noobie

I am looking for an E350 sport model with P2 and leather seats. The dealer told me that there is not a single vehicle configured like that in the whole NE and that it was too late to order an 07. I would have to wait until 08. Then I asked, OK forget about the P2, how about a P1 with leather. Still no go.

Are leather seats really that rare on an E? It would appear the majority are sold with MB Tex?

New E350W4

Your dealer is "yanking your chain".
P2 w/Leather is typical and can be found in the NE.
Furthermore, you can still order '07's.
Sounds like they're trying to coerce you into an in-stock car, in my opinion

noobie

Actually, they are not pushing an in-stock at all. They are suggesting I wait to order an 08

konigstiger

Correct. Leather is available on the e350 (standard on the e550) however dealers tailor their inventories to what sells quickest. MB-Tex combined with a more popular option appeals to the e350 prospect rather than leather. If the dealer will match or better the cost of a 07 for a 08 I would take their advice and order a 08 if you can wait.

Barry45RPM

Your dealer may not have the car you want, AND he may not have any more builld allocations left for the remainder of the year, so that leaves him with "breaking your legs" as they call it, to take you off the market, until he can make a sale.

P1's are plentiful, P2s somewhat less so... but if you have the bread, all the goodies added by the P2 Pkg are NICE items. Get on the internet, get a bunch of dealer names and call them. What you want is out there, but won't be in a month. Your guy is LAME, or just wants to sell whats easy.

(Dealerships also have a saying that they cram down the Salesmen's throat... "Sell what you can see! Don't see what you can sell." But how come some dealerships are consistantly # 1 in a market? Because they want to seel cars... whats on hand or whatever they have to do to get you behind the wheel of a car with their name on it.

You know what you want. Go get it.

Txhurdle

New to this forum, been on benzworld.org for a while. I just snooped and there are only (3) in the NE Region w/P2 and Leather.

Barry45RPM

Stay here on this Forum. Its got some very knowlegeable people & some connected 'lurkers". Its a great community. Welcome!

noobie

Thanks for info guys. This would be my first MB, so I want to get what I want. It does seem that MB Tex and P1 are the most common around. The dealer said most come configured that way.

I also asked for Parktronic so that probably added to the scarcity. I think he said there was one 4 matic with P2 around.

I am leaning towards ordering and doing European delivery. I'd like to get a price close to or less than the Eurpean delivery invoice cost. Ist that reasonable?

Thanks

amdeutsch

Explain your definition of "invoice" please. ED is 7% off MSRP and no shipping charge. You want more than that? Is that what you mean with your statement of ED invoice cost?

Anyway, doing ED now will most likely put you into a MY08 unless they have something sitting that you are willing to take now.

baybenzo

what's the alternative to leather? cloth? an E class can come with cloth?

BudC

In the US, it's MB-Tex which is Mercedes well known vinyl upholstery. It's bulletproof and you won't be able to wear it out. What it lacks is the softness of leather and the smell. Also, there is a difference in the way the doors are upholstered. It's a bit nicer with leather. However, leather is an expensive option.

It's hard to tell the difference between MB-Tex and leather just by looking at it.

WEBSRFR

Anyone know a way to tell if it is leather or MB Tex by looking at or feeling the surface?

Like others have suggested, I recommend that you get what you want. It is already a relatively expensive car so if you really want leather, don't settle for something that isn't.

BudC

It's hard to tell by looking at it. It's easy to tell by looking at the door trim on the '07s. The cars with MB-Tex have rather plain, flat surfaces while the ones with leather have a tufted surface. Of course even the ones with leather look cheap compared to the interior of my '91 300E.

DerekACS

Wow, that's a strong statement !
With the E Class, I find the easiest way to tell the difference, from the outside looking in, between MB Tex and leather is the presence or absence of perforations.
The MB Tex is perforated, while the real leather is not perforated. In order to breathe, MB Tex requires many perforations, while genuine leather does not.
The other major differences are in texture and aroma. Genuine leather has a very supple feel and an organic smell; MB Tex feels like plastic ( although a very good quality example) and has an un-natural odour.
No question that MB Tex will wear well, but the feel of it and the off-gases betray its origin. On the other hand, leather, being a natural product, can be conditioned and kept alive with appropriate treatments for many, many years.
MB Tex will always feel and smell like vinyl, especially on a hot day.

ZedStyle

BudC

I have a '91 300E and a 2004 E320 with leather. There is no comparison in the quality of the two. Also, the leather in the 300E is perforated which is usually an extra cost option (see Lexus).

We had a 190D with MB-Tex for 17 years and never noticed an odor. On the other hand, the leather in the E320 didn't smell like leather until I treated it with Zaino's Leather in a Bottle. I never have to do that with the 300E.

Tomorrow, I expect to order a new 2008 E350 and I'll be getting leather. I wish it was as soft as the leather in the BMW 550i.

DerekACS

Bud, My apologies ! I don't have a '91 300E to compare with the current E Class.
However, having spent the better part of my life in the auto business, I'm very familiar with the quality of older Euro leathers in such examples as RR, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and MBs. I would have to agree with you that virtually all of the older Euro cars had superior quality leather to the current offerings from MB, BMW and Audi.
However, I am still convinced that, over the long term, leather is a superior performing material for car seats, but the extra cost can be hard to justify for some.
Perhaps, both of our future cars will be built during the first week of June !

baybenzo

ahhhh i didn't know that. well now i know i don't have vinyl

no_clue

I actually wish I don't have the leather seat.
I hate the cleaning part....

jimbo1mcm

If you plan on keeping the car for an extended period, the cost of leather per year is very small. I like it because it feels good on my heine.( spelling?)

cicbenz

wow I guess I have MB-Tex and it's great feels just like the leather in my mom's CLS

Barry45RPM

My Leather seats ARE perforated, so the casual observation of perfs being MB Tex isnt right. Better to look at the door panels. Flat=MB Tex, Rippled = Leather.

konigstiger

It is nice to see that most are choosing MB again …you, Barry, Randy, and so on. PHXMC?

BudC

Yup, Phoenix Motors. Getting Silver/Black leather, P2, Voice Control, Split Rear Seat and the Bluetooth Interface module. Silver was the only color my wife and I could both agree on.

I looked for a 2007 but they were all picked over. Besides, I wanted a fresh car with the latest wheel design.

DerekACS

Barry,
Now I am beginning to wonder IF the leather being supplied to Canadian cars is the same as in the US. Our E320/350/550, when equipped with real leather, have non-perforated hides. Could this difference be explained by the "climate comfort front seats" option ?