Artico
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CL500, W212 e350 mega-spec
Artico
Just about to buy an e-class with Artico seats.
Anyone have any idea on a couple of questions:
1. Did my older E-class 2010 have Artico - was Avantgarde. I was a bit suspicious of the feel of the leather but it held up fine all the time I owned it and had no signs of wear up to 100k when I sold it.
2. Did Mercedes acknowledge / deal with the splitting problem that's been reported a lot? If so, is there a year of car when it stopped being a worry?
Anyone have any idea on a couple of questions:
1. Did my older E-class 2010 have Artico - was Avantgarde. I was a bit suspicious of the feel of the leather but it held up fine all the time I owned it and had no signs of wear up to 100k when I sold it.
2. Did Mercedes acknowledge / deal with the splitting problem that's been reported a lot? If so, is there a year of car when it stopped being a worry?
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Not sure what artico seats are. Do you mean MBTex? If the front seat pleats run side to side, they're MB-Tex. If the pleats run front to back the material is leather. My sister's 2013 had MB-Tex seats and had the seams split. Benz took care of it but not willingly. I'm glad I have leather.
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
It seems like a common problem for earlier W212s with MB-Tex (or Artico, basically vinyl)... my '11 E350 with 115k is just starting to show signs of cracking at the stitching. New covers are ~$300-400 from dealer and can be DIY'd. Personally it wouldn't be a deal breaker if overall the car in question is what I desire, in good shape and price.
As far as acknowledging, if the car was under warranty and it wasn't deemed damaged by the owner... MB would replace the cushion. I know for my car, the cover has a new P/N... so maybe MB did "correct" the issue.
As far as acknowledging, if the car was under warranty and it wasn't deemed damaged by the owner... MB would replace the cushion. I know for my car, the cover has a new P/N... so maybe MB did "correct" the issue.
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CL500, W212 e350 mega-spec
A new P/N is usually a give-away that they've changed something. Also.. if it's in stock or at least short delivery then you know they're selling loads of them.
I once found a bent fuel tank on a MINI Clubman which was still under warranty and it took about a month for the replacement to come from Germany... because basically they never failed so were not easy to get.
I once found a bent fuel tank on a MINI Clubman which was still under warranty and it took about a month for the replacement to come from Germany... because basically they never failed so were not easy to get.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
The MB-Tex/Artico seats in my 5-year old W212 look brand new. For that matter, the MB-Tex/Artico bolsters in the seats on my 20-year old W212 look brand new, while the genuine leather inserts are now in tatters. I prefer MB-Tex over leather for longevity.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
I've had vinyl seats in several cars from the 70's forward. Many of those looked and felt like plastic. In comparison, the MB-Tex looks and feels quite like leather.
Others will dispute this. But as my C320 has BOTH materials in the same seat, I can state from experience that each component looks and feels complementary to each other, much more like leather than plastic... although one is, and one isn't.
It would not be a deal breaker to me.
Last edited by DFWdude; Apr 14, 2021 at 11:06 AM.
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CL500, W212 e350 mega-spec
Been reading some more. There is a process for creating artificial leather using reconstituted leather fibres but that's not what Mercedes do. Artico is just plastic of some sort.
I guess what makes it so similar looking and feeling will be something to do with the fact that genuine leather seats are usually coated with some kind of coloured paint and whatever they put on Artico must be similar.
I guess what makes it so similar looking and feeling will be something to do with the fact that genuine leather seats are usually coated with some kind of coloured paint and whatever they put on Artico must be similar.
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All leather is dyed for use in furnishings, including automotive uses. Faux leather is very realistic these days, but it is all vinyl with no leather content at all. If you buy the cheapest "leather" sofa or chair on the market it may be touted as real leather, but it does not come from hides. It is reconstituted leather particles of who knows what and wears out within a very short period of time. Basically, crap.
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
I don't now where you get that description, as I have never heard of it. I'm inclined to say no.
I've had vinyl seats in several cars from the 70's forward. Many of those looked and felt like plastic. In comparison, the MB-Tex looks and feels quite like leather.
Others will dispute this. But as my C320 has BOTH materials in the same seat, I can state from experience that each component looks and feels complementary to each other, much more like leather than plastic... although one is, and one isn't.
It would not be a deal breaker to me.
I've had vinyl seats in several cars from the 70's forward. Many of those looked and felt like plastic. In comparison, the MB-Tex looks and feels quite like leather.
Others will dispute this. But as my C320 has BOTH materials in the same seat, I can state from experience that each component looks and feels complementary to each other, much more like leather than plastic... although one is, and one isn't.
It would not be a deal breaker to me.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
there's the old school MBTex which in Germany was called Taxi-Leather, and was basically a vinyl 'naugahyde' style material, and there's the new style MBTex which is this Artico. I have had both. the new stuff 'feels' nicer, but the old stuff was undoubtedly more durable, seats on my wife's 280,000 mile 1994 E320 still look good and show almost no signs of wear. BTW, I read somewhere (can't find it now) that Artico is NOT PVC, but rather some form of PPE
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From: New York
2010 E350 4Matic sedan
For me, the drivers seat on my 2010 e350 started splitting at about 52,000 miles (about 5 months ago). I bought a new cover for $300 and had a local upholstery shop install it last month for $190. Looks as good as new.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
As far as I can find out, it's six bolts, one seat heater plug and removal of the rear footwell light from under the seat, I may attempt this myself.
USseatcover.com
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Apr 19, 2021 at 12:19 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 284
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From: New York
2010 E350 4Matic sedan
I just found a company in Houston who makes a replacement seat cover in the US, I remain worried about Quality and color match, but the price is enticing at 146.00 including shipping for black.
As far as I can find out, it's six bolts, one seat heater plug and removal of the rear footwell light from under the seat, I may attempt this myself.
USseatcover.com
As far as I can find out, it's six bolts, one seat heater plug and removal of the rear footwell light from under the seat, I may attempt this myself.
USseatcover.com
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Most upholstery shops I've used do excellent work. I wouldn't hesitate to try one. They have vast networks of available materials for color and texture matching. They color-matched the tan roof liner in my C320 perfectly.
Recognizing the stitching weakness in the OEM seat (when you present them a torn one), maybe they will use a more durable solution than OEM.
Last edited by DFWdude; Apr 19, 2021 at 01:17 PM.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Well, you're Both right, I can order the cover and assess the quality and color match and can always return it if needed and order the OEM. I do worry about quality, but I also worry I will get another cover prone to tear exactly like the first one.
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
I just found a company in Houston who makes a replacement seat cover in the US, I remain worried about Quality and color match, but the price is enticing at 146.00 including shipping for black.
As far as I can find out, it's six bolts, one seat heater plug and removal of the rear footwell light from under the seat, I may attempt this myself.
USseatcover.com
As far as I can find out, it's six bolts, one seat heater plug and removal of the rear footwell light from under the seat, I may attempt this myself.
USseatcover.com
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,359
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
I found removing the electrical connector to be a real ***** and I don't think that my seat heater works anymore after the struggle. It is also possible that I put the heating pad back in upside down. I ended up having to use a hose clamp crimping tool to get the plug out.
