MB-Tex Repair Kits Being Shipped To Dealers Now.
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From: Whitefield, NH
2015 C300 Sport: Palladium, Premium, Multimedia, Leather, BLIS
MB-Tex Repair Kits Being Shipped To Dealers Now.
I just got off the phone with MB Customer Service and my dealer's service manager. They told me the repair kits are being sent out this week, and dealers should have them in a few days. The kits consist of new covers for the seats, new headrests, and tools for the removal and re-installation of the seat covers.
My dealer did confirm that the issue was, in fact, the plasticizer being used in the MB-Tex material for the seats and headrests. It's not the foam, not the sealant, not the glue ... it is the plasticizer, which is what Glyn had suspected from day one. It is non-toxic and non-staining.
The dealer will pick up my car at my house, and leave me another C300 as a loaner. I will drive down to pick up the car when it's finished, because I want to inspect all the work before I agree to accept it.
This is also posted here, post #221: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6293492
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My dealer did confirm that the issue was, in fact, the plasticizer being used in the MB-Tex material for the seats and headrests. It's not the foam, not the sealant, not the glue ... it is the plasticizer, which is what Glyn had suspected from day one. It is non-toxic and non-staining.
The dealer will pick up my car at my house, and leave me another C300 as a loaner. I will drive down to pick up the car when it's finished, because I want to inspect all the work before I agree to accept it.
This is also posted here, post #221: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6293492
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Ferrari, Lexus, Toyota
Any indication from your talks with slightly higher ups that they, even off record, know this car has quality control problems in Alabama and with US suppliers beyond normal?
Not asking to flame, but in anticipation for acknowledgement from Mercedes, and their plan of action.
This isn't just the seats or a few mismatched trim pieces. To say they're just having a few teething issues is understated. Some serious changes needed.
And I hope one more build issue Stan, you push for a new one. You must be retired to have this much time to mess with their issues.
Not asking to flame, but in anticipation for acknowledgement from Mercedes, and their plan of action.
This isn't just the seats or a few mismatched trim pieces. To say they're just having a few teething issues is understated. Some serious changes needed.
And I hope one more build issue Stan, you push for a new one. You must be retired to have this much time to mess with their issues.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I just got off the phone with MB Customer Service and my dealer's service manager. They told me the repair kits are being sent out this week, and dealers should have them in a few days. The kits consist of new covers for the seats, new headrests, and tools for the removal and re-installation of the seat covers.
My dealer did confirm that the issue was, in fact, the plasticizer being used in the MB-Tex material for the seats and headrests. It's not the foam, not the sealant, not the glue ... it is the plasticizer, which is what Glyn had suspected from day one. It is non-toxic and non-staining.
The dealer will pick up my car at my house, and leave me another C300 as a loaner. I will drive down to pick up the car when it's finished, because I want to inspect all the work before I agree to accept it.
This is also posted here, post #221: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6293492
__________________
My dealer did confirm that the issue was, in fact, the plasticizer being used in the MB-Tex material for the seats and headrests. It's not the foam, not the sealant, not the glue ... it is the plasticizer, which is what Glyn had suspected from day one. It is non-toxic and non-staining.
The dealer will pick up my car at my house, and leave me another C300 as a loaner. I will drive down to pick up the car when it's finished, because I want to inspect all the work before I agree to accept it.
This is also posted here, post #221: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6293492
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From: Whitefield, NH
2015 C300 Sport: Palladium, Premium, Multimedia, Leather, BLIS
Any indication from your talks with slightly higher ups that they, even off record, know this car has quality control problems in Alabama and with US suppliers beyond normal?
Not asking to flame, but in anticipation for acknowledgement from Mercedes, and their plan of action.
This isn't just the seats or a few mismatched trim pieces. To say they're just having a few teething issues is understated. Some serious changes needed.
And I hope one more build issue Stan, you push for a new one. You must be retired to have this much time to mess with their issues.
Not asking to flame, but in anticipation for acknowledgement from Mercedes, and their plan of action.
This isn't just the seats or a few mismatched trim pieces. To say they're just having a few teething issues is understated. Some serious changes needed.
And I hope one more build issue Stan, you push for a new one. You must be retired to have this much time to mess with their issues.
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From: Whitefield, NH
2015 C300 Sport: Palladium, Premium, Multimedia, Leather, BLIS
Super Moderator
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
It will be interesting to see what Stan finds out.
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2015 W205
I appreciate him being the guinea pig (or canary!). I am going to wait a week or so before contacting the dealer about my seats so I can see the feedback from those who get the repair done sooner.
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S205
That explanation makes much more sense then that official letter, where blaim was put on the Sealant, also mentioning that the problem included leather. Embarrasing for MB if that letter turns out to be so incorrect, as Stan indicates.
Swapping seat covers is a lot of work. It is both complicated and frustrating. I've done it twice, once on a late model Jaguar, and once on am older Lancia. Was a nightmare both times.
The seats have to be pulled from the car. Re-attaching all the clamps that holds the covers in place along the defintion lines, can be extremely frustrating (especially if you don't have the exact right pair of pliers for it) It is easy to forget a clamp here and there, so maybe you don't want to be first in line when they start the swaps.
The Heating element can be very sensitive to being pressed and pulled at. I manged to break one while doing a swap. Don't know if that is also a sensitive issue on this car, but in any case it will be worth while checking the full range of heating elements are working after the swap is done. Those funky oil patterns some had on their front seats, looked to be part of the outlining for the heating element.
Swapping seat covers is a lot of work. It is both complicated and frustrating. I've done it twice, once on a late model Jaguar, and once on am older Lancia. Was a nightmare both times.
The seats have to be pulled from the car. Re-attaching all the clamps that holds the covers in place along the defintion lines, can be extremely frustrating (especially if you don't have the exact right pair of pliers for it) It is easy to forget a clamp here and there, so maybe you don't want to be first in line when they start the swaps.
The Heating element can be very sensitive to being pressed and pulled at. I manged to break one while doing a swap. Don't know if that is also a sensitive issue on this car, but in any case it will be worth while checking the full range of heating elements are working after the swap is done. Those funky oil patterns some had on their front seats, looked to be part of the outlining for the heating element.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I'll bet the average dealer will call in people from a local trim shop that do it every day. There are many tricks to the upholstery trade. The pros make it look easy. I would not personally tackle it thanks.
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From: Midwest
2015 C 300
I just got off the phone with MB Customer Service and my dealer's service manager. They told me the repair kits are being sent out this week, and dealers should have them in a few days. The kits consist of new covers for the seats, new headrests, and tools for the removal and re-installation of the seat covers.
My dealer did confirm that the issue was, in fact, the plasticizer being used in the MB-Tex material for the seats and headrests. It's not the foam, not the sealant, not the glue ... it is the plasticizer, which is what Glyn had suspected from day one. It is non-toxic and non-staining.
The dealer will pick up my car at my house, and leave me another C300 as a loaner. I will drive down to pick up the car when it's finished, because I want to inspect all the work before I agree to accept it.
This is also posted here, post #221: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6293492
__________________
My dealer did confirm that the issue was, in fact, the plasticizer being used in the MB-Tex material for the seats and headrests. It's not the foam, not the sealant, not the glue ... it is the plasticizer, which is what Glyn had suspected from day one. It is non-toxic and non-staining.
The dealer will pick up my car at my house, and leave me another C300 as a loaner. I will drive down to pick up the car when it's finished, because I want to inspect all the work before I agree to accept it.
This is also posted here, post #221: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6293492
__________________
MBUSA is also going to let me know what "good will gesture" they can offer to try and make things right.
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From: Whitefield, NH
2015 C300 Sport: Palladium, Premium, Multimedia, Leather, BLIS
In today's mail ...
... was a very generous gift certificate for dinner and drinks at our local ... and very expensive ... "Grand Hotel." The note that came with it was from my MB salesman, and said this was an expression of my dealer's appreciation for my patience dealing with the MB-Tex issue.
Both my wife and I looked at this, then at each other, and said "What?" We were, to put it mildly, quite surprised. This was not from MB-USA, but from my dealer. I guess they really do think about this stuff .... and are concerned about keeping their customers happy. I hope MB-USA will step up as well before this is all done.
Both my wife and I looked at this, then at each other, and said "What?" We were, to put it mildly, quite surprised. This was not from MB-USA, but from my dealer. I guess they really do think about this stuff .... and are concerned about keeping their customers happy. I hope MB-USA will step up as well before this is all done.
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From: Seattle, WA
2015 C300
Wait, did I miss something? What's the problem with your MB-Tex?
Wait, are we talking this issue:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...x-problem.html
Wait, are we talking this issue:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...x-problem.html
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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
... was a very generous gift certificate for dinner and drinks at our local ... and very expensive ... "Grand Hotel." The note that came with it was from my MB salesman, and said this was an expression of my dealer's appreciation for my patience dealing with the MB-Tex issue.
Both my wife and I looked at this, then at each other, and said "What?" We were, to put it mildly, quite surprised. This was not from MB-USA, but from my dealer. I guess they really do think about this stuff .... and are concerned about keeping their customers happy. I hope MB-USA will step up as well before this is all done.
Both my wife and I looked at this, then at each other, and said "What?" We were, to put it mildly, quite surprised. This was not from MB-USA, but from my dealer. I guess they really do think about this stuff .... and are concerned about keeping their customers happy. I hope MB-USA will step up as well before this is all done.
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
This was a program championed by Steve Cannon, CEO of MBUSA. The dealers are given a discretionary per-car "goodwill" budget from MBUSA which they are allowed to use as they best think. In this case, the dealer did well with a local dinner arrangement. The dealer may use that money for any other legitimate manner of pleasing customers in a difficult situation. I recall that this tops out at $2500 per S Class. Not sure of the C Class amount. I also recall this is a non-participation program, so it is all factory money, not from the dealer's pocket. In any event, a very good plan.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Interesting SS. We have a similar programme here in SA. But here BenzSA owns over 50% of the dealerships via it's subsidiary Sandown Motors.
