There are two types of owner's manual pouches that came in the E500E and other MBs from the mid-1980s through late 1990s. These are the black, zippered pouches.
The first type of pouch was genuine leather throughout, and was used at least through model year 1992 on all MBs.
Starting in the 1993 time frame, MB transitioned to a leather-lookalike plastic pouch. You can tell the difference in the feel of the pouch outer material, although many people do mistake the plastic pouch as being leather.
However, there is one easy way to tell the pouches apart. The loop at the top left of the pouch has a cut edge, and it is very easy to tell from this edge whether the pouch is leather or the plastic. The leather loop is a bit thicker and less pliable than the plastic loop.
Here are photos of the two types of pouches. The genuine leather pouch is on the top, and the plastic one is on the bottom.
Genuine leather pouch is on the top.
Close-up of leather pouch loop. Notice the thickness and raw/hairy edge of the loop.
Close-up of plastic pouch loop. Notice that it is slightly thinner and smoother cut than the leather loop.
The first type of pouch was genuine leather throughout, and was used at least through model year 1992 on all MBs.
Starting in the 1993 time frame, MB transitioned to a leather-lookalike plastic pouch. You can tell the difference in the feel of the pouch outer material, although many people do mistake the plastic pouch as being leather.
However, there is one easy way to tell the pouches apart. The loop at the top left of the pouch has a cut edge, and it is very easy to tell from this edge whether the pouch is leather or the plastic. The leather loop is a bit thicker and less pliable than the plastic loop.
Here are photos of the two types of pouches. The genuine leather pouch is on the top, and the plastic one is on the bottom.
Genuine leather pouch is on the top.
Close-up of leather pouch loop. Notice the thickness and raw/hairy edge of the loop.
Close-up of plastic pouch loop. Notice that it is slightly thinner and smoother cut than the leather loop.
