E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Clearcoated leather?

Old Aug 10, 2005 | 05:02 AM
  #1  
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All Diesel Fleet !1983 240d stick,2005 E320 CDI Midnight blue, 2005 E320 CDI, Desert Silver, Kubota
Clearcoated leather?

I sent MB a request to determine if the leather seats in my 2005 E Class were clearcoated. This is important because different methods would be required if they were clearcoated. I received a reply stating most definitely, that the seats are NOT CLEARCOATED. Ordered some leather conditioner and cleaner from Zaino and will report.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 09:31 AM
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Jimbo,

Thanks for following through on this question. I am happy to know that my Leatherique treatment is the correct one.

Jim
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 10:49 AM
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They are clearcoated, have a plastic layer on them. Nappa is not clearcoated.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 11:29 AM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Hi Jimbo.. If you have the full leather interior or the leather inserts they are from what I'm told coated. I was told this by MBUSA myself thru the "i" button vehicle info desk. (side note: this would not be the first contradiction I've been given by them.. oil level on CDI was another, and fuel additives was yet another). I strongly feel that MBUSA is not worthy to represent DC, and in my survey that I did over the phone about my customer service calls I made that clear. A "premium brand" like MB, for that matter, the king of premium brands, should have a much better quality CSR section with direct ties to Germany (they don't, 99% of them can't speak any German, and the Germans there don't speak English to them I'm told).

now...

If you have the napa leather, it's indeed not coated..

I have inserts, which means my back seats are basically MB-TEX vinyl, and I am using Zymol for the who interior... it works great, and doesn't create shine that I HATE.



Did you ever decide on an exterior wax? Trust me the Synthetic Polymer is the way to go... forget carnuba it's yesterdays news.

Last edited by CE750; Aug 10, 2005 at 11:32 AM.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:03 PM
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The people on the other end of Teleaid work for a contractor and are not MBUSA employees. They presumably have access to better M-B information than we do, but how current and comprehensive it is, I don't know. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Teleaid headset-istas and MBUSA gave conflicting advice.

Regardless of whether the "real leather" upholstery surfaces have an artificial coating or not, is there an "official" M-B recommendation on what kind of product to use on it? I've looked in the manual and haven't seen one, although maybe I didn't look in the right place.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:08 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by DWP
The people on the other end of Teleaid work for a contractor and are not MBUSA employees. They presumably have access to better M-B information than we do, but how current and comprehensive it is, I don't know. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Teleaid headset-istas and MBUSA gave conflicting advice.

Now, if MB wanted to do that right (the way I would do it).. they'd have Germans (unemployment rats is at 10% last I checked).. working 24 hr shifts at a call center that can speak English and have direct lines to engineering in Stuttgart for their customers.. not some sub in NJ who's reading out of a manual that I can read out of!

If it's feasible for me to call Tech Support on a computer and get India, or Ireland.. then it's feasible to do this.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by CE750
Now, if MB wanted to do that right (the way I would do it).. they'd have Germans (unemployment rats is at 10% last I checked).. working 24 hr shifts at a call center that can speak English and have direct lines to engineering in Stuttgart for their customers.. not some sub in NJ who's reading out of a manual that I can read out of!

If it's feasible for me to call Tech Support on a computer and get India, or Ireland.. then it's feasible to do this.
The problem is that it is very expensive to employ people in Germany and harder even to lay them off.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:33 PM
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'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by atssystems.com
The problem is that it is very expensive to employ people in Germany and harder even to lay them off.
That is a problem for the Germans to contend with... mainly brought on to them by outside forces (China, US, etc..) competing, COMBINED with their workforce getting more and more lazy, especially former East. But, nevertheless, a well selected workforce to field those calls would make my $400/year I pay for Teleaid more of a value.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:47 PM
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All Diesel Fleet !1983 240d stick,2005 E320 CDI Midnight blue, 2005 E320 CDI, Desert Silver, Kubota
Clearcoat?

When I wrote an email to MB on their official site, the reply was that they were not clearcoated. They recommended the care called for in the owner's manual. I doubt that they would put it in writing, if it was not correct. The reply took a few days so they had time to verify it. I believe them.

PS The person who replied to me was Surya Boonshadung, Team Leader MB.

PPS I wonder if the reason it took so long was it was routed through Bangkok and Calcutta. No snickering please.

Last edited by jimbo1mcm; Aug 10, 2005 at 12:51 PM.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:52 PM
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They told me that the oil capacity on the CDI was 6.3L, then 6.8L, and now 7.8L..

the first was in writing, the later two verbally..

anyway.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by jimbo1mcm
When I wrote an email to MB on their official site, the reply was that they were not clearcoated. They recommended the care called for in the owner's manual. I doubt that they would put it in writing, if it was not correct. The reply took a few days so they had time to verify it. I believe them.

PS The person who replied to me was Surya Boonshadung, Team Leader MB.

PPS I wonder if the reason it took so long was it was routed through Bangkok and Calcutta. No snickering please.
I know what they told you, but they are coated..

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...coated+leather

Last edited by atssystems.com; Aug 10, 2005 at 01:01 PM.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by CE750
They told me that the oil capacity on the CDI was 6.3L, then 6.8L, and now 7.8L..

the first was in writing, the later two verbally..

anyway.
The E-Class owner's manual says it takes 6.5 liters or 6.87 US quarts. I would say this is correct because they have the correct values for the other W211 engines.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 01:11 PM
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All Diesel Fleet !1983 240d stick,2005 E320 CDI Midnight blue, 2005 E320 CDI, Desert Silver, Kubota
To Atssystems:

You refer to the MB Forum with a very clear statement that they are coated. The person who makes that claim, also says that he doesn't know if they are coated in the C and E class, so how can you make a statement like that? It would be thrown out in court as " hearsay". If you want to make a definitive statement, back it up with facts.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by jimbo1mcm
You refer to the MB Forum with a very clear statement that they are coated. The person who makes that claim, also says that he doesn't know if they are coated in the C and E class, so how can you make a statement like that? It would be thrown out in court as " hearsay". If you want to make a definitive statement, back it up with facts.
That link was for tips on cleaning it.. But whatever, knock yourself out.. They are coated.

Last edited by atssystems.com; Aug 10, 2005 at 01:25 PM.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 02:14 PM
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Not to be a peacemaker or anything like that, but we could have a matter of definition here about "coatings." The process of turning a hide into leather - tanning - inherently involves the application of various substances to the hide at the several steps of the process. Hopefully, those substances no longer include urine or dung:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning
So, to me the question is not the exact nature of the substances that have been applied to the leather by the manufacturer, but rather what the manufacturer, in consideration of what it has applied, recommends for the care of the leather.

(and yes, I know that Wikipedia articles are no more authoritative than postings in this forum. Unless they are by Steve.)

Last edited by DWP; Aug 10, 2005 at 02:17 PM.
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Old Aug 10, 2005 | 02:56 PM
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I just want you to make sure you don't place too much trust in MBUSA's reps Jimbo as I've already had several conflicting bits of info form them, beside the old.. (Bud even can tell you that their manual that he sites stating the capacity is 6.8 is wrong).. There is a lot of 1/2 info that they are getting from Germany, and the fact that they told you the seats aren't coated, may mean they they don't have "clear coat" in the paint sense on them sure, but does it mean they don't have the same coating that 99% of all other automotive leather has? I doubt it. Eitherway, most of the leather cleaners works equally well on both I have found.
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