Quick question about leather interior?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Alcantra is not leather its a synthetic "mouse fur" material. Nappa is leather but its soft leather and I am not certain if the ML offers nappa. The leather used in the ML, at least the leather I have in my 06 ML500 is real leather but a bit harder than nappa and very durable and attractive. Even with the leather interiors there is plenty of matching Tex (synthetic leather) that I feel should be the real thing but is not.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
In response to Sosh, nappy leather is standard on the ML63 only and not offered in the other MLs. It's significantly softer than the other leather offerings on the other MLs. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by full leather seating, but nappa leather covers the seats, center armrest, and dashboard in leather. The MB Tex is a vinyl like material that feels somewhat like leather and only covers the seats. The leather option is the same as it covers the seats only. No leather dashboard on any ML except ML63. Hope that helps!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 487
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2007 ML 500
Alcantra is not leather its a synthetic "mouse fur" material. Nappa is leather but its soft leather and I am not certain if the ML offers nappa. The leather used in the ML, at least the leather I have in my 06 ML500 is real leather but a bit harder than nappa and very durable and attractive. Even with the leather interiors there is plenty of matching Tex (synthetic leather) that I feel should be the real thing but is not.
its supposed to replicate suede.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
Nappa leather is a slighly better quality than the regular leather Mercedes uses. I wouldn't say it is "significantly" better, but that's just my opinion. In the ML line it is only offered in the AMG/ML63 where it is standard. Alcantara, MB Tex, and Artico "leather" are all synthetics. As vinceching says, Alcantara replicates suede while MB Tex and Artico (same thing different name depending on where you live) replicate regular leather. Even vehicles with full leather have synthetic on the doors and possibly other places. It is very hard to tell the difference just by looking at it.
You can special order synthetic leather on the dash of any ML that has the full leather package. In Canada it costs $1,560; presumably the number would be scaled down a tad in the US.
Search this and other forums and you will find a lot of lively debate on the merits of real leather vs synthetics.
You can special order synthetic leather on the dash of any ML that has the full leather package. In Canada it costs $1,560; presumably the number would be scaled down a tad in the US.
Search this and other forums and you will find a lot of lively debate on the merits of real leather vs synthetics.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 672
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From: Northern California
MBs
Here's a picture of the ML63 AMG Performance Studio edition released last fall. The seats are wrapped in porcelain nappa leather, as well as diamond nappa leather on the door trim, with black alcantara trim, for example on the door posts.
Article:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/3081107....studio-edition
Alcantara® is sourced from these folks in Italy:
http://www.alcantara.com/
Article:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/3081107....studio-edition
Alcantara® is sourced from these folks in Italy:
http://www.alcantara.com/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
Nappa leather is a slighly better quality than the regular leather Mercedes uses. I wouldn't say it is "significantly" better, but that's just my opinion. In the ML line it is only offered in the AMG/ML63 where it is standard. Alcantara, MB Tex, and Artico "leather" are all synthetics. As vinceching says, Alcantara replicates suede while MB Tex and Artico (same thing different name depending on where you live) replicate regular leather. Even vehicles with full leather have synthetic on the doors and possibly other places. It is very hard to tell the difference just by looking at it.
You can special order synthetic leather on the dash of any ML that has the full leather package. In Canada it costs $1,560; presumably the number would be scaled down a tad in the US.
Search this and other forums and you will find a lot of lively debate on the merits of real leather vs synthetics.
You can special order synthetic leather on the dash of any ML that has the full leather package. In Canada it costs $1,560; presumably the number would be scaled down a tad in the US.
Search this and other forums and you will find a lot of lively debate on the merits of real leather vs synthetics.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
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From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
I would be very surprised if you can't place special orders in the US. Particularly in the current economic climate, I imagine car makers will do about anything to get more revenue.
The downside: it adds two to three weeks to delivery.
I'll post pics when the vehicle arrives. Should be in just a few weeks now.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
ML320 (W163)
So far, we don't like the MB-tex
Maybe we're just too used to having leather in our cars, but so far we don't like the MB-tex. We do notice that the seat heaters are really fast in the W164, and maybe MB-tex helps here.
THe MB-tex is a bit 'sticky' making it tug on my trousers a bit more when I get in/out. It seems to lack a bit of the soft hand of leather as well. Too bad you can't get leather up front and MB-tex in the rear for the kids!
John
P.S. Boy is that the joystick sensitive to being pressed straight in (for 'select'). It's very hard to do when the car is moving (the passenger, not the driver...).
THe MB-tex is a bit 'sticky' making it tug on my trousers a bit more when I get in/out. It seems to lack a bit of the soft hand of leather as well. Too bad you can't get leather up front and MB-tex in the rear for the kids!
John
P.S. Boy is that the joystick sensitive to being pressed straight in (for 'select'). It's very hard to do when the car is moving (the passenger, not the driver...).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Maybe we're just too used to having leather in our cars, but so far we don't like the MB-tex. We do notice that the seat heaters are really fast in the W164, and maybe MB-tex helps here.
THe MB-tex is a bit 'sticky' making it tug on my trousers a bit more when I get in/out. It seems to lack a bit of the soft hand of leather as well. Too bad you can't get leather up front and MB-tex in the rear for the kids!
John
P.S. Boy is that the joystick sensitive to being pressed straight in (for 'select'). It's very hard to do when the car is moving (the passenger, not the driver...).
THe MB-tex is a bit 'sticky' making it tug on my trousers a bit more when I get in/out. It seems to lack a bit of the soft hand of leather as well. Too bad you can't get leather up front and MB-tex in the rear for the kids!
John
P.S. Boy is that the joystick sensitive to being pressed straight in (for 'select'). It's very hard to do when the car is moving (the passenger, not the driver...).
. But maybe they don't have leather inserts anymore? Normally the real leather is the perforated part of the seat. My C class has leather inserts while the seat bolsters and outer portions of the seat are made with MB-tex. I prefer the MB-Tex to the real thing! It stays looking new pretty much no matter what you do, and to me, feels pretty much the same as the leather.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
ML320 (W163)
I thought the W164 came with leather seat inserts? Which would mean it's mostly in your head . But maybe they don't have leather inserts anymore? Normally the real leather is the perforated part of the seat. My C class has leather inserts while the seat bolsters and outer portions of the seat are made with MB-tex. I prefer the MB-Tex to the real thing! It stays looking new pretty much no matter what you do, and to me, feels pretty much the same as the leather.
. But maybe they don't have leather inserts anymore? Normally the real leather is the perforated part of the seat. My C class has leather inserts while the seat bolsters and outer portions of the seat are made with MB-tex. I prefer the MB-Tex to the real thing! It stays looking new pretty much no matter what you do, and to me, feels pretty much the same as the leather.Well, it's just a car ... and 100k miles from now we'll be getting another (that hopefully has leather).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
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From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
Even in Canada it is classified as Special Order and not listed as an option. The price of the dash covering is $810, but Special Orders incur an additional charge of $750, hence $1,560 total. My dealer never told me about this; I learned it when I emailed Mercedes Canada, who then instructed the dealer on how to place the order. BMW has a similar program called BMW Personal, but it is much better known among their dealerships.
I would be very surprised if you can't place special orders in the US. Particularly in the current economic climate, I imagine car makers will do about anything to get more revenue.
The downside: it adds two to three weeks to delivery.
I'll post pics when the vehicle arrives. Should be in just a few weeks now.
I would be very surprised if you can't place special orders in the US. Particularly in the current economic climate, I imagine car makers will do about anything to get more revenue.
The downside: it adds two to three weeks to delivery.
I'll post pics when the vehicle arrives. Should be in just a few weeks now.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
Oh that's neat, I never knew that. Do you have a number code for that option? It seems sort of like the Distronic option for 09 MB SUVs. It's not listed on the brochures or MB's internal computer ordering system, that you can order any SUV with distornic, yet the dealer had an '09 with it. Did you get an ML550?
Yes, '09 ML550.
Oh, and the BMW program is called BMW Individual, not BMW Personal. Had the brain out of gear for a moment there.
