Dinamica/Artico seats white stain problem

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martinc65

New Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Messages
18
Location
Barnsley
Car
2013 C250 CDI Estate Sports Plus/2009 CLK 220 CDI Sports
I own a 2013 C Class C250 CDI Estate Sports Plus with Dinamica/Artico interior seats with the red stitching I've had the Car for nearly 12 month now. The car was only 11 month old when I bought it, from early on I noticed little white marks appearing on Dinamica inserts, and its gradually getting worse with the colder weather.

Can anybody help or experiencing the same problem!!!!! :dk:
 
There is a thread on here somewhere about it. Apparently lots of noise in the US.
IT's caused by the heated seats iirc.
 
Thanks Ted
I found that thread the other day but it was of no use to me. My car is the W204 facelift version, The marks look like sweat marks, but if I sweated that much I think I'd need to see a doctor lol...
I have a neighbour with a similar version, his car is suffering the same problem too.
We both bought second hand from different Mercedes Dealers.
so we're wondering had the seats been treated with Scotchguard/Stargard etc at
new. So when the cars were valeted prior to us buying them, has the cleaning agents they used to valet our cars reacted with the Scotchguard/Stargard, thus
causing this staining.
 
I have this but only on the midway crease on the passenger seat and is only slight. My car was star guarded by my dealer when new.
 
Cheers Mark
My drivers seat & rear seats are a right state, which lets down the appearance of the car.. I did try steaming the marks out with deionised water, but the stains reappeared.

Have you at any stage had to clean your passenger seat??
 
Mine is another one that had the Star Guard treatment when I bought it. I occasionaly get a light white pattern on the drivers seat. It usually disappears if wiped with a very lightly dampened cloth all over. As I think that maybe dampness has caused the staining, eg getting in with damp clothing, then using a steamer to try to fix the problem may have the opposite effect.
 
My 203 seats were Starguarded and all the seats showed signs of milky blemishes. The dealer took the car back removed and re-applied the treatment and all was fine thereafter
 
Dinamica/Artico interior seats white

Upgraded my wife's car from seat cupra sport 16v GTI (Mint owned for 12 years) to a 62 plate C Class Estate sports Plus (204 , not driven an automatic before absolutely loves the car. The only problem now is the seats.
Yes we had stargard applied to the seats possibly the worst spent £400 ever.

Bought the car April 14 the seats started to show signs of white staining July-August 14, due to family stuff going on we did not take the car to the dealer until 29-11-14, we just turned up one Saturday.

The gentleman running the service desk could not help as Stagard team do not work Saturday, good job the guy that sold use the car was working he took the car for a clean.

we waited 4-5 hours loads of coffee test drove a E Class 250 estate W212, our car was returned cleaned in & out seats looked brand new still damp, I ran a dehumidifier in the car over night to help dry the seats, wife was happy seats back to normal.

the white stains started to come back, sent pictures to the dealer 31-12-14 car was booked in for 6-1-15, dealer supplied a loan car, dealer had the car all day we told the dealer not to re-apply the stargard. Got the car back with clean dry seats wife's happy but not for long.

As I write the stains are back, another call to the dealer, cars still under warranty going to push for new seats with no stargard.

LR62 (1).jpg

LR62 (2).jpg

LR62 (3).jpg
 
Cheers Mark
My drivers seat & rear seats are a right state, which lets down the appearance of the car.. I did try steaming the marks out with deionised water, but the stains reappeared.

Have you at any stage had to clean your passenger seat??

Mine is minimal compared to what your dealing with looking at your pictures. I have wiped mine over with a damp cloth once before and this did clear the markings. I thought they were originally from my wife sitting in car with a wet coat. Dealer gave me star guard as part of deal when purchased car and I always wondered if it had actually been applied as could see no discernable difference. I'm hoping now that it wasn't put in the seats.
 
Thank for the pictures BigE

Your seats are worse than mine mate, but gradually with time my seats will go the same way..
So obviously there is a problem with the material once starguard as been applied, Time to take action, !!!!
My car is booked in for 2year service on Tuesday 10th Feb, I'll see what excuses the Dealer can dig up.. If I get no joy, A direct phonecall to MB UK could be in order..
 
I reported this exact problem to my dealership when it went in for its B service at the back end of last year. I suspect it must be a service bulletin as the are replacing the seat covers FOC. They had to place an order to have them made up, which took a few weeks but they are ready now so I just need to book the car in at the earliest to get it done.

You may also want to check your alloys for pitting - again they are replacing all four of mine FOC.

See my thread here: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/new-...k-delivery-250-cdi-estate-amg-sport-plus.html

Sent from my HTC One using MBClub UK
 
Thanks EDSTROM76

Quick Update.

I had the car to Mercedes Dealer yesterday for its 2 year B service The dealer had a look at the seats, they didn't agree entirely, however they did take a few photographs which their sending off the MB UK. I should hear some feedback within a week or so..

That was very Interesting as I'm writing this post, The Mercedes Dealer just phoned me, stating that MB UK are aware of similar complaints about the seat staining, They stated the process now is to first have the cars interior valeted by one of their specialists, which is booked for Monday 16th Feb. We then need to leave it for a few months or so, to see if the staining reappears. If it does reappear, they'll move to the next level to solve the problem..

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!!!!!:thumb:
 
Upgraded my wife's car from seat cupra sport 16v GTI (Mint owned for 12 years) to a 62 plate C Class Estate sports Plus (204 , not driven an automatic before absolutely loves the car. The only problem now is the seats.
Yes we had stargard applied to the seats possibly the worst spent £400 ever.

Bought the car April 14 the seats started to show signs of white staining July-August 14, due to family stuff going on we did not take the car to the dealer until 29-11-14, we just turned up one Saturday.

The gentleman running the service desk could not help as Stagard team do not work Saturday, good job the guy that sold use the car was working he took the car for a clean.

we waited 4-5 hours loads of coffee test drove a E Class 250 estate W212, our car was returned cleaned in & out seats looked brand new still damp, I ran a dehumidifier in the car over night to help dry the seats, wife was happy seats back to normal.

the white stains started to come back, sent pictures to the dealer 31-12-14 car was booked in for 6-1-15, dealer supplied a loan car, dealer had the car all day we told the dealer not to re-apply the stargard. Got the car back with clean dry seats wife's happy but not for long.

As I write the stains are back, another call to the dealer, cars still under warranty going to push for new seats with no stargard.

View attachment 48638

View attachment 48639

View attachment 48640

Holy Moly!! :eek:
 
Update, email from the dealer, I quote

"We are talking to the factory about this as they appear to be water marks and we have not had any reported issues with other vehicles with the same interior or with the starguard."

Its very interesting to read your comments, I will keep you all up to date.
*
 
I reported this exact problem to my dealership when it went in for its B service at the back end of last year. I suspect it must be a service bulletin as the are replacing the seat covers FOC. They had to place an order to have them made up, which took a few weeks but they are ready now so I just need to book the car in at the earliest to get it done.

You may also want to check your alloys for pitting - again they are replacing all four of mine FOC.

See my thread here: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/new-...k-delivery-250-cdi-estate-amg-sport-plus.html

Sent from my HTC One using MBClub UK

Thanks for the Update>>

Looks like their trying to dig up excuses at the moment, My neighbour as the has the C350 CDI Sport Plus with the same issues, If
you saw his seats you'd break down sobbing your heart out.. their a proper mess, I've told him to get his car back to the Dealer...
 
May be members unaware of this issue so here's a -

BUMP.
 
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Fetched mine from the dealers today, driver and passenger seat covers + four new alloys and tyres. Went for Dunlop Sport Macs RT's as they've had some good reviews. Feels and looks like a brand new car now and it seems much quieter too!

I've had a C220 CDI SE saloon as courtesy car for three days now and although it was nice (the ride is much softer than mine), I actually prefer the interior of mine. I first got a chance to try the W205 (well it was an S205 actually) back in November and my thoughts about the interior at the time still stand - it's too fuzzy, there's too much going on. Perhaps I'm getting old (I'm 38!) but the new C is a tad too trinkety for my liking.

Sent from my HTC One using MBClub UK
 
Went for a test drive in the C250 CDI Sport Plus Coupe today, and found the white staining - very noticeable on the front passenger seat.

Will now pop round first thing and tell them not to do anything to make it worse.

That then begs the question as to if I should buy it, or not.
 
Panic over! For me and the Salesman... :bannana:

Transpires that it is an ex-Company Car, and has never had Starguard applied.

:doh:

It's a stain, you can see run marks - so the proper cleaner is being applied.
 

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