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

GL dash material

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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 09:47 AM
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GL dash material
I was looking at the in-depth press release for the GL on GermanCarFans, and the dash material was described as being leather. Is this correct? I always assumed it was MB-Tex. I was told by a sales guy that the stitched portion of the dash on the S550 is NOT leather, so I figured the same would be true of the GL.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 10:35 AM
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To me it looks/feels like the same material as my seats which are MB-Tex. I suppose it could be leather as I really had a hard timing telling the difference between the "real" leather seats and the MB-Tex seats.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by BeanCounter
To me it looks/feels like the same material as my seats which are MB-Tex. I suppose it could be leather as I really had a hard timing telling the difference between the "real" leather seats and the MB-Tex seats.
I agree, the MB-Tex feels a lot like the standard (non-Nappa) leather.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by sraj
I was looking at the in-depth press release for the GL on GermanCarFans, and the dash material was described as being leather. Is this correct? I always assumed it was MB-Tex. I was told by a sales guy that the stitched portion of the dash on the S550 is NOT leather, so I figured the same would be true of the GL.
I can detect no difference whatsoever between my MB-Tex seats and my dash board. Which either bodes well for the seats or poorly for the dashboard, if it is indeed leather!
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by StevethePilot
I can detect no difference whatsoever between my MB-Tex seats and my dash board. Which either bodes well for the seats or poorly for the dashboard, if it is indeed leather!
Well, either way it is a very classy touch.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by sraj
Well, either way it is a very classy touch.
I couldn't agree more. The look of the dash was a big factor in our decision to go with GL. The fact that it matched wife's favorite purse was secondary
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by oknish
I couldn't agree more. The look of the dash was a big factor in our decision to go with GL. The fact that it matched wife's favorite purse was secondary
Whatever it takes!
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by StevethePilot
I can detect no difference whatsoever between my MB-Tex seats and my dash board. Which either bodes well for the seats or poorly for the dashboard, if it is indeed leather!
I have the leather package and just tried a "smell" test for what that's worth, anyway the seats do have the classic leather smell, the upper dash stitched area does not seem to smell like anything at all. I think the dash is MB Tex.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 02:04 PM
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As far as I know it's the shrink optimised low emissions chrome free instrument panel leather supplied by Eagle Ottawa:

http://www.eagleottawa.com/Index.asp...3&cid=EN#panel

Then Eissmann in Pell City fits the leather to the dash.

http://www.eissmann.de
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 02:05 PM
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It's MB Tex . MBZ has been stitching MB Tex in door panel inserts , armrests etc for years.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 02:16 PM
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Just call up Eissmann and ask them. Not sure how much they are allowed to reveal, though. Here's some contact info. The S550 has a different supplier.

http://www.eissmann.de/content/engli...chpartner.html
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Wolfgang
Just call up Eissmann and ask them. Not sure how much they are allowed to reveal, though. Here's some contact info. The S550 has a different supplier.

http://www.eissmann.de/content/engli...chpartner.html
FWIW, a number of reviews refer to it as leather. They may have been going by appearance, but then we still have the MB press release. That has to be right...
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by StevethePilot
I can detect no difference whatsoever between my MB-Tex seats and my dash board. Which either bodes well for the seats or poorly for the dashboard, if it is indeed leather!

When I looked at two GL's on the lot prior to my ordering one.......I was somehwat amazed that I couldn't seem to see ( or feel ) much, if any, difference between the leather equiped and the MB tex. The dash could be either.......I can't tell.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by blittle
When I looked at two GL's on the lot prior to my ordering one.......I was somehwat amazed that I couldn't seem to see ( or feel ) much, if any, difference between the leather equiped and the MB tex. The dash could be either.......I can't tell.
Bingo. I agree 100%.
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by blittle
When I looked at two GL's on the lot prior to my ordering one.......I was somehwat amazed that I couldn't seem to see ( or feel ) much, if any, difference between the leather equiped and the MB tex. The dash could be either.......I can't tell.
Then let's say it's leather and call it a night!
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by sraj
Then let's say it's leather and call it a night!
At least it's not plastic...
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by cjh6793
At least it's not plastic...
like the rather unattractive ML dash...
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by carpersn
like the rather unattractive ML dash...
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Old Aug 30, 2007 | 10:45 PM
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the dash trim is the same as the seats, ie artico/ mb-tex = artico/ mb-tex
leather =leather, nappa = nappa
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by jpeardm
I have the leather package and just tried a "smell" test for what that's worth, anyway the seats do have the classic leather smell, the upper dash stitched area does not seem to smell like anything at all. I think the dash is MB Tex.
I tried that as well! The dash had a bit of an earthy tone to it, with some leathery odors in there. It was slightly creamy, though there was the lightest hint of electrical ozone in the background. I could also smell the plasticy smell of the instrument cluster, and even just a bit of the wood from the trim and the steering wheel.

The seat just smelled like my butt.
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by StevethePilot
I tried that as well! The dash had a bit of an earthy tone to it, with some leathery odors in there. It was slightly creamy, though there was the lightest hint of electrical ozone in the background. I could also smell the plasticy smell of the instrument cluster, and even just a bit of the wood from the trim and the steering wheel.

The seat just smelled like my butt.
STP,that's just too much information!
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by StevethePilot
The seat just smelled like my butt.
Is my seat going to smell like your butt also?
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by MKW
It's MB Tex . MBZ has been stitching MB Tex in door panel inserts , armrests etc for years.
I really don't care if it's leather of MB Tex, since it looks great! All I've seen is pictures of our soon to arrive GL550, and it's impressive. I'm glad you guys are impressed after seeing the real thing!
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 02:20 PM
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I couldn't tell the difference either before I ordered. My sales guy told me that with the MB-tex spills wipe up easier and I've got little ones.
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Old Sep 5, 2007 | 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by sraj
Is my seat going to smell like your butt also?
How do you know what Steve's butt smells like?

OK, Juvenile humor switch turned off.

Frankly, I couldn't tell the difference between leather and Tex when shopping and to this date.
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