Mercedes - are they leather seats?

[RAZZELL]

Been browsing a few cars online, C and E class.

 

Just wondered - do the vast majority of Mercedes in Thailand have seats made in "Artico" or are they "real" leather?

 

From reading online ads there is no mention of Artico. Or do I have to check the seat code on the spec sheet?

 

RAZZ

 

[kevvy]

While traditional vinyl seats may be associated with more economical vehicles, modern premium vinyl seats have become virtually indistinguishable from real leather. And Mercedes isn't alone—BMW also offers vinyl seats in several vehicles, too. ... MB-Tex is easier to clean. MB-Tex is not animal-based. Mercedes-Benz models come standard with MB-Tex upholstery. ... MB-Tex seat upholstery is a form of vinyl material used in many Mercedes-Benz base trims

Taken from Google ...

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=fake+leather+in+new+mercedes

I am getting an upgrade Mercedes Benz sport (not brand new) I am making sure it has real leather on the seats .

[RAZZELL]

 

2 hours ago, kevvy said:

 

I am getting an upgrade Mercedes Benz sport (not brand new) I am making sure it has real leather on the seats .

I had a new Mercedes C class estate in the UK with Artico. Had loads of trouble with the seats and thought the quality was poor.

 

If I'm gonna shell out Thai prices I want "real leather."

 

RAZZ

 

 

[kotsak]

My 2014 CLA 250 has a combo material (Code 650A) ARTICO Man-Made Leather/DINAMICA Micro.

[Kwasaki]

The last time I remember smelling leather was a ride home in a Bentley in UK, it reminded me of my 6 year old s/h Jag 3.4 S type I bought, sit in and orr lovely I love the smell of leather.

All I have in real leather now is my wallet. ????

[billd766]

I used to have a 1966 Rover 2000 TC with leather seats. I bought some saddle soap for the real leather seats. The smell after I used it was sublime.

[JAS21]

The seats in an E350e Exclusive...build date Feb 2019 are not leather ... Imitation leather, Atrico and Leatherette... to quote the spec...

Maybe the S Class has leather ...

 

Back in 2003 in the UK many Mercs did not have genuine leather seats...

 

 

[RAZZELL]

We can all reminisce...but what about a new Merc? 

 

RAZZ

[RAZZELL]

7 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

The seats in an E350e Exclusive...build date Feb 2019 are not leather ... Imitation leather, Atrico and Leatherette... to quote the spec...

Maybe the S Class has leather ...

 

Back in 2003 in the UK many Mercs did not have genuine leather seats...

 

 

In the UK I believe leather is a paid for upgrade? From checking about $1500 in the USA and around £1000 in the UK.

 

RAZZ

Edited May 29, 2019 by RAZZELL

[taichiplanet]

12 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

The last time I remember smelling leather was a ride home in a Bentley in UK, it reminded me of my 6 year old s/h Jag 3.4 S type I bought, sit in and orr lovely I love the smell of leather.

All I have in real leather now is my wallet. ????

sold a restored 3.8 S-Type to a guy, it took him weeks to decide and he kept coming around to sit it and inhale deeply for the Connolly leather smell; it think it was the only reason he bought it! Prefer leather myself, despite it's drawbacks.

 

For the Merc C and E class, looking at the Thai brochures spec sheets, it seems only the AMG version has leather not sure what Nappa leather means), the others have ARTICO.

https://www.mercedes-benz.co.th/en/passengercars/mercedes-benz-cars/models/e-class/e-class-saloon/buy-and-own/brochure-pricelist/_jcr_content/par/productinfotextimage/interactions.attachments.1.E-Class Saloon Specsheet.pdf

 

 

Edited May 29, 2019 by taichiplanet

[JAS21]

40 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

We can all reminisce...but what about a new Merc? 

 

RAZZ

The seats in an E350e Exclusive...build date Feb 2019 are not leather ...that is quite new

[RAZZELL]

18 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

The seats in an E350e Exclusive...build date Feb 2019 are not leather ...that is quite new

I saw, but can you get a paid for upgrade? I think i'll pop down to a Merc dealer this week.

 

I'll also find out if the C43 has the "exhaust" button.... ????

 

RAZZ

[RAZZELL]

21 minutes ago, taichiplanet said:

sold a restored 3.8 S-Type to a guy, it took him weeks to decide and he kept coming around to sit it and inhale deeply for the Connolly leather smell; it think it was the only reason he bought it! Prefer leather myself, despite it's drawbacks.

 

For the Merc C and E class, looking at the Thai brochures spec sheets, it seems only the AMG version has leather not sure what Nappa leather means), the others have ARTICO.

https://www.mercedes-benz.co.th/en/passengercars/mercedes-benz-cars/models/e-class/e-class-saloon/buy-and-own/brochure-pricelist/_jcr_content/par/productinfotextimage/interactions.attachments.1.E-Class Saloon Specsheet.pdf

 

 

 

Nappa is a softer type of leather.

 

Decent explanation here: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/cars/what-is-nappa-leather-and-is-it-a-good-choice-for-car-seats-36387921.html

 

RAZZ

[JAS21]

56 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

I saw, but can you get a paid for upgrade? I think i'll pop down to a Merc dealer this week.

 

I'll also find out if the C43 has the "exhaust" button.... ????

 

RAZZ

I read (in headlight mag.)  that the E220d will return to Thailand next month ... only in Avantgarde spec though.

 

In Thailand there is basically no option to change the spec ...

[billd766]

3 hours ago, taichiplanet said:

sold a restored 3.8 S-Type to a guy, it took him weeks to decide and he kept coming around to sit it and inhale deeply for the Connolly leather smell; it think it was the only reason he bought it! Prefer leather myself, despite it's drawbacks.

 

For the Merc C and E class, looking at the Thai brochures spec sheets, it seems only the AMG version has leather not sure what Nappa leather means), the others have ARTICO.

https://www.mercedes-benz.co.th/en/passengercars/mercedes-benz-cars/models/e-class/e-class-saloon/buy-and-own/brochure-pricelist/_jcr_content/par/productinfotextimage/interactions.attachments.1.E-Class Saloon Specsheet.pdf

 

 

 

From Wikipedia about Nappa leather.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nappa_leather

 

Napa leather is a leather, typically dyed, made from goat-, cow-, calf-, lamb- or other skin by tanning. It is noted for its soft hand. It is a generic term in the leather field and has no distinct test for characterization. Because of this ambiguity, the term is often used in advertising[citation needed] to imply that a leather is particularly supple. Among other uses, napa leather is often used in leather products such as furniture, clothing, handbags, and shoes. As the term is used today, napa leather may be either natural grain[clarification needed] or, more likely, corrected grain.[clarification needed]

History
Napa leather was first coined by Emanuel Manasse in 1875 while working for the Sawyer Tanning Company in Napa, California.[1]

Napa tannage in the strict sense, but a term no longer used in this framework, refers to a tannage consisting of alum salts with vegetable tanning agents.[citation needed]

Napa leather is defined in Merriam-Webster's dictionary.

[Kwasaki]

4 hours ago, taichiplanet said:

sold a restored 3.8 S-Type to a guy, it took him weeks to decide and he kept coming around to sit it and inhale deeply for the Connolly leather smell; it think it was the only reason he bought it! Prefer leather myself, despite it's drawbacks.

 

For the Merc C and E class, looking at the Thai brochures spec sheets, it seems only the AMG version has leather not sure what Nappa leather means), the others have ARTICO.

 

In Thailand I have only come across car leather seats like are what you say called Nappa leather which is a leather but is an ambiguous term used by car manufacturers of the type of seat covering they use.

 

Confusing because many look to me like a cloth backed leather.

 

The so called said leather seats we received in a H.City were nice but the leather smell is not as strong like an all real leather used say in a Bentley who use Nappa leather from bull hinds & cows.

 

https://www.leather-dictionary.com/index.php/Types_of_leather

[RAZZELL]

Not on their website but went to have a look here:

 

https://www.masterusedcar.com/en/find-us/Benz-Certified-Used-Car-Ladprao-112/&page=1

 

I saw a 2016 C class 350e for around 2m.

 

Which is a big reduction from the new price of around 3.1m.

 

Why such a big fall in price in around 3 years? Are they any good? Is it a tax fiddle to do with emissions? 

 

Thai specs:

 

http://www.headlightmag.com/mercedes-benz-c350e-plug-in-hybrid-my2017-2-official/

 

Oz specs.

 

https://www.mercedes-benz.com.au/passengercars/mercedes-benz-cars/models/c-class/saloon/inspiration/downloads/_jcr_content/swipeableteaserbox/par/swipeableteaser_1460035335/interactions.attachments.0.c-class-saloon-estate-specifications.pdf

 

Code 251 is for nappa leather which both cars have.

 

RAZZ

Edited May 29, 2019 by RAZZELL

[JAS21]

1 hour ago, RAZZELL said:

Not on their website but went to have a look here:

 

https://www.masterusedcar.com/en/find-us/Benz-Certified-Used-Car-Ladprao-112/&page=1

 

I saw a 2016 C class 350e for around 2m.

 

Which is a big reduction from the new price of around 3.1m.

 

Why such a big fall in price in around 3 years? Are they any good? Is it a tax fiddle to do with emissions? 

 

Thai specs:

 

http://www.headlightmag.com/mercedes-benz-c350e-plug-in-hybrid-my2017-2-official/

 

Oz specs.

 

https://www.mercedes-benz.com.au/passengercars/mercedes-benz-cars/models/c-class/saloon/inspiration/downloads/_jcr_content/swipeableteaserbox/par/swipeableteaser_1460035335/interactions.attachments.0.c-class-saloon-estate-specifications.pdf

 

Code 251 is for nappa leather which both cars have.

 

RAZZ

I don't think MB are offering the C350e at present. In 2016 was it CKD or CBU? At the recent Motor Show MB were offering 500,000thb+ of any of the E350e variants and I don't remember seeing a C-Class saloon there.

 

I was under the opinion that the E300de and E300e would be coming to Thailand soon and they would be dropping the E350e but I haven't seen a date for that and as you know the Headline mag is saying something different.

Edited May 29, 2019 by JAS21

[DaRoadrunner]

On 5/28/2019 at 7:26 PM, RAZZELL said:

If I'm gonna shell out Thai prices I want "real leather."

Real leather, on a Benz.... you'll be lucky.

 

In Thailand, if it is real leather it will be Pig skin, not Cow hide as is normally found in cars in civilized countries.

 

While I'm on my soap box.... if it's a Benz made in Thailand by Thonburi Panich, then the quality has nothing to do with anything that came out of Stuttgart. To add insult to injury, your Thai Benz will cost more than a genuine one from Germany.

[JAS21]

4 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Real leather, on a Benz.... you'll be lucky.

 

In Thailand, if it is real leather it will be Pig skin, not Cow hide as is normally found in cars in civilized countries.

 

While I'm on my soap box.... if it's a Benz made in Thailand by Thonburi Panich, then the quality has nothing to do with anything that came out of Stuttgart. To add insult to injury, your Thai Benz will cost more than a genuine one from Germany.

The last 'quality built' car to come out of Stuttgart was probably around the time of the 190E ... 

Edited May 30, 2019 by JAS21

[myjawe]

On 5/28/2019 at 5:01 PM, kevvy said:

While traditional vinyl seats may be associated with more economical vehicles, modern premium vinyl seats have become virtually indistinguishable from real leather. And Mercedes isn't alone—BMW also offers vinyl seats in several vehicles, too. ... MB-Tex is easier to clean. MB-Tex is not animal-based. Mercedes-Benz models come standard with MB-Tex upholstery. ... MB-Tex seat upholstery is a form of vinyl material used in many Mercedes-Benz base trims

Taken from Google ...

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=fake+leather+in+new+mercedes

I am getting an upgrade Mercedes Benz sport (not brand new) I am making sure it has real leather on the seats .

 

 

Perfect lie from benz ! Mine have real leather and it cannot compare with cheap $hit vinyl.

 

 

[myjawe]

On 5/29/2019 at 10:20 AM, JAS21 said:

I read (in headlight mag.)  that the E220d will return to Thailand next month ... only in Avantgarde spec though.

 

In Thailand there is basically no option to change the spec ...

 

This is why it is better to buy a model imported from Germany.