View Poll Results: Have you seen "bleeding" from your MB-Tex interior?
US Build: No signs of it at all.
15
33.33%
US Build: I have seen at least some bleeding.
22
48.89%
Non-US Build: No signs of it at all.
7
15.56%
Non-US Build: I have seen at least some bleeding.
1
2.22%
The substance has not affected/stained my clothes.
11
24.44%
The substance has affected/stained my clothes.
0
0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll
Has your car been affected by the MB-Tex bleeding issue?
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Has your car been affected by the MB-Tex bleeding issue?
Well, now that we know there's a large batch of MB-Tex that was improperly formulated, it might be time for us to further narrow down the scope of the problem.
The plasticizer used in the manufacturing process has been leaching out of the MB-Tex material, resulting in an oily or glossy coating on the surface of the seats and headrests. This can also cause a white residue to form. The appearance is not at all stable, can come and go, and varies with temperature. It looks something like this:
The questions still unanswered are:
1. How common is this? MB-USA thinks it is not common at all.
2. Is it limited to US built cars, or have non-US builds seen this issue as well?
3. Can it damage clothing that has been in contact with it?
This poll will not deal with health issues, since that now seems unlikely to be a valid concern. MB-USA says there is no health issue, and there is no evidence to show otherwise.
Please only take part in this poll if you have MB-Tex on your W205. Leather is not affected by this.
The plasticizer used in the manufacturing process has been leaching out of the MB-Tex material, resulting in an oily or glossy coating on the surface of the seats and headrests. This can also cause a white residue to form. The appearance is not at all stable, can come and go, and varies with temperature. It looks something like this:
The questions still unanswered are:
1. How common is this? MB-USA thinks it is not common at all.
2. Is it limited to US built cars, or have non-US builds seen this issue as well?
3. Can it damage clothing that has been in contact with it?
This poll will not deal with health issues, since that now seems unlikely to be a valid concern. MB-USA says there is no health issue, and there is no evidence to show otherwise.
Please only take part in this poll if you have MB-Tex on your W205. Leather is not affected by this.
Last edited by StanNH; 01-08-2015 at 11:28 AM.
#2
Senior Member
I think we need a northern climate indicator in the poll because southern cars could skew the results.
Last edited by cidtek; 01-08-2015 at 11:44 AM.
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
We know it's related to cold temperature, so I think we can assume most of the reports will come from regions that experience cooler temperatures. What that temperature range actually is though, has still not been determined.
#4
Senior Member
You just need to edit one line to say ...
US Build operating in sub zero climate: No signs of it at all.
Or make it loud and clear in the thread's opening post. You cant run polls based on assumptions.
#5
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2015 E250 BT 4M
This poll will not deal with health issues, since that now seems unlikely to be a valid concern. MB-USA says there is no health issue, and there is no evidence to show otherwise.
Please only take part in this poll if you have MB-Tex on your W205. Leather is not affected by this.
What is very clear here is that sub-freezing temperatures, combined with warming up and cooling off cycles, is causing chemical instability of the vinyl material, resulting in unsightly oily and pasty residues on the surface.
#6
I'm in southern California and the car has been always in the garage. So, no extreme heat or cold. Yet, yesterday, I discovered that the back of the front seats look like water spots. Nothing on the seats though, but maybe because it hasn't been exposed to the elements yet. Mine is also black mb tex
#7
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2015 C300W4, 2011 G37, 1998 528i Sport 5MT
I'm in southern California and the car has been always in the garage. So, no extreme heat or cold. Yet, yesterday, I discovered that the back of the front seats look like water spots. Nothing on the seats though, but maybe because it hasn't been exposed to the elements yet. Mine is also black mb tex
I hope MBUSA gets proactive with this issue. It would save them a lot of adverse publicity and money in the long run. So, far we see nothing but promises and half-baked fixes like washing the interior with soap and water and having no answer for replacing the driver seat bottom. MB needs to do better than this and soon. This issue will get a lot of play in the media once the full extent of this problem is widely known. I don't care how many spin doctors they employ, you can't hide a product that is possibly poisoning your customers (only big tobacco gets away with that).
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#8
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ecu tune; edok tcu tune; BB intakes; dyno tuned
This is terrible! I would be so pissed
#9
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2015 C300, 2008 C300(sold)
So far no issues with my Black MBTex. Build date 12/2014. Sits outside in 20 degree NJ weather during the day and garaged at night so daily temperature cycles.
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Someone with a non-US build reported the problem? Was this a mistake or a real report?
#11
No sign (yet) on my 10/14 build with black MBtex. Garaged at night, outside in Maryland during the day. It has been pretty cold this week, so I have been looking for it after every drive.
#12
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2015 C400 4Matic
i noticed it.....this morning. god it scared me. i thought someone did weird things inside my car. it was......everywhere......gross..... I left my car outside on the drive way in -15c degrees for the past few days, wiped them off with my microfiber. will see if they come back again tomorrow morning.
#13
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2015 C300 RWD
I CERTAINLY I would not put ANY more merit into what MBUSA says on this unknown health issue than I would on tobacco companies who still say smoking is not a contributing cause for cancer. The health concern, if any, for this substance is simply, not known yet. You'll never find it out from MBUSA....too much $$ riding on it.
Last edited by floridadriver; 01-09-2015 at 06:42 AM.
#14
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C220 Bluetec
#15
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#16
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C220 Bluetec
#17
MBWorld Fanatic!
Noticed one shiny spot on the way back from the dealer in the rear passenger seat, about a thumbprint size or so. Thought it was just one of the porters I drove the car home in 40 degree weather in SoCal??
Car is garaged down here in Cali, but not for too much longer. So far, no issues. I wish there was a way I could simulate the cold to just see what would happen.
Car is garaged down here in Cali, but not for too much longer. So far, no issues. I wish there was a way I could simulate the cold to just see what would happen.
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15 C300 Sport SOLD!!! :)
7,000 miles, indoors at night and out all day. Temps here have been as low as 1F and well below freezing for sustained periods. None of that ball sweat on mine.
#20
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'15 C300 Sport 4MATIC
Well, I had hoped the issue wouldn't resurface for me after my initial encounter with and cleaning of it. Unfortunately as it's dropped to between 0ºF-15ºF here in the Midwest, I've noticed huge oily patches and a big white stain emerging each morning in my rear seats. Time to send it to the dealer.
Let's hope whatever parts kit and training MB has released for the seat cover replacement does the trick and looks/wears the way the factory-installed upholstery should have.
Let's hope whatever parts kit and training MB has released for the seat cover replacement does the trick and looks/wears the way the factory-installed upholstery should have.
#21
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Thread Starter
We have a very small sample here, but it looks like this is not going to be just an isolated problem for MB, or for the owners of US built MB-Tex C-Class cars.
#22
Super Moderator
This little exercise is going to be very costly. Pleased I'm not the supplier if it is proven supplier error.
#23
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2020 CLA 250 4Matic Black
Hmmm self lubricating seats, now that's an option for some you know
I have my C Class in an unheated garaged and the temperature has gone to low - 20sC. At work it is also in an above ground open garage. I have yet to notice this feature but will now keep an eye out for it.
I don't have MB Tek, but since the official response does include leather I suppose it is not immune.
I did treat my leather with Mothers Leather treatment cream when I first got the car back in September. Not sure if applying protectants makes any difference to this issue?
I have my C Class in an unheated garaged and the temperature has gone to low - 20sC. At work it is also in an above ground open garage. I have yet to notice this feature but will now keep an eye out for it.
I don't have MB Tek, but since the official response does include leather I suppose it is not immune.
I did treat my leather with Mothers Leather treatment cream when I first got the car back in September. Not sure if applying protectants makes any difference to this issue?
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Hmmm self lubricating seats, now that's an option for some you know
I have my C Class in an unheated garaged and the temperature has gone to low - 20sC. At work it is also in an above ground open garage. I have yet to notice this feature but will now keep an eye out for it.
I don't have MB Tek, but since the official response does include leather I suppose it is not immune.
I did treat my leather with Mothers Leather treatment cream when I first got the car back in September. Not sure if applying protectants makes any difference to this issue?
I have my C Class in an unheated garaged and the temperature has gone to low - 20sC. At work it is also in an above ground open garage. I have yet to notice this feature but will now keep an eye out for it.
I don't have MB Tek, but since the official response does include leather I suppose it is not immune.
I did treat my leather with Mothers Leather treatment cream when I first got the car back in September. Not sure if applying protectants makes any difference to this issue?
#25
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2020 CLA 250 4Matic Black
Well this whole issue seems counter to logic. If it is a sealer/glue that is oozing why would it happen in cold temperatures? It would seem more logical that folks in much warmer climates would see this before the folks in colder climates.
Were these issues seen in colder climates after prolonged use of the heated seats? That could in theory cause the glue to melt or become liquid.