gordongl450

Went to order a 2008 GL450. Have been informed by my dealer that the option for multicontour seats is NOT available in 2008. They are also not part of any package. Was told that the seats were not ordered enough in 2007.

There will be a P2 package in 2008 that will include the rear camera, the bi-xenon directional headlamps, sunroof package and some other stuff that is available as separate options in 2007. No pricing information yet.

I have used the multicontour seats in a 2007 GL450 and they are great!

Does anybody have any additional information about pulling multicontour seats as an option in the 2008 GL450??.

Thanks

blittle

A 70k+ car and you won't be able to have the premium seats? I have them in my GL and I cannot imagine NOT having that option. If I remember correctly.....the lumbar support in the standard seating is a mechanical lever?

StevethePilot

Well, we can vote with our wallets.

oknish

Please don't believe everything that the dealers tell you about '08 models just now. They have no idea at this point in time, either.

stugilmour

Interesting. I believe that even in 2007 in Canada we were not offered the premium seats that are/were available in the 'States. I couldn't find them on our "build a car" deal anyway.

Nevada Jack

You are correct. I had a '85 TDT wagon and on the passenger side it had a remote electric adjustment for the rear view mirror from the drivers side. The drivers side had a little lever that mechanically adjusted the drivers side mirror

German engineering at it's worst....

gordongl450

oknish,

I hope you are correct about dealer information.

However, the vehicle is ordered and I have a PO number. The option is not available on the dealer's computer for placing the order.

They said that the regional sales manager stated that the amount ordered in 2007 was low. However, the regionla sales manager he did leave open a small possiblity that the option could suddenly appear as being available again. I guess some executives somewhere have to make a final decision. I am going to write a letter to MB customer service asking them not to drop the option.

oknish

I guess time will tell if I am right or wrong and I do hope that MB offers mult-contour seats in '08. And, CONGRATULATIONS, on your new ride to be.

With that being said, nothing on the vehicles that are ordered is final till they enter the production cycle. Search this forum for older threads on production codes and you will get details on when options are locked down and can't be changed. But, there is a decent amount of time between the time you place the order till the order is locked down and you can make changes to options/colors in between. Dealer has nothing to lose by by booking your order since they have to order their allocations anyway. By putting a customer's name against an allocation, the dealer's stock looks tighter than it truly is.

alexh71

I couldn't agree more! The premium seats are a mandatory option for me since I have low back issues and would have been using the rig for long trips. I cancelled my order and am anxiously awaiting word from my dealer to see if they magically appear in the options list once pricing is announced.

SUNILP

multicontour seats can be retrofitted afterwards if they are not available.

Nevada Jack

The bean counters in Montvale at work...if you live in EU you can probably still order them, along with all the other goodies the US buyer cannot have...

I am really interested to see the packages and what MBUSA has screwed up for the '08's.

Stumblefoot

If you hear anything from Greg, let us know. I'll be calling my rep as well on Monday, but I'm not holding my breath at this point.

If they have truly eliminated the multi-contour seats, that would be a big disappointment. I really hate retro-fitting anything, because you've already paid for the OEM equipment. I guess that's the bean counter in me.

GL Driver

Multi contour seats are available as standard equipment on the MY'08 GL550.

gordongl450

Concerning multicontour seats:

sunil,

If they could be retrofitted later, where would you get them from? Would you have to buy a set of 2007 seats from somewhere and put them in the 2008 vehicle? What about power for the air pumps for the adjustments and electrical hookups for the active head restraints, etc.? I wonder if it could be done properly? I will have to research that.

GL Driver,

My dealer and I were wondering if Mercedes just decided to make the seats standard in both the GL450 and the GL550 and that is why they were not coming up on his computer as an option that could be ordered. My dealer called the regional sales rep about the issue and the answer was that the multicontour seats were not a popupar option last year in the 2007 GL450 so they were deciding to drop them as an option. It would seem to me to be odd to have them as a standard feature in the GL550 and not have them as at least an option in the GL450. I mean, if you have to build the seats for one vehicle, you might as well have them available as an option for the other vehicle. The ML forum has some posts that say that multicontour seats are being dropped form the ML series too. However, if you are correct and your dealer is sure that multicontour seats are coming in your GL550 that is a good thing! That means there is hope for me getting them, either upgrading my order to a 550; or, the regional sales rep left open the possiblity that the seats would still eventually come up as an option for the GL450. I guess the executives haven't made the final decision yet.

Very interesting. Please keep us updated on your order and if you don't mind, call your dealer to confirm your seats.

Nevada Jack

I doubt I will hear from Greg unless I indicate to him that I may be interested in the GL550, which of right now I am not. But if anybody knows about the GL550 it will be Greg...what he doesn't know he will research and find out if and when the info is released.

I saw the post above from the sponsor who said the Multi-contour seats can be "retrofitted." To me that seemed odd and a major mod based on the air sacs and pumps, etc necessary for them to work. I doubt that is a routine mod!

Nevada Jack

Refer GL Driver post...

How do you know that? Do you have a NetStar sheet showing the code and or standard equipment list?

Stumblefoot

GL Driver,

Do you have a spec sheet that shows this? Also, do you know what the options are? You may be the first one to have this information and many on the board are anxiously awaiting the details on the 550. Please share as much info as you have.

GL Driver

Multi-contour seats were dropped on the 320 and the 450 due to very low order rates with MY'07 and will not be orderable w/ MY'08. (same for M-Class and R-Class)

The GL550 will get nearly all options as standard (incl. m/c seats) due to the price premium from 4.7L to 5.5L

The GL550 differentiation is incredible! Huge grille, fender flares, 21" AMG wheels, chrome everywhere!

oknish

What is the expected price premium? And, if you don't mind me asking, what is the source of your information? Just curious.

GL Driver

The base premium cant be calculated since the GL550 will come standard with nearly all options.

oknish

So, if I read this right then it says that 550 will cost more than 450.

But then this says that the price difference can't be calculated.

GL Driver

There is cost for the upgrade from 4.7L to 5.5L without any added equipment. That is the premium.

We can't deduce the premium because the Base MSRP of the 550 will be at an altogether different equipment level than the Base MSRP of the 450

jpeardm

We need Tom Hanks to decipher this DaVinci code.

oinick

I think he's saying that you can't compare a base 450 to a 550 because the 550 will have a bunch of options. It is probably more reasonable to compare a comparably equipped 450 (with a bunch of options) that matches the equipment on the 550. Then you can get idea of what the cost of upgrading the engine from 4.7 to 5.5 is.

GL Driver

Exactly!

You would have to strip both models down to the same equipment level to find the true premium from 4.7L to 5.5L

But, both cars come out of the chute with different standard equipment.