Hi ! My apologies if this is a noob question, but how do you tell the difference between Leather and MB Tex? I have a 2005 E500 with AMG Sport Package. Just curious which I have in my car? Thanks for Reading!

KEELBOAT

 

Ya i have real leather the diff is that it smells better (new car smell) and it is usually used for light colored chairs like my E350 Saks Fifth...dont worry your not missing out on anything

 

Look at the side door panels. If they are smooth, it's MB-Tex. If they are "wrinkled" it's leather. It's not a big deal. I actually prefer the MB-Tex - especially in the W211.

 

A datacard will show how the vehicle is equipped – options, paint codes, initial production/delivery date, etc. Check your PM.

 

Hi Konigstiger!

This is great information! Thanks for responding. BTW I really wanted the CLS 500 with AMG pkg, but due to the kids I ended up with the E500 with the bigger backseat....who knows in a couple of years I will own one too . Thanks again!

KEELBOAT

 

The E500 has leather as standard in the US. Be glad you do not have MB-Tex (vinyl).

 

I am confused (easily done) if you have the ripples on the door panel its leather. I thought I had leather and then got convinced it was the MBtex by another post. I thought it felt real nice for non leather. I read this post and started looking at other "E's" and now I think mine is leather again. Either way it seems nice but I looked at some pictures of other cars and I think I can tell now mine looks a litle nicer than some. So if someone can clarify please do.

 

Here's an easy way to tell.....

Pinch it. If it 'moos' then it's leather........

 

If it's a W211 then it's simple. If the interior door panels are "rippled" or "wrinkled" then it's leather. If they are smooth, it's MB-Tex.

I wouldn't worry about it much. As I said, I actually prefer the MB-Tex in the W211. I just bought a new '08 a few weeks ago. Because I wanted P2 I had to deliberately pass on a few that had leather because I specifically didn't want it - and it was not anything to do with price. I paid cash for the car and could easily have bought leather (or an E550 or whatever) if I chose. There are two reasons.

1) To me, the leather particularly in the E350, is too stiff because it is not perforated. I just am not crazy about the feel. The MB-Tex is very supple and comfortable.

2) The MB-Tex will look and feel like new in 6 years. The leather will likely not - nothing bad about it but it is a natural hide and will eventually wear faster.

I had an '00 W208 with MB-Tex that I sold for a pretty nice price with 88K miles on it. The people who looked at it (first person to actually see it bought it) agreed that the interior looked about brand new.

 

Thank you for the clarification. Mine moo-ed so I have the answer.

 

Actually the general statement about the door panel is only partially true. If ripples you have "full" leather. Otherwise, depending on MY, you have either MB-Tex or leather seating surfaces.

 

The E500 came standard with "premium leather upholstery on all seat surfaces (including head restraints and front seatbacks), door armrests and gathered door trim inserts." (From the MY '05 brochure that was posted elsewhere on this forum). MB-Tex was standard on the E320, and nappa leather was standard on the E55.

 

From what I believe and was able to gather with my extensive research when shopping for a W211, from 2003-2006 leather was standard on the E320 (don't know about the bluetec version), E350, E500, and E55. From 2007 till now, the E320 & E350 comes with MB-tex ($1550, I think, for leather), but the 550 and 63 are leather standard. Could be wrong though.

This is one of things that Mercedes has pissed off with. I can't believe someone buys a car that is at least $50,000 and you don't get leather. My friends '95 C220 had leather and that was standard. BMW has done the same things with the the 3 & 5 series.

 

Leather all the way. I ordered black leather with mine since it was optional with the Bluetec. I would have loved to order white leather with my black, however I am always building or fixing things, I would have marked the white leather in no time.

 

I have a 1993 300E 3.2L with leather. It is still good and no stichting has come apart. 376,000 miles. I have a 2010 E350 I bought certified used and the first thing on the warranty I had done is replace the torn stitching in the frtont seat bottom panels. It isn't the stitching, it is the MB-Tex that is torn by the stitching. If I have a choidce, I would go with leather, give some hide food every couple years and enjoy the superior quality. If you are a short tiime car owner, I don't think it matters too much. Just remember those seat bottoms are a known weak point.