Streamliner

For 2021, does the Exclusive Nappa Leather interior come with a stitched, leather dash & door panels? The MBUSA “Build” site shows that you can still add the “Top stitched MB Tex Dash & Door Trim,” after already opting for the ENL interior, so I was curious.

mikapen

My "Configure Print" for our ordered GLE53 shows "U38 Nappa Leather Dashboard" as a no cost option with the "561 AMG Black Exclusive Nappa Leather with Diamond Stitching."
I assume the other panels are similar.

Streamliner

Thanks, but I'm talking non-AMG interior on a GLE450. Sorry, I should have been more specific.

mikapen

The availability may also depend on whether you choose Head Up Display. Or 3D Burmester.

Streamliner

I just went back to the most current 2021 GLE DOG that I have and I do not see a 3D sound system available in the GLE. Do you know something I don't???

ENCT

No upgraded radio available for 2021, and I believe the dash is MB Tex. At least that was my options with a 580 with exclusive leather package.

Streamliner

I have confirmed it: The Exclusive Nappa Leather option for at least the 2021 GLE450, does NOT include a stitched, leather dash or door panels. If you want that premium look, you still need to order the MB Tex Dash & Door Trim option.

stealth.pilot

Thats correct. But one thing to note is that if you get the MB-Tex dash and door trim option. They use a Nappa-grain MB-Tex to ensure a seamless look.

Streamliner

That’s good to know, thanks.

ENCT

I picked up my car today and i has the exclusive Nappa package.. You can tell the difference. The Nappa is smooth and the MB Tex is textured. Only place the two are close to each other is on the door panel. The armrest is Nappa and the door panel is MB Tex. I'm fine with it but I would have paid extra for all Nappa. I have a 2021 E63S on order and they claim all leather is Nappa Exclusive.

Wolfman

In addition, even if you get the optional nappa dash/door trim, the large door pockets below the armrest are made of cheap plastic. Ideally those would be MB Tex or Nappa covered as well.

Streamliner

I don’t understand this. They get you used to something, then they start to systematically cheapen it. The ENL interior in our SL450 has pretty much Nappa leather everywhere. The same in our S560. In our E450 Wagon, we have the Designo Nappa interior—which is really just the ENL interior by another name—and again, Nappa everywhere. Now, we come to the idea of getting a new GLE—a vehicle in the same class as our Wagon—and they are taking the “Exclusivity” out of the ENL option. Why? I realize that the option is less expensive in the GLE, but it didn’t need to be. They should have kept the option the full boat, yummy, decadent way it is presented in my other vehicles and charged accordingly. I don’t like it, I don’t like it at all!

Traverser

I recall a GLE review from a little awhile ago that mentioned that Merc executives had a long debate about whether to make the lower door cards hard plastic or not. Of course, we know the result. Even in the 2020s, you still had to option the Nappa dashboard/upper door card stitching despite selecting the exclusive leather package.

Something to note - the X5’s lower door card is soft touch (you can’t get it stitched unless you opt for the X5 M), but the 2021 models eliminated the stitched lower dash option.

All said, I don’t know of a single MB model that has a stitched lower door card other than the Maybach models. BMW has a few models that have this available as well as the Audi A8. However, I will say that the plastic in MB GLE/GLS interiors nowadays is far better than the thin, flexible, creaky stuff in my X164 interior.

Streamliner

You must be in an auto related business? I have never heard the term “card” used to describe door panels. I am certainly not doubting that the word is used like this, it’s just that over my many decades of being involved with vehicles, I have never seen or heard it used that way. I’m looking to learn something here. Is this how the factory, dealers and possibly trim shops refer to door panels?

Traverser

Hahaha. Definitely not in the auto business! I think I’ve read or watched too many British car reviews and simply started using “card” over panel or trim.

Unrelated, I find the British car review websites tend to do a very good job describing something that is of primary importance to me - how comfortable a car is. They’re quite good at detailing a car’s suspension characteristics (along with making sure to judge a car’s noise levels and seat comfort), which I find useful. I’m one of the few modern buyers who prefers comfort over handling and smaller wheels/taller sidewalls over big wheels with rubber band tires.

As someone in the market for an X5/GLE, one of my concerns with the GLE is ride comfort (according to what I’ve read from reviews); I would not hesitate to select the 18” wheels MB offers on the German GLEs along with non-RF tires if that were an option here in the US.

Wolfman

Our W222 S-Class and R231 SL had full leather doors. Same with our AMG GTC has full nappa door panels with a soft leather pocket. All have/had exclusive Nappa interiors. I know it's not comparable but when I looked in our BMW M8, even the inside of the the door pocket is leather lined with stitching

The issue with the GLE is that the plastic doesn't just feel really cheap and scratches easily but those lower panels are huge...

Streamliner

Honestly, I need another vehicle like I need a hole in the head, but I have been going back and forth on a new GLE and this issue with the ENL interior may be the final nail in the coffin. In addition to my three MB's, I have a 2018 Ford Transit 350 van that I bought used. I use it for utility purposes. I have been toying with ordering a new one, but then thought maybe just get a GLE. I've even considered a Chrysler Pacifica with those Stow & Go seats that fold all the way into the floor. If I am buying a luxury vehicle, which to a certain extent the GLE is, I want all the goodies. I want that ENL interior, with the leather dash and the leather door panels. If the option price needs to be $4900.00 like in our wagon, so be it. I just hate it when they cut corners. Folks who don't wish to spend the money have MB Tex and the other leather options. When someone wants to go full lux, in a Mercedes-Benz, we should have that option. Nuts!

mikapen

How things change. When I was with BMW in the 80's, they bragged that their door cards were vinyl - because they were exposed to the elements when the doors opened in the rain. They also were proud that the lower parts were hard plastic, to resist scuffing from shoes on entry/exit.
Now leather is an extra cost option there.
I wonder what the trend will be in five years

Ron.s

The hard plastic is more practical for my needs but if I didn’t like it I would have it wrapped. It might take sone effort to find a matching fabric but a good upholstery shop can make it happen.

Wolfman

I remember at that time in Germany half the cars had manual windows too

Luxury cars have been redefined and so have SUV’s. Who would have guessed that it would be easy to find a $250k SUV and that those aren’t the most expensive ones.
Different times....

Ron.s

And even recently in Germany, some didn’t want power seats because of the cost.