Driver seat wear
 

How do you explain that some cars have the driver seat worn and have 60-70k miles and others 300k and still perfect. Is the way that people are getting in and out, how often, or is the side of the seat rubbed by the seatbelt?

I have an 81 300SD with 265k and the drivers seat springs are badly worn on the left side.I beleave the PO was a portly fellow-fat even! That I am sure played a huge part in the demise of the seat springs!

I have owned three late 80's w124's ..... two with mb tex look next to new.

The one with leather has some slight wear and surface cracks. Leather is much more susceptible to wear... I have seen 70's mb tex cars where the seating looks next to new

it is unusual
 

to see an eighties mb with any kind of upholstery that doesnt have a noticable scuffed or torn place there.

tom w

The wear on the side backrest of the front seats depends on two basic factors:

1/ On how the owner gets in and out of his/her car. Most people tend to push their rear against the back of the seat, hence damaging the upholstery.

2/ The weight of the driver. Heavier fellows have less space to manouver, so they tend to press even harder on that spot when exiting or entering the car.

Why some M.B. with many miles on it look good? My guess would be a very careful owner or a brand new seatback upholstery cover.

Mercedes-Benz well knows about this particular problem and sells just the seat backcover to replace the worned original (in any type of upholstery: leather, M.B.Tex, cloth or velour).

From the area you have highlighted I would suggest seat belt wear.

My W126 420 SE has significant wear in that area (anyone know where to get grey leather dye?).

Although my car came from Hong Kong, you see a lot of wear in that area here in Australia.

We have had mandatory seat belt laws since the 70's and so did Hong Kong.

Other areas of damage I would imagine are due to the portly driver.

Cheers

In the 2/2004 issue of `MERCEDES-BENZ CLASSIS` they did a great article titled `SKIN CARE AT 30 PLUS` on leather care of classics.

They state that denim jeans are one of the thoughest materials on seats, like sandpaper.

I think its more an issue of how many times you get in and out as well as your size, weight and what sort of clothing you wear...

l

Radu, your seats look like they're MB Tex. Although IMO they're not as comfortable as leather they should wear like iron.

Was "MB-Tex" standard and leather optional in the 80s? I think the 85' 380SE that I am buying has the "MB-tex", but not sure. I have seen some with this interior and some that look more like leather. Here is a photo of the interior of the Mercedes I am getting. The seats look very good for an 85'.

Thanks in advance!

I would bet it's MB-Tex because 1985 leather would not look that good. AFAIK, most 80s cars had MB-Tex as standard equipment. The leather usually looks cracked, while the MB-Tex can look very good if it wasn't abused.

A lot of people have this wear spot on leather-mine was there when I bought the car. I used a vinyl/leather repair kit to fill a hole there and spray patch it. Being sensitive about that spot and avoiding it when sitting down, it has stayed fairly nice for a year and a half without touch-up. If I wasn't so picky I'm fairly certain it would be just fine. Nonetheless, I'm going MB-TEX in the spring.

well then
 

my seat on my 90 350sdl is in excellent shape at 149k.

but just to be safe i am going to leave my seat belt undone in the future....
and drive naked.....and right before getting in i will slather my backside with leather oil.

tom w

The area that you have circled is the only spot that is worn on the seats of my SDL. Not bad for 250k cloth!

I think a lot depends on the driver and type of driving. A 300+ pound guy getting in and out all of the time will wear a set a lot more then a 100 pound women who does a lot of travel ie doesn't egt in and out much.

Just keep the seats clean their is really nothing you can do about wear. If it bothers you recover them.

Thanks Craig. I was thinking this may be the "MB-Tex" because the "other design" seemed to be leather. Seems like more of them has the "mb-tex". Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is "MB-Tex"? Is it more like a vinyl material?