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Forgive this obvious first-world problem, but during a recent long trip, I was admiring the cabin design on my 2018 E400 Coupe, which has the black ash wood trim for dash and center console (see pictures), and noticed that the door panels were absolutely identical in their wood grain. They are not just similar, but exact mirror images of each other, which would be impossible to do if the wood grain was real, as the panels are not flat and the wood grain is pretty complex.
I've read in several threads that the black ash wood trim uses the same wood grain between dash and console for consistency, and that's definitely true in my car (it's a beautiful touch, really), but the door panels do not really match the rest of the dash's wood grain and again, are exact mirror images of each other. So, are the door panels real wood that was etched to simulate some random wood grain, or are they actually just very well done wood imitations?
This is like a reverse OCD effect, but I was convinced all of the wood in the W213 interior was real wood, albeit a thin layer of it, but now I have some doubts...
They are not exact, close but not an identical copy, they are sheets of real wood veneer cut from the same log, two sheets will give an almost identical mirror copy if placed correctly.
You can put your OCD to rest. The wood is real wood. And as Vic pointed out, they are cut from the same log so they will mirror each other. That's MB attention to detail!
I thought the same thing and then compared with photographs, they are indeed different and real wood. My guess is that they are sequential matched cuts. In fact, much fancier than expected.
I thought the same thing and then compared with photographs, they are indeed different and real wood. My guess is that they are sequential matched cuts. In fact, much fancier than expected.
Exzactly. Look at the center console in my E400 picture below. Note that the grain runs fully through the entire console, including the pop up cover over the cup holders.
They are not exact, close but not an identical copy, they are sheets of real wood veneer cut from the same log, two sheets will give an almost identical mirror copy if placed correctly.
I measured distances between the streaks in the door panels and also between the streaks and the Burmester speaker grilles and they are really identical mirror images. The reason that made me think it would not be real wood is the fact that the wood veneers are curved and have depth to it, and if you were sculpting those curved shapes off a single piece of wood you would never be able to preserve the exact same wood grain features in both veneers.
I think the explanation is that it is indeed real wood, but both panels start as thin perfectly flat veneers that are split in two and then molded into the shapes they have on the doors through some heat+moulding process.
This short YouTube video on how Bentley does interior wood trim mirrored between left and right must be the answer...
It's called 'book matching'.
When you do this correctly, you can build a box such that the grain flows seamlessly all the way around the box. To my feeble brain this seemed impossible, but when you see how it's done you think "Doh!, that is so simple!" MB does a really nice job with this wood interior.
Learned something from this thread; I'd never have thought to look. On my interior the door panels are definitely not book matched, not even close, but you can see the relationship between the two panels. I don't mind this at all, and appreciate this as natural variation expected for a genuine wood product, albeit not up to Bentley standards!
It's called 'book matching'.
When you do this correctly, you can build a box such that the grain flows seamlessly all the way around the box. To my feeble brain this seemed impossible, but when you see how it's done you think "Doh!, that is so simple!" MB does a really nice job with this wood interior.
Agreed, I am really very impressed with the level of attention and care that went into designing the W213 cabin and the quality of the trim. It's a wonderful place to be in!
Glad to help. The reason they are veneers has to do with safety in an accident. Solid wood could splinter. The veneer would crack, but not splinter and is specifically designed for safety. But Mercedes, just like all high end manufacturers use real wood. In the past few years, Mercedes has really amped up how the grains are matched. Look at how the grain on the center console cover pop up hatch, perfectly aligns with the rest of the wood in the console:
Yeah, that does look nice. I went with the Brown Ashwood (but not the natural grain one) since I have natural wood in my current Infiniti. I hope it looks good.
I can't wait, I just heard on Thursday that my car was built. Then I saw that after yours was assigned a ship it was about 22 days I think. I may even drive down to the VPC one day to check it out since I am in Bmore.
Yeah, that does look nice. I went with the Brown Ashwood (but not the natural grain one) since I have natural wood in my current Infiniti. I hope it looks good.
I can't wait, I just heard on Thursday that my car was built. Then I saw that after yours was assigned a ship it was about 22 days I think. I may even drive down to the VPC one day to check it out since I am in Bmore.
From the pics I've seen the Brown Ashwood, it's quite beautiful in the lacquer finish! Yep, it was three weeks from assigned a ship to docked at the VPC. The Baltimore VPC is closer than the Brunswick, GA VPC, so maybe it will arrive faster! Once my car was built, it took almost 10 days before it hit the water.
Yeah, that does look nice. I went with the Brown Ashwood (but not the natural grain one) since I have natural wood in my current Infiniti. I hope it looks good.
I can't wait, I just heard on Thursday that my car was built. Then I saw that after yours was assigned a ship it was about 22 days I think. I may even drive down to the VPC one day to check it out since I am in Bmore.
Well, I made it down to the VPC but couldn't get past the gate They had that place in lock down like it was the NSA. I did see a flatbed truck coming in, most likely to take some cars to a dealership. At least I know I will meet mine soon
Here are the few pics that I took (I give up trying to attach more pics. Sheesh)
Last edited by Courthaven; Dec 3, 2018 at 11:10 PM.
Learned something from this thread; I'd never have thought to look. On my interior the door panels are definitely not book matched, not even close, but you can see the relationship between the two panels. I don't mind this at all, and appreciate this as natural variation expected for a genuine wood product, albeit not up to Bentley standards!
While similar they are not exact, and wouldn't you think that if the panels were artificial they would be the same in all E interiors? Seems unlikely to have many slight variations of grain patterns just to give the impression of being authentic. My grain is more horizontal than the other two pics. Just a thought.
Last edited by Cao Black; Dec 4, 2018 at 12:30 AM.
While similar they are not exact, and wouldn't you think that if the panels were artificial they would be the same in all E interiors? Seems unlikely to have many slight variations of grain patterns just to give the impression of being authentic. My grain is more horizontal than the other two pics. Just a thought.
It's called 'book matching'.
When you do this correctly, you can build a box such that the grain flows seamlessly all the way around the box. To my feeble brain this seemed impossible, but when you see how it's done you think "Doh!, that is so simple!" MB does a really nice job with this wood interior.
Quite right. It is traditional. My XK-8 had "mirror matched" (the term I have heard over the years) wood trim across the dash and both doors. Even the wood trim on the window controls matched. It is more obvious with a burl wood than it is with the smaller grained ash wood in the OP's pictures. I remember the MB manager getting in the Jag and exclaiming, "It's like a yacht in here."
But that's nothing. The next time you are in Chicago stop by the Field Building. The corridors are paneled in mirror matched marble. The striations match for well over a 100 feet and then meet in the elevator lobby.
P.S. I looked at the veneer on my 19 E450. Definitely NOT mirror or book matched. The grain on the door and the grain on the dash may have come from the same type of tree, but the veneer is not continuous. The dash grain is horizontal, and the door grain in vertical. The console top and door do match up. Nothing like the continuity of grain on the Jag.
Last edited by Hundens; Jun 15, 2020 at 04:01 PM.
Reason: Late news
Forgive this obvious first-world problem, but during a recent long trip, I was admiring the cabin design on my 2018 E400 Coupe, which has the black ash wood trim for dash and center console (see pictures), and noticed that the door panels were absolutely identical in their wood grain. They are not just similar, but exact mirror images of each other, which would be impossible to do if the wood grain was real, as the panels are not flat and the wood grain is pretty complex.
I've read in several threads that the black ash wood trim uses the same wood grain between dash and console for consistency, and that's definitely true in my car (it's a beautiful touch, really), but the door panels do not really match the rest of the dash's wood grain and again, are exact mirror images of each other. So, are the door panels real wood that was etched to simulate some random wood grain, or are they actually just very well done wood imitations?
This is like a reverse OCD effect, but I was convinced all of the wood in the W213 interior was real wood, albeit a thin layer of it, but now I have some doubts...
Its a real veneer. Very thin, mind you, and tinted to achieve the correct color. In "olden times" they used solid wood with a very thick coating of varnish, but as it got old it would crack and deteriorate, not to mention that it would be prohibitively expensive today. The stuff now is lighter, more durable and needs no maintenace.
Actually, I have Black Ash in mine and it needs some touch up, I'm surprised that Mercedes doesn't make a touch up stain for this purpose. Trust me I'd love to have my Google search skills shown to be less than perfect here, lol. I've asked in at least one other thread and taking the glove box lid out of my car so that Home depot can color match it seems like a step too far. Any help on sourcing an OEM stain would be greatly appreciated.
Actually, I have Black Ash in mine and it needs some touch up, I'm surprised that Mercedes doesn't make a touch up stain for this purpose. Trust me I'd love to have my Google search skills shown to be less than perfect here, lol. I've asked in at least one other thread and taking the glove box lid out of my car so that Home depot can color match it seems like a step too far. Any help on sourcing an OEM stain would be greatly appreciated.
instead of trying to stain it (youll end up having to stain the whole thing) try a beeswax polish like the ones to treat leather jackets. Rub in a very light coat and presto.
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