is mb tex bad?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
is mb tex bad?
We have one reserved with mb tex. I have not had synthetic seats in a while so don't remember. But are the non black seats any warmer, sticky, etc? compared to leather. what are your opinions.
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Its not bad but its certainly not leather, its plastic. May look like leather but does not feel like leather, smell like leather, soften with age like leather. My take is that leather is more durable and easier to clean. I will not sit on plastic for hours! Have had real leather in all my MB's. No matter what you are told the real reason for people not opting for real leather is the cost.
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From: Essex County, NJ
2011 E350 Sport 4Matic - P2 & Drivers Assist / 2010 C300 Sport 4Matic - P2 / 2013 Porsche Cayenne S
I have MB Tex on two of my cars and I'm happy with it. Easy to clean, doesn't require conditioning, more durable and pretty close to leather. Regular leather is an additional $1,650 option. If you are buying a $50,000+ plus car the additional $1,650 for leather is negligible so sosh's argument is out the window on that one. It boils down to personal preference. If you want to treat yourself then look into the Designo leather packages. That leather is much silkier and smoother then the regular leather.
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CLK63 Black Series
I have MB Tex on two of my cars and I'm happy with it. Easy to clean, doesn't require conditioning, more durable and pretty close to leather. Regular leather is an additional $1,650 option. If you are buying a $50,000+ plus car the additional $1,650 for leather is negligible so sosh's argument is out the window on that one. It boils down to personal preference. If you want to treat yourself then look into the Designo leather packages. That leather is much silkier and smoother then the regular leather.
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
I wouldn't opt for designio since this is our family hauler with kids, but am curious if mb Tex should be a deal killer. I borrowed my moms r class to take a 2 hour drive to palm springs and it may have felt hotter in retrospect. However I didn't really compare it at the time. Our last car q7 had leather seating surfaces and held up very well.
We lease so durability is not a concern since it's not kept longer thAn 2-3 years.
We lease so durability is not a concern since it's not kept longer thAn 2-3 years.
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Yes designo leather is softer but to me it seems as if its not as durable as the standard leather especially over time. MB tex seems to get harder over time and also is much hotter in the summer and colder in the winter even with heated seats. Gets stiff in the cold. I stand by my previous statement regarding the real reason more people do not opt for real leather. Even MB buyers are cost concious with a 60K car. Some to the point of being cheap.
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
Venerable product
mb Tex was the gold standard in comfortable durable interiors for decades. If I had children or pets on seats without aftermarket covers (G500) I would definitely consider MBTex over leather. It is not a sticky plastic material, has an ergonomic ribbing to stimulate ones back and provide some cooling, it is easy to clean and hard to stain, and is very durable yet surpassingly comfortable. Before heated seats we added sheepskins in the winter but seat heaters obviate that now. I drove a 300td recently with over 200k miles and the horsehair was decrepitating but the MBTex was fine.
Last edited by grane; Sep 6, 2011 at 10:56 AM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
any possibility of a picture?
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From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
2005 C240 4MATIC, 2020 GLC300 4MATIC
The "ash" grey MB-Tex in my interior after 7 years still looks and feels brand new. It's the best aging/weathering interior I've ever had in a vehicle hands down.
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2011 ML350 Blueteck (Sold); 2014 E350 Wagon, Sport, Indigo Blue (Sold); 2021 GLC300, 2022 BMW X5
I have owned leather seats in other makes and all were bought before I had kids/when I had time to take care of the leather. I don't lease so I keep longer than a lease.
I opted to try mb tek with my 11 ML350 because I have kids. I still am on them to watch their feet, dirty hands, etc. But I have been pleased how easily it has cleaned up the couple times I have caught messy hands. It may be slightly warmer but I even found my leather warm. I did not avoid the leather option because of cost. I actually wanted ventilated seats but was adament on wanting to try mb tek so I had to not put that option on my order.
I have only had a couple months experience with it (through summertime only). But yes for kids/pet I have found it very cleanable. As said before, in the end it is personal preference and you lease. Decide what is important.
Oh and finally with this car I did order the xenons and I like having them so something I won't give up in the future.
I opted to try mb tek with my 11 ML350 because I have kids. I still am on them to watch their feet, dirty hands, etc. But I have been pleased how easily it has cleaned up the couple times I have caught messy hands. It may be slightly warmer but I even found my leather warm. I did not avoid the leather option because of cost. I actually wanted ventilated seats but was adament on wanting to try mb tek so I had to not put that option on my order.
I have only had a couple months experience with it (through summertime only). But yes for kids/pet I have found it very cleanable. As said before, in the end it is personal preference and you lease. Decide what is important.
Oh and finally with this car I did order the xenons and I like having them so something I won't give up in the future.
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2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
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From: Baltimore, MD
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
The wife and I love the MBtex in our 2010 R350. It's more leather-like than the MBtex she had in her 2005 C230. I have the MBtex in my '08 C350 and it still looks brand new. It's great with the kids, IMO.
The Premium leather in my '06 Range Rover Supercharged started to wear on the side bolster from getting in and out. That was high quality leather and I kept it clean, moisturized and had the windows tinted, it just happens over time.
The Premium leather in my '06 Range Rover Supercharged started to wear on the side bolster from getting in and out. That was high quality leather and I kept it clean, moisturized and had the windows tinted, it just happens over time.
Last edited by mhass350; Sep 13, 2011 at 10:48 AM.
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C300 Sport/Palladium Silver on Black/P2
Cost is not the only reason to choose MB-Tex. No need to take out an animal just for a car's interior.
Furthermore, when I'm in say a Ford rental car, MB-Tex feels better than Ford real leather anyway. I don't know what the budget cars use for leather, but it feels like plastic too, even cheaper than MB TEX.
I will admit MB true leather feels nice, but I am not going to use an animal if I don't have to. Just senseless for me.
The MB-Tex works fine. Get it in the color you truly like, and you will like it too, or should! I'd like a nice, comfy, heated, MB-TEX chair for my living room!
Furthermore, when I'm in say a Ford rental car, MB-Tex feels better than Ford real leather anyway. I don't know what the budget cars use for leather, but it feels like plastic too, even cheaper than MB TEX.
I will admit MB true leather feels nice, but I am not going to use an animal if I don't have to. Just senseless for me.
The MB-Tex works fine. Get it in the color you truly like, and you will like it too, or should! I'd like a nice, comfy, heated, MB-TEX chair for my living room!
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From: SoCal
'14 ML350 GONE-'12 GL450/'10 E550/'10 ML350/'09 C300/'07 ML350/'03 E320
I have both the MB Tex (ML) and leather (E), aside from the smell, not much difference between the two, either the MB Tex is really good or the MB Leather is not that nice. IMO, with kids, no need for the extra cost of leather.
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
The difference between M-B Tex and M-B's Leather Option is very negligible. M-B Tex is pretty amazing and is far and away the best Vinyl in the business. The fact that it is more durable and will last forever, unlike non-well-kept Leather, and is at no-cost, makes it a supreme choice IMO. Not to mention, the whole animal-cruelty thing 
.
Some Leather just feels so good, you can't help but push aside the fact that lives were slaughtered to make them, and the fact that in due time, they will become compromised in look and feel, if you don't maintain them ****-y, but M-B's standard Leather Option isn't really that good IMO.
.Some Leather just feels so good, you can't help but push aside the fact that lives were slaughtered to make them, and the fact that in due time, they will become compromised in look and feel, if you don't maintain them ****-y, but M-B's standard Leather Option isn't really that good IMO.
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Dinamica/MB-Tex
I see another option which can be ordered in conjunction with the P95 Interior Sports Package, it's #601 Black Dinamica/MB-Tex. I'm not familiar with Dinamica, but it appears to be a microfiber fabric similar to Alcantara, perhaps. It's by a joint Italian/Japanese venture:
http://www.dinamicamiko.com/miko/applicazioni/auto
So, this is similar to the MB-Tex/Alcantara seats I have in my '06 it would seem. A nice combo, but I'd prefer something other than black, I think.
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
That would be nice if M-B got more creative with their interior color offerings, and especially stuff like that Alcantara is nice. The way M-B options and colors interiors nowadays, you'd think they're some mass-econ brand like Nissan, and not a Luxury brand.
That said, I absolutely love the Black/Almond Tex combo in my E, perfect IMO.
That said, I absolutely love the Black/Almond Tex combo in my E, perfect IMO.
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
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From: Indianapolis
car
Griot's Garage, among others, sell bottles of Leather scent. Soak a small rag with some of this and toss under the seat. Your MBtex will smell more leathery than even a full leather interior! I do this after conditioning the leather in my Porsche, just for the great smell.
