Flashman

They still get a 3% holdback from MB. 3% of $25,000 is 750. 3% of $30,000 is $900. So let's assume it was $30,000 MSRP (with options). Add his $100. So in theory, they made a clean $1000 profit if they sold the car 'as it arrived' for $100 over their invoice cost, losing almost nothing to floor financing. Not too bad.

zot

Wow!! Is this true... My C230K will be here within a month. I was debating wether to wait longer and get C5 instead of cloth about a month ago but decided I can always get the cool two tone CTS leather.

The fact that CTS is not approved by MBUSA can really influence my decision on getting after market leather.

I thought I've read it somewhere in this forum that someone stated CTS is an approved leather installer for MB. ???

tommy

Well, CST has its own liability on the airbags not working, as well as a 3-year warranty on the install.

Forgive my stupidity, but where is the problem? Of course, MB is not going to be happy with you not going through them to get leather done. That's only par for the course. They also don't want you to install non-MB rims, drop the suspension, or modify the engine. You do what you want and pay the consequences.

tom.com

You're absolutely correct, but if you put some thought into the issue, you will easily find that the CST leather is probably not worth it's trouble.

Have you thought about the case where AIRBAG do not deploy? If this really happened, it would be too late to regret it.

For myself I would much rather just get factory leather and not have to worry about these issues... yes the 2 tone leather is awesome.. but doesn't justify the safety issues. When no one can take responsability when an airbag doesnt' deploy, you would have other issues. hehehe

tommy

While I honestly appreciate you telling me that I can't think, I have to disagree. The only messing around that is done on the surface of the door panel is to replace the cloth with leather. They don't get into the internals. And their leather panels have the same type of breakaway thread as MB's do, so there really shouldn't be an issue.
Also, if I'm dead, I really don't think that I'll care if there is an issue with the CST leather messing up the deployment of my airbags, but my estate could sue CST anyway.
I think that the chance of CST messing up the airbags is tiny, but if you're afraid of going with it, by all means get the stock leather.

Life's all about choices.

young

also, in reality, the technology is simple. as long as the stitching breaks so that the airbags deploy, it is not a problem.

i know that the stitching used is probably not the MB spec sooper dooper breakaway stitching, but i'll bet my life the CSTs will also work and break to let the airbags deploy

tommy

I'm betting mine as well!

nboyd

C-Coupes are available with factory leather, I personally think it is bad advice to recommend aftermarket leather to anyone, unless they especially desire two tone.

You can find your C-Coupe with factory leather and if it means dealer trading, it will take as long to arrive as a CST leather install.

For most people this is a big purchase and there seems little point in comprimising it. The car is not covered by MB, even if some dealers are prepared to sell it.

If you are thinking of trading in at some point then you will not be able to sell it back as an approved used MB.

On the matter of the airbags deploying, are you serious? (see tommys quote below)

"Also, if I'm dead, I really don't think that I'll care if there is an issue with the CST leather messing up the deployment of my airbags".

What if you still live? I bet you will care then.

By the way you have to pay even more than factory leather to get aftermarket.

Nathan

tom.com

My thoughts exactly.. I just don't think it's worth the trouble especially when it becomes apparent that neither company will take responsability for covering up the side panels... Just my opinion

tommy

CST, for the thousandth time, has liability against any problems resulting from the install of their leather. If the airbags don't deploy, and it's not a result of the leather (which it wouldn't be, unless CST did something totally f'ed up), then the liability would switch to MB, as SEMA always says. Of course, you'd have to take MB to court to get anything done, probably. Think about it this way - do you really think that CST would install leather on the door panels if their process screwed things up? They would have filed Chapter 11 years ago.

I ordered my car in July - there were no options. Should I have sat on the floor until MB leather was available?

Of course, my "I'll be dead - I won't care" comment was tongue-in-cheek! Sheesh. I really think that you two are making too much out of this. Doing anything to your stock car is dicey - that's why smart people usually keep them stock. The CST option is about $200-300 over stock (ignoring overall discount on C5 pkg) - not really a big deal on a $30k car.

greg230

no offense people, do you realize the force that airbags deploy at??? its gigantic.

people have had their arms broken because they were depressing the horn when the airbag discharged. the force can actually push your arms to the side away from the steering wheel with enough power to BREAK your thumbs if they are wrapped around the wheel.

i really dont think the concept of breakaway thread is so revolutionary that CST cant master it.

lets make the ultimate sacrifice, someone smash tommys car in the side, and see if his bags deploy. if they do we are alright!

j/k

greg

galaxygrrl

I had a long discussion with CST and MB. Between both of them there is plenty of insurance coverage for the worst case scenario. One warranty ends where the next one begins.

My CST leather was only $90 more. My friend has the factory leather and I have CST. We actually compared our seats and decided her leather was a little tighter (but not much) fitting to the chair, the CST is much more softer and a bit more sumptuous as a result. I like the soft leather better but it's personal preference.

My dealership did say they could take my car back as a Starmark, but I'll be trading it in for a Saab 9-3 ragtop. Can't believe I'm thinking about the next one already.

hphan

Ooooh... 9-3 ragtop. I was mighty tempted by one. I've had a 900 turbo, a 9000 turbo, and I got real anxious yesterday waiting for my C230 to come in so I swung by the Saab dealership and test drove a Viggen. The convertible was *really* tempting...