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2011 E350 4matic driver seat ripped

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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 01:34 AM
  #1  
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2011 E350 4matic driver seat ripped

I bought a CPO 2011 E350 for my mom. This evening I went to check her car and saw her seat was ripped at the seam.

I called the dealer and immediately they said the seat cover/leather aren't covered under warranty. Should I start to raise some hell for higher management? I've check other threads and found similar issue.






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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 09:29 AM
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I too had the same issue with mine, same seat, same rip, I had a relationship and my service advisor took care of everything. I'm not sure how often you bring your vehicle to the dealer for service, etc.. but little things like this makes dealing with them a little better than an independent IMHO. I don't think raising hell will get you anywhere, the seat is NOT covered under warranty and the dealer can "take care" of you if they WANT to. You may want to try visiting with the manager (in person) in the service department or going back to the original dealer (if they're not one in the same). GOOD LUCK! I hope things work out for you
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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 12:52 PM
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Adding to the forum, same exact thing happened to mine after I bought it. Same spot and everything. MB did a horrible job stitching that area.

You have to get the entire bottom insert replaced. It looks like you would be able to just get that middle part stitched, but turns out it's one complete piece. Just got mine replaced for about $150.
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Old Oct 21, 2015 | 12:59 AM
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2011 E350 Bluetec
sljacks - Is there a part number or anything?
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Old Oct 21, 2015 | 09:15 AM
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MB should just dump this Pleather MB-Tex stuff.
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Old Oct 22, 2015 | 12:27 AM
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2010 E350 4Matic Sport
Originally Posted by nguyenmb
I bought a CPO 2011 E350 for my mom. This evening I went to check her car and saw her seat was ripped at the seam.

I called the dealer and immediately they said the seat cover/leather aren't covered under warranty. Should I start to raise some hell for higher management? I've check other threads and found similar issue.







Same issue, same seat, same spot. I replaced my entire bottom cover (as stated by another user above), but I paid $250 with a five year warranty. This was performed by a third party upholstery shop & NOT the dealer. Don't do as I did and simply restitch it because it will only rip again in a few months, def replace the bottom cover. Make sure the shop resets the "seat airbag signal" once the job is complete.

Best of luck.
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Old Oct 22, 2015 | 01:46 AM
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I had a guy re-stitched it up and it seems to be a good job for $175. He is the go to guy for Mercedes dealer upholstery jobs. Hopefully it will last more than 3 years. I was afraid that the same problem would reoccur even if I spend $600 to replace the bottom.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 12:04 PM
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I have the same exact rip, and as the other posted here these MB-Tex material are just not very durable. I would have it replaced but @ $150-$250 its simply too costly and before I get flamed about how a MB owner should have the funds it is more about MB quality...anyhow, I like to work on my cars if someone know where I can get FYI information on removing the driver's seat I can post a vid?
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 02:10 PM
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Had same thing with a 2010 CPO W212 with 57,000 miles. Dealership didn't want to cover it when I brought it to their attention when I had the car in for scheduled service. I went home and called MB Customer Service to file a complaint. I had a call back within 30 minutes. The case manager took all pertinent info and called me the next day. I was advised to take the car back to the dealership so they could take pictures and re-evaluate. The service manager and I came to an agreement. They paid for the seat cover and I paid for the labor.
I don't believe the material is as much the problem as it is the workmanship. The seems don't appear to be ripping but rather they are coming apart. Stand your ground folks, especially if you are under warranty!
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by resonator
sljacks - Is there a part number or anything?
Sorry, just now seeing this reply. No to my knowledge their is not a part number. As others have since mentioned, it is definitely going to run you about $150 to have fixed. No way around it really. Unless you're good at stitching!
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 08:05 PM
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Mercedes Benz should be ashamed of there fake leather seats. I seen about 4 cars with ripped seats. I got no words for that.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 08:45 PM
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^ its not like MB is deceiving you with MB tex. you have the option of real leather or MB tex from new. ive read somewhere that MB tex lasts longer and easier to maintain than real leather. its probably how the 212 seats where stitched up.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by beejAMG
^ its not like MB is deceiving you with MB tex. you have the option of real leather or MB tex from new. ive read somewhere that MB tex lasts longer and easier to maintain than real leather. its probably how the 212 seats where stitched up.
Don't look like it. look, feel, smell, everything about it is no good. They can write anything they want, whats not real its not real! its like you buying your woman a fake LV purse. I never seen real leather rip like that, plus its really easy to maintain. all you have to do it wash it with soapy water and put leather conditioner once a month, no big deal.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by IgorE350
Don't look like it. look, feel, smell, everything about it is no good. They can write anything they want, whats not real its not real! its like you buying your woman a fake LV purse. I never seen real leather rip like that, plus its really easy to maintain. all you have to do it wash it with soapy water and put leather conditioner once a month, no big deal.
just get real leather then. too easy.
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Old Nov 2, 2015 | 11:25 AM
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I have leather seats in my 2010 E550 and the drivers seat cushion fell apart after about 2 years. Was at a seam in back. Dealer replaced without issue. Still favor leather in my cars, however seems both MB tex and leather 212 seats fall apart. Hope 213 design is better.
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Old Nov 2, 2015 | 11:39 AM
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My seat is starting to rip too.
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Old Nov 2, 2015 | 11:39 AM
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I have never had a leather seat in any of my Benzs' fall apart. They have all been driven to 100K and always looked like new when I traded them in. Every post I have ever seen with a seat tear has been in the MBtex fabric.
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Old Nov 8, 2015 | 01:17 PM
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2008 C350
looking to replace driver seat covering

[ATTACH]2011 E350 4matic driver seat ripped-20151018_135552.jpg

2011 E350 4matic driver seat ripped-20151018_135604-1.jpg[/ATTACH]
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Old Nov 8, 2015 | 10:10 PM
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Damn that is crazy bad luck. I have the leather in my W212. No issues at all. Even the MB Text in my 10 year old C Class still looks brand new. Car has near 150,000 on it.
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Old Jul 3, 2016 | 07:07 PM
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2011 E350 4matic
Same issue. Premium price, poor quality

My 2011 E350 4matic has the same issue. Even worse, my steering wheel control buttons are smeared too. It is really not the quality I expected from MB. I believe that 2011 E350 model has chosen bunch of cheap plastics to lower the cost and now the customers are paying for the selection of cheap materials.
Attached Thumbnails 2011 E350 4matic driver seat ripped-image.jpg  

Last edited by Putnam; Jul 3, 2016 at 07:10 PM.
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Old Jul 3, 2016 | 10:40 PM
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I guess Mercedes Benz company does not care how there cars look after 5 years. I just got a 1994 S500 and leather is in perfect condition. car is 22 years old and 154000 on the dial.. people who made that car are proud of there work! People who did W212 should be ashamed of there seats!!!! it feels like you sitting on a used tire. Everything about it is garbage, Look,feel or smell. Shame on MB for that!!!!!
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Old Jul 4, 2016 | 11:40 PM
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W212 E550 4M P2
I keep thinking: If MB-Tex is so good, why isn't it available in the S-Class?
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Old Jul 5, 2016 | 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Johnny Rad
I keep thinking: If MB-Tex is so good, why isn't it available in the S-Class?
MB-Tex is available in the S-Class, just not for the US market,
same reason you don't see the 6 cylinders S350 in US.
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Old Nov 12, 2016 | 01:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Putnam
My 2011 E350 4matic has the same issue. Even worse, my steering wheel control buttons are smeared too. It is really not the quality I expected from MB. I believe that 2011 E350 model has chosen bunch of cheap plastics to lower the cost and now the customers are paying for the selection of cheap materials.
Reviving this older thread team- just got a 2010 E350 for my father with 96k original miles courtesy of my brother giving it to him as a gift..

Want to make it right and perfect for the old man and this is the exact tears the car has on both driver and passenger seats.

What would be the best economical approach , seek a good upholstery repair shop or can this entire part be ordered/replaced OEM, or are there some highly recommended seat covers that are fitted for our E class cars?

Sincere thanks as always
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Old Nov 12, 2016 | 09:19 AM
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2011 E350 Bluetec
The Mercedes seat covers still sit around $235-275 - and I have yet to see DIY instructions posted. But that's beside the point: I'd have not problem paying that as long as the original problem of the tearing was fixed. Does anyone know if the seat cover was improved to address the problem?

Otherwise your choice looks great.

BTW: The seat covers for my specific model, in gray, are numbered 21291073467H23 (I believe the H23 signifies the color)
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