how's your leather seats?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 291
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From: MD
'09 C350
how's your leather seats?
hey guys,
I recently found there was a few small cracks on my leather seats.. luckily MB was able to replace it under factory warranty, but it makes me wonder how bad the quality of our seats are... my car is a 2009 model and the leather is already cracking and peeling? Also, does anyone use any product to take care of the seats?
I recently found there was a few small cracks on my leather seats.. luckily MB was able to replace it under factory warranty, but it makes me wonder how bad the quality of our seats are... my car is a 2009 model and the leather is already cracking and peeling? Also, does anyone use any product to take care of the seats?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: San Francisco
'08 Mercedes C300
I have MB-tex which is faux leather and they're holding up fine. Have you been conditioning your seats? I know for leather seats, you need to condition them at least once a month to prevent cracking.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: San Francisco
'08 Mercedes C300
Some say water and soap is fine and some use vinyl conditioner (since mb-tex is a vinyl). I used vinyl conditioner on half the seat to see if I can see a difference and I've never conditioned my seats before. The seat definitely had a more moist look and feel. It kind of made squeking noises as you move in and out of the car but I'd say it worked. I used lexol vinyl conditioner and bought it on amazon.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
My 2008 C300's beige leather interior is showing no signs of wear anywhere. I clean the driver's seat periodically with Leatherique Prestine Clean but don't bother with their Conditioner. I used the same product in my 1995 and 2001 MBs and the leather interiors never cracked or split.
It does depend a lot on exposure and if my cars sat out in Phoenix or Dubai in summer things might be different.
Lexol is old hat, BTW.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: San Francisco
'08 Mercedes C300
"Leatherique Prestine Clean does not contain any harsh chemicals or silicone to dry out fine leather. Instead, it contains a conditioner that gently lifts dirt and oil out of the leather while softening it. It takes care of stains that you may have given up on. Ink, perspiration, dirt, and body oil will all disappear!"
I'm not sure if you use the same product but I got this from their website. Maybe your leather has been holding up because it contains a conditioner?
And yeah, it does depend on exposure dadangman. The more your vehicle is exposed to UV rays, the quicker it dries out. I'm not sure if you have mb tex or leather but you don't need to use vinyl cleaner as often as leather but it doesn't hurt.
Do you recommend any of vinyl cleaners RLE? I just got lexol because it is the top rated product among vinyl cleaners on amazon
I'm not sure if you use the same product but I got this from their website. Maybe your leather has been holding up because it contains a conditioner?
And yeah, it does depend on exposure dadangman. The more your vehicle is exposed to UV rays, the quicker it dries out. I'm not sure if you have mb tex or leather but you don't need to use vinyl cleaner as often as leather but it doesn't hurt.
Do you recommend any of vinyl cleaners RLE? I just got lexol because it is the top rated product among vinyl cleaners on amazon
Last edited by Domm; Apr 12, 2012 at 04:32 PM.
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
MB-Tex does not REQUIRE any conditioner or maintenance to stay in good shape. The stuff lasts forever and still looks new! Not sure what caused yours to crack and peel, but something is wrong. Either you've somehow mistreated it or you got a bad run of MB-Tex. Or you actually have leather...?
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Super Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 669
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From: Little Falls, NJ
2020 GLC300 4MATIC
*sigh*... I consider myself a HUGE Mercedes-Benz fan, but I'm absolutely disgusted with my driver's seat. I have black MBTex interior and it started getting tiny cracks on the side bolster on the seat (not back portion - but where you sit)... I brought it up to my dealership and they said there was nothing they could do about it because I was just out of warranty (even though I have the full extended warranty for 6 yrs, 100k miles).
Fast forward to today with an extra 12k miles on the car and the seat now has enormous cracks and the seams have ripped apart in the middle of the seat.
For the record. I'm 6' and weigh 180 lbs so we're not talking about any extreme conditions here, plus the car was garage kept and parked under cover during the day while at work so no excessive heat/sunlight/etc.
Either the '08 MBTex run was utter crap or they've cheapened their MBTex so much that it is disgusting, especially a vehicle with the three-pointed star. Photo coming soon because I know you are all curious.
Fast forward to today with an extra 12k miles on the car and the seat now has enormous cracks and the seams have ripped apart in the middle of the seat.
For the record. I'm 6' and weigh 180 lbs so we're not talking about any extreme conditions here, plus the car was garage kept and parked under cover during the day while at work so no excessive heat/sunlight/etc.
Either the '08 MBTex run was utter crap or they've cheapened their MBTex so much that it is disgusting, especially a vehicle with the three-pointed star. Photo coming soon because I know you are all curious.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 35
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09 C350
Some say water and soap is fine and some use vinyl conditioner (since mb-tex is a vinyl). I used vinyl conditioner on half the seat to see if I can see a difference and I've never conditioned my seats before. The seat definitely had a more moist look and feel. It kind of made squeking noises as you move in and out of the car but I'd say it worked. I used lexol vinyl conditioner and bought it on amazon.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 591
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From: San Francisco
'08 Mercedes C300
I love the Vinylex product from Lexol. It is hard to find. I used to get it at any auto parts store but now all they carry is the Lexol Leather products. I was going to order some Vinylex online but I was at the Toyota parts department the other day and they had Vinylex there..
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 330
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From: Long Island, NY
2012 C63 AMG edition 1
My ML is at about 65,000 and I have a hugeeee crack in the MBTex and I condition all my cars seats about twice a month. Then again, the leather seats on my E are absolutely perfect with no signs of wear or cracking at 28,000.
My Audi A4, which comes standard with leather, has a pretty significant crack in the drivers seat
My Audi A4, which comes standard with leather, has a pretty significant crack in the drivers seat
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 291
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From: MD
'09 C350
oooo boyyy, that's EXACTLY where my peeling was also, and i'm 5'5 155lbs. and sorry to hear man.. i'm glad i saw the crack b4 my warranty was over ... and kinda disappointing that the material is made with such cheap quality
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 669
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From: Little Falls, NJ
2020 GLC300 4MATIC
Its really paper thin when you look at it. Like a thin vinyl coating on some type of mesh or pellicle fabric. *sigh*
Thread Starter
Senior Member
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From: MD
'09 C350
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
I think the problem is You guys are too damn skinny!
I'm 6-3 and 290 lbs, and my MBTex is (knock on wood) in perfect condition. I do wipe it down with a damp cloth and use Zaino Leather in a Bottle. Its amazing and actually makes it smell like leather.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
I'm 6-3 and 290 lbs, and my MBTex is (knock on wood) in perfect condition. I do wipe it down with a damp cloth and use Zaino Leather in a Bottle. Its amazing and actually makes it smell like leather.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
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W204 2008 C350
Thanks for the info
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 291
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From: MD
'09 C350
My ML is at about 65,000 and I have a hugeeee crack in the MBTex and I condition all my cars seats about twice a month. Then again, the leather seats on my E are absolutely perfect with no signs of wear or cracking at 28,000.
My Audi A4, which comes standard with leather, has a pretty significant crack in the drivers seat
My Audi A4, which comes standard with leather, has a pretty significant crack in the drivers seat
I think the problem is You guys are too damn skinny!
I'm 6-3 and 290 lbs, and my MBTex is (knock on wood) in perfect condition. I do wipe it down with a damp cloth and use Zaino Leather in a Bottle. Its amazing and actually makes it smell like leather.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
I'm 6-3 and 290 lbs, and my MBTex is (knock on wood) in perfect condition. I do wipe it down with a damp cloth and use Zaino Leather in a Bottle. Its amazing and actually makes it smell like leather.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
Last edited by dadangman; Apr 14, 2012 at 11:41 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
In sunny South Africa the local leather used on SA production Mercs way outlasts MBTex. Yes it requires some maintenace. I use Maquiar's Rich Leather Cleaner Conditioner CREAM about once a year.
8 year old leather seats on my C240.
8 year old leather seats on my C240.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 669
Likes: 28
From: Little Falls, NJ
2020 GLC300 4MATIC
I think the problem is You guys are too damn skinny!
I'm 6-3 and 290 lbs, and my MBTex is (knock on wood) in perfect condition. I do wipe it down with a damp cloth and use Zaino Leather in a Bottle. Its amazing and actually makes it smell like leather.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
I'm 6-3 and 290 lbs, and my MBTex is (knock on wood) in perfect condition. I do wipe it down with a damp cloth and use Zaino Leather in a Bottle. Its amazing and actually makes it smell like leather.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
