toban

I have a 2021 GLE 450 on order. Dealer said they told them the LEATHER Expresso brown/Black interior would not be available until July 2021. Do not want the man made leatherette.

How can that be? I guess business is not that great or the company that produces the leather for the seats are closed or haven't got the staff to manufacture. Something isn't right here. I understand the leather manufacturer also makes for BMW and Audi.

I will not switch to something else just to fall into line with what they want. When one is spending this much, you should get what one wants and not have to take substitutions.

Is this just a Canadian supply problem or have people found this also in the USA?

Thanks and frustrated.

Toban

Philamg

In the UK we get NO choice it is black nappa leather and that's it.

stealth.pilot

I think in this situation you have two options:
1) Escalate to CEO of MB Canada and see if they will special order it for you
2) Buy a BMW X5 (also a great car) or check if you can get the same interior on a GLS 450 (which is really just a long wheel base GLE)

Ron.s

The Contour seats are very complicated to build and lead times with the supplier probably long. Reportedly they changed suppliers last year because the supplier couldn’t produce them on time. Also, Mercedes has to estimate the mix of materials and might get demand wrong causing a shortage of some color options. Last summer they just kept building the GLE’s and ended up with 40-50,000 vehicles waiting for seats, bumpers, etc.
Mercedes should communicate with Dealers better so that the customer isn’t left wondering why, IMO.

fabbrisd1

Your Dealer at the time the factory accepted your order would have known then if there was a interior "restriction"... you need your rig when you need your rig - and frankly it's your choice to "wait" or not - but frankly "July" (and heaven knows how that dealer thinks he knows about July production - that's so damn far out he would have to use a Crystal Ball) July will be right at the end of 2021 production - and at the changeover to 2022....

bcrounse

I feel your pain. I ordered a fully loaded GLE450 (Iridium Silver, Black/Magma Grey Napa Leather interior, AMG exterior, Driver Assistant Package, air suspension, etc.). I ordered this vehicle in mid-July of 2019. I took delivery of the SUV on July 6th, 2020, almost a full year from the date of my order. I have NEVER waited that long for any of the Mercedes vehicles I've ordered over the years (more than a dozen of them). Obviously, Mercedes is having some significant challenges meeting customer demand in the face of a global pandemic.

The good news is that my GLE450 is freaking amazing. I am very happy so far. I am extremely picky about my cars. I have yet to find any significant or even minor flaws in my GLE, including any of the software gremlins reported by so many others. The ride and handling are far superior to my previous ML and M models. I love the engine and EQ Boost feature. Plenty of power when you need it. There is no way I would have been satisfied with the engine in the 350 model.

So, try to be patient. Wait for the car you ordered and hopefully it will come through as clean and trouble free as mine when you get it.

mikapen

Hardly. It's one of the most significant chassis developments that Mercedes has made in the past decade or two. A far better car than the GLE.

E55Greasemonkey

First world problems.

marchgroupinc

I did not realize there was more to the GLS vs the GLE other than the LWB. Can you elaborate or point to a referenced comparison please?

mikapen

My mistake. I read your post as comparing the V167 to the W166, where the changes to the chassis are significant - especially in strength and rigidity.
You are correct that the X167 GLS is a longer V167 GLE. Both are based on M-B's 'Modular High Architecture' (MHA) platform - a massive improvement in design and build.
If there hadn't been an improvement in their W166 platform, I'd be out-a-here.