Norm01

Surprised my 2 1/2 year old MB-Tex driver seat is cracking on the left edge. Thought this MB-Tex was supposed to be bullet proof.

whiteongrey

Warranty.

I just had both seat bottoms / covers replaced because their was one seam splitting on both.

I have had my car to the dealer probably 25 times in 36 months to repair defects.

This is the worst quality car I have ever owned - even worse than high milers I bought in High School LOL!

aprince2die4

I have a crack on the left bolster too about an inch long...already past 48k for warranty...I've contacted a few places to fix the vinyl and was quoted around $150.00..Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

dcjwlee

+1 left side bolster approx 1 - 1.5 inches long. I think it's from all the weight that goes on it when I get out. (Which is not much, I weigh 170 soaking wet)

ChrisBrown

Sounds like an issue in the manufacturing and design. Mine is seven years old and still looks brand new. Maybe a bad batch at the factory?

newyorktoLA

its normal wear and tear; wrinkles are not covered by the warranty

Carsy

I am interested to know the conditions the MB Tex is exposed too.

Is the car in use every day & all day ?

Is it garaged or left in the sun ? Any windscreen shade?

Have you used any vinyl protector ie 303?

It is damage , brittleness or wear causing the cracking ?

Sorry to hear about it. Mine is used once or twice a week so is in perfect nick. Also covered with sheep skin !!

lx Raven xl

I had this in the 2008 model. There was a bolt under the chair (if you look from the back seat under the right and left side of the chair base) that needed to be tightened and the cracking sound was gone and never returned. The bolt is big and holds the chair to the floor. easily spotted.

erichighley

I have the same crack on the bottom left driver seat. I'm out of warranty, any chance they will replace it? I'm barely out, probably by 1k miles and had it in for a flat prior to warranty expiring and got a write off on it being all good. Any chance I can use this to my advantage?

What does a replacement bottom seat cost, anyone know?

rb23lb

same here... prob about 25-30 times LITTERALLY in 48 months

tons of small defects... nothing major though

once you iron out all the crappy defects (cosmetics mainly), this is a great car

Glyn M Ruck

This is one of the MBTex weaknesses. If exposed to excessive sun all the plasticisers leach out of the vinyl & it cracks. Car care products are unlikely to help. You can't put plasticisers back. It's not like feeding leather.

Carsy

Glyn, I agree you cannot put plasticisers back but you can prevent them from being leached out .

I use the 303 UV Protectant . I do not know whether it is BS or not as our car is rarely in the sun .Our internals after 4 years are "as new"

http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/pr...ace_protectant

Glyn M Ruck

JC - Sunscreens can reduce fading - they would only stop plasticiser leach if they reduce temperatures. Temperature is the main cause of leaching. High SPF barriers do probably reduce temps somewhat.

BTW the sun screens are the same as used in suntan lotion. We use them in environmentally friendly crop spray oils to prevent phytotoxicity. Australia has embraced the technology heavily.

That is specifically UV screening. Many other things can act as sun screens right down to iron filings in varnish.

Best way is to cover up as you have.

MBTex can have excellent life - look at Europe's taxis. I've seen it go nearly 20 years here but some conditions of heat & stretch & very cold & stretch can cause cracking and delamination whereas leather will survive if nourished.

Best advice is to garage a car & minimise sun exposure when not being driven.

Glyn M Ruck

We have had a few reports.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...=seat+cracking

AkaSigFreak

Knock on wood- I have had no issues with my MBtex. I have bad knees, back, and shoulder, weigh 290 and I am very rough on seats. I do clean my seats and treat them regularly with Duragloss. I have tinted windows (Pinnacle Formula1 Ceramic) and use a Covercraft UVS100™ Heat Shield. The only issue was with the plastic side of the seat where the controls are. The dealer cracked it when they were working on my car by kneeling on the seat and they replaced it under warranty.

Carsy

The photo is of my Peugeot's original 31 year old cared for vinyl plastic interior.

They will last if protected .

Glyn M Ruck

Excellent & obviously cared for. That car has not spent it's life in the sun or the dash would have failed long ago.

I should also note that black will fail first for obvious reasons.

Glyn M Ruck

As long as you don't smoke in your car a good read of the rate at which your vinyls & plastics are loosing plasticiser is the amount of goo you have to clean off of the inside of windows. Most of that is plasticiser.

Glyn M Ruck

JC - meant to say that the way you & I look after cars we are unlikely to ever suffer upholstery problems. My 8 year old C240's SA leather.

C300Sport

Wow, I am pretty impressed with both Carsy and Glen.

Carsy

Looks immaculate Glyn, I like to have 15 years service from my cars then pass them on to the the grandkids !!

Glyn M Ruck

I've noticed something I'm going to have to be careful with on the CLK. The Germans don't seem to use the robust thread that SA uses to stitch the leather. The stitching is already fraying slightly on the backrest side bolster that one is inclined to scuff when entering or leaving the car.

2012c350

Hmm...My car is on order with the MB-Tex because I heard it holds up better than leather. After seeing your pix I'm wondering if I should swith to leather after all...

LILBENZ230

2012C350 - Glyn's car was meticulously cared for and did not have many miles for the 8 years. Most of us are better served by MB-Tex, IMO

Glyn M Ruck

Well it might be of interest that our local bus company in Cape Town has tested every vinyl on the market & still upholsters all it's seats in leather for longer service life.

That said MBTex was developed for taxis - taxi leder - and is pretty tough stuff.