Author Topic: "Old Mercedes Smell"  (Read 17082 times)

flacc

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"Old Mercedes Smell"
« on: February 01, 2008, 13:10:33 »
I was showing the car to someone for the first time the other day in my garage and he states oh ya it has that old mercedes smell.  In thinking on it I realise that the car does have a particular sent, not bad at all, not leather as I have tex, but a sent of age, maybe w/a hint of engine smell.  Is this crazy?  Has anyone else expeienced this?

christopher
1970 280sl
1985 300td wagon
1999 320 4matic wagon

blue230sl

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2008, 13:30:20 »
i have had 6 different mercedes and the only smell i notice is the doggie/cigar odor in my 190, lol.
but i was in an old jag 3.8 sport sedan last week, a model my brother had in the mid 60s and the fragrance of old leather was exactly the same...

john
64 230sl
89 190e 2.6

Paddy_Crow

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2008, 13:39:59 »
On my car, the smell is called mildew. Hopefully replacing most of the soft surfaces in the interior will alleviate that.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

Douglas

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2008, 13:45:34 »
There's definitely an old Mercedes smell, particularly from the ones with original leather. The new leather doesn't have the same "bouquet." :-)

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

J. Huber

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2008, 13:55:43 »
Mine has a certain aroma but it's not the leather (mainly because its MB-Tex!). Instead, its more a combination of some years of baked grease (and degreaser) with a hint of detailer/wax. Its not bad at all.

James
63 230SL
James
63 230SL

al_lieffring

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2008, 14:52:49 »
The Tex material in Benz models made in the early 60 had a very distinct (da-stinked) scent, I can remember it from our 62 220s that we owned in the early 60's. becaues these cars also had vinyl matts instead of carpert I am sure that added to the aroma that on a sunny day with the windows closed would be very strong.

Sl's of course have the top off during the summer so they are not as bad, but they can build up the Tex chemical smell too if they still have that old fine grained Tex uppholstery material, and old vinyl floor mats.

Al Lieffring
66 230SL

hauser

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2008, 17:10:06 »
I have leather in my car at it too has that certain smell.  It was most noticeable when I first got or may I'm just used to it.  I did try a few things such as cedar blocks and Febreeze.  It seemed to work temporarily. :(

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

Kemal

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2008, 11:39:35 »
Oh yes, today I went for drive with my daughter & its funny you should mention the smell, my daughter and I both agreed while getting in that the scent is certainly a classic smell which the modern cars don't have.
What ever the scent is we like it, it takes me back to my childhood, what ever that means! I guess it's like opening your grandfathers old leather suitcase or briefcase !

Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD 69
« Last Edit: February 02, 2008, 11:40:31 by kemal shah »
Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD69

bpossel

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2008, 06:30:49 »
I think the unique scent is the "horsehair" in our seats...  Of course, the modern day replacement, vs the real horsehair used years ago....  Just my opinion.... :D
Bob

bpossel  (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL  /  '97 E320

suzy

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2008, 14:08:13 »
My 280 didn't have a smell, but my 250 definitely does.  i refer to it as the "old lady smell" since an old lady owned her before me.   it's hard to describe but it's not just the leather, and anyone who gets into her notices it too.  maybe it's the cocoa mats  :D

suzy
1967 250SL auto beige/green


Raymond

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2008, 07:51:58 »
My car's aroma always reminds me of the cabins of single-engine airplanes I've flown.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

68_white

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2008, 11:37:45 »
Regardless of the seat cover material (MB Tex or Leather), what we are all smelling is the goat skin covered glove box. I presume Mercedes used it because it is much thinner than cow skin and very durable.

DO the test. Smell goat cheese and then your glove box.

HARRY

68_WHITE
HARRY

1970 280SL RED
2002 E430 SILVER
1996 911 BLUE

waqas

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #12 on: February 09, 2008, 20:09:45 »
quote:
Originally posted by 68_white

Regardless of the seat cover material (MB Tex or Leather), what we are all smelling is the goat skin covered glove box. I presume Mercedes used it because it is much thinner than cow skin and very durable.

DO the test. Smell goat cheese and then your glove box.



Good to know... whilst here I'd always thought the smell was a remnant of the actual goat-cheese I left overnight in the glove box some time back... [:p] :D

Waqas in Austin, Texas
Waqas (Wa-kaas) in Austin, Texas

Raymond

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2008, 08:32:56 »
Well Harry, we must be talking about different aromas as my glove box is lined with MB Tex.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

68_white

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2008, 20:51:23 »
ok Ray, you need to do lamb cheese test. Totally different smell.

HARRY

68_WHITE
HARRY

1970 280SL RED
2002 E430 SILVER
1996 911 BLUE

France

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2008, 07:14:47 »
Oh, and I thought that funny smell was just all that lolly I've packed into the car!

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...stable now including a 92 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Austrian Alps
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...

seattle_Jerry

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #16 on: February 18, 2008, 01:03:30 »
It is certainly better than that fuel smell all my british cars had from leaky carbs.

1967 230SL Havana Brown Auto with A/C

Bob G ✝︎

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #17 on: February 20, 2008, 22:48:06 »
Stick your nose into a 280SE convertible and the scent of leather and wool carpeting  reeks with joy. My 280SL even though it needs an interor restoration still smells like I remember it as a small boy when I used to accompany my dad to Hollywood Mercedes-Benz the factory store in Hollywood California. Back then they didn't lock the doors so you could slide inside and aquaint your self. My biggest thrill back then was when I was able to sneek passed a salesman into the back seat of a 600 limousine. I still can't get the scent out of my mind. It was a memory I will always remember.

Bob Geco
« Last Edit: February 21, 2008, 04:01:26 by 280SL71 »

JamesL

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #18 on: February 21, 2008, 06:47:03 »
Bob

The olfactory memory is the strongest of the senses - as in smells can be remembered and "placed" far more than for the other senses


I used to go shopping with my Mum in Southend on Sea (Look it up, it's a pit)when I was 3/4. The smell of roasting coffee, esecially outside ona  cold day, STILL takes me back to Southend.
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Douglas

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #19 on: February 21, 2008, 21:18:16 »

Benz Dr.

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #20 on: February 22, 2008, 08:09:54 »
We use nose fobs to simulate the smell. They're not sellers...

Dan Caron's
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Bob G ✝︎

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Re: "Old Mercedes Smell"
« Reply #21 on: February 23, 2008, 00:59:04 »
I love Griot's garage. I buy alot of their neat tools and just put a perfessional chammy ringer over my wash basen  and have ordered many neat tools from them in the  passed . They are nice people you can even send back an item if you do not want it anymore and get store credit and my be a refund.
their cataloge's are fun to look through. A great item for thoses with nice four door or two door sedans is the rubber gas flap that prevents spills on you paint.I have a hard time putting their cataloge down.
I have never used their leather treatment, my be next time.
Bob Geco
« Last Edit: February 23, 2008, 01:00:32 by Bob G »