Dont think im an idiot.. but whats the difference between MB tex mex and the other kind of seats? I've noticed two kinds of seats in MB in the 80's.

We have a Tia's Texmex restaurant in Tampa.
Seriously, some Benz's came with the optional leather. Most I believe have the MB tex seats which is Mercedes brand of super tough vinyl material. If your careful, these interiors will last as long as the engine & longer. Paul

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'84 300CD 290,000

I have one car with MBtex and two with leather. In one car the leather was covered by sheepskin it's whole life in the front but not the back. The back of the back seats is splitting, but the covered seats are butter soft.

The other one with leather is a 300SD and all I can say is, jeez are they creaky-noisy. My wife's 300SD with MBtex is much less so.

All cars are from 81 to 84 and none have any tears (except the back seat back in one).

The sticker says that leather seats were a $1000 option.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

My 300TD has the MBtex and they are squeaky as all get out. The plasic trim parts rub on the vinyl. Drives me nuts sometimes.

From what I have seen and heard, the MB tex wear much better then the leather ones. My seats are 25 years old and they only have a few cracks here and there.

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The tex-mex seats need to be cleaned up before it gets into the carpet!

hell yeah they do! my dads 78 300D has the MB tex interior and even after having 437,XXX miles! they still are in good shape and dont sag like the leather ones in my SD

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

Euro cars can have ALL cloth, or the seats can have the outer panels in MB tex, which I personaly like. Euros also came with some sort of valour. My favorite is 100% MB text.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I like my all velour seats and door panals. My second choice would be leather, after all it is an S. MBtex is ok, durable as can be. But my velour seats are holding up amazing well so I guess they are pretty tough as well.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

But not all MB-TEX is created equal. I believe that the earlier ( before about 1981?)very grainy version is better lasting than the newer softer fine grained version on the later cars.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

True..I think the later Tex would be leather grain and the early texture, pig skin. I like both. The back of the front seats changed in the 82s or 83s so that can be a problem in swaps.

Has anyone actually seen leather in a 240D?? I sure see it advertised in the want adds. (red flag)

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Didn't some "designs" have more pleats, different seatbacks, or patterns in them?

On the W123 the 1985 versions had 6 pleats, but on earlier ones they had 5. The seatbacks are also different. 1981 or 1982 and older cars have 4 vertical lines that run down the back, while 1983 and earlier cars have the middle crest. I would think coupes had a different set up.

Not sure if the leather ones are the same, but I would think there's one way to determine them easily, no?

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

leather with three or four panels divided horizontally. also the 90 sdl. i really like the leather. but the mb tex does last better.

the leather is a little warmer in winter and breathes a little better in summer.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.