MB Tex separation
#27
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 28 Likes
on
23 Posts
2013 E350
$300 is better than nothing, but I suppose that requires you to have the dealer repair it. I'd encourage you to get quotes from independent auto upholstery shops. Their quotes will probably vary quite a bit among themselves -- some will say they have to replace panels, others will say they can stitch -- but I suspect they'll all be much less than what a MB dealer charges for the very same services. Then compare those indie prices and solutions to your dealer's discounted MB price and solution.
#28
I wonder if there is any way to take MB to court for false claims about comparable service life of the MB Vinil and genuine leather. My Audis 2001 and 2003 leather is in pristine state with > 300k on each, while 2012 GL 350 with less than 150k Mb tex on driver seat looks like 50 years old school bus seat that about to fall apart.
MB should explicitly state at least 50% decrease of upholstery longevity with MB Tex, when they advertise their "luxury" models.
MB should explicitly state at least 50% decrease of upholstery longevity with MB Tex, when they advertise their "luxury" models.
#29
Just saw a small tear at seam. Driver seat. 50k miles. 2011 E350.
Doesnt look like there is much material for someone to stitch up. How would they fix? Add some material underneath? I see it tearing again.
Doesnt look like there is much material for someone to stitch up. How would they fix? Add some material underneath? I see it tearing again.
#30
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 6,151
Received 1,506 Likes
on
1,177 Posts
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
If you read all the old threads, stitching it up again just leads to another tear later on. Only solution is to buy a new seat cover and hope it lasts a little more than 50k or 8 years.
#32
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 6,151
Received 1,506 Likes
on
1,177 Posts
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Here's one of the old threads. About $250 or so for the seat cover and then labor to install it. My seat heater also failed so make sure yours also work.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-ripped-2.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-ripped-2.html
#33
Senior Member
$250 for the seat cover? I'd have paid that in a heartbeat. My dealer wanted $1800 just for the part. Is there an emoji for "blow it out your ***"?
#34
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 6,151
Received 1,506 Likes
on
1,177 Posts
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
That's quite the mark up or that's for the total job. Or you have real leather instead of Mb-tex which is a bit more. I would just get the seat cover and find an upholstery shop that could install it. Some upholstery shops will stitch it up again but there's several threads on how it just rips again in a year or two so a new seat cover will probably last much longer.
#35
Senior Member
I have MB Tex but I believe it was for the entire lower cushion assembly (frame, foam, heater element, etc). I honestly couldn't find just the cover, so I am wondering if MB even sells it singly? Or maybe just the cover was listed for something like $800. I can't recall which. I could have installed it myself, after going through the process on the driver's seat to make it somewhat tolerable I've already done it (for further reading search for the 'W212 Seat Pain' thread). Does anyone have a part number for just the cover and I can look it up?
I am now starting to realize what a thorn in my side the seats in this car have been in general...maybe I need to look into some Summit Racing buckets or something.
I am now starting to realize what a thorn in my side the seats in this car have been in general...maybe I need to look into some Summit Racing buckets or something.
#36
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 6,151
Received 1,506 Likes
on
1,177 Posts
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I have MB Tex but I believe it was for the entire lower cushion assembly (frame, foam, heater element, etc). I honestly couldn't find just the cover, so I am wondering if MB even sells it singly? Or maybe just the cover was listed for something like $800. I can't recall which. I could have installed it myself, after going through the process on the driver's seat to make it somewhat tolerable I've already done it (for further reading search for the 'W212 Seat Pain' thread). Does anyone have a part number for just the cover and I can look it up?
I am now starting to realize what a thorn in my side the seats in this car have been in general...maybe I need to look into some Summit Racing buckets or something.
I am now starting to realize what a thorn in my side the seats in this car have been in general...maybe I need to look into some Summit Racing buckets or something.
You might be able to poke around this site and see what other colors they have.
https://www.oediscountparts.com/part...&siteid=215242
#37
Out Of Control!!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: North Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 15,903
Received 4,447 Likes
on
3,154 Posts
'71 Pinto
Last edited by konigstiger; 10-23-2018 at 03:02 PM.
#38
Senior Member
There you have it. This was for my passenger's side. Can't get just the cover, although I have no idea why, it still comes off like the driver's side.
#39
Senior Member
Searching around I did come up with a cover that MIGHT be it, but again this is one of the reasons I never pulled the trigger. It's still $500, and there's no real way to tell what I'm getting. I know it'll be black. I know it won't be Nappa or ventilated. Great. Will it have the same white stitching? Will it even be MB Tex? All you get are these silly line drawings, or if you're lucky an eBay seller with an actual picture. I'm not about to drop $500 on this without knowing absolutely that it will match. In fact I was far more likely to buy a complete used seat for $500 on eBay, and then i could sell off the motor, airbags, the entire back, yadda yadda and maybe only have $200 into it.
The cover I found, supposedly for my black, MB-Tex passenger seat:
https://www.mynewbenzparts.com/oem-p...20791002059e43
The cover I found, supposedly for my black, MB-Tex passenger seat:
https://www.mynewbenzparts.com/oem-p...20791002059e43
#40
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 6,151
Received 1,506 Likes
on
1,177 Posts
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Well when you place the order, give them your VIN number and they can check to see if it's the right part. Or post your VIN and some kind soul with EPC access may look it up for you. Or you can buy your own knock off EPC/WIS on eBay for around $10. I have it, but I'm not very good at using it, just good enough to get the basics out of it.
#42
update:
I told the Service Manager that i had $300 customer care credit and asked if he could get it fixed for $300. he said their price was $500.
The SA that I usually schedule with at my local dealership gave me the number to the interior repair guy they use. he said to call him directly and cut MB out because it will be cheaper. I called the guy and he said it would be $350 for him to repair the seam. he said he removes the center and sews in a new piece of MB Tex with a stronger/thicker thread than what is used in the factory. he said it is possible it may rip again later on down the road but its because of the design of the seat.
I emailed the Service Manager back and asked if he could it for $400. That way I would only pay $100 out of pocket. They agreed to fixed it for $400 + tax (so $100+tax out of pocket for me). I'm schedule to come in next week.
I told the Service Manager that i had $300 customer care credit and asked if he could get it fixed for $300. he said their price was $500.
The SA that I usually schedule with at my local dealership gave me the number to the interior repair guy they use. he said to call him directly and cut MB out because it will be cheaper. I called the guy and he said it would be $350 for him to repair the seam. he said he removes the center and sews in a new piece of MB Tex with a stronger/thicker thread than what is used in the factory. he said it is possible it may rip again later on down the road but its because of the design of the seat.
I emailed the Service Manager back and asked if he could it for $400. That way I would only pay $100 out of pocket. They agreed to fixed it for $400 + tax (so $100+tax out of pocket for me). I'm schedule to come in next week.
#43
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 6,151
Received 1,506 Likes
on
1,177 Posts
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
update:
I told the Service Manager that i had $300 customer care credit and asked if he could get it fixed for $300. he said their price was $500.
The SA that I usually schedule with at my local dealership gave me the number to the interior repair guy they use. he said to call him directly and cut MB out because it will be cheaper. I called the guy and he said it would be $350 for him to repair the seam. he said he removes the center and sews in a new piece of MB Tex with a stronger/thicker thread than what is used in the factory. he said it is possible it may rip again later on down the road but its because of the design of the seat.
I emailed the Service Manager back and asked if he could it for $400. That way I would only pay $100 out of pocket. They agreed to fixed it for $400 + tax (so $100+tax out of pocket for me). I'm schedule to come in next week.
I told the Service Manager that i had $300 customer care credit and asked if he could get it fixed for $300. he said their price was $500.
The SA that I usually schedule with at my local dealership gave me the number to the interior repair guy they use. he said to call him directly and cut MB out because it will be cheaper. I called the guy and he said it would be $350 for him to repair the seam. he said he removes the center and sews in a new piece of MB Tex with a stronger/thicker thread than what is used in the factory. he said it is possible it may rip again later on down the road but its because of the design of the seat.
I emailed the Service Manager back and asked if he could it for $400. That way I would only pay $100 out of pocket. They agreed to fixed it for $400 + tax (so $100+tax out of pocket for me). I'm schedule to come in next week.
#44
Have another conversation. Ask him if he will install the MB part if you got it from another dealer. Strangely enough I heard of enough dealers willing to do this as long as it's an MB part. Or you get them to price match the part from oediscountparts.com or whatever site is cheaper. Anyway I also heard that the stitching rips after a short while and you're back at square one. All repairs at the dealer have a 1 year/12k warranty, but MB parts have a 2 year warranty. That's why I'd lean toward having the cushion replaced rather than have it stitched up, you would hope that the new cushion would last longer.
is that what you ended up doing? how much did you get your seat cover for online? i tried searching for the part number I got from Konigstiger but no exact match came back.
Last edited by Ghettoeg6; 10-27-2018 at 02:00 AM.
#46
Out Of Control!!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: North Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 15,903
Received 4,447 Likes
on
3,154 Posts
'71 Pinto
#47
Sorry about the typo there. It is E350 of course.
WDDHF5GB7BA513321
WDDHF5GB7BA513321
#48
Out Of Control!!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: North Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 15,903
Received 4,447 Likes
on
3,154 Posts
'71 Pinto
#49
You rock. Thanks. Funny how the call the plastic artico leather when it isn’t leather at all. Pleather would be better.
I will go after the superseded part number there. The 910 73 one.
I will go after the superseded part number there. The 910 73 one.
#50
Separated Seat on my 2015 C300
This has happened to me. i have a 2010. Konigster sent me the bulletin and the parts for replacement. he told me to call MB customer care and ask for good will/gesture repair. the first time I called, they said they wouldn't cover it since I was outside the factory warranty window. I waited a few days and called them again and got a different rep. I told them that the date of the bulletin wasn't sent out until 2016 and that my VIN was within the affected range but it wouldnt have mattered since the factory warranty was already over. the rep agreed to good will repair and notated my account. He told me to start by getting repair quoted at the MB dealership. I took my car in the other week and they quoted me 418 for the parts and 150 for the labor.
this posted reminded me call customer care back.... i just got off the phone with them. Rep said she will escalate this to the person that approves it and i will hear back within 1 business day...we'll see what they say on Monday.
this posted reminded me call customer care back.... i just got off the phone with them. Rep said she will escalate this to the person that approves it and i will hear back within 1 business day...we'll see what they say on Monday.