GL Class (X166) 2013-2015 after facelift became GLS (X166)

Driver seat Leather - falling apart

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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 11:09 PM
  #1  
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2014 GL450
Driver seat Leather - falling apart

My 2014 GL450 has black leather seating. With just 2.5 years of use, the driver seat leather has started to breakup. I can see tiny pieces of leather, that I see time and again, coming off from the seat. The seat is also showing a lot of stress marks and leather creases. Never seen this kind of deterioration in leather this early. It was reconditioned just 2k miles ago.

Showed the same to the dealer and they refused to entertain that as a warranty claim. Called it 'normal wear and tear' and sent me back.

Anyone has any solutions or recommendations to deal with this problem? Its a shame that MB charges $1,800 for a leather option, and provides such inferior quality.

Attached are some pics. At the corner edge, you can see a shadow of a a big piece coming off. Not happy at all
Attached Thumbnails Driver seat Leather - falling apart-img_0886.jpg   Driver seat Leather - falling apart-img_0887.jpg  
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Old Jun 14, 2016 | 06:35 AM
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gl450
I would contact MB USA if the dealer refuses to warranty it and see if they have a different view.

My 2013 GL450 has MB-tex, and both front seats developed a problem at the seam where the top layer of the vinyl is coming off. My dealer is replacing both seat covers under warranty.


Last edited by mtm; Jun 14, 2016 at 06:41 AM.
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Old Jun 14, 2016 | 06:42 PM
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With a copy of the original dealer service ticket - where they refused to repair - call Mercedes Customer Care during normal East Coast office hrs - (800) 367-6372 and explain the situation to them - that will start a "Case".

Service and General Management will be contacted by MB within 24 hrs - and they will get back to you - with that fire under their butt - it will get done.
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Old Jun 15, 2016 | 11:50 AM
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2014 GL450
Thanks mtm and fabbrisd1.

I checked the ticket and the dealer stated the issue as 'creasing' in the driver leather seat. I think that is misstated as the issue I told them was 'peeling' of the leather. Do you guys suggest that I take it back in, for a new ticket. I want to avoid putting mbusa on a wrong start to begin with. With creasing due to overuse, they are bound to go with the dealer. What say?
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Old Jun 15, 2016 | 04:20 PM
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Make the call with what you have in hand.. with a sincere report ... that will start 2nd channel to resolution..
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Old Jun 16, 2016 | 06:49 AM
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Have you spoken with the service manager at the dealership? I found that whenever service advisors at my dealership told me that something would not be covered by warranty (Pirelli tires that couldn't be properly balanced, battery that died after 3 years), a quick email to the service manager resolved the situation immediately.

So this time, before bringing the car in, I emailed the picture of the seat to the service manager and got a confirmation that something like this would indeed be covered by warranty rather than considered normal wear and tear.

Otherwise call MB customer service like fabbrisd1 suggested.
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Old Jun 17, 2016 | 07:30 AM
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2013 GL450
My MB-tex developed a crack at 30K and 3 years. It was replaced no questions asked. All I needed to do was mention it.
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Old Mar 11, 2019 | 10:24 AM
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2013 GL450
Mine is a 2013 and driver side is cracking and peeling. I tried to use some leather repair kit to repair it but didn't really come out well (different sheen v.s. the original MB-Tex material), plus it started cracking again in no time.

I'm thinking about buying the OEM replacement (looks like around $200), did anyone have experience replacing them does it require taking things about or the cover can be easily removed / reinstalled?
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Does anyone know if a w166 GLE seat cover (MB Tex, beige) will fit a '13 GL450? They look the same in the pictures, but fitment is only GLE models. Pre-facelift seat covers list ML and GL as interchangeable.

As another member mentioned, MB has discontinued the beige seat cover so used ones are the only options, unless the upholsterer can make another MB seat cover work, or, the later GLE models.
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Old Apr 14, 2024 | 10:18 AM
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E300
Originally Posted by djay
My 2014 GL450 has black leather seating. With just 2.5 years of use, the driver seat leather has started to breakup. I can see tiny pieces of leather, that I see time and again, coming off from the seat. The seat is also showing a lot of stress marks and leather creases. Never seen this kind of deterioration in leather this early. It was reconditioned just 2k miles ago.

Showed the same to the dealer and they refused to entertain that as a warranty claim. Called it 'normal wear and tear' and sent me back.

Anyone has any solutions or recommendations to deal with this problem? Its a shame that MB charges $1,800 for a leather option, and provides such inferior quality.

Attached are some pics. At the corner edge, you can see a shadow of a a big piece coming off. Not happy at all
I would do what I am doing, after owning 10 different Mercedes models from 1969 through 2018, I am not buying another. I currently have the 2018 E300 and my seats have looked horrible since year three. It is ridiculous that they would even pur their name on such terrible merchandise. I say shame on them and switch dealers. I like my cars, I have had many different models over the years, this 2018 is the worst. I bought my daughter a C class in 2020, before my seats started to fall apart, hers is only three years old and they are doing the same thing. Shame on Mercedes.
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Old Apr 14, 2024 | 10:25 AM
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E300
Seat after 39,000 miles

This is not what Mercedes should stand for. At minimum they should acknowledge their fault and replace all these ****ty seats. My family and I are and done with Mercedes.
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Old Apr 14, 2024 | 08:53 PM
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The MB Tex in my old 2007 GL450 still looked new with almost 300k miles and 15 years of driving. They must have made a formula change along the way.
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