Tschuss_Bill

I think big wallets in pants pockets don't help matters.

Magic9669

I have the SAME exact crack in the same exact spot. Is this covered under warranty?

dgghostkilla

i got a similar issue on the drivers seat.
about in the same spot. what the hell is this.

woofwoofz

I have exactly the same problem for my 2009 C300 after around 34 months/50K km. I have the cover replaced at no charge by the dealer. It seems like a problem that is common to many people. I just replaced the 2009 with a 2012 C350 and also with MB Tex...I hope this will not happen again in 3 years.

Over 90% of the time the car was parked underground or indoor, I don't think the sun would play a part of this at all. Also, all the windows have UV projection coating on them and this re-enforces my previous point. Anyway, see the attached picture for my crack (left driver side right by the bolster area on the side).

LandSeaAir

Any good recommendations on vinyl protectant products?

303 protectant vs Duraglass Vinyl dressing?

dgghostkilla

i am interested in getting it fix, but i have a feeling the dealer is going to tell me to **** off and think that i took a knife and cut it or some bull**** like that

dgghostkilla

here is mine
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

wilanow56

All my previous MB vehicles seats were covered with leather. Never have a single issue and we owned 10 MB vehicles over past 30 years. The last one, 2003 E-500 I owned for 10 years before trading it in for a 2012 E-350 with vinyl seats due to no leather option on dealer's lot. I could order one with leather but they maintained that MB-Tex is more durable than leather. I shouldn't listen to salesman an go by mine instinct instead. Well, after two years of very lite use, "IN" and "OUT" once per day on average, my driver's seat lower cushion material started cracking at the seam, on both sides of the seat. So, weight is not an issue because there is not much weight or stress on the seat section by the center console. My weight is only 175 lb anyway and shouldn't be a factor. I still have two years or 40k miles left on MB warranty. The dealer will replace the lower cover one time only at their cost as a "good will" because seats are "wear and tear" items not cover by factory warranty. I tell you I almost lay an egg right were was standing after service manager statement. So, here it is legendary Mercedes- Benz prestige with a new, 21 century quality and customer care standard. Why to spend over 60k on a new vehicle if you could spend a half or less on a better quality vehicle which will most likely last longer than MB. So, if you are not a snob like I'm, forget about image and prestige and save yourself from disappointment. I'll try to attach some photos. Thanks for reading and please pass a word on quality of MB-Tex seats, which are not covered by bumper to bumper warranty. Total sadness!!!

dgghostkilla

i had the dealer fix mine under warranty last year :-)

95_993

This another bummer thread to read. I have MBTex...hoping it lasts. But doubt it since my car sees outdoors most if the time with huge range in temps. Wishing I had leather.

wilanow56

Hello everyone, MB brand is in my family for three generations and I'm continuing this tradition with some mixed feelings. Since 1997 my wife and I are driving E-Klasse and M-Klasse. We owned a total of eight MB's. All vehicles were with leather seats accept the last two. My 2012 E-350 Sport driver seat vinyl started cracking at the seam on bottom cushion, inner and outer bolster. My wife's 2014 M-350 started doing the same, also on driver's lower cushion. We are both in normal range of weight; 175 lb for me and 145 lb for my wife. We get in and out of vehicles twice a day. When we were purchasing each car there was not a single E or M on dealer's lot equipped with leather. I love leather for the feel and durability. I do not care what everyone says but the leather is superior if maintained (cleaned and oiled) every six months. I should never listen to the sale associate telling about vinyl's advantages over the leather because there is none. Vinyl is economical or cheap and that is the only advantage. I'm greatly disappointed with MB using vinyl in their $60k plus vehicles. I have made a huge mistake by not waiting and ordering both vehicles with the leather. I should be a little more careful next time and not to listen to salesman. The worst part of my story is that MB is not supporting their product and not covering seats under manufacturing four years warranty. Also, I'm tying to contact MB Rep almost on daily basis for the past three weeks and appears that they are ignoring me or hoping I'll go away. The MB Regional Rep is not returning my calls. Also, my last post with pictures was removed from this forum most likely by MB Forum moderator. I guess MB is afraid that their customers are communicating about quality issues or reporting porting problems. Hopefully this time they will let everyone to read about my experience with the MB Tex seats.

MBc300elvis

Hahah and you guys thought you had it bad 08 70k miles all my jeans got buttons on them

gspeaking

Just reading your post from sometime ago, did you ever get the seat fixed? Did you have to go to a dealer? What was the cost? Hope your still reading posts.

gspeaking

I just got an 08 E350 with 88 thousand miles. The seats are Cashmere in color and has a 10 in crack in the drivers seat on the left hand side. Can't seem to find a place to get it replaced other than the dealer and they wan 520 for the seat cover plus installation. Any suggestions?

baker124

I have a GLK350 with the same issue and MB offered to pay 50% of the material for one seat ($153 is 50%) and I would have to pay the labor of $289. The vehicle is just off warranty and I am not impressed with MB's response. I have owned several Audi's without upholstery issues such as this!
Is anyone away of an adhesive one could use to stop the current cracking (or other alternatives)?

baker124

I spoke to a custom repair shop on Vancouver Island and he told me I would be wasting my money to have it repaired as it will happen again. He has seen a lot of MB's with similar issues.....
We need to push MB as a group!!

MDMercedesGuy

I just discovered about a 1 inch crack in my seat bottom earlier. 2.5 years old, 29K miles, always garaged and cleaned per MB's instructions.

I emailed my service writer - I'm not too worried about it, and they should make it right. Mildly disappointed, but I am beginning plans to trade this car in so am not that worried.

SteveJB

2013 ML350 2 years old in August and has 35000 miles. Notice on drivers seat, side cushion several cracks about half inch long over 5-6 inch section. I have an appointment with dealership, hope its covered under warranty.

djf119

I ordered a 2012 W212 wagon with almost everything but leather, because I thought that the black leather wouldn't look any different from the MBTex, and that the vinyl would be more proactical in a wagon. However, I didn't notice that the MBTex interior didn't come with the ambient lighting. I'm also disappointed that the left side driver's seat bolster cracked on my W204 C300 Sport right after the warranty ended. I just ordered a W205, but am getting leather this time....

wilanow56

Hello, a couple of years ago I did report having an issue with my 2012 E-350 MB-Tex driver seat seam cracking or separation - see the earlier entry in this thread. The MB dealer in Lafayette, Indiana replaced the lower cover under the manufacturing warranty. I did protect the lower, replaced cushion cover with a 1" thick foam sheet wrapped in a towel. Conversation with the MB-USA didn't bring any positive resolution in finding a permanent solution. My concern was that the seat will crack again in the same area.
Well, a couple of years later my wife's 2014 ML-350 driver seat MB-Tex cover cracked or seam started separating in the same area my did - see attached pictures.
The vehicle has only 8000 miles and my wife (135 lb) is the only diver.
So, we are having over $120,000 invested in a couple of vehicle which are having an undeniable issue with a design and quality of the seating material. Over the period of several years we purchased eight MB vehicles from this dealership. Never had any issues with the leather seats with an exception of the last two which are covered vinyl. My dealer will replace the defective material under the warranty, however what will happen after a couple of years of normal use is very easy to predict. My wife can't fly in and out of the vehicle like a bird from a nest. Asking her to go through the same set up with the foam and towel, which has to be constantly rearranged is unfair and for a $65,000 vehicle unacceptable. MB did a harm to its reputation and exposed their loyal customers to a great deal of inconvenience and disappointment.

LILBENZ230

My C350 - 2014 with 27.7k miles - had to have the entire driver seat MB-Tex replaced. The bolster cracked on the side and a seam split on the bottom.

My 05 C-class had MB-Tex and at 150,000 miles and 8 years old, it looked new.

Glyn M Ruck

MBTex is not what it used to be. Look at W205 trouble with US production!

teksurv

In regards to the W205, I thought the place of manufacture was outside of the U.S. and has since been rectified for some time now. A respected member of this and the other forum posted a late 2014 fix/update for MBTex at least for W212 models.

I have Tex in my 2015 E, my wife has Leather in her 2012 SLK. She says my Tex is softer. If you get into upgraded leather then maybe that's different.

Sophia Fly

I had a 2012 E350, 38000 miles, driver seat bottom seam separated, out of warrenty, dealer denied to give a replacement unless I pay my own cost quoted around $700!
Technician checked my car and said it was manufactured defect but after waiting for the service manager's approval, it turned out denied. The reason I was told is because I went back to dealship for one time service only and I didn't purchase the extended warrenty!!!
salesman suggested me to contact 1800 customer service, 15% off is the offer.
I weight 115 lb, drive my car about twice a week, 95% time parked in garage, just can't believe MB seat ever will have seam separation!!!! I owned 5 vehicles in past 20 years, none of them have the same problem like my MB.
14 years old Lexus leather seat still in very good condition. Will keep calling 1800 customer servive, wish me luck !!



[QUOTE=wilanow56;6856871]Hello, a couple of years ago I did report having an issue with my 2012 E-350 MB-Tex driver seat seam cracking or separation - see the earlier entry in this thread. The MB dealer in Lafayette, Indiana replaced the lower cover under the manufacturing warranty. I did protect the lower, replaced cushion cover with a 1" thick foam sheet wrapped in a towel. Conversation with the MB-USA didn't bring any positive resolution in finding a permanent solution. My concern was that the seat will crack again in the same area.
Well, a couple of years later my wife's 2014 ML-350 driver seat MB-Tex cover cracked or seam started separating in the same area my did - see attached pictures.
The vehicle has only 8000 miles and my wife (135 lb) is the only diver.
So, we are having over $120,000 invested in a couple of vehicle which are having an undeniable issue with a design and quality of the seating material. Over the period of several years we purchased eight MB vehicles from this dealership. Never had any issues with the leather seats with an exception of the last two which are covered vinyl. My dealer will replace the defective material under the warranty, however what will happen after a couple of years of normal use is very easy to predict. My wife can't fly in and out of the vehicle like a bird from a nest. Asking her to go through the same set up with the foam and towel, which has to be constantly rearranged is unfair and for a $65,000 vehicle unacceptable. MB did a harm to its reputation and exposed their loyal customers to a great deal of inconvenience and disappointment.

Tschuss_Bill

The dealer is quoting a new seat cover with installation, if I had to guess. A good auto upholstery shop could stitch up that seam separation for a fraction of the quoted price. Stitching does fail. I have a 2000 Jetta with leather. One of the stitches failed after warranty, the upholstery 16 years later, is in great shape.

It's not too difficult to do yourself, that could be handstitched, removal of the cover is required.