Left Coast Geek

one thing I've noticed, the leather on the newer mercedes is nothing like the thick cowhide they used on the older classics... My 1993 300CE convertible has black leather, and its REAL leather, you rub some lexol in it, and it soaks right in. the new stuff is half as thick and has a hard surface coat so that leather treatments just sit on the surface and don't actually rejuvenate the leather fibers..

pierrejoliat

I would concur. I did have the seam split in the drivers seat of my MBTEX '13, but other than that I've been happier with the TEX than I thought, I wipe it down with interior detailer and it looks great. I do miss the smell of leather conditioner a little.

LILBENZ230

This is probably true for almost any moderately expensive car these days. They're all heavily surface coated and "treatments" are a waste of time. Both the Macan and E350 have the real stuff, and while grain is different, quality is about the same. A wipe down with a moist cloth is all that is needed. Any kind of conditioners do not soak in.

Now our 2014 Lexus ES350 we had several years ago had the optional semi-aniline leather, and that was a whole different league in terms of feel and quality to either the Porsche or Benz. Unfortunately it was slathered in a car so mind-numbingly dull that we didn't hold onto it for long.

pierrejoliat

Mind-numbingly dull, perfect descriptor! I wonder if the Designo leather is any better. Sometimes I do wipe down the seats with LEXOL just for the smell,

EuroDriverSD

My W211 was beginning to show its age a little and I was determined to find another well-kept W211 and transfer all may goodies over because I didn't care for the style of the W212 and when the W213 came, I really hated it. (At that time I hadn't noticed the difference between the pre-facelift and facelift W212).

Then my mother's car died and after spending countless hours car shopping with her - in a moment of despair because I was starving and my wife was breathing down my neck about me being practically gone for a week, I gave my mother my W211. She dropped me off at home and sped off into the sunset.

After a few hours of more shopping (this time with my wife accompanying me), I spotted my W212 among rows of new W213's. Why did I buy it?

1) I urgently needed a car
2) I instantly liked it
3) I really liked the color combination and it wasn't until later that I liked how it wasn't as raked as the pre-facelift
4) It had unbelievably low miles and I got a great deal on it - a coincidental perk of shopping on a Sunday at the end of the month, near closing time at the dealer and
5) It was a CPO with extended warranty

I have not regretted it one bit.

nc211

I wanted a timeless beauty that will still look great when it's 15 years old (I take good care of my cars). I see older MB's on the road quite often that are well taken care of and they always catch my eye. But the W212 is truly a special car, certain to go down in the history books as one of the best from MB. Mine is now approaching 7 years old (I've owned it since 2017 as a CPO), and man, it just looks great! Nothing on it looks tired or dated, not on the outside nor the inside (ok, maybe the info screen is showing it's age, there are ways to update that now for $500). I wanted a car that I could enjoy for many years after paying it off, one that would be hard to replace. I picked wisely if you want my opinion - we all picked wisely.

These two photos - the one with the garage door closed is the night I brought it home (July 2017 w/ 23k miles). The other photo is this past September 2020 with 52k miles. I really can't think of any sedan on the road that ages quite as gently as the W212. Heck, I like the pre-facelift front end even better than my facelift model!

This is my first MB ever, and it has lured me into the brand big time now. Bought a new 2020 GLS for the wife this year as well. My 3rd car is my beloved 2015 GTI that has been nothing but pure joy to drive. But, that AMG GLB is tugging at me too. Wish I had the money to get it as well, but not in the cards. As the joke says - all I need is a single wide with a 7 car garage attached to it down by the river. Well, if that were true, it'd likely be filled with MB's. I have always loved the old 90's SL500's too, a timeless classic as well. I put the W212 on that same playing field as that old SL roadster in certain areas as well.

Quattrodude

Awesome looking car - is that grey or beige interior! I love a lighter interior. But your exterior looks new!

nc211

thanks! The September 2020 photo was after I clayed and detailed it for only the second time (I know I know, bad owner). But came out great. She’s got a few nicks here and there, to be expected at this age and DC traffic.

it’s the beige interior, MBTex, nothing out of the ordinary. I really like the MBTex and went with it again on the GLS as well. Stuff is magical and likely will last as long as styrofoam! Assuming of course it doesn’t tear in the seat bottom seam - which I’ve not had that problem but my seat is tweaked a little to not allow it to sink so far down into the seat’s frame, might have
something to do with it lasting.