Since I have been considering buying the CLS550 sometime later this summer/fall, I went to the dealer to test drive and see the facelifted 2009 car today. I really like the updated navigation software which operates the same as that in the C-Class, CL-Class, and S-Class other than it lacks the control knob.

I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the standard non-sport car I drove was fitted with Pirelli P6 Four Seasons tires. My only concern with the CLS has been that I live in NJ and I need to be able to get around in some snow. I also have had only all wheel drive sedans up to this point, so I was worried that a RWD car fitted with summer tires (previously CLS were fitted with Sport Contact 2's I think) would be a disaster in any kind of weather. Hopefully, with all season tires this car will be able to drive in some light snow without putting on snow tires--any advice here would be appreciated.

Only other notable change is that Premium packages I and II have been combined into only one Premium package for $4,760.

 

Why not get it now so you can enjoy the car in snow-free weather for a few more months?

 

I live in michigan and my 550 isn't to bad, and if you get some snow tires you will be set. I made it thru the first winter without them but i may get some for next winter.

 

There is also a trim package for 09 that consists of full leather interior, wood/leather steering wheel, wood shift knob, and either burl walnut or black ash wood trim for $920. The car I was looking at was an 09 in Diamond White, Cashmere interior, with the trim package in black ash wood...oh did it look beautiful.

 

I didn't know the trim package included anything other than the wood/leather steering wheel and wood shift knob.

What does the full leather mean? The CLS as far as I know comes with leather interior as well as the stitched leather dash.

 

That's good to hear. I would like to avoid buying snow tires if possible, and hearing you made it through a Michigan winter without them is a pretty good testimonial. What type and brand of tires are on your car?

 

The official wording for the trim package is "Premium Leather" meaning leather on the front, sides, and backs. I assume the CLS is like other MB models offering leather interior and has leather inserts and mb tex surrounds as the standard interior.

 

I looked at the Trim Package on MBUSA.com (although it is famous for its inaccuracies) and the first bullet under trim package says "Premium Leather, Wood/Leather Steering wheel). I feel like if the premium leather was an additional option of the trim package they would have put a separate bullet. Also since the package is only $920 I highly doubt that it includes anything more than the wood/leather steering wheel and shift knob. Normally leather upgrades cost $1,500 alone in MBs.

Also the CLS is one Mercedes that has always had full leather upholstry, not leather inserts. In previous model years they offered an upgrade to Nappa Leather, but I was told this is no longer available on the 2009 CLS. The E550 also has full leather, while the E350 is all MB Tex. Around MY2006 (2007 for some models) MB switched all cars with leather inserts to all MB Tex upholstry. Now each MB either has all MB Tex (C300, C350, E350, some MLs, Rs, Gs) or all leather CLKs, E550, CLS550 etc.

 

Trim pkg description is wrong. It is only the wood/leather steering wheel and wood shift knob. Car still includes leather as standard but nappa as well as the red leather option was dropped for MY09.

 

Thanks, that is what I thought. I think the current Build Your Own for the 2009 CLS on MBUSA.com is wrong. Big surprise...

 

Lol wouldn't be the first time it was wrong and it also doesn't say anything about the leather when you click on the description. The one I saw on the show room had the black ash steering wheel, shift knob, and trim I didn't notice anything different about the seating. Although keep in mind the "Premium Leather" is an option on the S class as well and may still be part of this package, best bet is if your interested ask your salesman. I think its worth the $900 and change for the black ash wheel and trim myself.

 

Yeah I love the wood steering wheel and I would love to get the trim package. Are you sure the wood you saw was black ash? The car I drove also had the trim package and the wood is the standard Laurel wood which is dark and kind of looks like Black Ash. The matte burl walnut wood has been discontinued for 2009 along with the Nappa Leather option, and the Sunset Red interior.

 

Are you planning to get the AMG Package also? When I got mine the AMG package and the trim package couldn't be ordered together. Dealer's system just wouldn't take it as an order. Don't know about '09 though. Good luck.

 

I think this is true for 2009 as well. The MBUSA.com Build Your Own doesn't allow you to select the Trim Package and the AMG Package probably because you can't have the wood on the sport steering wheel.

I am not planning on ordering the AMG Package, normally I think it is required on MB cars as it really makes the car look so much better, but this is one model that looks really great without it. Also I love the new trapezoidal exhuast pipes on the 2009 CLS, but the AMG Package exhuast pipes remain oval and unchanged.

 

Yeah it was black ash, I looked at the window sticker cause I noticed something was different, you can chose either black ash or the standard laurel wood. It would have looked even better with the Sunset Red interior, shame thats discontinued for 2009, I'm old school and always loved the white on red contrast. Wonder if you could do a special order and get the Sunset Red leather, I've heard the rumor that on some models this is allowed for a certain fee. I tried to change the silver trim to wood trim on my new C Sport and got shot down though, might just be myth, but could be worth a try.

 

You're really gonna hate this, but Burl Walnut is available on the C sport sedans for 2009.

 

Lol..well it was available on the Luxo Sedans but I was trying to order the Black Ash from the C350 model on a C300 Sport. I had my salesman put down the exact order code for it on my order but it got rejected. Someone on this forum claimed to have known someone who knew someone that said someone got an order to go through on an E class or S class or something lol. I heard they were going to offer the choice now for 2009 models, oh well I don't plan on keeping the C any longer than I need to.

 

On another note, its late and I was bored so I did some research, heres just how crazy it is to try and keep up with Benz. In 2006 and 2007 the leather interior was called "Premium Leather" with the option of Nappa leather. Also for the model years 06 and 07 Sunset Red was available for both the CLS500 and CLS55. Move ahead to the 2008 model year and the word "Premium" has been dropped from the wording of the standard leather, but now says that "Special Order AMG Premium" leather is an option for a one time surcharge. The 08 model year also drops the Sunset Leather option for the CLS550 but still allows you to order it as a CLS63 option only. To throw yet another wrench into the wording the Designo package offers Classic Red Nappa leather or Porcelain Nappa leather depending on which Designo package you chose. To top off the word games the 2009 model offers the Trim package that claims "Premium" leather as part of the option package. As already said before, the website could be wrong or maybe I'm reading it wrong. I also got this info from past brochures, so its most likely not %100 correct but gives you an idea that the wording is pretty crazy. You never really know what you can and can't order till they type it in the computer ha ha.

If all that wasn't confusing enough looking at the S class the S550 comes standard with leather interior, theres an option for "Premium" leather interior and the S600 comes standard with "Exclusive" leather interior.

Also while doing my research I stand corrected on the statement that the leather interior was just inserts. The CLS model is full leather front and back, the E,C,R,and ML leather interior options are for leather seating surfaces and head rests, the sides and backs are MB Tex.

 

Thanks for looking up that info, as usual MB is very confusing. I also looked on the German site and it looks like there are three levels of leather for the CLS over there, standard, Nappa, and Exclusive.

I went back to the dealer today to take a look at the car again (I know I can't help myself) and I tried out the new Media Interface included in Premium I package. I have to say it is really impressive.

It interfaced perfectly with my iPhone. The information even comes up on the Nav screen now. All the menus are there, playlists, artists, albums etc. It's a huge improvement over the current iPod interface.

 

I thought the E550/E63 AMG and optional leather on the E350 was full leather front and back and everywhere in between?

M

 

You are correct. MB now does either all MB Tex or all leather. So the E550 and E63 AMG are all leather.