Telling leather from vinyl
 

Just became the owner of a 1984 300TD. I'd like to clean the inside to within an inch of its life. I can't tell if the seats are actually leather or some sort of vinyl. Does anyone know how to tell the difference?

Angie

From my experience, leather is a different color at the creases, especially when aged. Vinyl won't do that.

Here are some leather samples

http://www.gahhinc.com/smp-v20-c02-a.html

Leather is the processed hide of either boz taurus or boz indicus. Vinyl is the hide of the exceedingly rare boz Nauga.

In an 84 300TD, it is almost 100% certain to be MB Tex (vinyl). There were a few with leather, but very rare. Most owners prefer the MB Tex as it is almost impossible to wear it out. The leather doesn't do too well after 20 years in the sunlight.

The stitching pattern will be different for leather versus MB Tex. If the center section is perforated and has stitching running the full length of the bottom and the full length of the back, then it is MB Tex. If it is leather, then it will be a patchwork of panels. The best stuff for cleaning and restoring MB Tex is Vinylex.

Also, unless the previous owner(s) took exceptional care of leather seats, they should show quite a few smallish cracks.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that, were it leather on that age of a car, the smell would remind you somewhat of a barnyard.:D

:P Does Greg know you are over here in OD talking about leather?

If anyone wants to recover their seats with MBTex.
buch32 found a nice deal on them.
photos

Thanks everyone!
 

Much obliged for the assistance!