GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 08-18-2007, 08:42 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
gordongl450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2007 GL450
Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008

I've noticed a slight change in the interior between the 2007's and the 2008's.
In the 2007's the panel around the headlamp switch was color coordinated with the interior color. In the 2008's the panel is always black.

I wonder why? I guess they did not what to deal with having suppliers provide that little piece of plastic in three different colors. I prefer the color coordinated look.

The pictures are my 2007 Gl450, a picture of a 2007 by DR.GL450, a picture of the GL550 from autospies and a picture a 2008 GL450 posted by blync.
Attached Thumbnails Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008-my-2007-gl450-light-panel.jpg   Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008-dr.gl450-2007-light-panel.jpg   Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008-autospies-gl550.jpg   Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008-blync-2008-gl450-light-panel.jpg  
Old 08-18-2007, 10:39 AM
  #2  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Nevada Jack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 6 Posts
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Originally Posted by gordongl450
I've noticed a slight change in the interior between the 2007's and the 2008's.
In the 2007's the panel around the headlamp switch was color coordinated with the interior color. In the 2008's the panel is always black.

I wonder why? I guess they did not what to deal with having suppliers provide that little piece of plastic in three different colors. I prefer the color coordinated look.

The pictures are my 2007 Gl450, a picture of a 2007 by DR.GL450, a picture of the GL550 from autospies and a picture a 2008 GL450 posted by blync.
I noticed that also but kind of really never made the connection. The bean counters are at it again...

Maybe my choice of black interior was a good one...:-)
Old 08-18-2007, 01:14 PM
  #3  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Stumblefoot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Colorado Rocky Mtns.
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'06 A6 & '08 GL550
Originally Posted by gordongl450
I've noticed a slight change in the interior between the 2007's and the 2008's.
In the 2007's the panel around the headlamp switch was color coordinated with the interior color. In the 2008's the panel is always black.

I prefer the color coordinated look.
That is one heck of a catch. I too like the coordinated look of the '07.
Old 08-18-2007, 01:24 PM
  #4  
Out Of Control!!
 
AsianML's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 18,414
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
2007 E63
The headlight switch surround is black on all the models now.
Old 08-18-2007, 01:45 PM
  #5  
Super Member
 
carpersn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NC
Posts: 857
Received 20 Likes on 15 Posts
2019 Volvo XC90 Magic/Amber, '95 E320 Cabriolet Midnight,'14 GL350 Lunar/Almond was '07 GL320CDI
I have always thought it should've been a little square of matching wood trim on that surround.
Old 08-18-2007, 05:27 PM
  #6  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
lkchris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 6,069
Received 204 Likes on 181 Posts
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550
Is it the end of the world?
Old 08-18-2007, 06:14 PM
  #7  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
blittle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central Pa.
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
Originally Posted by carpersn
I have always thought it should've been a little square of matching wood trim on that surround.

Now that is a very constructive thought.............
Old 08-18-2007, 06:37 PM
  #8  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
StevethePilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Originally Posted by lkchris
Is it the end of the world?


Yes, yes it is!
Old 08-18-2007, 08:38 PM
  #9  
Super Member
 
cjh.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2008 C350
Originally Posted by lkchris
Is it the end of the world?
No, but I will admit that the non-matching cover is ugly.
Old 08-18-2007, 08:40 PM
  #10  
Super Member
 
cjh.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2008 C350
Originally Posted by gordongl450
I've noticed a slight change in the interior between the 2007's and the 2008's.
In the 2007's the panel around the headlamp switch was color coordinated with the interior color. In the 2008's the panel is always black.

I wonder why? I guess they did not what to deal with having suppliers provide that little piece of plastic in three different colors. I prefer the color coordinated look.

The pictures are my 2007 Gl450, a picture of a 2007 by DR.GL450, a picture of the GL550 from autospies and a picture a 2008 GL450 posted by blync.
The second to last one is the 550, right? I was just noticing that it had multicontour seats.
Old 08-18-2007, 10:53 PM
  #11  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Stumblefoot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Colorado Rocky Mtns.
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'06 A6 & '08 GL550
Originally Posted by lkchris
Is it the end of the world?
No, of course not. But, cjh6793 certainly hit the nail on the head.
Old 08-19-2007, 12:22 AM
  #12  
Member
 
sraj's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2001 BMW 540i/6-speed, 2008 GL550
Originally Posted by Stumblefoot
No, of course not. But, cjh6793 certainly hit the nail on the head.
Wouldn't be my first choice, but I really don't think it's terrible. There are enough other black components on the dash and console so that it does not look totally out of place.
Old 08-19-2007, 01:47 PM
  #13  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
pmb600's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
I noticed that on many 2007 models as well. If you look at 2006 C-Class, E-Class, CLK-Class (and probably others) and then compare them to the 2007 models, you will see they switched to the black one. I think it is incredibly cheap of them to do.

On another C-Class thread, someone actually pointed out that the headlamp switches used to illuminated, but Mercedes decided to save 1 cent and take out the little light bulb for 05 I think.
Old 08-19-2007, 03:30 PM
  #14  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Kar don's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GMT -8 hours
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
Mercedes-Benz
I agree, these cost cutting moves are really stupid. I guess they think because lexus doesn't have an illuminated switch they don't need to either.
Old 08-19-2007, 04:03 PM
  #15  
Member
Thread Starter
 
gordongl450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2007 GL450
2008 MB Website GL Dashboard Picture (2007)

The MB Website still has an image of the 2007 dashboard in Macadamia.

When you have this view across the entire dash, you can see how the color coordinated plastic around the headlamp switch on the drivers side, balances with the Macadamia color of the entire glove box front. There is a look of uniformity beneath the wood trim where the dash remains relatively vertical. Then the glove box area and the driver's side area bend inward toward the foot well. And on the driver side there is the BIG parking brake release.

But clearly, from an aesthetic sense of balance, the color coordinated plastic is the proper choice. Unfortunately, not the choice that MB made.
Attached Thumbnails Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008-mb-site-dash.jpg  
Old 08-19-2007, 04:34 PM
  #16  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
pmb600's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
Originally Posted by gordongl450
The MB Website still has an image of the 2007 dashboard in Macadamia.

When you have this view across the entire dash, you can see how the color coordinated plastic around the headlamp switch on the drivers side, balances with the Macadamia color of the entire glove box front. There is a look of uniformity beneath the wood trim where the dash remains relatively vertical. Then the glove box area and the driver's side area bend inward toward the foot well. And on the driver side there is the BIG parking brake release.

But clearly, from an aesthetic sense of balance, the color coordinated plastic is the proper choice. Unfortunately, not the choice that MB made.
This doesn't surprise me. for the 2007 C-Class pictures on mbusa.com, they were actually showing one picture that was a pre-facelift sport sedan. I guess they figured since it looked simlar enough, they could get away with it.
Old 08-19-2007, 04:35 PM
  #17  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
pmb600's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
Originally Posted by Kar don
I agree, these cost cutting moves are really stupid. I guess they think because lexus doesn't have an illuminated switch they don't need to either.
I don't know why they do this kind of stuff. How much could a color coordinated light switch surround and illuminated light switch cost them. $10?? total. That is probably even overstating it. So increase the base price of the car by $15 to cover these costs, no one will notice. But we will notice when they do change things like this, and it will make us shake our heads at them.
Old 08-19-2007, 05:34 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Danno4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
2007 GL320 CDI, 2001 TJ Rockcrawler, 2005 Scoobie STI
My 2007 also has the black trim piece....

Of course the whole interior is black as well
Old 08-19-2007, 05:37 PM
  #19  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Nevada Jack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 6 Posts
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Originally Posted by Danno4x4
My 2007 also has the black trim piece....

Of course the whole interior is black as well
When it comes, mine too...:-)
Old 08-19-2007, 11:17 PM
  #20  
Out Of Control!!
 
Can Drive 55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 11,266
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
2005 E55
Just a thought - I wonder if M-B has temporarily run out of colored surrounds and they decided to use black ones to keep the assembly line running. If so, then the colored pieces will show up again. If so, it should be interesting to see what M-B and GL Faher have to say about this latest move. Must have been a decision based on their superior intellect.
Old 08-19-2007, 11:54 PM
  #21  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
oknish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LA LA Land
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by Can Drive 55
If so, it should be interesting to see what M-B and GL Faher have to say about this latest move.
I don't think Fahrer is coming back but maybe he will to prove me wrong.

Mine is Black interior too so this is NBD for me. But it sure is a bone headed move.
Old 08-20-2007, 12:18 AM
  #22  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
StevethePilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Originally Posted by oknish
I don't think Fahrer is coming back but maybe he will to prove me wrong.
Whahappen? Did he go crackers?
Old 08-20-2007, 12:39 AM
  #23  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
oknish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LA LA Land
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by StevethePilot
Whahappen? Did he go crackers?
Old 08-20-2007, 06:54 AM
  #24  
Out Of Control!!
 
Can Drive 55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 11,266
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
2005 E55
Originally Posted by StevethePilot
Whahappen? Did he go crackers?
I think he liked to spout off details of upcoming models, etc. and receive the associated praise, but he found the critizism a bit hard to take.
Old 08-20-2007, 08:05 AM
  #25  
Super Member
 
cjh.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2008 C350
Originally Posted by StevethePilot
Whahappen? Did he go crackers?


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Interior Difference Between 2007 and 2008



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:20 PM.