Rone803

Looking for input on these two options. If you could only have one or the other, which one would you choose? I'm curious because I have a chance to get an cranberry interior that only has premium or a car with multimedia with black MBTex. The cranberry is also without blind spot but I guess I can do without it.

mihaelb

Do winters get below-freezing temps where you are?

Rone803

I am in Jersey.

Mark's M

StanNH

There's an issue with all MB-Tex seats in the new C-Class, where the material "bleeds" when temperatures drop below freezing. This affects all US built cars made prior to January 5th. The seat covers will have to be replaced on those cars.

I love MB-Tex, but my car is at the dealer right now getting all new headrests and seat covers. On anything but a brand new build, I'd go with the leather.

emilryba

Both of them ! Leather because of MBtex (!) and Multimedia because of comfort

dr-sbaitso

I faced the same decision and ended up going with Multimedia. I think the upgraded display looks MUCH better amid the other interior bits versus the cheap-looking glossy bezeled display that comes with Audio 20, and even though it's a relatively small car, the backup camera is extremely nice for getting down narrow driveways and negotiating tight parking spaces (I didn't opt for Parktronic.)

Having nav has also been unexpectedly enjoyable. I figured I would never use it, but it's much more convenient than trying to fiddle with Google Maps on my phone when searching for a destination. Having it proactively pop up the names of oncoming cross-streets is also extremely handy.

mihaelb

I'd go with leather, then. Even without the bleeding MBtex issue, my MBtex (Artico up here in Canada) started cracking in ~year 5. Apparently a common occurrence in cold climates. Don't know whether it had changed or not in the past few years.
If you don't intend to keep your car beyond 4 years, then go for MBtex and multimedia.

miketc

Make sure you get/order a car built after 1/5/2015 and go with the multimedia. I personally could not go without the Nav.

PeterUbers

Go with both... You can afford it

gocal73

I'd go with Leather, Garmin Map Pilot and Back up camera. I had no idea MBTex would go all ugly with oozing chemicals and forming scum and stuff. So, I went with MBTex, Garmin Map Pilot and Back up camera.


The Gamin lists for $600 but I paid $500 as part of the purchase price. The back up camera is $460. So, for under $1000 you get Nav and back up camera. The $1700 plus you save versus the Multimedia package will go a long way toward paying for your Leather package. If I could do it over, this is exactly what I would do.

Rone803

Thanks for the advice. The car with the leather does have the camera. How is the Garmin?

rakaye47

I sat in C with MBtex and with interior package. Couldn't really tell the difference between leather / MB tex

And even if your MBtex bleeds, who cares? You have 50k mile warranty and MB will take care of it.

gocal73

So far, I really like the Garmin. It is fully integrated with the Audio 20 CD system. It is very responsive to voice commands. I signed up for XM Traffic for 6 months for about $22.00. The Garmin is pretty intuitive and easy to use.


I looked at cars with the MM package, but when I asked myself what I really wanted from the package, it always came down to just the Navigation with live traffic and the backup camera. So, for me it was a no brainer. Get what I wanted for under $1K, or spend $2.7K. The only thing you don't get with the Garmin option is MB Apps and a couple Mbrace features, along with no hard drive to record music. However, most Mbrace features are functional without the multimedia package. Stuff like stolen car tracking, remote iPhone app, Road side assistance, automatic SOS calling, etc., work just fine without the MM package.


Also, when you get the Interior package you get more than just leather seats. Actually, that package is a pretty good value.

rieger

Tell them that they have a problem with MBTex bleeding per service bulletin and then tell them you will purchase the car if they throw in leather and you pay for nav. Ask them why would they sell you a car with MBtex problem?

gfmohn

I've had my 2007 C280 (W203) since 09/06. 64,000K miles, mostly short trips around town (short trips means more in and outs of the car). Always parked outside (elderly housing facility), in summer sun and Massachusetts cold. I am 200+ lbs. MBtex seats still look like new.

richardamp

I had the same decision and chose multimedia. It's a much more tangible / useful option than leather IMO. MB Tex bleeding aside (which will be fixed and we'll all eventually forget about it), I've been impressed with the material and would still choose multimedia. It's much more useful than I anticipated, plus not having the huge bezel on the screen played a large part in my decision.

Mr Enigma

If budget constraints dictated that you weren't able to get both then I would go with multimedia. It's more useful and the Artico/MB-Tex is nearly leather anyway. If it was fabric vs leather then it would be a harder decision.

floridadriver

Both nice, but IMO if only one, definitely leather. Even w/o the MBTex bleeding issue. Ambient lights, vented seats, adjustavle thigh and memory for passenger, and the leather.

f401

I'd like to make sure you are aware that without the MM package, you lose voice control for phone stuff. For example, with the Audio20, you cannot use voice control to call someone from your contact list. Unless I missed something? I wish I had done more research on what exactly was missing when skipping the MM package as it's terribly cumbersome to scroll through 300 contacts.


Yes, I know, the touch pad and the scroll wheel can be used as well but having voice control would have been fantastic. For a $50k plus car, it's a little ridiculous that voice control for phone use is an option.

Rone803

Thanks for sharing. Do you regret not having the MM package now?

f401

Honeslty, it's just the voice control that I want out of the MM package. I got the camera as an option so i'm good there and i'm happy with the Garmin maps.
I personally didn't like the big screen as I felt it was too large sitting atop. I have seen several people on here mention that the screen has better clarity but my eyes couldn't tell the difference. I can tell you that the maps are definitely faster when scrolling and zooming on the MM package than without as the maps are read directly from the onboard storage rather than SD card. If I had to stretch, I also wish I had the apps such as tune-in radio and in-car wifi hotspot. The apps are not a big deal as my phone can take care of that via Bluetooth streaming.


YMMV

mihaelb

If you have an Android phone, just put it in Car Mode when you get into the car (or have something like IFTTT or Tasker launch car mode automatically when it picks up your car's bluetooth or using one of those NFC pucks), and all you have to do is say 'ok google' to start it taking your voice commands.
Not sure what it takes for Siri on Apple to stay in active mode the whole time, though.

richardamp

For the iPhone, the phone has to be plugged in for "Hey Siri" to work. Not ideal considering the USB ports are all inside the center console. Siri probably then can't hear you.

djdj

I would select multimedia. I find the backup camera quite useful, particularly with the high rear deck of this car. Blind spot, which you mention as available on the car, also is a nice safety feature. MBTex looks and feels very much like leather (I have not had any "bleeding" issues and I am in the same climate/conditions where others have experienced it).