No leather
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No leather
I was told that I have leather seats. I got the print out on my car from Benz and see no mention of leather. My seats don't have holes, but dents in the seating section. I was told leather has holes. How can I tell if I have leather. The print out says elegence package, but I don't think that means leather.
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From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Re: No leather
Originally posted by bighifi
I was told that I have leather seats. I got the print out on my car from Benz and see no mention of leather. My seats don't have holes, but dents in the seating section. I was told leather has holes. How can I tell if I have leather. The print out says elegence package, but I don't think that means leather.
I was told that I have leather seats. I got the print out on my car from Benz and see no mention of leather. My seats don't have holes, but dents in the seating section. I was told leather has holes. How can I tell if I have leather. The print out says elegence package, but I don't think that means leather.
-s-
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From: Maryland
1998 C230
touch your steering wheel and feel the texture.
that is real MB leather. it should feel soft, leathery, like leather
now touch your seats, do they feel the same? MB-tex (vinyl) should feel kinda tougher and almost plasticy. its more durable than real leather and maintains a 'new car smell' if you get up real close and smell it.
that is real MB leather. it should feel soft, leathery, like leather
now touch your seats, do they feel the same? MB-tex (vinyl) should feel kinda tougher and almost plasticy. its more durable than real leather and maintains a 'new car smell' if you get up real close and smell it.
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From: LI, New York
87 190E 2.6/1995 M3
what year, model? me pretty sure elegance package includes stuff like color matched door handles, and leather seats....3 packages were available if I'm not mistaken: Elegance, Sport (that came with two tone leather), and the Classic... then again there's the AMG stuff hehe........
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From: USA
18 G550, 24 EQB3504M
This car *I think* has MB-Tex interior:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6334
this one.. has leather.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6334
*I think* the leather ones have wrinkled leather on the door panels.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6334
this one.. has leather.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6334
*I think* the leather ones have wrinkled leather on the door panels.
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From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
I think the C-class leather sucks. To me, it feels hard and NOT smooth and silky... the CLK leather feels much better!
So I find it tough to tell the difference from just feeling MB-Tex vs. my C43 leather.
-s-
So I find it tough to tell the difference from just feeling MB-Tex vs. my C43 leather.
-s-
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From: Toronto, Canada
540 6spd
Open the two links above and look at the doors. If your car has pleats on the door like the second link then your car has leather and not MB Tex.
Full leather interior on a W202 Elegance was a $2500 CDN option.
Full leather interior on a W202 Elegance was a $2500 CDN option.
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From: LI, NY
02 W163, 84 W123, 03 E39, 98 E39
Check w/ MB
If you purchased a USA MB you can check w/ MB two ways. Go to www.mbusa.com, click on StarMark and then Model Overview. You can check models back to 96 for what was standard equipment and what was in each option package. If it is a 2003 model just go to MBusa.com and look it up in the new vehicle area.
Option two is to call MB Customer Support (800 367-6372) with your Serial Number and they should be able to tell you what is in the Eligance Package. If you call 9-5 DST you will speak to MB people in NJ who know MB's. Other times I think they farm out their call center to people who don't seem to know much, at least that is my experience.
Good luck.
Option two is to call MB Customer Support (800 367-6372) with your Serial Number and they should be able to tell you what is in the Eligance Package. If you call 9-5 DST you will speak to MB people in NJ who know MB's. Other times I think they farm out their call center to people who don't seem to know much, at least that is my experience.
Good luck.
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The steering wheel test is not always accurate, as Elegance trim cars with Tex have leather steering wheels and shift knobs.
In many nations, leather was rarely available on the C-Class, and was terribly expensive. In Canada, the Elegance package meant no cloth seats and Tex was standard. It also added chrome topped exterior door handles, chrome trim along the rub strip and above the bumpers. It added a power drivers seat and eight-hole alloy wheels.
It wasn't much of a deal, as it based out at about $5K more than the Classic trim. A well equipped Elegance model could run into the $50K's without much effort.
In many nations, leather was rarely available on the C-Class, and was terribly expensive. In Canada, the Elegance package meant no cloth seats and Tex was standard. It also added chrome topped exterior door handles, chrome trim along the rub strip and above the bumpers. It added a power drivers seat and eight-hole alloy wheels.
It wasn't much of a deal, as it based out at about $5K more than the Classic trim. A well equipped Elegance model could run into the $50K's without much effort.
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I read on another post that the MB-Tex has very small holes, to allow the stuff to breath. I looked at my interior and I do have the small holes. It amazes me that a almost 40K dollar car does not have leather as standard. I am really bummed. Thanks for all of the replies.
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Originally posted by bighifi
I read on another post that the MB-Tex has very small holes, to allow the stuff to breath. I looked at my interior and I do have the small holes. It amazes me that a almost 40K dollar car does not have leather as standard. I am really bummed. Thanks for all of the replies.
I read on another post that the MB-Tex has very small holes, to allow the stuff to breath. I looked at my interior and I do have the small holes. It amazes me that a almost 40K dollar car does not have leather as standard. I am really bummed. Thanks for all of the replies.
Today, people associate leather with luxury and prestige and care less for the longevity of the Tex. 1998 was the last year in North America that Tex was available. Now, the step from cloth is the "leather twin" which is a combination of Tex and leather. E-Class cars are no longer available with Tex (the W210 E300 was the last) and no S-Class since the W126 has had Tex.
Why are you so bummed? The Tex will last a long time, retain it's colour, and is pretty simple to have repaired. Anyone that sits in the car assumes it's leather anyway. Heck, even you had a hard time telling.
My perfect MB would be a C270CDI 4-matic wagon with Tex and a manual transmission. If MB sorts out the electrical gremlins, that would be a car you could drive for 20 years easy. They can stick the COMAND up their a$$ and give me common-rail diesels and robust interiors.
