Leather or MB-Tex???

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1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

Leather feels and smells like... an automobile should.
(And in Your climate will last longer,Heat and mainly Ultra Violet Kills leather over
time.Lexol (1.Cleaner and 2.Treatment twice a year,at least)

On the other hand,you can "almost" ignore the MB Tex for 15 years and It'll still
look good. [Unless you park it in direct sunlight 365 days per year...then ten years.]

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

I haven't seen too many leather driver's seats that still look new..
On the other hand, I've seen numerous MB Tex examples that still look great after 300K miles.

As compress said, the 'Tex is pretty low maintenance and VERY tough. I blame most of the bad leather I see on neglect more than anything. I've sat in both; I think the leather might be a bit more comfortable, but not enough that I wish I had it over my tex interior.

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

it depends on weather or not you are in an SD...
leather is wayyy more comfortable in the SD.
on a 123 seat, the leather is a bit more comfortable, but, no huge deal one way or the other.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

In the hot, sunny, dry, high desert in which I live, Tex is preferable. It may also depend on the color. I looked at a blue leather interior in which the cracks looked really ratty compared to the light brown color in my 77 300d.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

MB-Tex almost under any circumstance.
The only exception would be a collector car where you prided the rarity of a leather interior. Of course, I'd be happy with a green cloth interior.

Going a step further, blue interiors usually show more wear than Palamino or Black. An uncracked blue dash is like a dog that doesn't like steak.

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Here is what 245,000 miles, 26 years of Texas sun, and PO neglect will do to MB-TEX. The sun is so harsh at 4800' elevation in the desert that the old Coverlay plastic dash cover has cracked.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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83 300TD, 260,000 miles, aka "Dusty"
6 vehicles, 2 cup holders (both in the dump truck)

I like leather. We've had leather furniture for a few years but never had it in a car. The examples I've seen in SDs were cracked and warn looking. I'm very happy with my MB tex which still looks almost new, not even any wrinkles in the door panels. IMO MB leather or MB tex is still way better than the velor crap in my Ram truck or my wife's Previa. Fact is the only thing in those two vehicles that comes close to MB quality is the Cummins in the truck, BUT "valor" what kind if interior is that for a truck or a vehicle used too haul kids, end of rant, I vote for MB tex

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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"

CLEAN.. Doesn't matter.. Just CLEAN!!!! I like MB-Tex.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

I like the velour in my SDL but wouldn't mind black leather. One of the guys that is always at our GTG, Vlad with his W140 S320 has this incredible leather conditioner that just makes it so supple and it smells like a brand new baseball glove or fresh leather.. Its awesome.

oh, I gotta put in a vote for the euro cloth interiors. I have blue, and red... love them both best!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

x2 on cloth, x2 on verlour over standard fabric. Since fabric is what I choose for direct contact with my skin, fabric is good enough for me to sit on... even with clothes on Cashmere would be something.

Sixto
87 300D

MB tex lasts better than leather. After 20 years or so the dye starts wearing off the leather in the folds.

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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

leather for comfort and making the car smell nice. Tex is easier to maintain and more durable. I'd rather sit on leather. Rather clean and maintain Tex. Toss-up.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

The leather in our '96 is still nearly perfect after 13 years and almost 260,000 miles but that's because all three POs and we garaged the car and took care of the seats. Whether it will still look good at 20 years and 300,000 miles (we don't drive a lot) is anyone's guess. Nonetheless, MB-Tex is my personal favorite for long life with minimal care.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970