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Swap the seats for a real leather set. I don't think conditioner will help, as they are not real hide, the material is man-made. Another advantage of going for the 550 models, they all have real leather seating.
Loosing some weight is always good option. Count me to the club.
This is a fold that you have to do with your butt.
Each car has different configuration and in W124 with smaller door it was the edge of backrest that was getting folded.
You need to change technique of getting in. What I do to avoid pushing the seat horizontally is getting my behind first on the seat with legs still on the ground and then turn on the set to gets legs in. After few tries it become natural habit that you don't have to thing about.
This is my seat with 185k miles. I drove it for last 20k.
That looks like the seat cushion. If the center of the cushion hasn't ripped yet, I'd wait til it does and then just replace the seat cushion cover. It comes as one piece and I think it's a little over $200 for the part plus labor.
Losing weight won't do anything to save it now, but maybe it will when you get a new seat cover. Or maybe you've got too much stuff in your pockets.
I think some people missed the bit about it being MB-Tex. That's vinyl (as shocking as that sounds for a luxury car), not leather.
Yes, we get wound around the axle here alot on which is better, Leather or MB-Tex...
MB-Tex is a excellent imitation leather. On my 2001 C-Class, the MB-Tex seat bolsters look brand new, while the leather inserts (on the driver seat) are worn and ripped to shreds. I carefully cleaned and conditioned both materials for the first 7-8 years, then gave up. IMO, MB-Tex is by far the better material. European Benzes used as taxis are shod in MB-Tex, and they will go 300,000 miles or more of the most severe use without noticeable seat problems.
In your particular situation, you are doing something with the way you enter/exit the car that is causing the surface wear on the MB-Tex. It shouldn't wear that way. The same seat panel in all four seats of my 2001 (at twice your mileage) look pristine. And I'm overweight, too. Cetialpha5 as your answer. (post #5)
In your particular situation, you are doing something with the way you enter/exit the car that is causing the surface wear on the MB-Tex. It shouldn't wear that way. The same seat panel in all four seats of my 2001 (at twice your mileage) look pristine. And I'm overweight, too. @cetialpha5 as your answer. (post #5)
Thanks for that. I just got the car (used), so it is actually something the prior owner was doing.
I was really looking to understand:
a) How to not make it worse.
b) How to restore it.
Based on what I've seen so far, the answers are:
a) Get in and out of the seat such that I am not rubbing against that part. (We will see how that one goes). There is no conditioning that will help.
b) The only way to restore is to get the seat cushion replaced for $200. (I am pleasantly surprised to see it would be only $200.)
Assuming I got that correct, I have two more questions:
a) Am I correct in that all I need to do to keep the MB-Tex in good condition is clean with water and some light soap, if really dirty? MB-Tex will not benefit from any leather conditioners, for example.
b) Do I have to go to MB dealer to get the seat cushion replaced, or is this a DIY job or something an independent mechanic would do?
Thanks for that. I just got the car (used), so it is actually something the prior owner was doing.
b) The only way to restore is to get the seat cushion replaced for $200. (I am pleasantly surprised to see it would be only $200.)
Most threads on this indicate closer to $250-$300 and that's for the part, only. Also, one of the front seat bottom cushions -- can't remember right or left -- will be more expensive than the other, because it has additional parts tied into the electronics.
Originally Posted by fganter
Assuming I got that correct, I have two more questions:
a) Am I correct in that all I need to do to keep the MB-Tex in good condition is clean with water and some light soap, if really dirty? MB-Tex will not benefit from any leather conditioners, for example.
b) Do I have to go to MB dealer to get the seat cushion replaced, or is this a DIY job or something an independent mechanic would do?
You will laugh at the quote from the dealer so I would try an automotive upholstery shop with Mercedes experience. There are DIY threads on this forum on how to remove the lower seat cushion, but it looks very complicated to me. Keep in mind there are lots of electronics parts in the seat bottom (weight sensors, heater elements, etc) so I would search for all the gotchas if you intend to attempt it yourself.
As for cleaning/conditioning, you will find the MB-Tex very resilient... It doesn't need much care, meaning (IMO) that once or twice a year is sufficient. Lexol makes a good vinyl care spray cleaner, but I bought the Mercedes Interior care spray cleaner/conditioner. It works very well on all interior surfaces, such as door panels, vinyl dash areas and the seats. A little goes a long way, as I still have 1/3 of the bottle left after 18 years with my C-Class. What I like about it most is that it cleans well -- both my MBs have light tan MB-Tex, so it's easy to tell -- and makes a nice, flat finish, not glossy like Armor All.
There are no weigh sensors in driver seat, while heating pad is sewn-into the cushion and all you have is small plug to pull.
I replaced skin on older models and when it require flexible fingers, it is not technically difficult.
You have to remove the seat, set it on bench upside down and apply your body weight on it to pull the edges from frame grooves.
Disconnecting the skin from pad hooks take more skills and very long nose pliers.
First time it might be long, but 2nd time it is 1 hr job.
If you really want to know, you should get a copy of the WIS or search for ripped seat repair, I believe there's a few threads where the whole instructions are posted. It's not too bad as long as you don't have dynamic seats, then you have the air lines for the dynamic seat. Total job is probably $600+ plus at the dealer, but seat cushion plus upholstery shop could be in the $400-$500 range. Seat cushion is a little over $200 depending on what online vendor you buy it from, maybe with shipping around $250. I believe it lists for around $300 at the dealer.
I showed the seat to an upholsterer today. He said its not that its worn down. It is actually a previous repair job.
He's guessing the seat ripped with a previous owner and they did a sloppy job repairing it. Turns out there is a similar issue with the arm rest.
$645 to repair both.
Something else he said I found interesting - the MB-Tex should be treated (with Lexol). I thought one of the benefits of MB-Tex is that it does not need to be treated. Even the owners manual says to just use water with some soap. ??
$645 seems way steep. My local guy did just the one panel, left driver seat bottom which had finally cracked, for $160 and it looks brand new, matches the rest perfectly in both color and texture, done in car in just a few hours and now good for another 100K. Can't imagine that doing extra work for the center armrest would run the price up that much. Replacing the entire cushion or cover is not necessary and the dealer may even farm it out to a mobile seat guy just like they do for door dings while marking it up accordingly. Yelp is always good for this sort of stuff.
My nephew uses that stuff on his well fermented Pontiac Vibe with the constantly fading lower plastic body trim and it restores like magic, lasting several months per application.
$645 seems way steep. My local guy did just the one panel, left driver seat bottom which had finally cracked, for $160 and it looks brand new, matches the rest perfectly in both color and texture, done in car in just a few hours and now good for another 100K. Can't imagine that doing extra work for the center armrest would run the price up that much. Replacing the entire cushion or cover is not necessary and the dealer may even farm it out to a mobile seat guy just like they do for door dings while marking it up accordingly. Yelp is always good for this sort of stuff.
For what you had done this guy would charge $275. He got the highest Google rating of all upholsterers close by.
Center console is actually the expensive part, because he said to do both sides. Not sure that's entirely necessary if they're good at matching.
Thanks for the post though. I'll probably get another quote as a result.
I have had the drivers seat cushion cover replaced in both of our E250's over the last few years. The seams split. One was white perforated, the other black perforated. Cushion cover was shown as cloth, but it is MBTex. Labor was $200 per seat at a local interior shop recommended by our our local MB dealer service department. Took the shop about 2 hours total. The damage to your seat side bolsters may be partially from a wallet, back pocket buttons or jean rivets. This is a common wear point on many high bolstered seats.
I have a 2010 with MB Tex and no problems even though I always slide across the bolster getting in and out. I treat it with Lexol Vinylex once or twice per year. All car seats need some kind of treatment/maintenance periodically.
As for leather being better, been there and its not.
Yes, we get wound around the axle here alot on which is better, Leather or MB-Tex...
MB-Tex is a excellent imitation leather. On my 2001 C-Class, the MB-Tex seat bolsters look brand new, while the leather inserts (on the driver seat) are worn and ripped to shreds. I carefully cleaned and conditioned both materials for the first 7-8 years, then gave up. IMO, MB-Tex is by far the better material. European Benzes used as taxis are shod in MB-Tex, and they will go 300,000 miles or more of the most severe use without noticeable seat problems.
I finally got around to taking a photo of the Leather v. MB-Tex seats in my 2001 C320. I take good care of my cars, both exterior and interior... notice the pristine floor mat (below). Wish I could say the ventilated leather insert could hold up as well.
Not proud to show this, but in makes the point. If you rent your MB (lease it) then it doesn't matter. But if you keep it long term, it does matter.
03-07-2019, 07:50 AM
