2007 E350 100% MB-Tex only!
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2007 E350 100% MB-Tex only!
Are you aware that the 2007 std interior is now ALL MB-tex? No more leather inserts! I just traded my 2006 for the 2007 and even though I found out a few days before I took the car, I took it anyway and I am NOT happy about a $50k car with ALL vinyl interior. I associate luxury with leather NOT vinyl. Am I the only MB buyer who feels this way, or am I being too picky and expecting too much? the 2007 drives great, love the car, but not the seats. sure you can order the leather option, but few dealers stock it. BMW dealers stock nearly all vehicles with leather as part of the Premium pkg. What do you all think? Is it ridiculous of me to not like the MB-tex?
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2014 C250 sport
no, I find it ridiculous too. What doesn't make sense is the CLK350 as well as the SLK 280/350 come standard with leather and they're priced way less than the E. The MB tex is not bad, but it can never replace leather for feel or smell. They should definitely include is as a part of the premium packages like BMW does.
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From: St. Louis, MO
C300
Although I agree that Mercedes "should" offer leather seating surfaces as standard, the MB-Tex is OK. I have a hard time telling the difference between the MB-Tex and a full leather interior (other than the leather smell). To me, the MB-Tex feels fine. MB-Tex wears better than leather and will not pucker over time. In addition, having two different materials on the front seats that will fade differently over time could be an issue "down the road." One user here from Phoenix believes that the MB-Tex is cooler in summer. When you sell the car, having or not having full leather shouldn't make too much (if any) of a difference in resale value.
Don't hate your car because of the seating surfaces. Enjoy the drive!
Lou
Don't hate your car because of the seating surfaces. Enjoy the drive!
Lou
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BMW FTW
Originally Posted by LNL
Although I agree that Mercedes "should" offer leather seating surfaces as standard, the MB-Tex is OK. I have a hard time telling the difference between the MB-Tex and a full leather interior (other than the leather smell). To me, the MB-Tex feels fine. MB-Tex wears better than leather and will not pucker over time. In addition, having two different materials on the front seats that will fade differently over time could be an issue "down the road." One user here from Phoenix believes that the MB-Tex is cooler in summer. When you sell the car, having or not having full leather shouldn't make too much (if any) of a difference in resale value.
Don't hate your car because of the seating surfaces. Enjoy the drive!
Lou
Don't hate your car because of the seating surfaces. Enjoy the drive!
Lou
I agree most people cant tell until you tell them its not leather. But you point out a great advantage of MB-Tex it requires a lot less care and is very easy to clean up. Right no in the M3 with grey leather I have a problem with some of my pants dye bleeding into the seat. And I have tried a few leather cleaners and still have some spots left but eventually they do come out.
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From: global traveller
some slow@$$diesels
Originally Posted by SteveATL
I am NOT happy about a $50k car with ALL vinyl interior. I associate luxury with leather NOT vinyl.
consider yourself lucky getting an E350 with MB Tex at only 50k...we pay more then a new US E55 for that same specced E350.
greetingz,
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For sure, $50k list is still a fair price, but wouldn't $51.5k be a fair price with leather? Or $50.5k with leather inserts? I saw BMW 530i's with full leather for $48,565 list, got in it and smelled 100% leather!! So MB thinks it can sell E350's with vinyl for up to $53.7k against a BMW 5 series with full leather and free maintenance for the warranty period for up to $48.5k? Then has the nerve to wonder why BMW is starting to overtake it?? My bet is that inserts or full leather come back in 2008 and that there will be lots if unhappy 2007 buyers who buy it and don't realize it is MB-Tex not leather-buyer beware....
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Another question for everyone - How do sheepskin seat covers do in the summer. Where I am, it gets to 100 degrees and while the MB-Tex may be hot, would the sheepskin feel cool in summer or would I burn up in summer with them?
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Sheepskins are much nicer and cooler than vinyl. Better than vinyl in the winter too for that matter.
Bit of air circulating between the fibers and certainly more comfy to sit on after the car has been sitting in the sun for a while.
Bit of air circulating between the fibers and certainly more comfy to sit on after the car has been sitting in the sun for a while.
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From: Albuquerque, NM
09' E350, 01' Maxima SE, 93 Nissan Maxima SE, 1987 Nissan Maxima SE
umm....MB-Tex has been around, if you haven't noticed, Leather is optional as always. I had a 97 E320 and it was MB Tex on the inserts. Same with my mom's 95 S500 has MB Tex insert in it too. I'm not quite sure what you mean, in case you didn't read the brochure or visit MBUSA site about that, cuz it shows LEATHER as OPTIONAL. I don't know what you did expect, Just like AUDI's has same thing like ours MB tex, but they call it Leatherette, if you wanted leather, it says leather.
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From: Oregon
Harley-Davidson
Originally Posted by SteveATL
For sure, $50k list is still a fair price, but wouldn't $51.5k be a fair price with leather? . . .
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My fault, I ordered the car thinking it would still have leather inserts atleast, like my '06. What I sort of resent is that M-B seems to try to slide it by us...A cpl of years ago, front and back had leather inserts, last year, front only leather inserts, and now NO leather. I ordered the car and I took the one I ordered after I found out it had M-B tex only. Because I drive 30-40k miles a year, I get to trade atleast once or twice a year, otherwise I could get nothing for them. Adding the $1540 option for leather would raise the cost of ownership by $3000 a year.
I guess it seems like I'm b**ching over something so minor(and my wife says shut up, you get it for free). I guess it just seems that they tried to pull it over us. No where in the new model information release on this site did I see where they disclosed the change to M-B Tex. I may move down to a C-class next just to get leather inserts standard!
I guess it seems like I'm b**ching over something so minor(and my wife says shut up, you get it for free). I guess it just seems that they tried to pull it over us. No where in the new model information release on this site did I see where they disclosed the change to M-B Tex. I may move down to a C-class next just to get leather inserts standard!
I totally agree that with a $50K price point and a name like Mercedes, leather SHOULD be standard. The Tex vinyl should be an option for a reduced price.
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From: Oregon
Harley-Davidson
Originally Posted by Carnaught
. . . with a $50K price point and a name like Mercedes, leather SHOULD be standard. . .
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From: San Francisco
I think options help
Originally Posted by cyclerider
With a name like Mercedes, there shouldn't be any options available at all. Every single thing they are capable of manufacturing, no matter the cost, should be included in the base price. Who do they think they are?
All the luxury car makers do this. How often do you see any high end car with no options?
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From: Washington DC area
1998 ML320; 2005 Audi A6; 2006 Honda Pilot
Originally Posted by BenzVince
umm....MB-Tex has been around, if you haven't noticed, Leather is optional as always. I had a 97 E320 and it was MB Tex on the inserts. Same with my mom's 95 S500 has MB Tex insert in it too. I'm not quite sure what you mean, in case you didn't read the brochure or visit MBUSA site about that, cuz it shows LEATHER as OPTIONAL. I don't know what you did expect, Just like AUDI's has same thing like ours MB tex, but they call it Leatherette, if you wanted leather, it says leather.
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MB-Tex vs Leather Revisited
I shared my displeasure with the change from leather inserts to full MB-Tex in the E350 recently. I know you guys will think I'm sniveling, BUT, if you were furnished a new E350 yearly but can't order the leather option(another $1600 loss), would you continue to buy the E350? It gets about 95 here in the summer and I went ahead and took the car even after I found out(on my own not from the dealer) they took leather inserts out, but this stuff is sticky! Sure, it will look great in 8 years, but I won't be driving it then. Anyone else considering a 2007 that is put off my $50k and NO leather on the seats????? My alternative choice is a BMW convert. with FULL $@!%@#% leather. All input appreciated....
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From: Oregon
Harley-Davidson
Originally Posted by SteveATL
I shared my displeasure with the change from leather inserts to full MB-Tex in the E350 recently. I know you guys will think I'm sniveling, BUT, if you were furnished a new E350 yearly but can't order the leather option(another $1600 loss), would you continue to buy the E350? It gets about 95 here in the summer and I went ahead and took the car even after I found out(on my own not from the dealer) they took leather inserts out, but this stuff is sticky! . . .
If it's that hot in the summer, you wouldn't drop the top on a convertible anyway.
Last edited by cyclerider; Aug 21, 2006 at 08:16 PM.
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Originally Posted by SteveATL
I shared my displeasure with the change from leather inserts to full MB-Tex in the E350 recently. I know you guys will think I'm sniveling, BUT, if you were furnished a new E350 yearly but can't order the leather option(another $1600 loss), would you continue to buy the E350? It gets about 95 here in the summer and I went ahead and took the car even after I found out(on my own not from the dealer) they took leather inserts out, but this stuff is sticky! Sure, it will look great in 8 years, but I won't be driving it then. Anyone else considering a 2007 that is put off my $50k and NO leather on the seats????? My alternative choice is a BMW convert. with FULL $@!%@#% leather. All input appreciated....
Frankly speaking;
1) you claim you get the car for free. If you don't want it, deed it to a fellow MBWorld member.
2) the car has a lot of std equipment that cost extra last year: Sunroof, HK, CD changer, no more SBC, etc
3) lets assume you're looking at the 3 series convert: less room
EDIT
Just noticed that you already started a similar thread on this subject. Therefore I merged both.
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Personally I don't see the point of the heavily treated and vinyl-like leather inserts on my 2006. I suppose it's so that they can say "leather seats" in marketing materials, but I can't tell the difference; both are uncomfortable after sitting in the sun, and neither smells like fine leather. I'd be just as happy with full MB-Tex knowing that it will wear better, even if I don't keep the car long-term.
Nappa leather used in BMWs is nice and soft, but it will show wear within a year...in my M3s, it stiffened up in areas exposed to sunlight (rear headrests and tops of rear seats), had varying degrees of shiny patina; heavy on the driver's seat (always used, obviously), less so on the passenger seat (sometimes used), and completely matte finish as it was new on the rear seats (never used). One of the cars had extremely light leather that showed dinge almost instantly, and belts left discoloration on the driver's seat on both of my M3s.
IMO, leather is great on nice furniture and shoes, but in cars it's only great on the showroom floor.
Nappa leather used in BMWs is nice and soft, but it will show wear within a year...in my M3s, it stiffened up in areas exposed to sunlight (rear headrests and tops of rear seats), had varying degrees of shiny patina; heavy on the driver's seat (always used, obviously), less so on the passenger seat (sometimes used), and completely matte finish as it was new on the rear seats (never used). One of the cars had extremely light leather that showed dinge almost instantly, and belts left discoloration on the driver's seat on both of my M3s.
IMO, leather is great on nice furniture and shoes, but in cars it's only great on the showroom floor.
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From: St. Louis, MO
C300
Originally Posted by SteveATL
...if you were furnished a new E350 yearly but can't order the leather option(another $1600 loss), would you continue to buy the E350?
Originally Posted by SteveATL
It gets about 95 here in the summer and I went ahead and took the car even after I found out(on my own not from the dealer) they took leather inserts out, but this stuff is sticky!
Lou
