Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-19-2005, 01:44 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 5
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

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-19-2005, 09:08 AM
G-Benz's Avatar
Razorback Soccer Dad
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
From my experience, leather is a different color at the creases, especially when aged. Vinyl won't do that.
__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-19-2005, 09:48 AM
Ra_ Ra_ is offline
machinery mangler
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: The Florida Keys
Posts: 506
Here are some leather samples

http://www.gahhinc.com/smp-v20-c02-a.html
__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-19-2005, 10:35 AM
R Leo's Avatar
Stella!
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: En te l'eau Rant
Posts: 5,393
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawless
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
Leather is the processed hide of either boz taurus or boz indicus. Vinyl is the hide of the exceedingly rare boz Nauga.
__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-19-2005, 11:05 AM
Palangi's Avatar
L' Résistance
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Republique de Banana
Posts: 3,496
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.
__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-19-2005, 12:08 PM
Rick Miley's Avatar
Spark Free
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Land O Lakes, FL
Posts: 3,086
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.
__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-19-2005, 04:20 PM
Wes Bender's Avatar
Retired User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Alpine, AZ / Green Valley, AZ
Posts: 733
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.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-19-2005, 05:13 PM
TX76513's Avatar
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Brandon, Mississippi
Posts: 5,209
Quote:
Originally Posted by R Leo
Leather is the processed hide of either boz taurus or boz indicus. Vinyl is the hide of the exceedingly rare boz Nauga.
Does Greg know you are over here in OD talking about leather?
__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-19-2005, 05:14 PM
Ra_ Ra_ is offline
machinery mangler
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: The Florida Keys
Posts: 506
If anyone wants to recover their seats with MBTex.
buch32 found a nice deal on them.
photos
__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-20-2005, 01:13 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 5
Thanks everyone!

Much obliged for the assistance!

__________________
Angie
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page