sam9187

I placed an order for the GL550 with porcelain designo interior 2 months ago. The car has not been scheduled yet. I have an opportunity to get one with standard black interior.

My questions are:

1) Is it worth waiting for designo (maybe March 2013) or go with the standard interior?

2) I have never seen the designo interior in person. Is it worth the wait or even worth the additional $4100?

Any advise is appreciated

Thanks

xxGenericSNxx

If you're a man (or woman) that enjoys "that extra mile," cares about build quality, and enjoys fine materials and always touching various parts of the interior then Designo is for you. I'm someone who loves touching the headliner of cars with alcantara, or my leather trimmed airbag when I'm driving. I love sitting in a soft premium leather seat and these are all things I notice when sitting in cars with more inferior interiors built of less quality materials. For someone like me it's worth every single dollar as there's no way to replicate this added value and luxury aftermarket/ after the point of sale at the Designo price point. For this I can justify the wait time and added cost.

If you're someone that sits in a regular GL550 with the regular standard leather and think it's "good enough" then Designo probably isn't for you.

I know for the GL non AMG Designo interior will also be diamond stitched which for me is a huge plus. I love the pattern and perception of high end with the likes of Bentley and the 65 AMG cars. Just another selling point for me. heh

With that said, none of my cars have Designo but for my next car it's certainly something I lust after.

Edited to add:
GL63 AMG comes standard with Designo if you wanted to switch it up. Delivery time will be around the same as your already ordered GL550.

JimBarnhart

I had Designo in a 2003 ML500. It was nice. I had leather in my 2007 GL and have leather in my 2013 GL. For me the standard leather is perfectly fine. I like the lighter stitching on my 2013 black leather - give it a slightly richer feel and is similar to what Designo was in 2003.

I think Generic has it exactly right - Designo offers an 'extra mile' in comfort. Since I'm happy with standard leather it isn't worth the money to me. The quilted look that you get with Designo is unique and attractive. That didn't exist on my 2003 ML.

I think perhaps a more noticeable change will be going from the light porcelain interior to the black interior. How do you feel about that?

blittle

Designo, for me, would be a "step beyond" what I want and/or feel is worth spending in an automobile. I am looking forward to black in the leather because I think it will go well with the red AND because it will not show the dirt as quickly as the past two colors I have had. Its "all in what ya like"...as they say!

fabbrisd1

That particular color Designo is the most supply limited - a dealer has to be on-their-toes to get their factory order in right when avail opens up, they snooze for a hr, they lose.

There was a brief window 2nd week October when additional Porcelain opened up for December production at that time - maybe your dealer didn't catch that.

That said - GL550's are the short supply as well - and dealers only have specific allocation #'s for GL550's, and those allocated #'s are not expected to "increase'" until late model year season in April/May.

The GL550 is awesome - combination of your interior/color choice and limited #'s of 550's make choices challenging.

If you had a choice of getting a GL550 w/o Designo in December, and possible GL550 Designo porcelain in April/May.

Waiting is waiting - and never enjoyable.

You could be enjoying your GL550 for 4-5 months rather than waiting for April/May delivery - and that wait will "cost" you a 4-5 month depreciation hit when you go to trade/change out your GL 2-3-4 years in the future.

Keep the beat !

sam9187

I ordered iridium silver with black initially and then changed my mind. My SA kept the original order and MB built it - it arrived at the dealer 2 days ago. I do like the light interior as well as the quilted pattern. The only thing I don't know if it will ever get built. The SA mentioned its upto MB to accept the order and there is nothing they can do but wait. I find the whole process frustrating as I can't come up a reason why they would not want to build it.

In a designo interior - is the dash leather also designo or is it standard leather. I know the seats and headliner are different. What other things are unique in a designo interior?

I have to decide by early next week as to which way I will proceed.

JDoggery

If you have the time or your dealer has a Designo car on the lot go check it out. Some of the Designo models offer great luxury and comfort. No plastic door panels, dash, etc.

xxGenericSNxx

Designo will net you a nappa leather (or other fine soft touch leather) on almost all surfaces. The dashboard, door panels, seats, and center console are all the high grade leather. A regular GL550 only has leather on the seating surfaces. All other areas are fake leather- MB Tex. The dash will be MB Tex. Your grain in general on the whole car is more open pore and definitely not as soft.

Designo is definitely the way to go in my book. The difference is immediately noticeable if you saw both cars. (Basing my experience with the new ML/GL vs. the new ML63 which has Designo standard- that leather wrapped dashboard is so nice).

sam9187

Thanks. I did not know until now that the dash on my 08 550 is MB Tex. makes sense now. It didn't seem leather. I am leaning on just waiting but hopefully can get more info from the SA on the designo status.

sam9187

When you say the dealer has to get the order in right as the avail open? What does that mean exactly? My dealer is telling me the order is in the MB system and accepted - just not scheduled. They are saying that its the reps at the MB home office that assign the production slot when avail opens. SA also mentioned orders are taken as they are entered in the system i.e. first come first served. my order has been in the system since Sept 27.

Is this correct? Should I be looking for a different dealer?
Thanks

fabbrisd1

If you order has been "accepted by MB" - then politely ask them for the MB order# as confirmation. They may have a interesting answer for you.

What I "think" is that dealer plans to use their "next" open/allocated GL550 slot, which they believe will be for March production - when that slot is genuinely allocated, then they would slam that order in as quickly as they can to grab Designo/porc and the other options you are asking for.

Frankly, the earlier question is still open - if your dealer has a GL550 with Designo black on the lot right now - you should look/drive and make a decision.. production year is Aug -June, model year kind of Sept-Aug.. if you have a choice of Dec ownership versus April ownership... in part there is ownership timing decision to make..

sam9187

Thank you for your response. I will call the dealer tomorrow and see what they say. The car on the lot is not designo. Its a standard 550 with standard black interior. I wish it was designo as that would have made the decision a little bit easier.

The dealer sent me a copy of the order which is a printout from Netstar with a header - "Maintain Request". I am not sure what this means but there is no order number listed on that document.

fabbrisd1

With that info - then what the dealer has told you is straight forward - when production opens up your MB is in queque, if there are not more Porcelain in front of it that supply for that next end-Feb production time frame.

It should all work out -

Tomshop

When you order Designo does it mean you also get the diamond stitch pattern or is it possible to get Designo without the diamond stitch?

sam9187

You get the diamond stitch pattern. I don't think you can get designo on a GL without the pattern.

xxGenericSNxx

GL63 comes standard with Designo but is more of a straight line pattern. All non AMG GLs with Designo nets you diamond stitching.

jdmmbz

Confused ?? another post here says the GL63 has Designo as a option. The AMG straight line pattern sport seats were STD?

aeggroup

Here is the real example how Designo looks :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2013-...t_12447wt_1010

dave_550

Drove one with designo yesterday. Amazing. Glad I ordered it.

Mbenz260e

Wow that leather does seem amazing...darn kids...

sam9187

I decided to let go of my 1st GL550 order - Iridium Silver with standard black leather. I guess given the demand the dealer will have no problem selling it.

I will wait for the one with designo interior - still waiting on an allocation.

jbondox

That white one, with the link I think was dealer trade to my area as I seen the chicago plate on it and sitting out back of the Mercedes-Benz North Olmsted dealership with a sold tag on it... it is a phenomenal looking interior... definitely plus... makes the old GL's (164's) look like GM's...

cookstar

It would be a good choice for Mercedes to get rid of the cheap plastic chrome especially on the Designo vehicles. I would be happy to pay more to have the chrome removed from the bumper.

xxGenericSNxx

Then pay more and have it painted?

cookstar

I dont believe in painting a brand new car which I laid down 110k for