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How difficult is it to get my hands on a leather headliner? I’m assuming a salvage yard may have one or it may be a part that could be ordered considering it might be needed if there was an accident and the insurance decides to repair the vehicle instead of totaling it. Provided it is available, how difficult would be it be to install? I’m thinking the S65 is the only trim level to have it and I would be installing it on a S550 sedan - if the stars would align
I tried to look up the part number for you, but could only find the coupe version. Is was a little over $2000. I believe that for that much you can have a private upholstery shop do a great job turning your existing one into leather. Good luck!
I have an SL65 with the black Designo Nappa leather headliner, an S65 with Designo Silk Beige Nappa leather headliner and an E63s with an Alcantra headliner. The Alcantra is a distant second to the Designo leather headliners, in my opinion.
In the S65 in addition to the actual headliner the A, B and C pillars are also leather and all six of these pillars have airbags in them. This will be a big task to do after the fact. If you look for a salvage set it is likely some of the airbags would have deployed making those pieces unusable. The headliner leather is matched to the interior color option so that further narrows down the likelihood of finding a complete set of pieces. The leather headliner also has exposed hand stitching holding all the pieces together. There are 16 separate pieces stitched together this way in addition to the six airbags covered in leather. I would talk to a high end upholstery shop with customization experience. They can get the right leather and have experience recovering airbags. It will not be cheap.
Here is a picture that shows the detail at one of the grab handles above a rear door. I forgot to count the pieces of leather on the grab handles, that makes 19 separate pieces.
Here is a picture that shows the detail at one of the grab handles above a rear door. I forgot to count the pieces of leather on the grab handles, that makes 19 separate pieces.
Thanks for the feedback. I hadn’t thought of wn upholstery shop but that’s a great idea. Appreciate the picture of your car. The liner and stitch work looks great! I’m also a huge fan of porcelain/tan - my absolute favorite!
My guess is an upholstery shop would be cheaper than getting the OEM parts. I have considered having mine done in alcantara. I really miss the thick, alcantara headliner from my LS460, the fabric in the S Class is the only thing about the interior that feels cheap.
My guess is an upholstery shop would be cheaper than getting the OEM parts. I have considered having mine done in alcantara. I really miss the thick, alcantara headliner from my LS460, the fabric in the S Class is the only thing about the interior that feels cheap.
i actually don’t mind the Dinamica headliner from a quality perspective (but admit Alcantara is definitely better)… what I do take exception with is the PW/trunk switchgear. The driver PW button snapped off and so did the trunk button. I liked the aluminum switches in the 221 better … gone are the days of engineers spending whatever to make it the best vs being more cost conscious price competitive. IMO, the S-Class already costs more than competitors, so why try to save a few bucks? Most customers are buying it for the build quality and/or because they don’t care about the price. When you’re spending $130k on a car, disposable income isn’t really the biggest consideration.
Interesting you bring up Alcantara in other brands… my wife’s Cadillac is subpar to other luxury cars in much of its parts - but the headliner
is more robust, thicker - just as you mention in your prior Lexus LS. The plastic components in her car are absolutely terrible, if you barely brush something against it, it leaves a mark unlike higher quality plastics. I hate plastic in a car to start with, but there are ways for it to be tastefully done and with a higher quality (like the non leather version of the dash top in MB S Class).
i actually don’t mind the Dinamica headliner from a quality perspective (but admit Alcantara is definitely better)…
Mine doesnt have the dinamica headliner, if it did I'd be perfectly happy with that. You have to get exclusive nappa at least to have the dinamica headliner.
what I do take exception with is the PW/trunk switchgear. The driver PW button snapped off and so did the trunk button.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
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