nc211

Thought I had a thread dedicated to this on here, but I can't find it. Anyway, if you have MBTex and the seats in the front are showing a split in the side bolster pieces, know that MB has issued a revised part number for a new seat cover, and may be replacing them under a good will warranty if you're beyond yours. I am beyond mine at 65k miles, but logged the complaint while I was under the warranty and was told to wait for the revised part from MB instead of replacing with the same part. That is occurring right now.

But the point of my post - if you're in that same boat - before you take yours in to have them replaced, make sure the dealership can indeed get the seat covers. Mine is going on week two on waiting for the passenger side seat bottom cover. They got the driver's side with no issues, but the passenger side appears to be the one that is hard to get, and on back order into the abyss apparently. So lesson learned if you're up for this repair - I wouldn't take the car down until they actually have the parts in stock. Otherwise you might be waiting a while like we are. Nothing against the dealership for this one, they're being cool with us and letting us keep the car there and driving their loaner until it comes in. Initially they wanted to fix the driver's side and then come back again when the passenger side part comes in to fix that too. But I don't want to go back and forth and asked to just leave it there and wait to repair both sides at the same time. We don't need the GLS right now...

nc211

Like sand through the hour glass, these are the days of our broken Mercedes lives…. Heading into week 4 of driving loaners now (on the 3rd loaner car)…..

i don’t understand how any of this makes financial sense to either MB or their dealerships… what should have been probably a few hundred dollar expense to MB for two vinyl seat covers, is now likely into the thousands when considering the mileage put to the loaner, their expense for paying $75 a day to enterprise for the first loaner for 10 days (bmw x3), the second loaner frying out (2023 GLC) that saw 509 miles from us before dying, and now the 3rd loaner, a previous gen GLC…. All this, for just two seat covers, maybe 4 bolts and some plastic clips….

chassis

Sorry to hear about the extended wait time for a repair. And driving a lesser vehicle as a loaner.

This is not the best ownership experience. Therefore by MB’s logic, it must be nothing.

EWL5

Do you have another car similar in size to the GLS or you would be stuck driving 2 compact cars for passenger space? I would be in a similar situation where I couldn't go anywhere w/the entire family w/o taking 2 cars...

carpersn

My father just sent me a photo of his ‘21 side bolster which has done the same…interestingly his car is supposedly leather-so they must have cheated on the side bolsters. Haven’t taken to dealer yet but well inside factory warranty.

EWL5

I know every car company is constantly looking for ways to save a couple of bucks. I can't believe Mercedes has joined "every car company". Where's the differentiation now?

chassis

The differentiation is that MB's quality and dealer experience is worse than other car companies. They are now the best at delivering nothing.

It's a race to the bottom regarding reliability, LR and MB.

LeadfootCJ7

While it is frustrating, most brands would tell you they ordered the part and give you you're car back to drive while waiting on the part. Or they wouldn't even take it in until they can get the part.

SW20S

I’d rather they give me my car back with one replaced seat cover and have me come back, personally

nc211

The purpose of scheduling the repair nearly a month prior to the service date itself was to (a) give time to get the parts in stock and (b) make sure a loaner was available. Neither actually happened. My worry with getting it back only half repaired is the fear that once the second seat cover comes it, it goes to the one sitting there waiting instead of getting a call that it’s in inventory now. Given past experiences, that’s what is likely to occur and this thing never gets fully repaired..

darlop

They can't order a part until they look at the vehicle and see what it needs. They are not going to order something based on what you tell them on the phone. I would have taken the car back while they wait for the part.

SW20S

Oh believe me I get it, I have dealt with this too...but how long are you going to leave the car there and wait? Personally I want to drive my car not loaners, I have taken it back several times unrepaired because I just don't want to drive around for weeks in loaners and not in my car.

They have seen the car though, just been waiting on the improved part...

darlop

I know but he said he scheduled a month ahead so they would have the part. That's not how it works. The scheduling is just to bring the car in. Only after that can they order the part.

SW20S

But they had the drivers seat part...he went in because he was told they had the parts, this was the followup appointment to when the parts were ordered a long time ago, and somehow the passenger seat part he was told was there wasnt there.

Dealers order parts in advance of appointments all the time for service campaigns like this. Of course they need to see the car before they order parts but in nc's situation that already happened.

nc211

Let me clarify - i made the appointment in person with the vehicle with me. Couldn’t get anyone on the phone, so I just drove there instead.

the driver’s seat repair will be the second attempt, but the first attempt with the revised seat cover design. The passenger seat cover (which we wait for) was also seen about 18 months ago and was denied due to a forthcoming revised seat cover part. That interaction was noted in their system, so they knew it was needed nearly two years ago. They were supposed to call me as I was “on the list” when the revised seat cover was released from MB. They never called. But thanks to Kong’s here, I found out the seat cover part was released by MB about 7 months ago…

bottom line, this isnt a new issue for my dealership on this car, and it was well documented the seat was in need of replacement long ago.

yeah, it sucks to drive a loaner, but honestly I hate dealing with MB dealerships so badly that I really just want it done one time and flee the scene. I really don’t want to go back again. Upside - I’m saving the mileage on the GLS!

nc211

Well another service advisor bites the dust. My guy, gone…

repairing the driver’s seat to get it back before thanksgiving, will hound them until hell freezes over for the passenger seat to get done.

just a 💩show of dealership bingo…

SW20S

Ugh! That sucks...

LeadfootCJ7

Sounds like a pathetic service department. On the bright side you are putting miles, wear, and tear on someone elses vehicle.

nc211

Got it back, ½ fixed, waiting for passenger side to arrive. The new seat cover looks identical to the old, but hopefully better made. Time will tell.

it is nice to have it back and be done with the smaller and buzzier GLC. Not a bad car (previous generation), easy to live with, but a little too buzzy from the engine for me. I could live with it though.

SW20S

Great! Did they give you any idea when the new one would be in?

antyeung

Thank you for posting this. I'm experiencing the exact same issue on my 2020 GLS 450. I just took my GLS to the dealership to replace it.

This is the second time we're replacing the seat covers and our warranty expires in 2 months.

The service tech didn't seem to be aware of any known issue relating to this.

Do you have the part number or something I can reference so they don't put back the exact same seat?

I just want to be sure they're not putting the same seat cover, where this issue will come back in a year.

nc211

look up the thread I started on this forum called “MBTex Split” and see the post from Konig. He posted the notice. Print it off and hand it to the dealership. Your dealership is either not very good, not telling you the truth or clueless. This is a widespread issue.

we have yet to hear back for the passenger side seat cover. I am ready to move on from Mercedes Benz. Wife wants to see the new Toyota Landcruiser when it comes out. If she likes it, we’ll be trading in the GLS. I’m also ready to replace my 2014 E350. I am just done with the nonsense of their inability to support their own products, and when they do, they want an insulting amount of money to do so. My Mercedes itch in my life, has been scratched. Will not be buying another.

antyeung

I got my GLS450 back. They could only replace the driver seat and said the passenger seat was on backorder. They placed the order for the passenger seat but said they don't know when they'll get it them in.

We bought the car in the Fall of 2020. Got the driver and passenger seat covers replaced in December 2021. This is our second time replacing it only two years later.

The part number when we had them replaced in 2021 was:
Driver seat: 167-910-86-05-8U01
Passenger seat: 167-910-09-00-8U01

The parts number of them replacing them now are:
Driver seat: A16791097148U01
Passenger seat: A16791088148U01

I'm hoping the ones they are putting on now have better luck.

EWL5

As I have a MY23 GLS, is there a chance I already have the replacement seat cover that shouldn't fail?

nc211

me too, but not to be debbie downer, my expectations are close to 0%, when you consider the W212 series 10 years ago had the exact same problem with the “indestructible” MBTex as well. My 2014 passenger seat has a split in it too. One would think that would be an embarrassment of stated quality large enough to never happen again….yet, here we are..