interior color

[Mike Hughes]

Seats, dash, door panels, under dash panels, soft top compartment trim, and the trim behind the seats adjacent to the doors is all the earlier style, finely textured M-B Tex, which looks a lot like leather, especially in photos.  The later style of thicker, more boldly textured M-B Tex found in 280SLs is more easily differentiated from leather.

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[A Dalton]

As MH states , .. the early Tex can fool you into thinking it is leather..
... but , the tell-tale test is to find a spot where one can see the underside .. [ like seat trim under-corners] .. you will plainly see a  manufactured texture weave pattern on the underside of the Tex.. ...whereas leather will be hide with no pattern..

[n/a]

quote:Originally posted by Mike Hughes
Mine is clearly leather - a hide is underneath  Thanks Diane

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[A Dalton]

Well,
 We have listed every factory combination, so my recommendation to you is simply write/fax the Classic Centre with your Vin and they will have the Data Card info for your car with the original trim code .. that will settle it.

[A Dalton]

Daimler Chrysler Classic
 Bereich Archiv
 Dokumentation
 Stuttart, Germany

Fax # 011-49-711-17-53163

 DaimlerChrysler AG
 Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre
 HPC 096/R051
 70546 Stuttgart, Gernany

[Mike Hughes]

Another way to check an original leather interior is to look at the door panels.  If the horizontal "seam" in the door panel a few inches down from the top is "heat embossed" then the panel is covered in TEX and if the seam is stitched it is leather.  If the door panels are leather then the interior was originally leather, if TEX then the interior was TEX.  The TEX will have a cloth backing.

quote:Originally posted by A Dalton

As MH states , .. the early Tex can fool you into thinking it is leather..
... but , the tell-tale test is to find a spot where one can see the underside .. [ like seat trim under-corners] .. you will plainly see a  manufactured texture weave pattern on the underside of the Tex.. ...whereas leather will be hide with no pattern..

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Ben]

Hey Mike.........really love that interior !

It a very rich and luxurious looking combo !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[A Dalton]

<< if TEX then the interior was TEX. The TEX will have a cloth backing>>

 .. Yup... and the Final test is .. if the seats are not worn out at all , then you know for sure it is TEX..
 Amazing stuff !!!!!!! [ the Old version , anyway ]
 You can go to a junk yard and see old weather beaten , rusted to the roof, windows left open Benzs and you open the door and see these perfect seats ......
They should have made the unibody out of it !!!!

[Mike Hughes]

Originally posted by Mike Webster in August of this year:

"Contact Classicparts@mbusa.com. Give them your serial number. I received my data card the next day, free. Good luck!!"

I got a copy of my car's data card a couple of years ago by calling the Classic Center.  They faxed it to me in a matter of half an hour.  I don't recall the number but you might try calling Merecedes Benz customer service at (800) 367-6372.

quote:Originally posted by A Dalton

Daimler Chrysler Classic
 Bereich Archiv
 Dokumentation
 Stuttart, Germany

Fax # 011-49-711-17-53163

 DaimlerChrysler AG
 Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre
 HPC 096/R051
 70546 Stuttgart, Gernany

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Mike Hughes]

I've been wading through all this and my take is that you have established that the color of interior is likely Cream.  121 would be the code for TEX, the same color in leather would be 209.  I gather you have the leather interior.

Depending on the condition of your interior, it may be possible to have a good upholstery shop repair the seat covers.  In the right hands, some quite remarkable things can be done with leather.  There was a burn hole in the textured, perforated section of a seat in a car I bought a few years back and they were able to repair the panel, duplicate the texture and perforation pattern and then color match (dye) the repair in a matter of hours.  In addition there are several products on the market that can be used to rejuvenate leather seats. The result often is a nicely patinated original leather interior.  If you have a torn panel, it may be possible to make a patch panel with leather from a more hidden area of the seat, like beside the transmission tunnel, replacing that leather with a closely matching vinyl or tex.  (I gather that you are being told that your leather is not available - have you inquired about TEX?)  If it is not possible to satisfactorily repair or rejuvenate the seats, and your door panels, dash pad, etc. are in good shape, then a good upholstery shop should be able to source a closely matching leather and make up new seat covers.  If it is not close enough it can be color matched (dyed) to suit.  For that matter, you can get a tan leather seat kit from GAAH, World, etc., and recolor it.  The point is, you have multiple choices available to you to return your cream interior to its former glory.

quote:Originally posted by dianelauren

hi, it looks like 121 - I have a pic of my seats, the seats and interior I would say is light ivory.  But parchment also looks light on the internet but when received it was tan.  If I sent a digital pic of my seat it might help.  I e mailed a couple of upholstery shops back east but no answer yet.  Thanks again.  Diane

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[n/a]

Dianelauren says:  Thanks Mike, but seats are beyond repair, missing whole panels.  

quote:Originally posted by dianelauren

hi, it looks like 121 - I have a pic of my seats, the seats and interior I would say is light ivory.  But parchment also looks light on the internet but when received it was tan.  If I sent a digital pic of my seat it might help.  I e mailed a couple of upholstery shops back east but no answer yet.  Thanks again.  Diane

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)


[/quote]

[A Dalton]

Diane,
 I see the 230sl you had on ebay did not sell.
 Would you consider selling the extra Carpet set seperately
Tnx
A Dalton

[n/a]

quote:Originally posted by A Dalton

Diane,
 I see the 230sl you had on ebay did not sell.
 Would you consider selling the extra Carpet set seperately
Tnx
A Dalton

I think it is a slow time on e bay.  No, it needs to get installed - the red matches the car I have.  Diane