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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 09:19 AM
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Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?

Has anyone ordered the H76 Aluminum interior trim on their W212 E-Class? If so, can someone post photos? I see most E-Class wagons in the UK have this option and it looks great but it seems rare to nearly nonexistent in the USA. I'm not a fan of glossy Mercedes wood so curious on how it looks on USA spec cars, specifically with black MB-Tex.

Thanks.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 09:53 AM
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MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
H76 looks "cheap" in an E-Class Sedan:


H03 is a matte burl walnut wood that may be available by special order:


H09 is a beautiful open pore ash that should be available:
Attached Thumbnails Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-h03.jpg   Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-h76.jpg   Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-h09.jpg  
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 10:14 AM
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Thanks for the info and the photos. I've seen H76 Aluminum in person on a UK spec car with black leather and it looked fantastic. Excellent patina and very high quality. I have never seen H76 Aluminum in an E-Class in the USA. I was curious if anyone ordered it and how it looked with black MB Tex. It's sometimes tough to picture how trim will look with the steering wheel on the other side and with sport seats with contrasting stitching.

The matte wood offered on an E-Class in Europe looks great. I saw it in the UK order guide for the E-Class. I wish MB USA offered more options like that. I don't believe you can order that option in the States as I've dug into the full specs on MB Net Star at the dealer. The H76 aluminum option is hidden as it is (not on the MBUSA.com website or the brochure). Audi and BMW seem much better at offering contemporary interiors compared to Mercedes. With the death of Saab and near-death of Volvo, the big 3 German companies need to have options to cater to non-traditional buyers. Glossy wood and chrome trim isn't everyone's taste (and certainly not mine). Even Infiniti offers nicer wood options than Mercedes.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 10:59 AM
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MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
H09 should be available by special order. H03 probably not.

The quality of the aluminum trim is excellent; its just out of place in a luxury sedan with a column shifter. Hence the non-offer.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 11:17 AM
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Chestnut leather! Beautiful..
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 12:07 PM
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I don't like aluminum trim on any car let alone E Class . It looks cheaper than it actually is
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 01:24 PM
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G-zus!!! that HO3 business is incredible!
and yeah, the aluminum probably would look better in person.....

show us the pix when it's done
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 03:47 PM
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You guys have special taste! I am going to stick with the stock original and just try to enjoy the car. So far I am pretty impressive about E350 BuleTec. Posted EPA mileage estimate seems to be pretty legititmate if not conservative.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 06:40 PM
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aluminum trim will look better on sport cars or at least a sport sedan. not so for a classy, elegance sedan, imho.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 07:21 PM
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Aluminum trim looks ridiculous and way too hard/cold in a luxury/classic style interior like the E-Class, to me. Like putting silver Nike's on when in a fancy suit.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by K-A
Aluminum trim looks ridiculous and way too hard/cold in a luxury/classic style interior like the E-Class, to me. Like putting silver Nike's on when in a fancy suit.
Welll said!
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 08:27 PM
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while I wouldn't personally choose aluminum, I'm sure with the right color
combo choices it could look okay you know?
but it does seem more fit for a sportier car or an suv perhaps......
I'd like to see one in person.....
I wonder how come I've never seen that savory *** wood pictured above
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 09:32 PM
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It's interesting that the average Mercedes customer in the USA is so different from the average British Mercedes buyer. Mercedes-Benz of Coventry in the UK has 9 ex-demo (near-new) E350 CDI Estate models (wagons) for sale. All 9 have H76 aluminum trim.

Again, the glossy Mercedes wood is far too traditional for my taste. To me, it looks like fake wood and should be reserved for a Lexus. Mercedes should likely continue to offer the glossy wood for the traditional buyer but they need to offer more matte wood and metal trims for the more contemporary buyer.

I've ordered H76 aluminum on my 2012 E350 4Matic wagon. Based upon my research, the lack of info on the aluminum option at the dealer level, and the feedback on this forum, it will likely be the only wagon in the USA with the setup. I'm selling a BMW 5-series wagon with a 6-speed manual so I guess I like unique wagons.

The 3rd-row seat combined with the fact that BMW no longer offers a 5-series wagon in the USA sold me on the Benz. Add in the impressive improvements in regards to fuel economy and emissions for 2012 and the Benz will hopefully be a great package. It's amazing how bad the fuel economy is on 2011 and earlier Benz wagons (especially 2009 and older with the 5-speed automatic).
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 09:39 PM
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Actually I don't think we get an option here for matte wood or aluminum. I personally don't like either, to be honest. Gloss wood all the way for me.
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Old Jan 30, 2012 | 11:36 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by K-A
Actually I don't think we get an option here for matte wood or aluminum. I personally don't like either, to be honest. Gloss wood all the way for me.

Yes, the H76 aluminum trim has been available since the beginning in the US. A no cost option (sport models only) courtesy of the SPC program.

I think it's a great alternative to the standard Burl Walnut or Black Ash Wood Trim. I think it would look best on an all black interior though.

YYZ-E55, I like the matte wood trims you posted (thanks!).

The glossy designo trims are the only other ones that are officially listed for the US market besides the Burl Walnut, Black Ash, SPC Carbon Fiber and Aluminum.
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:07 AM
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Exclamation H76 Aluminum Trim

Not the best, but here are some candid shots of a W212 sedan with the H76 aluminum trim & all black interior.
Attached Thumbnails Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-0208084566003.jpg   Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-0208084566005.jpg  
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:27 AM
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That's a U.S car?!

WOW! Glad to see M-B actually does give us at least a little variation Options in the U.S!

I'm still not a big fan, and would NEVER get aluminum trim in my own personal E-Class (in place of wood, that is, as I like some tasteful aluminum elsewhere inside, as we do already have), but it does look pretty good with an all black interior, at least based on that pic.
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 01:01 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by K-A
That's a U.S car?!
Unfortunately no, I had to hunt on a euro classified site to get pics, but at least it gives you some idea of what it would look like on a US car.

I wish MBUSA would include this info on their site & the dealers/MBUSA would modify some of there incoming cars with these options so more people knew about them.
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 09:07 AM
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Wow, the matte burl and open pore ash look great. I have the burl in mine and think it too shiny. Looks like a Chrysler product.

As for aluminum, not a fan of the look. Besides, won't it easily show scratches and, worse, dents?
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:07 PM
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It just crossed my mind that I wish MB also offered carbon besides those aformentioned . Don't get me wrong , polished burl walnut is still my fave
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 12:14 PM
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The Alum trim looks like something in all 3 series BMWs.
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by BenzV12
It just crossed my mind that I wish MB also offered carbon besides those aformentioned . Don't get me wrong , polished burl walnut is still my fave
E 63 AMG
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 04:34 PM
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I have the H09 Open Pore Ash in my car. I'm typically not a fan of brown wood, but this wood is gorgeous in person. It's like a dark chocolate colour & you can feel the grain when you run your hand over it. It doesn't get those fine little scratches on it like the glossy ones do. Everyone who has seen it loves it.
Attached Thumbnails Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-img_2360.jpg   Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-img_2362.jpg   Aluminum Trim Options (H76) -anyone order it?-img_2311.jpg  
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 04:58 PM
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I had matte finished wood in my Volvo S80 and loved it. It had great grain. Almost everyone commented on how nice and different it was.
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 05:25 PM
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I like this interior a lot but I went with the piano black
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