Well for some dumb reason I had never ran my VIN for my vehicle in the Russian site until today.

It didn't tell me much I didn't know except it says
Interior- Leather "nappa".

I always assumed my seats were MB Tex. I have even taken the leather off of the seats to fix springs. Guess I didn't know it was that hard to tell the difference between the two!



Model300 SD
Chassis1261201A062029
Engine617951 12 064103
Transmission722303 02 492221
Order0 3 705 67487
Approx. yearnot defined
LightsBOSCHCab04111
DealerUnited States (USA)(705)
Interiorleather "nappa" two-color orion gray(258)
Paint930silver blue metallic (с 01.01.1979 по 31.12.1984, с 1994)58Unknown code
Options240outside temperature indicator (с 01.03.1982)
second spare wheel (с 01.01.1964 по 28.02.1973)
410electric sliding roof (с 01.03.1965 по 29.02.1988)
440bumpers with guards, front and rear (с 01.10.1970 по 30.04.1974)
bumper with horn and rubber buffer front and rear (с 01.03.1964 по 30.09.1970)
tempomat (cruise control) (с 01.09.1975)
451revolution counter (с 01.12.1972 по 31.10.1993)
tachometer
power brake (с 01.01.1963 по 30.09.1963)
windshield (laminated glass) (с 01.01.1964 по 31.05.1972)
461instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
494California version
California version (с 01.05.1973 по 31.12.1995)
version for USA/California/Canada (с 01.01.1996)
490 + 492 (с 01.12.1966 по 30.09.1967)
504outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 по 29.02.1986)
outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (l.h.d.)
taxi version, f.r.g, and outside rear view mirror on the right
500 + 503 (с 01.02.1966 по 30.06.1968)
501 + 502 (с 01.08.1968 по 31.10.1974)
519Becker radio Grand Prix electronic cassette - USA (с 01.08.1980 по 30.11.1990)
Becker radio Grand Prix LW/MW/SW/USW - USA (с 01.01.1963 по 29.02.1972)
Becker radio Grand Prix stereo MW/USW - USA (с 01.10.1972 по 31.12.1976)
Becker radio Mexico Grand Prix, electronic (USA)
531automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
543exhaust-pipe cover trim (с 01.01.1963 по 28.02.1963)
seat adapter between the front seats, and halogen lamp unit (с 01.01.1967 по 31.12.1972)
sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
551anti-theft warning system (с 01.11.1978 по 31.03.1998)
anti-theft/anti-break-in warning system with anti-towing system (с 01.04.1998)
steering wheel, ivory-colored (с 01.01.1963 по 31.05.1973)
570folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
588Thermoking air conditioner and electric window lifters (front doors) (с 01.04.1970 по 31.12.1972)
automatic climate control and electric window lifters (front and rear doors) (с 01.01.1977)
592wyellow foglamps (с 01.01.1963 по 31.10.1965)
heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), band filter
heat-insulating glass, side window panes (с 01.02.1967 по 31.01.1971)
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
611courtesy lamps for front and rear doors, with W124 also for central doors/W202 front doors only (с 01.11.1978)
sealed beam lamp unit, l.h. traffic (с 01.01.1966 по 28.02.1972)
lamp unit, symmetrical (с 01.01.1962 по 28.02.1963)
639radial-ply tires, elimination of warning triangle (с 01.11.1973 по 31.10.1974)
elimination of first-aid box and warning triangle (с 01.08.1977)
640aluminium disc wheels with radial-ply tires (с 01.10.1969 по 31.12.1989)
tires with tube (с 01.01.1963 по 31.08.1965)
15-hole light alloy rims (с 01.01.1990)
673high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)
804Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year

__________________
2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

I wouldnt base too much faith in that russian thing....

I ran mine on it....

It failed to pick up that the car has air-con, but did find it has Tempomat....

__________________
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

You sure your car has factory air, not an aftermarket system?

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

It all LOOKS to be original.....

Doubt many if any 'after-market' kits/fittings took place at my car's age (1980) here in the U.K. where in those days, air-con was considered a real luxuary, and rather expensive option.

I have leather seats, (Black) and the 'ribs' as far as I can think go all the way to top/bottom of the seats--Smells like leather and doesn't have that 'MB Tex' look....

BTW, Which 'russian-thing' are you checking on....?--

Is it This one-
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb.asp

__________________
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

The cloth wears like iron to.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

This does list air-con....

WDB12313022195007
Model 300 D
Chassis 12313022195007
Engine 617912 22 103687
Transmission 02 104405
Order 0 8 402 00839
Approx. year 1978
Lights HELLA
Cab 00436
Dealer Tourists (without USA) (402)
Interior leather black (231)
Paint
881 Unknown code
Options
320 additional plate and rear seat bench stop for great britain (с 01.03.1967 по 31.07.1980)
420 automatic transmission, floor shift (с 01.01.1963)
440 tempomat (cruise control) (с 01.09.1975)
467 central locking system and instruments with english lettering (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1993)
511 Becker radio cassette stereo MW/USW (с 01.01.1973 по 31.07.1981)
Becker radio Mexico cassette full stereo
Becker radio Monza cassette stereo LW/MW/SW/USW
531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
542 lockable glove compartment (с 01.02.1963 по 29.02.1986)
574 front folding armrest and left front seat with seat height adjustment
front folding armrest and headrest, right (с 01.04.1970 по 31.07.1992)
585 Behr air conditioner and electric window lifters (front doors) (с 01.04.1970)
592 heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), band filter
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
605 headlamp wiper unit and license plate mounting (с 01.08.1971)
oil for rear axle with limited-slip differential in canisters and trim strips on hardtop
613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)
640 aluminium disc wheels with radial-ply tires (с 01.10.1969 по 31.12.1989)
656 Michelin tires (с 01.08.1965 по 31.10.1989)
682 fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)
876 rear door contaCTS and lamp above rear window (с 01.07.1964 по 31.10.1993)

But does also list limited-slip diff, which Im pretty sure it aint got!

__________________
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

Where does their information come from? I assumed they were just tapped into someone else's database.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Well I ran about 10-15 other car VINs today (in search of what year my 617.952 engine is with a serial number of 12 022466.....it seems the serial numbers are closest to an 82) and I only say MB Tex for seats. I didn't see one pop up as leather except mine.

How do you tell the difference between leather and MB Tex? I guess some PO could have put different seats in.

Also, what does the NAPPA after leather mean?

__________________
2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

The Russian site seems to be very accurate. No doubt your car had optional leather when it left the factory. The stitch pattern is always different between tex and leather. The smell is different - tex has a chemical smell. And tex doesn't get wrinkles and creases. It also has a cloth backing. The general rule is if it looks really good in an old car it's tex. Can you post a picture?

Nappa is a source of good leather.

In the 124 and 201 you can tell leather by the ribs not going all of the way to the top/front of the cushions. There is a smooth panel across the front & top. The tex ribs run the whole way.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

If the ribs run the whole length of the seat, you have MB-Tex. If not, you have leather (applies to W126 only).

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Nope, they don't. There is about a 4-6 inch space with no stitching at the front and sides of the seat.

Looks like I have leather!

Now that I think about it, the 116 that I picked up a few weeks ago looks like the seats were new with the exception of the tear (hole). That must be MB Tex where as my 84 which is leather looks good but does not shine quite like the Tex.

Thanks!

__________________
2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

Its very easy to tell the difference. At this age the leather is hard and yucky and MB tex is still very soft and nice.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

When it was new it was stiff.

The leather around the perimeter of the seat is a stiff-tough leather for good wear, the perforated-ribbed stuff should be much softer. That is the way the leather was in my '91 when new, the door panel leather and seatbacks/pockets were somewhere in-between.

Later model Mercedes have more supple leather over the whole seating surface, utility gave way to market pressure.

True that the 'Tex is in many ways more attractive and comfortable when 20-years old, but the leather can be reconditioned and softened.

Mercedes probably shouldn't have done such a good job on their vinyl/MB-Tex.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

my 85 has real leather

__________________
1981 300SD 512k OM603