broke_R

what is everyones opinions. Thanks

tanktube67

It's a MB you have to go with Leather

Oh Cool

angeloxnet

i disagree, real leather and the mbtext is almost the same
in my opinion the "fake" stuff is more durable, less prone to stretching and is easier to clean, it doesnt feel as "stiff" especially in the cold months.

but hey thats my opinion

Krytech

There is probably a half dozen threads on this subject already. Try searching the forums.

That said, I opted for the tex since it will look new forever and the only people sitting in my back seats are my 1 and 3 year olds and their car seats so the durability will be nice.

No regrets at all. Feels great, everyone else thinks it's leather and it even smells like leather once I applied some Z-10 Leather in a Bottle from Zaino.

oblu

Dealers seem to disagree ... around here they don't put them on the lot, mbtex only.

tanktube67

It's just like wearing a leather jacket or a windbreaker other wise is almost the same.

They disagree because they have mbtex on the lot so they want to sell cars, today.

angeloxnet

Umm have to disagree with YOUR comparison if I said
cloth vrs leather, then maybe

but if u do some research you will find them very similar:

"
MBTEX, sometimes called "Taxi Leather" is a vinyl-like Leather-looking synthetic material that has been commonly used in Mercedes-Benz Vehicles for many years now. MBTEX is a a sort of rubbery-feeling material that has a grained look similar to leather but usually more uniform than leather. To the unknowing passenger (and sometimes owners) MBTEX is actually what you are sitting on, and not actually real leather.

In many newer Mercedes-Benz models "MBTEX with Leather inserts" is the standard equipment. Full leather interior is often an option and not included without an additional cost. Many Mercedes-Benz owners have probably bought their car not realizing that the seats are not full leather.

MBTEX can be very difficult to tell from Leather, as without really close inspection there is not a real "obvious" difference. Most cars that are sold with "MBTEX with Leather inserts" have the center parts of the seats (the parts you sit on and your back rests against) as real leather, and the seat bolsters, sides, headrests, armrests and seat backs as MBTEX. You can often tell the parts of your seats that are real leather as they are usually perforated (the perforation is necessary in order to allow the leather to "breath"). This real leather is often the panels where your bottom sits and where your back rests against the seat. There is also often sections of real leather on the door panels. Everything else is usually MBTEX, unless you got the full leather option of course.

Many dealers and people who are familiar with MBTEX will actually recommend it over Leather. It is commonly joked that you can tell if a 10 year old car has leather or MBTEX. The car with MBTEX interior will still look new while the car with leather will look worn. MBTEX is much more durable than leather, easier to clean and requires less attention. MBTEX is also a good idea to have on the seat bolsters as this is an area that is commonly worked well by drivers and passengers entering and exiting the vehicle. Leather bolsters will eventually crease and these creases over time develop into cracks. MBTEX does not have this crease problem.

MBTEX will outlast leather many times over and most individuals can not tell its difference from leather. MBTEX is an excellent choice for anyone who has children, or plans on owning their Mercedes-Benz for a long time."

AsianML

My leather still looks brand new.

jstaneff

That's that I thought too. My XC70 has leather, and it's very nice, good seats, etc. I was very happy with the state of the leather. It's a 2004, and is holding up well.

Um. With the C, I've got MBtex. The comparison is amazing. Now my leather seats look old and worn. MBtex is fabulous. And I know from experience that it will hold up for many, many years.

NB. my Wrangler has Detroit vinyl. It's got about 21K miles on it and the vinyl is already cracked and torn. Huge difference in appearance, etc. And all I ever did was sit on it (didn't even leave it out in the sun very much). Vinyl sux.

tanktube67

That's what it is a taxi seat inserts, a comertial vinyl fabric.

C, E, CLK and ML class

^+1
It's just like anything else, it will last as long you take care of it.

itcrashed

anyone car argue for either one, both with valid arguments...

but what got me off the fence was that leather was stiched at the edges and mbtex wasn't...for me, it was added "luxurious look" considering how simple the rest of the interior appears. it added a little bit of a excitement to the interior IMO.

again, everyone had their reasons...that was one of mine.

acr2001

Another vote for MBTEX here (with leather inserts).
Far better than all leather because the areas that get a lot of abuse look brand new forever. And honestly, no one really knows the difference unless they're looking into buying an MB themselves and have heard about MBTEX.

If it looked so much different from real leather how do you think they could get away with using leather inserts on all the seats? It would stick out like a sore thumb.

When I bought my car The seats were a bit dirty looking from use. I was able to scrub the mb tex with a hard brush and it looks 100% new. The leather inserts were much more of a challenge to get looking new.

tanktube67

How you explain fake Rolex watches, I know, it's just an example.

^+1
Thank you! I agree.

Oh Cool

I had MB Tex in my last Benz and it was nice but having the leather now I can definitely see and feel the difference, the MB Tex can be immediately identified by the perforations. Since I conditioned my leather seats they now have that low luster luxurious look, and feel much softer.

and the debate goes on...................

angeloxnet

Its one thing to prefer leather over the MBtex, and every side has arguments, pros and cons.. but i really don't like your comparisons an analogies,

first you said mbtex and leather is like the difference between
"leather coat and windbreaker"

then your saying its like a real rolex and a fake rolex. Very ignorant statement from a Mercedes owner, are you forgetting that Mbtex IS OFFERED BY MB? it is STILL of high quality and is still engineered by Mercedes to provide you with comfort, durability, etc.. let's not forget that.

it's ok to prefer one over the other, but to start saying it's like owning a windbreaker or a fake rolex is something i strongly disagree with

tanktube67

I used it as example I'm not comparing oranges and peaches.

You are not reading all the previous posts, I assumed

Untertürkheim

The worst part of bringing my car in for service is that the C loaners they use have MB tex. It feels nothing like leather. The only similarity is the appearance.

kjpifer

Not to stir the pot more, because I have agonized over this decision. But if MB Tex is so good, why is it not even offered as an option on the S, CL, SL, CLK, CLS, SLK, or any AMG model?

acr2001

I had heard that mbtex was what came on those stock unless you paid for the upgrade. I could have easily heard wrong.

acr2001

Uh yea, a fake rolex is of lower quality and often does not last for a long time the way a real one does.

MB tex holds up better than leather over time and requires less maintenance.

If you wanted to make a good point you could say that the stitching on the real leather looks better (I was not aware of this).

AsianML

Nope, those are all leather. Nappa leather is an option instead of the regular leather on some of them.

Stiggs

Mine doesn't

AsianML

You must be fat.

RLE

<<i disagree, real leather and the mbtext is almost the same
in my opinion the "fake" stuff is more durable, less prone to stretching and is easier to clean, it doesnt feel as "stiff" especially in the cold months.

but hey thats my opinion>>

mbtext? is that an MB book of some sort?

It is MB TEX. That's what they have called their plastic seat material for decades.