MB-Tex and Leather

[AstroSilver]

How do you recognise whether your interior is MB-Tex or real leather?

[iNeon]

MB-Tex has a square weave pattern and heat-pressed seams on the seating insert.

leather(i have never seen but i assume..) will be completly smooth and have sewn tufts. but not ugly, bulging 1970s detroit tufts. nice ribs of leather with seams running between them.

leather should be very easy to spot over tex, the leather will look ratty unless a wealthy person owned the car, im not sure leather seats age as well as the Tex seats do. they might have needed to be restitched by now as well

[Daimler300CD]

Here is a picture of a leather W123 seat:

http://www.biondopalmbeach.com/images/photos/1124399148_007_anthracite.jpg

...and a MB-tex W123 seat:

http://www.benzworld.org/gallery/goto.asp?id=9105

[jdc1244a]

After 25 years of dogs, kids, drinks, food, dirt, sand, open sunroof/windows before the rainstorm, and enough Florida sun to give everyone in the US skin cancer, MB Tex still looks new – leather doesn’t.

[AMSOIL300CDT]

jdc1244a - 10/2/2005 9:22 PM

After 25 years of dogs, kids, drinks, food, dirt, sand, open sunroof/windows before the rainstorm, and enough Florida sun to give everyone in the US skin cancer, MB Tex still looks new – leather doesn’t.

Agreed....! [:D][8D]

w123 sold at Marlin Imports, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. November 1985

[dbtk]

After 1983, the heat pressed seams were replaced with tufting. The 300CD and 280CE always had tufting I believe. The stitching is a good giveaway. Check the headrests (on 1980 onward)to see if there is a stitch on the top running lengthwise, indicating leather. The MB-tex headrests do not have said stitching.

Here are pictures of MB-tex in action. And as has been stated, MB-tex tends to be more durable, however, does not age into a beautiful patina like well-cared for leather.

<img src="http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=388559&img=300CD_front_interior.jpg" border="0">

MB-tex can look deceivingly like leather but again lacks the luster and hand of well-aged hide.
<img src="http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=388560&img=300CD_rear_interior.jpg" border="0">

[AMSOIL300CDT]

dbtk - 10/2/2005 12:41 AM

After 1983, the heat pressed seams were replaced with tufting. The 300CD and 280CE always had tufting I believe. The stitching is a good giveaway. Check the headrests (on 1980 onward)to see if there is a stitch on the top running lengthwise, indicating leather. The MB-tex headrests do not have said stitching.

Here are pictures of MB-tex in action. And as has been stated, MB-tex tends to be more durable, however, does not age into a beautiful patina like well-cared for leather.

<img src="http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=388559&img=300CD_front_interior.jpg" border="0">

MB-tex can look deceivingly like leather but again lacks the luster and hand of well-aged hide.
<img src="http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=388560&img=300CD_rear_interior.jpg" border="0">

Same interior as mine.....i WANT those HEADRESTS, in the back......[:0] looks awesome...

[dbtk]

I'll trade you for "well-aged and cared for leather".[:D]

[AstroSilver]

Thank you!

My interior is blue, like both of mbdk's (hope I got that right) pictures.

I strongly suspect mine are MB-Tex ( I WISHED they were leather! [:(] ) because they're too much like new...

But I'll be posting pictures later on this week, of my interior, so I can get your expert opinion! [:)]

Thank you guys!!!

[useyourdagger]

If you do the VIN decoder search, it'll tell you whether your car has MB Tex or leather. I just learned to my surprise that my '82 CD has black leather (code 231); it's still holding together so I assumed it was tex.