albellenchia

If you have premium leather, what does that cover (pun intended) ?

Dexion

just the seats and doors? I have MBtex and imo I think thats better, especially if you keep it conditioned.

albellenchia

I wouldn't necessarily opt for it either, but it was in the car. Seems to be the door pulls and side panels, full seat (I'm guessing) and perhaps console, since that has stitching.

Bigglen1

What do you use as a conditioner for your MBtex?

220S

Leather also gives you those nice cushy padded and pleated door panels which are a Mercedes trademark. Without leather, you don't get that. It does make the door panel nice and soft if you rest your arm on the door's armrest (like I do.)

Too bad Nappa isn't an option in the US (except on the AMG where it's standard.) The "regular" leather is a bit coarse. The Nappa is butter soft and smooth.

WEBSRFR

Why do you say MBTex is better? When I was shopping partly of my justification for getting the 550 was so that I have real leather seats and i thought the leather seats would wear well over time.

By the way does anyone know what is recommended to clean and condition the leather seats?

KEY08

I have used Lexol for years as a conditioner on leather, and MBtex over leather? come on....

gaazmon

you pay $50K+, the least they can do is give you leather standard. I mean seriously, it's an E class (I understand not being standard on the C)

220S

+1

But they do the same over at BMW. With the 3 series you get either leatherette or optional Dakota leather (except the M which has standard Novillo leather.) With the 5 series BMW (535i and 528i) you get either leatherette (standard) or optional Dakota leather or optional Nappa leather. Only with the 550i do you get Dakota leather standard and Nappa optional (no leatherette.)

gaazmon

ya, that's ridiculous as well imo. i mean the 3 series not standard i get it (same with C class). But the 5 (or at least the 535) should come with it standard.

albellenchia

I like the leather, especially on the door panels. I can tell the difference between the leather and MB Tex, which is what I had previously. Agree that a car in E Class range should have leather standard.

djrabbi

a lot of these company have an option for leather solely to keep their prices down...like you see a C-Class starting price for $28k for a reason...to catch the eye and sucker them in haha

BenzBee

It is ridiculous that the 5 series does not come standard with leather. However, unlike MB, BMW bundles leather with the premium package - which is pretty much ordered on every car.

WEBSRFR

I think this policy mostly affects pre-owned buyers. It is so difficult to find a preowned E350 with leather. I am willing to bet most average E350 buyers don't realize that the car does not come with leather unless it is specially selected.

apl175

General consensus is that over time, MBTex is tougher, wears less noticeably, and "probably" requires less conditioning than the real leather. Some will highlight the fact that it is sometimes called "Taxi Leather" or similar because of it's hard-wearing properties.

Personally, I sometimes I wish mine had real leather, but I really do start to notice on a car, when real leather cracks, spiders, and starts to shine (which some say is favourable characteristic - akin to worn catcher's mit).

All about personal preferences.

apl175

IN some earlier cars (pre MY -06), I believe leather seating inserts (the central portion of the seat bottom and back) came standard with full leather as an option. This apparently was done away after 2006. (citing hearsay information for USA market cars)

gaazmon

yup. also, they give you Xenons standard on the 535 and on the 3 series coupes. MB doesn't even give Xenons standards on a CLS550

agree 100%

correct and one was able to get leather through appearance package (which is how I got it)

Dexion

I honestly cannot tell the difference, I havent seen a MB-tex/Leather comparison. I have the leather padding on the doors, does this mean I have leather? I use lexol to clean and condition it and it keeps it looking practically new.

KEY08

You actually may have leather if your doors are trimmed out in leather. If I wanted "taxi leather", I would have bought a crown vic

WEBSRFR

But don't they use W211s as taxis in many parts of Europe?

DrDrilZ

if your seats look new after several years, you have mbtex. it is much more durable