Do I have MB-Tex or leather? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mölyapina · #1 01-01-2013, 01:46 PM

Thanks!

MBeige · #2 01-01-2013, 01:51 PM

152 = Blue MB-Tex

Mölyapina · #3 01-01-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

152 = Blue MB-Tex

Darn. I was hoping for leather.

Thanks!

MBeige · #4 01-01-2013, 04:44 PM

FYI

w123fanman · #5 01-01-2013, 05:02 PM

Is it common for people to get the two materials mixed up?

jay_bob · #6 01-01-2013, 05:18 PM

Yes M-B Tex is a very good imitation leather. It is almost indistinguishable unless you compare them side by side. It even fooled me at first.

The nice thing about Tex is that it is nearly indestructible and still looks good even on a 30 year old car.

w123fanman · #7 01-01-2013, 06:22 PM

Well then that explains why the PO of my 190D insisted the interior was leather even though I told him it was MB Tex. I told him it was MB Tex and he told me that it wasn't and he knew the difference. In the window sticker we got with all of the papers about the car it sure enough said Burgundy MB Tex. I was confused by the MB Tex in my dad's 240D. I thought it was leather. It feels more like leather than some leather interiors (if that makes since, I guess it feels like it is higher quality).

charmalu · #8 01-01-2013, 06:39 PM

MB Tex is a long wearing material, and will out last Leather by many years. Some W123`s did have leather, but probably a special order. You can tell leather from MB Tex when it ages. the leather will look dry and cracked, the Tex won`t have that dry look.

Most all w126 came with Leather. when you are in the yards, take a look at a well aged neglected 126, and the seats will have big long cracks opened up. turn the cracked area over and you can see the back side is leather, compared to MB Tex, it will have a cloth back.

Reading the listings on E-Bay and CL, it would seem like they all are Leather. most of the sellers have no clue, or hope you don`t.

Charlie

Ozarkdude · #9 01-01-2013, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

It feels more like leather than some leather interiors (if that makes since, I guess it feels like it is higher quality).

I've always, no strike that. I have learned over time that with Mercedes, you generally get what you pay for. Most all the other car companies, even Jaguar, gave up on real quality more than 40 years ago. I doubt a Rolls is half the car today they were even just a decade ago.

Take the transmission, for example. Mercedes automatics use all roller bearings from end to end, every rotating part spins on, or rides against a roller bearing. Not a Rolls Royce or Jag, which used GM, Borg Warner and the like, or the American cars, or any other Euro car, or any Japanese car. Every other auto trans I have ever looked into used a lot of plain bushings in all the rotating parts. I am not saying there are no others, just that I havnt seen any others, and all the Mercedes from the mid 70's on, are. Same with manuals, they are all roller bearings, even the gears on the main shaft have rollers, most all other manufacturers use bushings.

And yes, I have been fooled many times by Mercedes MB Tex, its very high quality material.

pmckechnie · #10 01-01-2013, 07:17 PM

I would pay MORE for a car with MB TEX.

Paul

Jeremy5848 · #11 01-01-2013, 07:28 PM

Agreed, leather is great when new but 20-yo MB-Tex will almost always be better than 20-yo leather. Example: my wife's 1996 E300 (W210) could use new leather for its driver's seat while my '95 E300 (W124) still looks pretty much as it did when new.

Leather CAN last as long as MB-Tex but regular treatment is necessary. Most folks don't know or care enough to do what is necessary; most don't plan to keep the car much past the warranty period so there's little incentive to care, more's the pity.

One MB-Tex caveat: the rear seat-back cover in my '85 300D-T came apart. The MB-Tex was fine but the thread with which it was stitched sun-rotted and fell apart! My wife looked at re-sewing it (possible but a lot of work) but I found a replacement seat back at P&P for a few dollars.

Jeremy

benedict · #12 01-01-2013, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmckechnie

I would pay MORE for a car with MB TEX.

Paul

So would I. MB Tex is far more resistant to solar UV radiation than leather. As Jeremy mentioned above, leather can last a long time but requires ongoing care and maintenance.

The MB Tex I've felt on some early cars from the 70’s (w114 w115 etc.)seems even thicker and longer lasting than my W124.

babymog · #13 01-01-2013, 08:03 PM

I've had both, will take well maintained leather over tex any day, and it can look and feel new at 25 or more years old if maintained properly.

If neglected, I don't want the car, happy that the neglected interior helps me make that decision, leather or tex.

I've seen many 'tex seats with the driver's bolster worn through, some cracked from sun exposure, but it is much more forgiving and easy to care for than leather.

Most of the seats in these cars are visually different between leather and 'tex: the tex seats have ribs that run from front to back, and top to bottom where the leather seats have a smooth panel at the front of the seat and top of the seatback.

MBeige · #14 01-01-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

Most of the seats in these cars are visually different between leather and 'tex: the tex seats have ribs that run from front to back, and top to bottom where the leather seats have a smooth panel at the front of the seat and top of the seatback.

On the W124, W126 and W201, yes. On the W123 or older models, it's harder to distinguish between the two.

The OP's car is a W123, so the vinyl and leather are designed more similarly.