When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 2017 with the black MB-Tex interior and can confirm my passenger seat is also a bit "loose".
350-Thanks for the feedback! I would like to see pics of both seats, kindly post them. I will run this up the chain at MB US Corporate. The more ammo I can fire at them the better!
it feels good to complain on this forum. It's therapeutic. You get the support of others who can empathize with you. But it doesn't accomplish anything. Has anyone actually complained to MB or at least the dealer? If so, what was their response?
GLE43- At dealer now... will notify group of disposition.
Dealer Sympathetic & agreed with issue but recommended I go to MBUSA for resolution
Hi all- Just left the dealer & Service Manager agreed to send me an email with his observations. He suggested going to MBUSA directly. I sent them an email & have received an auto response. I took pics of a beat up 2010 GL 450 in service reception bay & they looked pristine and significantly better than mine on my 155 mile old GLE. Also looked at
These seats are from a beaten up 2010 GL 450 in the service bay! They look excellent!
other brand new GLE's on lot, they looked poor as well. I would encourage other owner to pursue this, the fit & finish quality of these seats don't even rise to Hyundai's level never mind Mercedes Benz! By the time these cars are 3YO the seats will look so bad it will impact resale value! My mfg date is 12/16 on my GLE. Please keep feedback & pics coming & I will do my part to get MB to resolve!
"After all Quality checks are completed, there are additional quality checks for complete customer vehicle fit and finish. Each vehicle then proceeds to the 'WSA' line to prepare for Shipping where it receives its final quality checks."
From their own mouths, before they go out the door, all vehicles have to pass not one, but two final inspections. There's no way you can tell me no one noticed the poor construction of these seats. That leaves only one other conclusion. They just don't care!!!
Here's a photo of a '17 GLE350 loaner with MBTEX. 5,700 miles.
Thanks for these pics... what do you think seeing the seats in person? Given they use these GLE's as loaners, you would think they would take more care to provide a high quality product.
Thanks for these pics... what do you think seeing the seats in person? Given they use these GLE's as loaners, you would think they would take more care to provide a high quality product.
Interesting question. I have a '13 Dodge Durango R/T with a black leather interior, 45,000 miles. Wifey's car is a '14 ML3502w. We bought it with 30,400 miles. It has ventilated seats which at the time could only be leather.
Both cars exhibit what I would call cracking along the outside seat edge which you can easily see in the photos. Black seats are Durango and brown are ML350. So it's a rhetorical question. If MBTEX is prone to wrinkling in the seat bottom and the leather eventually cracks on the side, which do prefer? I suppose there are some leather treatments that might mitigate the cracking. BTW, the ML350 has an MBTEX dashboard.
I would characterize the creasing on the outside of the leather seats as normal especially after 3 years-ish of use. Those outer edges of the seats get quite a bit of use and are squeezed against the plastic base of the seat as a person enters and exits the vehicle. It is possible that being extra diligent about caring for the seats could mitigate that some, but I even see some of that normal "leather characteristics" show up in my leather furniture in the house and I know the quality of that leather was very high when I had the furniture built.
I would see the waving of the MB Tex seats in the middle as a worse issue, especially given the hardly used nature of some of these seats.
I would characterize the creasing on the outside of the leather seats as normal especially after 3 years-ish of use. Those outer edges of the seats get quite a bit of use and are squeezed against the plastic base of the seat as a person enters and exits the vehicle. It is possible that being extra diligent about caring for the seats could mitigate that some, but I even see some of that normal "leather characteristics" show up in my leather furniture in the house and I know the quality of that leather was very high when I had the furniture built.
I would see the waving of the MB Tex seats in the middle as a worse issue, especially given the hardly used nature of some of these seats.
Agree. I suppose the question is which would you rather look at for a number of years.......
That's kind of like comparing apples and oranges. One is normal wear. The other is a manufacturing defect. Leather develops creases. It's part of the natural process of wear. Remember, it's animal hide. It develops wrinkles from dryness and normal usage, much like human skin. You can delay the effects of age by regularly using a good leather conditioner, in much the same way as using a moisturizer on human skin.
The leather in the older seats is nice and taut. This is how it should appear, whether leather or MB-Tex.
Last edited by GLE43_Sube; 01-26-2017 at 02:15 PM.
That's kind of like comparing apples and oranges. One is normal wear. The other is a manufacturing defect. Leather develops creases. It's part of the natural process of wear. Remember, it's animal hide. It develops wrinkles from dryness and normal usage, much like human skin. You can delay the effects of age by regularly using a good leather conditioner, in much the same way as using a moisturizer on human skin.
I don't disagree. If you can convince a friendly dealer to replace the seat cover and it does the same thing 5k later, then what? Yes, I made the assumption that many people would just live with it, which I should not have done.
If you can convince a friendly dealer to replace the seat cover and it does the same thing 5k later, then what?
I don't think this is a problem that "develops". It's either there from the start or it isn't. Reason being, I've seen it in a family car. It was there from day one and never got any worse.
All I can say is, "Wow"! I contacted MB USA and informed them of this problem. I even included a link to this specific forum thread. Below is their response. So basically, because you guys are reporting this on the Internet, your complaints have no validity. Either you're all liars, or this is a figment of your imagination. They completely dismissed the problem and have the audacity to even try to sell me a car. It doesn't sound like they even bothered to read this forum. My recommendation? Make a warranty claim.
Subject: Quality Control RE: GLE Seats
Thanks for your email to MBUSA.
We appreciate your understanding that we are unable to speak to the validity of information found on the Internet or online forums.
At MBUSA, we make every effort to avoid the occurrence of a vehicle concern, however, it simply isn't possible to predict when issues will arise. It is for this reason we offer a comprehensive warranty of 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Please find the Service and Warranty manual for Model Year 2017 Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
It may also be helpful to visit a local dealership to see a new GLE on their showroom floor and take the car out for a test drive.
Thanks again for taking the time to write to us. Best wishes for future safe and pleasant driving.
I don't think this is a problem that "develops". It's either there from the start or it isn't. Reason being, I've seen it in a family car. It was there from day one and never got any worse.
Check out this dealer near me. 3 GLE CPOs with MBTEX. Look at the drivers' seats. 2 Black, 1 Beige. Could be my imagination but even the beige looks wrinkled and only 5,800 miles. It's easily seen in the 2 black ones. Maybe it's the underlying foam that's bad..... http://www.mercedesbenzhoustonnorth....1419aa97a7.htm
2017 GLE 350 W4, 2016 C 300, 2012 E 350 W4 Lux, 2006 ML 350
Just to be clear the pics I put up here are from a Brand New GLE. As I stated in my post I have yet to fill the tank. The car has less than 500 miles on it. In short, it came this way right out of the dealer's stock!
I had a similar seat upholstery problem with my Corvette. Aware the dealer outsourced their upholstery work, I inquired as to the shop they used. It turned out to be a mom and pop, four bay shop. Since that initial visit, anytime I've had an upholstery problem this little shop has in every instance effected a perfect fix.
GLE Owners- Return your vehicle to dealership & demand a regional rep get involved!
Originally Posted by Diabel
The passenger seat actually looks worse. Hardly anyone sits on this seat.
Thanks for the pics Diabel. Please include production date on inside of driver's door. I am in conversation with MBUSA & will let everyone know the results. Right now my suggestion to owners is to bring to your dealer & have them write up a service invoice saying there is nothing they can do. Then ask for them to get their MB rep there to look at it & provide you with a loaner in the interim. By inconveniencing them & costing the dealers $ loaners / unbillable service time , etc. this may force MB to act. I also have a friend who is not buying a '17 GLS until he sees how MB will handle our seat issue. If we each tell two people.....
I have a GLE400 with the real leather and the driver side also exhibit this type of uneven surface. There's no issue on the passenger side though, as the seat is rarely used so I am not sure if it is wear and tear.
I have a GLE400 with the real leather and the driver side also exhibit this type of uneven surface. There's no issue on the passenger side though, as the seat is rarely used so I am not sure if it is wear and tear.
Dave- Thanks for your input. Is your GLE 400 a '16 or a '17, how many miles? If you could post pictures of both seats and include your build date that would be helpful! Wear & tear should not take place so quickly on a luxury vehicle!
01-26-2017, 08:55 AM
