petee1997

The BMW I traded on the W212 had synthetic leather and I found it sticky and the seating surfaces were not perforated. I did not like it. The MB tex is totally different. It feels like leather and the seating surfaces are perforated. These seats can breathe and are very comfortable. I have no regrets with my choice.

220S

Thanks for adding another interesting and anything but objective opinion.

Leather breathes much better than vinyl. Also some people like the patina that leather takes on over time (and it's easy to use good modern leather treatments, just like you take the time to wax your car.)

It's why people buy a leather couch over a naugahyde couch. Sure the vinyl couch is cheaper and cleans up easily. Probably a good choice if you have small kids. But the leather is softer, and has a unique, less manufactured feel to it. The same goes for leather shoes and leather jackets. Rubber shoes and nylon jackets are fine, too, but leather sure feels different.

It's part personal preference and part objective comfort issue. The perforated Napa leather (with three way ventilation) in my E63 is far more comfortable than the seats in my old E350. And I had the leather option in the E350 (it's not the same soft Napa leather.) There's a reason why you have a choice of different leathers, too. All the germans give you these sorts of choices (Porsche, Audi, BMW.) There's a reality behind it. It's not just marketing.

For those who like vinyl, MBTex is a better vinyl over BMW's leatherette, imho.

p.s., yes, try sitting in each. But try sitting in each over a long period of time (e.g., an 8 hour drive) and then make your decision.

aeggroup

Sounds like you driving your car with couple of trailers attached to it each week from NY to LA...... man...you funny...

220S

fwiw, we have a house in Marin, so I like to drive up there sometimes.

Hey, what's your association with AEG? I've done a lot of work for Anschutz here in LA, but never with the NY office. (this was asked of you by somebody else here, but you never answered.) Just curious.

aeggroup

Sorry...no comments...

220S

Hmmm. Are you in Live or Creative? Corp? I know a few AEG folks in NYC. Maybe I know you?

K-A

BMW Leatherette is the worst POS material....

ocellaris

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

So I entered into this sure I was going to order leather. My former VW had leather. Of course I would purchase a MB with leather. There seemed to be too much cognitive dissonance in the idea of purchasing a $60k+ car with synthetic seats. And $1500 for leather (or whatever the price is) isn't a big deal.

Just to make sure, though, I went back to the dealer and had him park an E550 w/leather close to an E350 w/mbtex. I went back and forth examining, touching, sitting on, and, yes, smelling the leather and mbtex.

* I thought the leather front seats in the E550 were slightly nicer than the mbtex front seats in the E350. Not a huge difference, but I'd give the edge to the leather.

* While the back seats of the E350 were substantially the same as the front seats in both material and pattern, the rear of the E550 was not nearly as nice as the front. The leather was much coarser and didn't quite look consistent with the front. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the leather in my 03 VW (which I just traded in) was nicer than the back seat of the E550.

So that pretty much sealed it. If the back seat of the E550 had been the same style and leather as the front seats, I would have gone with the leather. Instead, I went mbtex. It feels and looks great to me. Although, talk to me in the summer and I may be singing another tune!

Final car: E350 4matic sport, black/black/black ash trim, P2, wheel package, parktronic, rear folding seats. I also had the dealer remove the chrome side trim. Gives it an even more sporty look. I love it. No pics yet. I'll post some when I can take a few.

Thanks again everyone.

MichaelB.

Well done. You will be very happy with it for years to come.

Dr_jitsu

MB Tex is far and away the best synthetic seating product out there, but leather will always have the edge in terms of comfort and feel. My other 3 cars have leather but the E 350 is my baby hauler and the Tex suits its purpose very well.

lyjw88

I just figured that mine's Tex equipped. Before reading this post, I thought it was leather...this is how 2010 MBTex feels! just like leather.
Well, I still think my dad's leather seat in his S550 feels better though.

uscmscott

I was at a dealer a few days ago and he told me that even the 2010 E 350s with MB Tex have real leather where you sit. He said the portion of the seat that is perforated (basically the middle of the front seats) was real leather and the rest of the seat was MB Tex. I was is a 2010 E350 sport with the Almond/Black interior when he told me and it kind of smelled like leather inside. I currently have a C300 with MB Tex and it definitely does not and never has smelled like leather inside and whatever was in the E looks better than what I have. He claimed that the version of MB Tex for the new E was a new improved version and that mixing it with real leather was new a new touch. Can anyone confirm or refute that this is true?

aeggroup

This is not true....The dealer just trying to sell something to you...

K-A

They stopped putting the real Leather inserts after '06, so he's definitely BS'ing you like a good Salesman should.

sosh

What you were told is not true. Believe you must buy the leather option to get any leather. As far as the mix goes this has been done for many years. The ones that I know are the early W211's and the early ML's. Tex is by far the best synthetic material available however its still plastic. Does not smell like leather and does not develop a patina like leather. Its also not as comfortable as leather. It does not breathe. In addition my MD tells me sitting on plastic gives you hemoroids!!

aeggroup

LOL...I think you need to change your MD....
There are 2 possibilities...
#1 - He's corrupted with MB and wants you to buy a car with leather.
#2 - He has no clue what he's talking about.

If that was true - MB would be bankrupt company after first MB owner with hemoroid.....and I suspect many of them have that exotic illness ))

K-A

I'm happy with mine since I technically am sitting on real Leather, and I like the durability of the Tex around me (easier maintenance), so I like to believe I have the best of both worlds....

.... However after getting into my friends S550, and smelling that wondrously pungent scent of true, full, genuine Nappa Leather, I really, kinda, wish I had a full Leather interior.

RNBRAD

My E320 has the tex in it. The ONLY benefit of tex over leather is it will hold it's exterior appearance or wear better over time. This is not a benefit for all people though as some like the look of wearing leather and leather actually improves with age, like a good baseball glove or a pair of shoes does. The comfort and breathability of leather is 2nd to none. I don't mind my tex but it does mimic a good vinyl more than a good leather.

sosh

Not entirely true re holding its new appearance. You will see some wear and shinyness develop where you rub it getting in an out. All of this in time. In addition there are some spills that will stain like grape juice and red wine. If its hot and sunny with the car parked outside alot it will eventually dry out and become a bit brittle, eventally developing some cracking. However its likely you will not still own the car when all of this happens.

SkinnyVanilla

My wife had the same experience when she got her GL! I love to tease her about it because she is a leather snob . Plus she, assumed, as did I, that a $50K+ car, or a $70K+ car in the case of GL, would have leather.

I am "accustomed to" leather in my cars as well, but went with the MB-Tex in the E-350. It really is a very good plastic but is still that: plastic.

bzliteyear

70k today and no leather, how about when it was $80k car 15 yrs ago - is that like $120k+ in today's dollars?

My 1995 E320 Cabriolet was $80k MSRP and has MB-Tex.
In fairness though, it might have been a good move by MB - it has held up quite well...probably better than leather would have over the same time frame in the sun/open air.
Patrick

petee1997

In Canada the term MB Tex is not used. They refer to the base seat covering as Artico Leather. It's difficult to differentiate with leather and I'm sure many people think they have leather in their cars. Until this year the Canadian E350 had leather as standard equipment. I for one, am quite satisfied with "artico leather". Doesn't it sound much more exclusive than MB Tex? Only in Canada can we glorify a cheap plastic interior to somethoing better. So now all you cheap US MB Tex owners can proudly upgrade your E350's to "artico leather" at no charge.

RNBRAD

K-A

Brilliant. "Artico Leather" it is. Wow, M-B sure makes it easy for its owners to "pose" something fierce.

220S

WTH is Artico supposed to mean? Maybe they meant Arctic-o for that wonderful weather up there in the North Pole

(no offense to our Molson swilling neighbors to the north; I lived in BC for a while and loved it. French fries with vinegar, yum.)