ocellaris

Hi. New to the forum. I'm looking into buying a 2010 E350 sedan. The strange thing I'm running into (at least it's strange to me!) is that the two closest dealers to me in upstate NY don't have E350s with leather. They're all mbtex. Moreover, rather than trying to get me to buy a car with the leather option, they keep trying to sell me on mbtex. I assume that's because they're trying to move cars on their lots.

Nevertheless, having browsed these (and other) forums, I was surprised at the popularity of mbtex for a $50,000+ car.

Are most people buying (or leasing) E350's with mbtex?

Thanks very much.

aeggroup

I'm leasing second car from MB with mbtex seats and love it. I don't see any difference between leather and mbtex.....Even tex looking much better after 4-5 years ..looks like brand new...

DieselNY

MB-tex all the way. I have had leather in the past and I made sure there is no leather in my car and good thing because leather can't take the beating that MB-tex can!

blueC230K

Not to bash mbtex but I have a C350 with mbtex and E350 with leather. Night and day difference. The mbtex feels like plastic/vinyl while the leather is soft and smooth (smells good too ). Also, the MBtex smells funny. No doubt the Mbtex is more durable because it is synthetic and it is also easy to clean.

ipp

Leather all the way I would say, taxi drivers can keep their MB Tex. Vinyl doesn't breath as leather, and also the door sides looks cheap(er) with MB Tex.

aeggroup

Taxi drivers? We don't have E-class taxi in USA....

Eva350

love the mbtex. I have 2 kids that regularly ride in the car and cleanup on mbtex is a breeze. Also, the quality of mbtex has come a long way. Looks classy and is comfortable enough. I can't say I miss leather at all on my e350

bzliteyear

That's a very COOL CDI E wagon(estate).
regardless of the pros/cons of MBtex/leather, rule #1 of retail sales, customers are not coming back so you better sell them what you have.
PL

ipp

Yeah, I know that... We have a lot of them here, the reason for that is we have pretty high tax on cars but businesses doesn't pay that tax and therefore they buy reliable and comfortable cars for less money than normal people does. And then after millions of kms they can sell them and still get atleast some money.

And for me the MB-Tex feels like it's ment for those kinds of cars.

W212 Taxi equipped I like the mirror!

ipp

Thanks, will post pics when it arrives in dec/jan.

sosh

Could not find any suitable E's with leather so I ordered one for Feb delivery. My ML550 also has leather and was a special order. For me its no contest leather is the way to go. I have had Tex on a prior car and on my 05 E. Big difference in feel, smell, touch and the leather is as durable and as easy to clean.

ocellaris

Thanks everyone for your replies. The cars I test drove had mb-tex and I have to admit that it didn't seem cheap at all. The interior on the e350 is beautiful.

I think the next step is to go back and compare the leather from another model (since they don't have any e350's with it) to the mbtex in an e350. I assume that if they have an e550, the leather in it will be the same as the leather that would come in an e350. Does anyone know if the leather in an S-class would be the same as that used in the E-class? (in case they don't have an e550)

Thanks again.

K-A

To sit on = Leather.

To have around you in the car = M-B Tex.

I like Tex equipped cars because maintenance is a breeze, and it wears better. If I were Leasing however, I'd go Leather no doubt.

One thing I can't do is SIT on Tex, it feels awful IMO, from the C-Classes I've driven where it feels like I'm sitting on rubbery/plastic, in which the 212's seem to have the same material.

Before the F.L in the 211 (and presumingly the 210's, etc.) they had genuine Leather inserts for the front seats, so that's what you'd sit on, was perfect IMO as it's the best of both worlds. People should really start writing/"demanding" to M-B to bring that back. They clearly dropped is as a cost saving measure, in which it never brought MSRP, etc. down.

sosh

I prefer leather alla round. It has a richer more luxurious smell, feel, touch. Besides didn't your doctor ever tell you that sitting on vinyl gives you hemoroids??

shaffras

I just took delivery of an E350 with leather and it had to be shiped 1200 miles to get the leather. I would not pay 50K PLUS for plastic. Leather all the way...

emilner

Ok, call me clueless here, but I did not know they made a fake leather for MB's. I have a 2010 E550- How do I know what I have?

MichaelB.

Let me just say that I have watched the progression of MB-Tex, and the 2010 Tex is not what any of us are use to seeing from past versions. New Tex is higher standard, and its resiliency is hard to equal. I too would consider myself a leather preference guy, but after seeing and actually using the 2010 Tex - I find the difference between the two material choices is now a non-issue.

Rowrbazzle

I can't compare it to other versions, but no one who has seen my car has noticed that it's not leather. My father got in the car and was confused. He said, "I thought you told me it wasn't leather."

K-A

You've got real Leather, all V8's come with Leather, V6's standard with Tex.

True, no one ever really notices. I've never had anyone not think my car has real Leather all around (although front passengers do sit on real Leather), even backseaters. However, I think the 10's Tex is pretty noticeable if you know your stuff, just as modern-past models are, in fact when I sat in one, I thought the overall Tex was a bit more noticeable than what I'm used to, even sans the inserts, although I'm sure it uses basically the same fare.

W212350

Leather is Leather and Vinyl/Plastic what ever you want to call it is just that, Vinyl/Plastic. I don't care what kind of fancy name MB uses " MBtex" it's still phony leather and it's not the same when sitting on mbtex for long drives. I actually paid extra for the leather option on my 350..

220S

+1

silberrosa

Good gracious the opinions on this one are interesting and anything but objective. Don't listen to anyone on this. Try it yourself by sitting in an E550 sedan as this has leather standard and is exactly what you would get in the E350 if ordered with leather. If you prefer that, order a car with leather. Appearance wise, only the seat material and the stitching pattern is different. The material on the doors on the 212 are identical with MB tex or leather. Personally (stop listening now per above, the feel of the MBtex is very good and easily the best of the synthetic leathers I have seen. I would have no problem with it and I would instead to spend the money (1500+) on additional options...like P2 or the drive-dynamic seat etc. Good Luck

JoeVal

If the car appointment and options is important to you, as much as its dependability and overall comfort, you will find that leather brings along a better quality interior. I agree that MBTex is fine, durable, easy to upkeep...
but Mercedes is a matter of luxury and plush for intimate enjoyment, not only rolling on the road, but riding it or driving it.

Pay special attention to the options, because the standard appointment might not be to your standards if you come from a fully equipped previous model.

Don't let the dealer push you into what does not have all you wish, luxury is not relinquishing...

MichaelB.

Well said.

sosh

Yes many varied opinions here. I ordered the leather and P2. P2 is not much more expensive than P1. I travel extensivly and in many european countries the cabs are MB E class. They all are fairly austere. They all have tex interiors. I just do not like that look, feel or smell and yes one can tell the difference from all senses. If you can't you are not paying attention to your surroundings. The last E that had leather (full seating) as standard was the W210. Tex is not new as I had it in my 1974 450SL. In fact back then the only options were Tex/Leather and mag or steel wheels. Made it quite simple.