efru

Sorry if this is a repost, I really did look around here for an answer but found nothing so here it goes..

Does anyone have a picture of the difference between leather inserts vs. full leather? Or if you could describe it to me that'd be great too.

Thanks in advance.

Mercedes101

Best thing is to compare both at a dealer. i believe the only visible clue is that the door panels are smooth on the vinyl and gathered on the leather. I don't think you can visually tell on the seats unless you look really closely and the MB Tex will appear artifically smooth which isnt really a bad thing. I have the Tex and never thought i was missing out on anything.

amdeutsch

Sure there is. Real leather carries double row stiching whereas the inserts are single row on the seats.

Anyway, if you go to the stealers be careful. For MY04 only the front seats are leather inserts now. The rest is MBtex.

revstriker

Do you mean that full leather is no longer an option?

I also have the MBTex with the leather inserts. I have no complaints.

amdeutsch

Full leather is still an option. What I was referring to is that only the fronts in MY04 have leather inserts with the rest being MBTex whereas in previous MYs both front and rear seating surfaces where leather inserts.

tom incredibie

i would get leather inserts again. IMO it'll last longer, but its not as comfortable IMO. the only thing that bugs me are the doors.

MJ50

i have leather inserts...
everything's okay except the material of the center armrest and the door handles... not what i expected from 30k+ car...

tifosiv122

The armrest is the same on all cars (unless I am mistaken) as is the door handles.

Erik

revstriker

Aren't the leather inserts standard?? I think all cars in the US, minus the cloth interior ones have leather inserts (not counting the exception that amdeutsch just listed). It's the sides of the seats and the door panels that are MB Tex unless you get the full leather upgrade.

Junbug

I have the standard leather inserts and not the full-leather option. I am sure if the two were side by side, I might be able to tell the difference, but in passing (getting in and out of my car facing forward) I cannot tell and I am very satisfied with my partial leather seats

Junbug

Also, wouldn't the MB tex be a little more durable compared to the leather, especially in the side bolsters that I tend to scuff everytime I get in to the car?

revstriker

I agree. I believe they are.

Sincity

I agree. I had an E46 with sport seats and bolsters wear pretty quickly. I also had a W202 with Sport Seats with full leather and bolsters wear.

MB Tex is very durable and stays supple for many years. My parents still have their 86 190e and the MB Tex feels the same as it did back in 86. The only exception to the MB Tex rule is the MB Tex on MLs just plain suk compared to the German MB Tex. They must have used an American supplier for the interior like the rest of the components.

Guest0001

I Should have gotten the Leather inserts.

I would Pocket 1,500 and would never have to clean and condition my seats and know one would know the difference.

I have a silver on black car so I really dont have too much work anyway. But the inserts would have really made it less! I ll learn from my mistake.

tom incredibie

care to trade door side inserts? :p

MB-BOB

Um, you still have to clean and condition the leather insert portion of the seats. And you clean the MB-Tex portion of the seats with a different product. That's all. I do so three times a year, whether it needs it or not.

You are right though. Unless you are a MB afficionado and know about the double row stitching, you can't tell the difference between the inserts and the full leather. BTW, full leather is a misnomer... The seats is NOT full leather. The leather option gives you seat bolsters (panels to either side of the inserts that touch your body) in leather in place of the MB-Tex. The rear of the seat, seat sides below the bolsters and the headrest remain MB-Tex.

Whether you like the ruffled leather door inserts is strictly a matter of taste. I personally do not like the leather in the doors, because they look like they were stitched by a German having drunk too many Lowenbraus.

tifosiv122

LMFAO

Erik