ENCT

So, is it a supplier issue? Plant/Assembly location issue? Or just a quality control person issue at the end?
I would venture a guess that it is shared among all that you mention.

BACnMercedes

I agree. But why can they get it right in the S and E classes? (Just the two I looked at that seemed comparable)
So here is my mean part. I believe all these moving parts originated within the US. So am I safe to say it’s an American thing?

mikapen

All Countries are doing Fiscal and Monetary Stimulus, devaluing their currencies, which will lead to inflation. Many Countries are forcing shutdowns and paying workers for not working. I wonder what these cars will cost next year....
It's a Worldwide Pandemic. At least we still get food.

nsoltz

For curiosity, check out other comparable vehicles like LandRover, Jaguar, Infinity, Lexus and Genesis. I bet the Genesis will come out on top. I wouldn't buy one, but must say that the build of wife's Kia is so good that the Korean cars could be up there with the Germans.

ENCT

I would tend to agree. I have family in Switzerland that I speak with and our attitude is very different here.

tinman831

I had the same issues on mine. Leather seats were replaced my MB.

BACnMercedes

Before or after you purchased it? Did it take much to get them to do it? Which seats got replaced? Did they look that much better after they were replaced?
I haven’t purchased it yet and if they are going to fix it, it will mean the whole back row (I don’t have a third row) and for sure the divers seat. The passengers seat might be able to make it.

Ron.s

My theory is that you will need all seats replaced just for dye lot color match and texture. Maybe they would take a chance on black if they come from the same source.
My second theory is that your Dealer knows the local shop can’t fix them but wants that feedback to support a claim.
My third theory is that some seat overflow has been sourced to a second tier supplier because Johnson Controls can’t increase volume & the other big guys are at capacity.
The seats are probably wrapped in plastic from the supplier and the flaws wouldn’t be obvious. One would hope that Mercedes would look over replacements before sending them again, but by now they should be checking all seats. Or like someone said earlier maybe getting the car delivered is more important and they take a calculated risk since the car might sit weeks waiting for more seats that are already in short supply.
Maybe I’m an optimist, but I have no doubt that Mercedes will take care of us.

BACnMercedes

Just got word that MB said nothing is wrong with the seats.
What to do now…................

ENCT

It's hard to comment because you have no pictures of the seats. I guess go grab the Audi or order a new GLE from another dealer and see if that one is acceptable. Can you have a local leather guy stop and check them out, maybe they can work some magic to smooth out and imperfections.

places

Walk. If you're spending this much coin on a car, you should be 100%. Personally I wouldn't even accept a repair/replacement. Factory finish or bust. This is supposed to be a luxury purchase, certainly discretionary at the least. Easy pass for me.

GregW / Oregon

I would start a barrage of posts/messages through Mercedes' Facebook page, Instagram & Twitter. Close up pics with #mercedesnewcarquality tag. Seriously, that's the way to get their attention.

Ron.s

Something like this always has some subjective judgement involved by all. I looked mine over again this morning and decided that after I found a couple of issues I probably became overly critical of minor flaws that many other seats might also have. So my advice is to go back again & decide on severity.

As I posted earlier my Dealer brought a GLE 63S for comparison and it also had one moderate flaw and recessed bottoms where your bottom sits. It could be that Mercedes can’t supply replacement seats any better than these and they might have decided that others will buy the cars as they are now. At this point only one or two people at Mercedes were involved in the decision.

Next you make a decision and I like Greg’s advice if the pictures are “worthy”. I would also tell your Dealer of your plans to post on Social Media. There is always the possibility that they don’t see the flaws the way you do & they might have been questioned about their opinion...what do they say to you? The Dealer might at this point decide to sell your car to someone else. There is no good answer. Some of us would walk, others might take it and post on Social, hoping for replacement seats.
Good Luck, 2020 sucks more and more...2021 not looking much better.

nsoltz

Personally, if this were I car I wanted, I would forgive the seats and take it. I would revel in it as a moment of moral awareness-- there is no perfection so we persevere despite the absence of perfection. Or whatever other statement of moral grounding helps. If the seats' imperfections were so deeply troubling that they could not overcome your desire for the vehicle, then move on. But move on keeping in mind that there could be another imperfection on another vehicle. /END moralist rant

BACnMercedes

I’m going back today and taking another look.
I spent a lot of time looking through 2020 and 2021 GLE (mostly 580s) last night that were for sale online. They are finally starting to get photos posted. The few 2020 models I did see had a few leather problems but the 2021 seemed to have really bad problems with winkles. Maybe it’s me and my standards since MB told my dealership nothing was wrong with my wrinkles but I find it rather disturbing on an almost 100k car.
Here are two quick examples I found again looking this morning when I had a quick break.
Am I being picky?
Again, neither of these are from my car, just two I found online currently for sale.
I leaning towards sucking it up and buying the car.

places

That's not picky, you're just being prudent. For 100K, no way! I wouldn't let them get away with it, they might throw a bone like free maintenance or something which is laughable. The bar just keep getting lower.

mikapen

Those damn cows! What ever happened to them? Too much corn?
Seriously, though, I have never been impressed with the leather feel of Mercedes, or the tanning process they choose. That choice leads to more durability and longevity, at the cost of comfort and "stretchiness." "Stretchiness" hides a lot of sins.
The first photo in the most recent post looks OK, and should settle in if somebody uses the seat. The second, looks like an inexperienced seat-maker didn't install the cover correctly - but ought to be correctable at a good leather shop.
Considering dye lots, if it were my ordered car, I'd ask for it to be taken to a bona fide upholstery shop, to see the results before accepting delivery. You run the risk of their refusing, then you are faced with a decision.
You've posted pics of other seats you have spotted - how do yours compare?

places

Take it to an upholstery shop? Seriously, the guy puts in for a 100K vehicle and we're looking for a third party to mediate or confirm? Risk of their refusing? Who cares. It's called factory finish. The buyer should WALK if he is not 100% in this, it's an easy pass. It's not a negotiation. The dealer might turn it into one, but if one really wants a luxury experience, this would not be a good example. You can have this experience at any other dealer or brand. Best or nothing.

Furthermore if they can't get the cosmetics right, what else is going on underneath.

ENCT

Bottom photos looks a bit rough for sure. Are yours that bad?

soso

You are lucky that you can order a build to order car with an almost zero deposit and if you are not happy with it you can refuse it and get the deposit back. In Romania (I do not know the rest of Europe) you pay 10% - 30% upfront and you cannot refuse the car. If you refuse it, you do not get the deposit back, or you get it (if the dealer is ok) when the car is sold but any discount offered when the car is sold is taken from your deposit.

mikapen

Oh, like a real Business Transaction?

mikapen

No, we're looking for a cure to the problem. Not a reason to say "I Won!!!" but I lost my car.
I wish I had done that with our 2017 Macan (seats), because we'd still be driving it.

soso

I'm not sure I fully understand what you mean (I'm not a native English speaker)

mikapen

I meant that the transaction you described (make offer, agree on price, place deposit, take delivery or forfeit) is what is considered a normal "Business Transaction."
As you say, refusing delivery of satisfactory goods will cost the buyer, and the Dealer would be entitled to that forfeited deposit, especially if they incurred expenses in obtaining the vehicle.

Here, though, the issue may be "satisfactory goods."
Plus, we have a few buyers who don't seem to have either finalized the deal, or made a deposit. I don't know what the dealers were thinking - I would be suspicious of them if they ran their business on "Promises."

soso

Yes, this is how the things happen here for custom orders. Most of the cars ordered by the dealers/importer are diesels (300D/350D/400D) with more or less options, and if you want anything else, 99% of the time you have to place a custom order.