CHEAP leather seats!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 533
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From: Westchester, NY
2009 C-300 Sport
CHEAP leather seats!
Yesterday I get out of my car and I hear a noise of something pop or rip. So I start looking at my jeans and there was nothing wrong with them and when I turn around to look at the my seat, I see that the leather had ripped. The part where it ripped is on the left side of the driver seat, on the exterior part of facing the door. So it looks to me like it popped with the air pressure of when I was sitting down and I don't know how that happen. So now Im having this guy come fix it tomorrow at my house who was recommended to me by a friend who works at Mercedes and he said that the guy would do it for cheaper if I just talk to him personally. This Sucks!!! 
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Westchester, NY
2009 C-300 Sport
I went to the dealership yesterday and they said that they are not responsible for this cause is physical damage cause they don't know if I cut it my self or not, which it was ridiculous. They said that it's like if I needed new tires.
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
Try a different dealership or contact MB. As long as its not a cut or tear, its covered under the warranty. I had both driver and passenger seats replaced on a 2000 ML that was under warranty, the seams had frayed and come unstitched.
Last edited by chilledbenz; Dec 23, 2009 at 12:30 AM.
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
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From: Switzerland
C 320 CDI 4M W204 / C43 AMG (W202) / C 220 CDI T (S203) / ZX-10R Ninja
Sorry to hear that! For me I got another problem with the leather seats. Just got my car for one year and aprox 11k miles on it. My leather seat on the driver side looks like over 100k miles and 10 years old
Just talked to my wife, whe works at my dealership and she told me that they would do fix your problem under warranty! Try another dealershipI Hope they will fix it for you!
Just talked to my wife, whe works at my dealership and she told me that they would do fix your problem under warranty! Try another dealershipI Hope they will fix it for you!
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
MB Tex Rules, but seriously:-
Have a look at the tear through a powerful magnifying glass . You should be able to see that the fibres are frayed in which case, warranty should cover you or if they are sharply cut you are up the creek without a paddle.
Have a look at the tear through a powerful magnifying glass . You should be able to see that the fibres are frayed in which case, warranty should cover you or if they are sharply cut you are up the creek without a paddle.
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From: Westchester, NY
2009 C-300 Sport
Thanks every1 for the help but I just ended up getting this guy to fix it for me and it looks great, the only thing is that it cost me $150 to get it fixed which it sucks!!! Happy Holidays to every1
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From: Irvine, CA
2009 C350
Good to hear it was resolved. Your dealership really should have been a bit more helpful. =/ Maybe offer you a quote or at least direct you to some other source for getting it fixed. At least you found help yourself.
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
Grey interior? My Grey/Black Sport seats look awful as well, seems you can clean them and they will be that dirty black color within a week. I have Cashmere in my R class and don't have this problem.
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
I have this problem in my W203 which is a very light color (real leather inserts / the rest is MB Tex). It seems that whatever you use to clean / treat your leather, the more oily it is, the more dirt it attracts. I scrubbed all the leather with a brush a few months ago and the leather looks like new again. Just be careful not to do any damage!
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Leather should be kept soft & pliable after cleaning with the use of a good quality leather conditioner. If you use the right one it will not be oily & attract dust . It should soak in & be polished off with a soft rag.
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From: Switzerland
C 320 CDI 4M W204 / C43 AMG (W202) / C 220 CDI T (S203) / ZX-10R Ninja
No black, have to talk to the dealer wihtin the next weeks about that!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
It's amazing how much muck ostensibly clean clothing can transfer onto light leather seats. Especially after sitting in dirty aircraft. I have light alpaca grey full leather. Every few months I wash down the seats carefully with very mild detergent & treat with Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather cleaner/conditioner & it looks fine after 6 years of use. What I like about Mequiar's is that it does not make the leather shine. My steering wheel & seats still have that matte leather look.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Glyn,The leather looks brand new. You have not been carrying any sheep on those seats! Just shows what a little regular maintenance can do .
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I'm very happy the way my SA leather has held up. I really don't fuss over the leather excessively. In fairness the vehicle is garaged so it's exposure to SA's harsh sunlight is controlled.
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From: Westchester, NY
2009 C-300 Sport
Glyn the leather on those seats look brand new as I can see. Keep up the great job on maintaining those seats looking brand new. I will try that treatment on mine seats now and see the results. Thanks for the advice.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Boris - I think one of the tricks is not to let things deteriorate too far or you are in for a big job. If you don't let seats get filthy then cleaning is dead easy. On the perforated seats I use a soft ladies hair brush to remove small amounts of residue from the Meguiar's. You don't have perforated seats so it will be easier. The Mequiar's is a very low residue product however - just me being ****. Never damage the outer colour layer of the leather - No metal zips on jeans etc.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 28, 2009 at 05:36 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
If you are operating a Taxi - yes. For those that like it I wish Benz would double stitch it so that it looks less bargain basement.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Out of interest - One of our local bus companies (fleet 8000 vehicles) did an evaluation of Connolly Commercial leather vs. every man made fabric/vinyl made for bus seats. This included MBTex as many of the luxury coaches were Benz. Leather proved over many years to be more durable than any of the man made products in SA's harsh conditions. What finally killed it off was cost. Leather simply became too expensive.
