nathankershaw

We have a 2011 GLK with just under 65,000 miles on it & this is happening to the seats.





I called our service guy & he said he could order a cover & also gave me a number of a local upholstery guy.

Am I high?! Should this be happening? My wife is 120lbs & I'm around 220lbs, not, I would have thought outside the consideration of the design boffs at Mercedes.

Should I push for a good will claim from an area rep? Does that still happen? I worked in the industry a long time ago & that was the procedure.

Or is this the new MB standard & things just don't last?

Thanks for any help.

Inyoury

Is it just that seat? It looks like the seat has additional scratches on the side bolster. Did you or your wife put something small and heavy near or on the crease of the seat? The leather should flex and bend down before the seems come apart under "normal" wear.

You can try for a good will claim, but what I see in the photos, they will not replace it.

Also you have to realize that most of the German cars will have about 40-60% leatherette in the seats. The synthetic use of materials in seating is required by EU law. There are some debates in various other German car forums about this. Some claim the synthetic is stronger while some say it is not.

Push for the good will first.

nathankershaw

Yeah those scratches on the side appeared about 6 months ago, it's like a top layer has peeled off.

The actual tears I just noticed today.

I emailed our service guy to double check whether we have actual leather or MB tex.

We bought this car when it was about 10 months old so hopefully we'll find that out tomorrow.

sblvro

You must have loaded it with a heavy appliance or TV from the scratches I see.

MBKLUE

Are you sure those are leather seats?

LesF

That doesn't look like ordinary wear and tear to me. Almost like something was scraped on the seat and I assume that's the drivers seat. I've had MB-Tex in 4 of my cars and the only damage has been scratches because stupid had something in his pocket. My for 98 E had leather and I never had a problem with that either.

fabbrisd1

To me - "looks" like MB Tex - if your salesman confirms (uses last 7 VIN to pull up spec sheet) - seam separation "should" be able to be restitched by upholstery guy 1st - scratches filled - respray - I would say all in about $150

nathankershaw

Thanks for the replies.

Should find out if it is MB tex tomorrow.

Yeah it's the drivers seat so it's only had bums on it probably with a few iPhones at some point but no keys.

n8nu

I have the exact same wear on the driver's side seat bolster and my seats are MB tex in my 2010 GLK. For me it must be the way I get in and out of the car and I am very careful with the way I get in/out. I don't put anything other than a soft wallet in my front pocket (nothing in back), and I'm only 185 lbs. So figure it's the way I get in/out.

My dealership brought a guy in fix it up as much as possible. Sadly a year later, I've worn through the repair.

formerjeepguy

That looks like MB-TEX. Still, it should not be wearing out like that after 4-5 years.

Cwdawson

the side bolsters look like MB Tex and the inserts to be leather, I believe that was the way they built the seats in 2011. I thought only the leather was perforated...

formerjeepguy

Not sure about 2011, but my 2014 and my 2015 had/have perforated mb tex that look just like those seats.

nathankershaw

Yup. We have MB tex.

OK...let the phone calls begin!

fabbrisd1

Upolstery guy + vinyl interior repair guy - sometimes it's the same guy - worst case two..