Sunrose305

I am in the process of buying an E300. I prefer the Sport exterior (Selenite Gray) but would rather choose one of the Luxury color options for the interior (Macchiato Beige/Espresso MB-Tex with a lighter headliner) . I'm told I cannot do this which seems silly on such an expensive car. Anybody have any experience with this? I also plan to buy the following options: P3 w/heads-up, Air Body control, second 12.3 instrument panel and Burmester sound system. Any other general buying tips would be greatly appreciated!

HBerman

No problem selecting that color combination with either the sport mbtex or leather option on the MBUSA configurator. You could also select the Designo option Instead.

Sunrose305

Thanks for your response HBerman. Doesn't work when I try. See attached pic. Best I can tell I can only select that interior if I choose the Luxury model.

donlind

Go to sit down with your dealer and configure your car. He has more options available within his ordering system.

Sunrose305

Unfortunately it was my dealer who told me they could not order it that way.

ua549

Configure it with leather, not MB-Tex.

Mike26Mercedes

To me, the MB Tex material feels like leather on my 2017 E300, will wear better than
leather, and require less maintenance to keep it looking good.

ua549

You selected the wrong item. In the configurator the MB-Tex selections for sport models are on the left and the luxury models are on the right.

Sunrose305

Well I selected the exact interior combination I want: Macchiato Beige/Espresso MB Tex. In the Sport configuration it only allows me to select Macchiato Beige/Black MB Tex. I want the Sport exterior but with the lighter colored interior (and don't want the leather). I have now been told by the dealer twice this is not possible.

c4004matic

Not really, MB tex is vinyl by another name. Leather is much more durable although it may show wear sooner. Normal cleaning on both materials is the same though really difficult stain cleanup like ink can damage the "look" but not the integrity of leather.
I had to endure 1 week of driving a loaner CLA (first airmatic failure) with MB tex stink (bad batch in 2015) it was unbearable. MB tex is ok but its not a replacement for the feel, warmth and comfort of a good, real hide. Its perfectly fine for things you will never touch but a blatant cost cutting measure for everything else.

ua549

MB-Tex is the reason for the Air Balance package.

All vinyl smells bad for a few months.

Mike26Mercedes

Mine had no discernible odor when I took delivery and it was only a month since assembly. Maybe the beige vinyl off gases less.

c4004matic

The stink issue was only one batch. As far as I know, it affected hundreds of cars. It was not subtle at all. It was an obvious, offensive plastic smell. I don't know how they remedied it but I suspect that all the cars that suffered it had to have the interiors replaced. During my stint on the CLA I had to drive it with the windows open and my daughter simply refused to ride in it otherwise. I even tried to mask it with febreeze, wiped down the seats, etc. it was simply unfixable. I haven't heard of it since nor have noticed it in any other MB's I have driven since. I think someone mixed a bad batch and it ended on a bunch of cars.

ua549

The vinyl manufacturing process uses volatile organic compounds. That is what makes newly made products containing them smell bad. Examples that are especially noticeable are paint, carpet, vinyl upholstery and vinyl windows. The amount of time for the out gassing to subside varies greatly among products.

dieseldoc

I have had cars with both. Get the leather over the Tex. Much nicer.

c4004matic

True but but in the case Im reffering to you would never confuse it with new car smell it was more like petrochemical refinery. Yound be surprised, manufacturers are actually very fussy about how a new car smells, in this it was just a breakdown in quality control before the cars made it to the dealers.