Bocahoo

I'm in the market for a new GL450 to replace my '07 GL. I was hoping to get a good deal on a 2012 model, but I'm finding my requirement that it have leather seats makes my search next to impossible. What's going on? Why is it so hard to find leather seats on a $75K car?

Looks like I will need to wait and order a 2013.

giffie

I am guessing that this is because MBTex looks almost like the real thing, with the added advantage of being stain resistant and virtually maintenance free

aeggroup

+1...

Bocahoo

There's a big difference between MBTex and the real thing to me... in feel and in smell. MB must recognize a difference too since they put it as standard on all of their high end cars (S, CL, CLS, GL550). I just think it's crazy that a car with an MSRP of $70 to $80K doesn't qualify as "high-end" enough for leather.

Plus I want ventilated seats (a must in south florida) which requires leather.

FastMoneyPlaya

If you want leather seats as standard equipment, buy a Mistubishi Galant or Hyundai Elantra. For $24K, the Mitsubishi comes with leather. In a GL, you pay an extra $3K on top if $75K.

Also, the MB tech does not resist stains. The dye from my wife's jeans gets all over the seats and is very hard to clean.

Bocahoo

Ha! I avoided going there, but I share your sentiment. I don't need leather as standard, and I'm willing to pay for it (although like you, I find it outrageous that you have to pay for leather on a $75K vehicle). It's just near impossible to find any inventory with leather seats. There are a lot of 2012 GL450's out there, but my dealer could only find ONE in the entire area that has leather... and unfortunately it was too big of a mismatch with my other color/option preferences.

sshu930

I feel the same way. There are a few basic options which should really be in the GL and even ML. Leather and xenon lights come to mind. I'm surprised parking sensors are not standard also. It's just ways for them to make more money.

BlownV8

I agree. Leather and HID's should be standard. However, I would still go with the MBTex. Mercedes leather just does not hold up for the long haul. It's not nearly as durable as the MBTex. The leather starts to crack and the color wears off at the side bolster. My MBTex seats still look new. I can't say that about any of my other Mercedes at this age or mileage.

xxGenericSNxx

To be honest with you, the MB Tex and the low grade leather that's offered on the GL look and feel the same to me. The grain is big grain and I'm not sure it's worth the upgrade (aside from the fact that you also want the active ventilated seats which also require leather). The leather used in the GL550 is much nicer nappa leather* which is soft and small grain. I find that the leather's held up well in all of my cars, you just have to take care of it.

*I'm fairly certain nappa leather was on the GL550 when it was introduced, but I see no mention of it now on MB's website, so it's possible the leather has subsequently been downgraded.

Bocahoo

Hmmm. I wonder if nappa leather was an option on a 07 gl450. The leather in my 07 gl450 is a smoother, fine grain leather that is much nicer than mbtex and has held up well over time (car is 6 years old with 80k miles). I bought it used so I don't know what leather option was selected. But the interior of my gl with leather wrapped dash, is very "s class" like.

aggst1

To everyone that thinks HIDs and leather should be standard: if they do that then the base price will go up by $5K or so. That would make the car even more unattainable and even further away from the competition. It would satisfy a few but MB would loose sales. I think you giys are saying I want leather but dont want to pay for it. Now, why they don't have more trucks with leather available is a legitimate question. Possibly because their market research tells them not to.

I ve had cars with both leather and MBTEX. Leather feels better but it makes you slide. Tex is grippy but makes you sweat in the summer. Leather looks awful as the years go by since it cracks especially on the drivers side. Tan leather shows stains, black is better IMO, none of these issues with TEX. I now have TEX in my GL and love them since I don't have to clean and treat the seats annualy. If you have kids to me the choice is obvious.

aeggroup

I think HID should be standard for $70K car, but i totally agree about leather vs MBTex. If I need luxury - I will buy S class with leather, but GL is a truck and MBTex is more than enough for everyday driving. If you really wanna have leather - just order it and pay extra.

xxGenericSNxx

Is your car a launch edition by any chance? Is your wood color light birch (lighter in color than the dark brown burlwood found on most GLs). It's possible, but I'm not 100% certain, that the leather is different on the launch edition but no guarantees. Also, the dashboard is MB tex and standard on all GLs. A nice touch that I certainly wish were in the R.

Bocahoo

Not sure. I bought it used 3 years ago and I don't know all of the options. It does have the light birch wood with black leather. But the leather is very smooth and soft. I wonder if they changed the quality if the leather. I looked at an '09 gl550 recently and I asked the salesman if it was mbtex (even though I was pretty sure leather was standard on the 550). So if the leather option is what I saw on the 09 vs what I have on my 07, perhaps I should just go with the mbtex. Or perhaps order a 2013 with designo leather

xxGenericSNxx

Since your GL is a 450 and has light birch trim I'm 99% certain it's one of the premiere editions. I think it's nappa leather. If that's the case, I wouldn't bother with MB tex or the "leather" option on newer GLs as the quality and grade is nowhere as nice as nappa in my opinion. I say go for the new GL w/ Designo!

Bocahoo

Thanks. I think you're right. I googled "premiere edition 2007 GL450" and it came back with an exact description of my GL... nappa leather, light birch wood with matte finish, lots of chrome on the exterior, etc. So the mystery of MBTex vs. leather is solved. I couldn't understand how people could compare MBTex to leather (based on the leather in my GL) and say they can't tell the difference.

xxGenericSNxx

I'm glad we figured that out. BTW, even the S550 doesn't come standard with nappa leather. It's the rough leather that is optional on the current GL series. Nappa leather is truly a higher end hide so it will be hard looking for alternatives in the current market, typically it's reserved for AMGs, V12s, and Designo cars but there are a few exceptions here and there such as the Premiere Edition. The Designo on the new GL will also be nappa leather.