MB Tex OR Leather?
01-11-2008, 11:50 PM
#26
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
You wouldn't be able to tell the two apart in a photo, unless your a MB fanatic and you would notice that the leather package has stitched inserts on the door panels. You need to see the two in person to really notice any differences, and those are slim. In my findings I have found that in the C class cars the leather isn't of a higher grade as say in the S or CL cars, so finding differences becomes harder. The stitched door inserts do look great and the leather has a smoother feel to it than the MBTex, but after sitting in both back to back, there isnt enough difference to spend $1550 bucks on (P1 package is $1,400 for comparison)
01-12-2008, 01:34 AM
#27
Senior Member
I had leather on my past 2 cars (audi a4 and infiniti fx45).
I drove my C350 for over a month before noticing that it was not leather (the fact that I didn' noticed this is kind of embarrassing since I am a very picky person) I had to look on the invoice to actual confirm it. I am very pleased with the mb-tex. I would describe it as synthetic leather, which has ALL the benefits of leather (IMO) and none of the drawbacks, and its $1500 less.
And believe me, no one will be able to tell that it is not leather (not that there is a need to fool anyone though).
I drove my C350 for over a month before noticing that it was not leather (the fact that I didn' noticed this is kind of embarrassing since I am a very picky person) I had to look on the invoice to actual confirm it. I am very pleased with the mb-tex. I would describe it as synthetic leather, which has ALL the benefits of leather (IMO) and none of the drawbacks, and its $1500 less.
And believe me, no one will be able to tell that it is not leather (not that there is a need to fool anyone though).
Last edited by Bokx_350; 01-12-2008 at 01:37 AM.
01-12-2008, 08:59 AM
#28
Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2014 E350 Coupe Steel Gray
01-12-2008, 09:07 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Covington wa
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05 SL500, 02 BMW Z3 (Mrs. VF), 05 FJR1300, 91 ZX-11
I just had a new BMW 328 loaner last week when my wife's car was in for service. The seats were very nice, but you could tell they weren't leather instantly.
01-12-2008, 10:04 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
Given plenty of rides in my car and nobody has asked about the seats. Maybe they assume that if it's a Merc, it's gotta be hide.
I've had MBtex, leather, and fabric. And I am least impressed with the leather (granted it's on Acura/Honda -- which IMHO gives you the crappiest leather on the market)... lots of maintenance, cracks, and dimples/stretch-marks. Was quite happy with the fabric on the Lexus (oh yeah... cloth seats on a Lexus... figure that one out) but expect problems with wear as the car gets older.
We've had W202's in the family... both in MBtex and leather. The MBtex holds up much better than the leather.
Sometimes, I wonder if it is all in people's minds that they have to have leather in their cars.
And doesn't the smell of leather come from the processing? i.e., the wash and glue, etc.?
I've had MBtex, leather, and fabric. And I am least impressed with the leather (granted it's on Acura/Honda -- which IMHO gives you the crappiest leather on the market)... lots of maintenance, cracks, and dimples/stretch-marks. Was quite happy with the fabric on the Lexus (oh yeah... cloth seats on a Lexus... figure that one out) but expect problems with wear as the car gets older.
We've had W202's in the family... both in MBtex and leather. The MBtex holds up much better than the leather.
Sometimes, I wonder if it is all in people's minds that they have to have leather in their cars.
And doesn't the smell of leather come from the processing? i.e., the wash and glue, etc.?
01-12-2008, 11:42 AM
#32
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SFV CA
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
Given plenty of rides in my car and nobody has asked about the seats. Maybe they assume that if it's a Merc, it's gotta be hide.
I've had MBtex, leather, and fabric. And I am least impressed with the leather (granted it's on Acura/Honda -- which IMHO gives you the crappiest leather on the market)... lots of maintenance, cracks, and dimples/stretch-marks. Was quite happy with the fabric on the Lexus (oh yeah... cloth seats on a Lexus... figure that one out) but expect problems with wear as the car gets older.
We've had W202's in the family... both in MBtex and leather. The MBtex holds up much better than the leather.
Sometimes, I wonder if it is all in people's minds that they have to have leather in their cars.
And doesn't the smell of leather come from the processing? i.e., the wash and glue, etc.?
I've had MBtex, leather, and fabric. And I am least impressed with the leather (granted it's on Acura/Honda -- which IMHO gives you the crappiest leather on the market)... lots of maintenance, cracks, and dimples/stretch-marks. Was quite happy with the fabric on the Lexus (oh yeah... cloth seats on a Lexus... figure that one out) but expect problems with wear as the car gets older.
We've had W202's in the family... both in MBtex and leather. The MBtex holds up much better than the leather.
Sometimes, I wonder if it is all in people's minds that they have to have leather in their cars.
And doesn't the smell of leather come from the processing? i.e., the wash and glue, etc.?
01-12-2008, 01:55 PM
#33
Senior Member
What some people call “that pleasant leather smell” is nothing more that the smell from all the chemicals used to prepare the leather.
01-12-2008, 02:21 PM
#34
Senior Member
So... What did you decide?
I have the MB tex with leather inserts only because it came with the package.
The only way you can tell them apart is that the leather is slightly wrinkled and doesn't look as good as the MB tex.
If I had a choice I would go with the tex.
The only way you can tell them apart is that the leather is slightly wrinkled and doesn't look as good as the MB tex.
If I had a choice I would go with the tex.
01-12-2008, 02:59 PM
#35
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1996 Mercedes Benz C220
I'm curious of there are two kinds of cows out there or something after reading everyone's horror stories about leather??? Smells, tears, wears, wrinkles, can't clean, coloring wears off, it eats your homework, its sadomasochistic, etc.????
I've owned 5 cars with leather, none of them german, but two of them Scandanavian, two japanese, one Yankee, and for each the leather never smelled, it held up well, cleaned up easily , it didn't rip, the coloring agent never rubbed off. The only thing it did was looked nice and, yes, developed creases/wrinkles as you would expect leather to do as it wears.
I'm not saying here that leather is better or worse than MB Tex (okay, I think leather is better even though I bought MB Tex), what I'm trying to say is that either German leather sucks or the prior posters here have had some abnormally bad experiences with leather!
I've owned 5 cars with leather, none of them german, but two of them Scandanavian, two japanese, one Yankee, and for each the leather never smelled, it held up well, cleaned up easily , it didn't rip, the coloring agent never rubbed off. The only thing it did was looked nice and, yes, developed creases/wrinkles as you would expect leather to do as it wears.
I'm not saying here that leather is better or worse than MB Tex (okay, I think leather is better even though I bought MB Tex), what I'm trying to say is that either German leather sucks or the prior posters here have had some abnormally bad experiences with leather!
Their real leather has always been known to be rubbish.
01-12-2008, 03:08 PM
#36
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SFV CA
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
yea is hard to tell the diference if you do not know what to look for. I would rather had cloth stead of mb tex, is like wearing a leather jacket or a windbraker.
01-12-2008, 04:08 PM
#37
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
10-10-2009, 07:00 PM
#39
Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2005 C230 Kompressor Sedan
I have Tex in my 09 C300 and Sensatec in my wife's 09 X3. The MB pleather is MUCH nicer than BMW's, but both look and feel as though they will last forever.
My 05 C230 had leather interior and I think the Tex in my new C300 is every bit as comfortable and just as good-looking.
My 05 C230 had leather interior and I think the Tex in my new C300 is every bit as comfortable and just as good-looking.
10-11-2009, 04:04 AM
#40
Every car I've owned has been leather and I've always loved it. There are a few subtle differences I've seen in the craftsmanship of my Mercedes, like where the leather attaches at the edges of the seat, they use a cloth instead of full leather seams. At first I thought this was just to save money, but having thought about it, that's where the most stress against the leather was, and my old seats had the most wear. So I'm curious to see how well these seats age, I'm confident they will do well. I've never had a problem taking care of my leathers, and keeping them looking nice.
Also, if you get the MB Tex, I don't believe you get the upgraded (10 way) seat controls with memory settings and such.
Also, if you get the MB Tex, I don't believe you get the upgraded (10 way) seat controls with memory settings and such.
10-11-2009, 03:01 PM
#41
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
E350
I have MB Tex in both my E350's, and had it in my previous C240 and C230 Coupe.
Honestly, if MB offered leather at no additional charge, I'd consider it because of the upgraded 10-way seat adjustment, the *slightly* softer feel of MB leather, the "upgraded" headrests, and I like the more expensive "wavy" look on the door inserts (as opposed to the flat "plastic-like" appearance that comes with the MB Tex).
However, strictly speaking material-wise, if all else remains the same I'd probably opt for MB Tex for easy of cleaning and maintainence.
For a $1,500 price difference, I chose MB Tex.
NOTE: Some feature differences above may only pertain to the E-Class, and not the C-Class.
Last edited by chokaay; 10-11-2009 at 03:08 PM.
10-11-2009, 07:00 PM
#42
Super Moderator
Full leather is fabulous - can you get full leather? - that's the way to go. The decent door panels & full double stitching make the leather interior look far better than an MB Tex interior. The non leather door panels really suck. Both our 203 & 204 are full leather. My 203 is 6 years old & the leather is perfect - as new. We live in a hot country & the SA leather is excellent. Also less sweaty to sit on.
10-11-2009, 07:01 PM
#43
Two things to take into account about leather is that three different levels of leather quality are offered by MB, plus the fact that in America leather is spray dyed and in Europe is vat dyed (better). And the option prices go up very fast.
10-11-2009, 07:10 PM
#44
Super Moderator
Both European & South African leather are vat dyed. SA probably provides 50% of MB Europes requirement.
10-12-2009, 12:55 AM
#45
MBWorld Fanatic!
This is the first car I had without leather and I don't miss it at all.
It looks just like leather, and I have a dog so it really stands up to all the wear and dirt from my pup's paws.
I also like that it is very low maintanence.
It looks just like leather, and I have a dog so it really stands up to all the wear and dirt from my pup's paws.
I also like that it is very low maintanence.
10-12-2009, 11:48 AM
#47
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
W204
Had a W203 with leather before my W204. On the invoice for my new car, it said MB-Tex and I thought it was going to feel/look cheap. When the car arrived, I thought they'd made a mistake and that I got real leather. It seems after reading this thread, I was fooled... 
You CANNOT tell the difference by look alone. MBTex feels ever so slightly less soft than real MB leather.
You CANNOT tell the difference by look alone. MBTex feels ever so slightly less soft than real MB leather.
10-12-2009, 05:47 PM
#48
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bay Shore, NY
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
2009 C300 4Matic Sport P2/MM/Steel Gray
I noticed on some C300's they have leather stitched door panels, i'm guessing this comes with the leather package. Is it possible to order the leather covered door panels? If so anybody got part numbers?
see picture below (I stole it from the picture thread, sorry dion ;P)...
see picture below (I stole it from the picture thread, sorry dion ;P)...
Last edited by cbcharlie; 10-12-2009 at 05:51 PM.
10-12-2009, 08:28 PM
#49
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Cheap
Had a W203 with leather before my W204. On the invoice for my new car, it said MB-Tex and I thought it was going to feel/look cheap. When the car arrived, I thought they'd made a mistake and that I got real leather. It seems after reading this thread, I was fooled...
You CANNOT tell the difference by look alone. MBTex feels ever so slightly less soft than real MB leather.
You CANNOT tell the difference by look alone. MBTex feels ever so slightly less soft than real MB leather.
As you can tell by now, I specified leather and it was well worth the cost. Of course, if your car is in barnyard service, hauling sheep to market etc. then Tex is preferable.
10-12-2009, 08:33 PM
#50
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Applied by roller?
Piffle!
