Has Artico completely replaced leather?

[Sonny Burnett]

theres a lot of people going out of there way for leather, buy the artico and have it retrimed!!? pick a better grade of leather that mercedes cant provide... this is baffling me lol

 

[GP801]

All 3 of ours have proper leather. None is perforated ( nor was it in our previous W203)

 

[st13phil]

As I have not seen a 204 with genuine leather, am I right to assume that the real thing still has perferations as on all the earlier Mercs, whereas Artico does not?

No, it's the other way around on the W204: the real leather seats have no perforations while the Artico ones have perforations in the centre panels of the seat squab and backrest. The side bolsters are always unperforated.

Another good way of telling whether a W204 has real leather or Artico is that if fitted with real leather there is stitching along the door armrests (front and rear doors); if it's Artico there is no stitching on the door armrests.

 

[markjay]

I dont think so. MB Tex is Artico. I believe different areas have the same material called different names.

From memory, Artico is softer than MB Tex.

The last time I sat in a Merc which had MB Tex was quite a while ago...

 

[markjay]

I have come accross a 2008 220cdi elegance, which claims to have full leather. The spec (on autotrader) said Artico, but I emailed the dealer who says it is full black leather and not Artico. It's only about 25 miles from me, so will probably venture to see it at the weekend. Spec sounds good, although I asked about 5 questions and the only one the dealer answered was the one about the leather, which does not fill me with confidence.

As I have not seen a 204 with genuine leather, am I right to assume that the real thing still has perferations as on all the earlier Mercs, whereas Artico does not?

As said, smell it - Artico completely lacks any leathery smell.

But better still - get the VIN number from the dealer and post it here, you will get an immediate answer to your question through the car's MB Datacard...

 

[Pappilo]

From memory, Artico is softer than MB Tex.

The last time I sat in a Merc which had MB Tex was quite a while ago...

The reason I think they are the same is beacuse in the US, they get MB Tex and not Artico and since the cars in Europe and the US come from the same factory (I beleive), I would have thought it would make more sense and would be cheaper of course to use the same material in cars even if they were destined for different parts of the world.

 

[NewMB]

Living in Cologne, I go in various taxi's here all the time. Last time today so decided to ask the driver about this. As it happens, he was also the owner of his company (there are many taxi companies in Germany, each company normally only have 1-3 cars!).

He had just ordered a new E220Cdi and as standard, it comes with Artico. However, although MB Tex is no longer available (but was until not long ago) the real leather (option) is of a harder wearing leather that looks similar to the old MB Tex and have a thicker "stuffing" in the seat base to handle the amount of people getting in/out day out and day in.

Re the C class he wasn't sure if the Artico is standard or not as the lease rates are silly and the car's to small, according to him.

 

[The Pan Man]

How have MB got the Ba77s to use the term "Man Made Leather" There is no such thing. Completly bonkers.

 

[markjay]

Next thing we will be able to buy cheap shirts in the market made from '100% man-made cotton' (aka 'Polyester'), and socks made from 'pure man-made wool' (aka 'some unknown synthetic crap') - so what's the problem?

 

[jeremytaylor]

Living in Cologne, I

enjoyed the Christmas markets?

We did. But enjoyed the bier cellars more! Such a civilised way of drinking and eating too much.

 

[IceBoy]

So what does our new C-class have:

c200cdi Avantgarde auto 2006.

I though it was half leather? Now I'm confused?
IceBoy

 

[bobby]

Anyone know if the W202 Condor leather in the C43s are leather or artico? I'm assuming leather but this thread is intriguing!

 

[The Pan Man]

Bobby your safe "Man made leather" Was not invented in 1999. LOL.

Markjay, all the things you mention are not marketed as a man made version, if thats the answer you want.

 

[crockers]

Mine came with real leather - but it initially felt very plasticky and hard. Over the years it has now developed a real leather look and I do treat it every 3-4 months.
As for leathery smells - nope not really. Some cars with Nappa leather look so much more luxurious but after a few years it sags and creases.
Personally I would source a car with real leather - and heated seats.

 

[bobby]

Anyone know if the W202 Condor leather in the C43s are leather or artico? I'm assuming leather but this thread is intriguing!

Bobby your safe "Man made leather" Was not invented in 1999. LOL.

...read "intriguing" as "worrying" lol

 

[bpsorrel]

I was once told if the door panels are "rouched" it's real leather...

 

[markjay]

Mine came with real leather - but it initially felt very plasticky and hard. Over the years it has now developed a real leather look and I do treat it every 3-4 months.
As for leathery smells - nope not really. Some cars with Nappa leather look so much more luxurious but after a few years it sags and creases.
Personally I would source a car with real leather - and heated seats.

I had quite a few cars with leather - though not an MB with leather - they all had nice leathery smell. Even my in-laws' 20 years old Vovlo still has the nice leather aroma when you get up close and personal with the seat...

 

[Meldrew2]

You can tell the difference because while it looks like leather, it smells like plastic... while real leather - on any car - has the distinct leathery smell if you put your nose close to the fabric.

I'm quite happy with the Artico on my W204 Elegance. And when I consider what part of my body is normally close to the fabric, I have absolutely no intention of putting my nose there!
:bannana:
.

 

[kusanku]

I have had leather in three Mercs, including my current E-class. Two had standard leather, and one had Nappa, but none of them have had any noticeable leather smell at all.
Having a conversation with a friend of mine today, who has a fairly new CLC. It's in the garage now, and he has a brand new e-class instead. Both his car and the e-class have artico, with which he is not impressed. Comes back to my original point about how widespread artico seems to have become.

 

[Sparky 371]

still looking for @ an 03/53/04 E class 270/320 cdi with leather-- so was this artico stuff around then as a lot of the ones with full leather state just that- should i beware of this artico stuff on this age of car?