Fair comment, MtoM. I reckoned, wrongly as it turned out, that it would be longer lasting than the fabric, and would be in better nick when it came to resale. When I checked, most cars I saw second-hand had artico or real leather.

Interesting, as I've seen plenty of 17-20yr old E-Class W124 models with excellent-looking Artico and galactic mileages. Obviously not all Artico is created equally! And another example of how MB build quality has dropped since the late 90s

That's interesting, Merlin. Thanks. Clearly there is a generic flaw with the material, its manufacture or the application of the material to the seat structure. The fact that not all Artico seats are showing what we both have experienced suggests a flaw and a lack of quality control. And like you, there are other issues with build quality: the retracting wing mirrors that fail to retract sometimes; traction in even the slightest frost; revving on the automatic deisel; etc. To be honest, I was more shocked at the lack of responsiveness of the company than the fact of the flaw. Any and every made product can have flaws; the value proposition of a Merc though is that they stand on quality [for which one pays]. I feel now like I am paying Waitrose prices for a Tesco product / service. Fours of my immediate circle of friends have similar feelings: one has voted with his feet and bought a Volvo 4x4; another an Audi; the other two haven't changed yet.

I guess! .... but obviously not as good. "Man-made leather" was/is the term used: more 'friendly'; more upmarket; more 'proprietory'.

More junk, more like!

Just google "leather" and you soon find that it comes with a multitude of different treatments - but all with some treatment, even the best - and the same applies to domestic furniture as cars.

I did once remark about two previous cars of mine that the vinyl used for non-facing panels on 2000 Vauxhalls was better quality/feel that the leather used on facing panels on 2010 Hyundais - sadly as the 2006 Hyundais had decent leather.

Almost certainly cheaper to buy seat covers, although I'm not sure whether you can get tailored ones.

Looking at this man-made leather discussion from another angle, could it be possible that that having Artico man-made leather available as an option is a marketing policy to pander to the non-meat eating veggies who wouldn't dream of sitting on the skin of a dead animal?

The E class I had was the Executive model and came with the Artico (vinyl) seats as standard. I sold mine with after 50k miles.

3 years later it's now done about 160k miles (from MOT history) so I guess it's been a taxi. It would be interesting to see how the seats have stood up to that treatment. I'm guessing seat covers are covering the cracks.