as I felt this all operation was a safetly thing, but now that you bring up the subject I am cusious to see what exactly my seats are doing. I do know the passenger seat is not effected. and will work all the time, with the door closed and the ignition on. It might have something to do with the smart start feature, which has given people a lot of problems. I'll file a report later.

Check the comfort relay in the trunk. Remove the trunk liner and then the black plastic liner in the rear of the trunk (closest to the seats). Underneath should be the comfort relay. My 99 c280 sport is having a similar problem and this is what I have been told to do. Good luck!