PMB600,

I work in industry registering products with the USEPA. There is absolutly no evidence that vinyl or leather are dangerous to your health. I think that it is DMG3 that owes us some facts. He claims that vinyl releases toxic chemicals onto your legs and hands. Where is his evidence to this fact? It is pure fantasy, as well as his notion that natural things are inherently safer then synthetic things. Some of the most dangerous compounds on earth are natural. For example hydrogen cyanide is found extensively in nature, and an HCN concentration of 300 parts per million in air will kill a human within a few minutes. In fact it has been used as a chemical weapon. Do you have any evidence that anyone has been harmed by there car seats?

Perf/no perf
 

<<Tex = perforated

Leather = non-perforated>>

Not exactly. My '01 C320 has $1375 worth of leather interior and:

The leather seat bolsters are not perforated.

The leather seat inserts are perforated.

No I'm referring to the W204. The W203 had perforated areas regardless. The W204 has non perforated on leather interiors.

Leather better
 

<<No I'm referring to the W204. The W203 had perforated areas regardless. The W204 has non perforated on leather interiors.>>

The posted pictures of both Tex and leather in Beige show that and the leather looks much better. Whenever my car shows it face, I'll try to post some clear pix of the beige leather interior.

Yeah it does look better, but don't be fooled. The tex pic is a bad press pic from MBUSA while the leather interior one is from the DaimlerChrysler Media website. That pic was obviously taken indoors with proper lighting and a professional photographer.

I did get to sit in a C300 Luxury with Savanna/Cashmere leather interior the other night when MBUSA came to speak at my school. They brought a Sport and a Luxury, both pre-production press models because they had seat memory.

It is really interesting that HCN can be neutralized just by a glass of wine. So natural things are dangerous when you can't get a good drink.

I just realized the entire door panels in the C are 100% hard plastic, horrible! However, when you order leather, center panels come cladded with leather (MB tex?) which makes leather a near must.

For those of you with black MB Tex...how do you clean it? It shows up the littlest bit of dirt (from my kid's dusty paws). Is there something that can be applied to the surface to minimize the amount of dirt/dust that shows?

I never understood why anyone would want a plastic (MB-Tex) interior on any car, especially a MB, it really feels unpleasant against the flesh.

You've driven in leather and MB Tex cars naked too? :D

That is absolutely hilarious....driving naked....it would be fun with the heated seats though :y

Not quite, but shorts, swimsuits, or short sleeve shirts all allow for a lot of contact.

With all the new ventilation and massage functions becoming available, I would not be suprised if the nacktfahrer became more common.:D

Even with shorts and t-shirt, I don't see how there can be much skin-on-MBTex, or skin-on-leather contact. Perhaps some pictures would quell the naysayers. :naughty:

I have the MBTex interior and am happy with my choice. The carseat left some serious indentations on the leather interior of my TL (thank God that was a lease vehicle). Given that this will be the second MB with MBTex in our family, I am fully confident that the MBTex will hold up better. My parent's 6 year old "tan" leather interior C200 already looks old.

Flesh?
 

<<I never understood why anyone would want a plastic (MB-Tex) interior on any car, especially a MB, it really feels unpleasant against the flesh.>>

Put your pants back on.

I have the MB Tex with Leather inserts and you can bearly tell the difference between the two. The MB leather is very heavy and durable not supple like a lexus. Don't think I would go for all leather if I had it to do all over again. I took the leather inserts cause it came with the car.

You have to see it for your self to help you decide. Go to the showroom and check it out

Good Luck

I think you better check it again, the MB Tex version of Interior door panel has only little area of hard plastic at the bottom of the door by the speaker. Top section uses the same material as the dashboard. center panels is MB Tex. Handle area is rubberish material. Right below, the inserted area is the only part that uses the hard plastic but the bottom panel is covered with cloth meterial. The only thing that is different between MB Tex and leather interior as far as the door panel goes is the center panel meterial (either Leather or MB Tex).

I have MB Tex interior and the door does not look or feel cheap at all.

Thank You !!

I hate leather!! all my previous cars I had leather....

Leather where?
 

<<The only thing that is different between MB Tex and leather interior as far as the door panel goes is the center panel material (either Leather or MB Tex)>>

Having read this, I went out to the garage and checked my C300's Beige leather door panels. The panel below the wood is leather with stitches as is the armrest/door pull. The storage pocket below and the speaker surround are darker tan and the pocket exterior has a soft finish.

The dealer convinced me to go with MB Tex when I got my C300. This past weekend I visited my brother in Maryland, he has a C230 with leather and couldn't tell the difference. He actually bought me leather cleaner, I didn't have the heart to tell him it wasn't leather.

BTW, what should I use to clean the MB Tex? Would there be a problem using the leather cleaner he bought me?

I am going to go with the leather because I found the door very unattractive with the MBTex, more so the grab handle is of a very cheap feeling material. I like how MB's leather is tough so I am not afraid of its durability.

Good choice, you will not regret it. Which color?

Yes you shouldn't use leather cleaner/conditioner on MB Tex. Use the MB interior care which is basically for any plastic.

99% sure black.. I am thinking white 350 with Pano and MM package and optional rims with leather.

On the C-Class models I tested, I found just the opposite to be true. I guess everyone's butt is different. :)