MB Tex OR Leather?
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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From: MD, USA
C350 - Steel Gray + MM + 18" AMG + IPod
MB Tex OR Leather?
Was wondering which is best since I have a 4 yr old. At first, I was defaulting to Leather but after reading a bit, might have to go with MBTex. Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot!
Thanks a lot!
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 201
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From: Colorado
2008 C350 Sport, 2007 ML320 CDI
Before I ordered my car, I was hell-bent on avoiding the MB Tex. After looking at a black tex interior and realizing that I wouldn't have to obsess over conditioning the leather (I live in a DRY climate), watching the "petina" appear over the months, etc., I ordered the tex. I can't remember the last time I had a car without leather. But I don't regret omitting leather on my order sheet. If I were you, I wouldn't think twice about getting the tex interior. Save the money and save the headache the first time a sticky drink gets spilled in the back seat!
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 811
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From: Toronto, ON
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
I have a one year old at home and didn't hesitate a single bit in ordering the MB Tex. With the car seat and the the mess he makes, I would not be happy cleaning up the leather seats.
Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 244
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From: Texas
2014 E350 Coupe Steel Gray
I had leather in the last 3 cars because I always thought that was the pinnacle of elegance.
What is did to me was gave me bad headaches for the first few months because of the chemical smell of the leather. I had to drive around with the windows down or with the sunroof pulled back to stand it until the headaches or the smell left. With mbtex, I didn't have this problem at all. For me, I was able to enjoying the car from day 1. Not to mention, I don't have the stress of my kid dropping something on them!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
This question always pops up on here and I guess everyone has their own choice, but more often than not people go with the MBTex for the simple reason you can't really tell the two apart. Honestly if Benz didn't tell you it was MBTex you wouldn't know the difference. Plus when you order the leather package, only the inserts are leather (the parts you touch), the rest is MBTex.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
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This question always pops up on here and I guess everyone has their own choice, but more often than not people go with the MBTex for the simple reason you can't really tell the two apart. Honestly if Benz didn't tell you it was MBTex you wouldn't know the difference.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 184
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From: Ontario, Canada
2008 - S550 4Matic, 2010 - E350 4Matic, 2010 - C350 4Matic
I have had both and I can tell you if you are a perfectionist and like it when you car just looks perfect, MB Tex is for you, since after years of use it looks like the first day you got the car. Leather, being organic will show wear.
I always admire the German Taxis, even with 1 Million KM on the odometer the seats look like new.
Yes the car does not have the "leather smell".
Jorg
I always admire the German Taxis, even with 1 Million KM on the odometer the seats look like new.
Yes the car does not have the "leather smell".
Jorg
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Brisbane, Australia
C200K (w204)
The leather that comes with the new C is pretty good, nicely textured means it doesn't get 'patch up' too much. I use to dislike the leather on the older Benz, but time has changed.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Phoenix, AZ
2014 Ghibli S Q4 & 2008 C350
I struggled with this as well but finally decided to go with the mbtex. Having two kids, it was probably a good decision. Other than the smell, I couldn't really tell the difference at the dealer. Our last couple cars have had leather, and leather does clean up ok from the kids mess, but it also shows signs of wear rather quickly. I read on another forum that MB uses relatively inexpensive leather in the C Class cars. But, I do like the stitching on the actual leather.
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From: Irvine, CA
C300 Sport, MM, P1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Toronto
2008 C300 Sport 4matic
Mercedes and you could also say BMW make the best vinyl materials in the industry for decades now.
I have friends who hated the leather on earlier models in the 90's as the smell was overbearing and nausiating, but luckily recent models don't have that problem.
MB-tex will age so much better and have less maintanence issues than leather. It's also more practical if you have dogs or kids. The MB-tex is more convincing than some of the real leather surfaces out there.
I have friends who hated the leather on earlier models in the 90's as the smell was overbearing and nausiating, but luckily recent models don't have that problem.
MB-tex will age so much better and have less maintanence issues than leather. It's also more practical if you have dogs or kids. The MB-tex is more convincing than some of the real leather surfaces out there.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 402
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From: Jet City, USA
'08 W204.081; M 272.948 KE30; Colour Code#792
So far I haven't regretted getting MB-Tex. I have to get used to the fact that this $40k car doesn't have leather seats... but the material has got all my friends fooled. I don't even have to lie. 
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From: Wyckoff, New Jersey & Alphabet City NYC
86 190E 2.3-16v, 92 500E, 03 CL55 AMG, 08 E3504M Brabus
Can somebody post a side by side comparison of the MB tex seats vs the real leather? I'm just curious....
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
I have had plenty of vehicles with leather. I don't miss it. I opted for MB Tex after seeing "synthetic leather" in older BMW's and the newer Volkswagen Passats. You can't tell the difference (except they look brand new years later). They are also incredibly easy to care for (wipe with damp cloth and that's it)
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From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
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From: Northern NJ
C3004Matic Sport, Blk on Blk, Pano, P1, MMC, Ipod
are there two kinds of leather out there?
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!
Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 244
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From: Texas
2014 E350 Coupe Steel Gray
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!
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 808
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From: nyc
528i, GLK
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!
you are actually correct, well half right atleast. It has to do with different layer and parts of the cow that provides the leather. This makes up the leather with different grain. Different process also dictates how "fine" the leather will be. Think of as leather jacket at different price range and different "softness"
You will often fine that the finer and softer leather is, the more subjectable it is to environment tarnish and hence more maint. on your part.
Cheaper leather are usually the rougher leather that required sanding to make it smooth but also outlasts the finer leather grade.
my sister's nissan pathfinder has leather, didn't feel as nice as my bmw but it held up much better after years.
