Hi, I am looking to order a GLE and had a few questions.

1. Real leather vs MB -Tex. I enjoy quality things and somehow the tex seems so industrial and firm for a luxury car. I am sure that makes it hold up better, but I just love soft leather. Is the real leather option very nice or is it not worth switching from the tex?

2. Does the Macchiato beige get stained easily? I know in theory it could, but has this been a problem for people?

3. Driver assistance packages - is the standard safety assists good enough? Or do you feel the drivers assistance could prevent certain accidents that the standard active brake assist, etc, would not?

4. Are the massage seats nice? Can you feel the massage well?

5. Dash stitching and real wood/leather steering wheel - make much difference or not?

Is the Selenite color a boring gray? What is your favorite color?

Thank you!

 

The only real leather on the GLE that I would opt for is the Napa Leather available, its soft and smooth and looks great. For some reason the regular leather on the GLE is not as high quality as other Merc’s with some weird and ugly graining on the bolsters. Our car has beige MB-Tex and looks and feels great, I’ve always found MB-Tex to be plenty fine.

Not for us, although we have only had the car since June. Like most light color interiors its likely susceptible to blue jean dye, but I’ll let other owners speak on that.

The Driver’s Assistance Package is worth it if you really enjoy/want adaptive cruise and steering assist, with MB’s system being a pretty good one. I’m not aware of any other safety precautions it takes over the standard brake assist functionality.

I have massage seats in my CLS and greatly enjoy it. Its very nice after a long trip or long day for my back but its also something I could live without.

The dashboard stitching is a nice extra touch. The wood steering wheel also looks great, but I believe is only heated on the leather portion, I personally prefer the feel of a full leather wheel.

Selenite is one of the better grays out there in my opinion. I have it on the CLS and its very classy and elegant. That being said, its also gray which is the same as a lot of what’s on the road so take that as you will. We got Emerald Green on our GLE and love it, extremely rare to see another one on the streets here, and gets tons of compliments with its beautiful shine in the light. Other great colors for the GLE are also the Diamond White Metallic, Brilliant Blue Metallic, Lunar Blue Metallic, and Designo Cardinal Red Metallic. I also think AMG-Line exterior is a must-have option for the GLE/GLS.

Hope that helped you out, good luck!

 

I’ll answer this from my perspective. I’m not an owner but I’ve spent a lot of time around the GLEs. Everyone’s opinion will be different though and if you can find a dealer with some stock, go in and check out different options. Will be tough right now though.

1) I really don’t like the real leather. It’s highly textured and I find it stiffer then the mb-Tex. I actually think the leatherette is a softer more plush more smooth feeling material, which is weird. In addition to that, it is SIGNIFICANTLY more durable, and not nearly as susceptible to body oils and sun staining. I think after ~5000 miles, the leather looks really old and worn while MB-Tex lasts much longer looking new. If you’re really after smooth and soft and plush leather, you have to go for the exclusive Nappa leather. I haven’t actually felt that materials, Ive felt every other one but none were to my standards and how I like leather. Mb-Tex was honestly closest.

2) I’ve heard the macchiato is easy to stain, especially if leather. But it’s so nice of a color.

3) car comes well equipped as standard, I would say the added safety kit doesn’t make a massive difference. BUT in terms of convenience, you need to it get the drive pilot, which is distance sensing cruise control and auto steering, something I wouldn’t buy a new car without. It’s necessary for me, but if you don’t like the autonomous driving systems, the other stuff in the pack probably isn’t worth it.

Cant comment on massaging seats. Requires real leather though.

5) I think this is the best $350 you could spend on the car. I think the stitching looks way better, but it also covers the hard plastic dash with really nice soft mb-tex. It feels significantly nicer. 10/10 I think it’s worth it, especially if you like touching the dash or upper doors haha.

6) selenite gray is a very nice color. My two favorites are emerald green (looks black but sparkles beautifully in the sun) or Mojave silver (has a really nice bronze hew to it, again looks best and sparkles in the sun).

 

Our Cardinal Red Metallic is really striking and makes it easy to spot in a crowded parking lot where we can't exactly remember where we parked the car.

We had a Selenite Gray GLC300 and had nothing against it. Just didn't have the courage to order a red car, so made up for it with the GLE350.

For me (not wife), Driver Assistance Package is essential.

MB Tex was fine. In fact, nicer than the basic leather in the GLC. 2021 was the first year that ventilated seats were unbundled from leather.

I love the AR, but it doesn't seem you can order than now.

And for some reason as of first couple of days in Nov, the MBUSA online configurator still only has 2021. No 2022 lineup and prices.

 

How do you find the drivers assistance package? I've used it a few times and I'm not all that impressed. I accelerates at full speed then smashes on the brakes as it approaches traffic, its very abrupt and unrefined in my opinion. The adaptive cruise in my wife's Tiguan is far more refined. I thought maybe it would be improved with a software update but recently had it updated at the dealer and it exhibits the same issues. I'm curious if anyone has the same experience with this?

 

Unless you upgrade to the Nappa, or Exclusive Nappa, go with the MB-Tex. The 601A MB-Te with Dinamica inserts (AMG Line interior) is an option you might consider. The synthetic suede is warm in Winter and cool in Summer.

2. Does the Macchiato beige get stained easily? I know in theory it could, but has this been a problem for people?

From my perspective, and listening to others, many of the advanced "nannies" can be frustrating, leading to turning them off. I opted out on those.

4. Are the massage seats nice? Can you feel the massage well?

IMO, stitching is well worth the $350. I'm not a fan of wood wheels.
No more boring than white or silver. I like it, although I wish there was a more vibrant interior color to pair with it.

 

@Flashy09 MB-Tex used to be very good. Read this section, however, and you will see repeated examples of cracked MB-Tex on the V167 GLE. MB quality is suspect in this and many other ways. Caveat emptor, do your due diligence.

If you are buying to own for some years, this should matter to you. If you are leasing or will sell the car before the warranty period is over, it is only a matter of spending your time and frustration, but not your money, to deal with cracked MB-Tex.

 

I can't comment on the Nappa leather but we have the 'standard' leather and it's OK. In my mind a little better than MB-Tex in feel (I've had that in 3 cars) but certainly not luxurious like in some cars. The MB-Tex does last really well although after 20-30,000 miles or so the more heavily used sections do start to show a bit of the 'I'm not real leather' look. My longest use was 60,000 mile in a c-class with MB-Tex which I bought new, and that was still wearing well when I sold it. The fellow who bought it added another 60,000 miles - so 120,000 in all - and he never mentioned any problems with the seats.

On the colour, we have Selenite and it's a more complex colour than many grey's out there. It actually has a bit of green in it which show up in some artificial and low lights. I like it.

 

1. Real leather vs MB -Tex. I enjoy quality things and somehow the tex seems so industrial and firm for a luxury car. I am sure that makes it hold up better, but I just love soft leather. Is the real leather option very nice or is it not worth switching from the tex?
Mercedes leather is not soft. Had MB-Text on an older E320 but I got leather on last two Benz.

2. Does the Macchiato beige get stained easily? I know in theory it could, but has this been a problem for people?
I have macchiato beige and have no issues. Also had it on my E550 that I owned for over 5 years without any staining issues.

3. Driver assistance packages - is the standard safety assists good enough? Or do you feel the drivers assistance could prevent certain accidents that the standard active brake assist, etc, would not?
Don't like the active steering that push the car into the lane if slightly off so I turned that off.

4. Are the massage seats nice? Can you feel the massage well?
Love the massage seats - you can certainly feel it!

 

I have black/white Nappa leather, very classy and easy to keep clean.

Driver assistance works well.

Selenite great colour, stays looking clean.

 

On the leather/wood steering wheel, the whole wheel does heat up, including the wood part. I was surprised to find that when my car came in at the end of September.

 

Did not know that, that’s a nice touch then.

 

Dash stitching adds to the beauty of the interior. Also, I love my selenite exterior!
I'm really glad I added the temperature controls and heated seats in the near. Also, the heated/cooled cupholder is a nice, inexpensive option.
My regret is not getting the soft close doors, the doors are heavy and soft close would help.

 

I agree with you completely. In heavy traffic it is just watching the distance between you and the car in front and your desired speed so that when the car in front pulls away your car accelerates quite hard to get to your desired speed. In the meantime everyone is now braking but you are still accelerating towards a slowing car. It feels quite disconcerting and I am not sure my wife will ever use it. The car does not react to brake lights but you would. That's basically the problem in a nutshell.

I can live with it but I don't think i'll take my foot away from the pedals.

 

Mike

 

I really like the MB Tex , more practical and feels fine.
I have macchiato beige , it does show more dirt, however, wipes clean easily with warm water.
I was going to buy the assistance pkg. , read some mixed reviews on it, with many of these packages they can get “fooled “ and lead to getting inaccurate information. I am doing quite well with the standard safety package, however, I felt that the standard package should have been a bit more extensive.
Steering wheel is a matter of personal preference, some owners like the look of running boards, I don’t. If you mention it it means that you must like the fancy steering wheel. To me dash stitching looks good.
Went from Selenite grey to white. Felt Selenite grey is very nice however I liked the white much more especially with the macchiato interior . Different vehicles look better in different colors. Almost all my previous cars were silver, except for the selenite grey, IMHO, the silver was too boring in the GLE. Good luck with your new car.