This is one of these crazy MB option problems. The Exclusive leather is on the LE which is a S550 but the Exclusive leather is not available on the S550 non-LE models. Since you can have the Vented seats on the S600 which has the Exclusive leather as standard, one would expect that the LE would be able to have them. But no. I think because the LE is a Special Option there are no options of any kind available. It is a fixed price vehicle...take it like we sell it or don't buy it. At least that is what it looks like to me.

 

Vented seats are only avaible for leather - but it's not important which leather quality, they all can get perforated (for the air).

There are usually few different leather qualitys available in a Mercedes:

The ordinary leather, it has better haptics since the C219, but it's still (like with the other brands) cheap leather, a typical structure is "stamped" into the surface.

The higher quality, normally called "Nappa" or in the new S-Class "Premium" or "Passion" is a softer leather without an artificial structure (it seems more even). This leather is so called "Anilinleder" more sensitive but also with better haptics and quality.

"Executive" just means an higher amount of parts covered by leather, not the quality of the leather.

The highest quality is the Designo-leather, I'm not sure if the 221-Premium-leather itself has the same quality (the old Nappa leather did not) but it is not from low-wage countries (I think the cows are from south-germany and the production is also made at the headquarter of Bader!?). The leather is also much better stitched directly in Sindelfingen from Mercedes by the Designo-Manufaktur (I think they also make the Maybach-stitching).
A new leather I haven't seen in real life is the Designo "Naturleder" for the 221, it should look and feel more "natural" !?

But everyone who has the money (I think a S-Class-buyer has) should order a Designo-interior, even if you are not interested in exotic colors, it is the only way to get the highest quality possible - NO car-maker invests enough money into the standard-interior (especially the handmade-parts like stitching) to achieve the same quality - it's the same with BMW (Individual) or Audi, whenever there is the opportunity to get "Handmade in Germany" instead of just ordinary mass-production into your car, take it!
By the way I think you also get additional quality control for many details because people in the Manufaktur are working for days on your car.

 

How are you enjoying your LE? I should get mine around the end of this month. My dealer says its stuck at the dock getting inspected and making sure all the software is loaded and everything is working correctly before they receve it.

 

I have an LE also and I'm telling, its PERFECT! i LOVE the color combination. And it also includes the P3 package, which is not available on the standard models yet (which is why we ran after it). Plus it has the Driver-dynamic seats with MASSAGE! the massage doesnt vibrate, but you feel something pushing on you going from top to bottom. The leather, i believe, is more smooth and nicer than the ones on the standard model (IMO).

So.....yea, you wont be dissapointed.

 

Sweet!! Thanks alot for the comments I can't wait. Are the massaging seats effective, or are they more of a gimmick?

 

I love it! I've been driving a 745Li for almost 3 years now, and I thought I might be making the wrong move. My LE car costs more and lacks some of the options I had on my 745Li (vented seats, power trunk)...But I just love the ride quality and boy does the car move when you push it! I also have a '04 E55, so I'm no stranger to power, but this car goes! Much better passing power compared to my 745.

Good luck. If the car had vented seats and power trunk, I think it'd be perfect! But hey, no biggie...I'm not going to die over vented seats and the lazy-man trunk

-Chris

 

Sounds great! Good to hear from a 745Li guy on the power response. The LE is a nice package for sure. Enjoy...:-))))

 

Its got some of the cool options like night-vision and rear-camera, but in my honest opinion, they are both not worth it in my opinion. Again, only my opinion.

I've used the night-vision a couple of times at night and one thing I noticed is it doesn't have a very wide field of vision. A couple of times I stopped as various cross walks on the line, middle lane, and I can't see the pedestrian waiting on the cross walk. Maybe I'm more of a town driver and it would prove more useful to someone who does a lot of driving in the forest, but I honestly can't give my recommendation for this option.

The rear view camera...I need more time to get used to it. I feel more safe just turning my head. Don't get me wrong, it allows you to see things parktronic can't, but I don't see much advantage over an acoustic parking system.

-Chris

 

You make a good point on the two options. C&D I think it was also said they were great technology but after the newness wore off they would not be used that much. I had planned on Option 3 but after reading that confined myself to P2 (although I did not get P2 technically since Distronic Plus includes the Park Assist in place of Parktronic.)

Lived in Hawaii for three years back in 1965-68. Lived on Ford Island and had to use the ferry...use to push the pedal to the metal to the ferry dock many times trying to catch the last one of the night or just try an make it so you didn't have to wait 40 minutes for the next one. The bridge must be nice now.

 

nice specs Jack, how come you did not go for the Pkg 3

 

Thanks...

Two reasons...the biggest being that I would be looking at a August delivery date (maybe later) if I ordered P3...I did get the Multicontour seats as a stand alone option. The night vision and rear view camera would be nice I guess but see my post above. Just did not feel they would be used that much after the newness wore off.

 

I find the Backup Camera very useful Jack... but you have parktronic so I'm sure you are used to using this ..... but overall VERY very nice.