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I thought it might be helpful to owners and prospective buyers to see how SL interiors hold up over time in terms of cracking, fading and staining.
Since there seem to be a lot of assumptions made on just how delicate certain colors/leathers are, it may be helpful to show some pics with age and mileage.
I start with this thread and invite others to do the same
Here is one interior that is assumed to be one of the easier ones to have issues: Porcellain white/black. This one has exclusive Nappa, so leather is everywhere.
Pic 1. 2017 SL550 brand new, a bit over a year ago...
Pic 2. Same car, now. 9k miles or so...
Care and treatment: Water & soft cotton cloth. No leather treatment whatsoever.
Car is driven mostly in summer but also in winter with snow tires at 20 below.
The only difference I can tell is that the steering wheel leather gets a bit shinier...
I wear jeans 70% of the time. Every 3-4 weeks the white has a very light bluish shade from the jeans. A simple wet (not moist) cotton cloth immediately followed by a dry one takes it right off.
This may be due to the fact that SL's seats have coating reflects heat. Perhaps it makes it more resistant to stains.
Our prior SL had the same color combo and literally looked the same after 2 1/2 years and 23k miles.
The dirtiest part of the interior was the white seatbelt
I wear jeans 70% of the time. Every 3-4 weeks the white has a very light bluish shade from the jeans. A simple wet (not moist) cotton cloth immediately followed by a dry one takes it right off.
This may be due to the fact that SL's seats have coating reflects heat. Perhaps it makes it more resistant to stains.
Our prior SL had the same color combo and literally looked the same after 2 1/2 years and 23k miles.
The dirtiest part of the interior was the white seatbelt
Awesome! I just showed this and your photos to the wife. This reinforces my decision to select Porcelain over her preferred choice of black!
To get valid answers one might come back in 20 years to ask this question!
My oldest car is a 1919 Ford Model T with original leatherette upholstery that looks like the day it was installed.
Doing the math this car will be 100 years old in two years.
Certainly the way we baby our SL's the upholstery should look fine for 200-300 years!
It's black ash. Have never been a fan of piano black finish except, well, on our piano
I like the Black Ash. Black Ash blends well with interior grays and whites.
Fingerprints and foreign particles would tend to show more on the Black Piano. Most of all, I really like a wood/leather steering wheel, which is NOT available with the Black Piano trim.
'13 with 25K on the odometer; light grey interior, no wear to speak of even with my large posterior sliding in and out of the seat.
A detail 'specialist' shared with me that they use a combo of a small amount of cloudy ammonia, a small amount of soap, the rest water in a pint spray bottle to clean the leather. The theory is that it lifts the 'fats' and 'salts' from the leather. Just spray, on wipe off. I admit I have not been bold enough to attempt it just yet.
My door sill / kick plates are scratched, I am looking to Flitz them over the weekend to see if that helps, and I have some discoloration on the top of the A pillar where the hard top meets the latches of the windshield frame. I have tried all manners of cleaners as well as Mr. Clean pads, and still have the brown look in a small area. Perhaps my OCD.
And the wood steering wheel is most certainly my preference.
I thought it might be helpful to owners and prospective buyers to see how SL interiors hold up over time in terms of cracking, fading and staining.
Since there seem to be a lot of assumptions made on just how delicate certain colors/leathers are, it may be helpful to show some pics with age and mileage.
I start with this thread and invite others to do the same
Here is one interior that is assumed to be one of the easier ones to have issues: Porcellain white/black. This one has exclusive Nappa, so leather is everywhere.
Pic 1. 2017 SL550 brand new, a bit over a year ago...
Pic 2. Same car, now. 9k miles or so...
Care and treatment: Water & soft cotton cloth. No leather treatment whatsoever.
Car is driven mostly in summer but also in winter with snow tires at 20 below.
The only difference I can tell is that the steering wheel leather gets a bit shinier...
Love to see yours!
Again, this interior is the bomb! Exactly what I ordered expect Nappa vs Exclusive Nappa. But, I did not want that type of headliner. Bottomline, this is the best interior color combo (IMO) that is offered for the R231, and in addition the Black Ash trim and Black Ash/leather steering wheel!
Again, this interior is the bomb! Exactly what I ordered expect Nappa vs Exclusive Nappa. But, I did not want that type of headliner. Bottomline, this is the best interior color combo (IMO) that is offered for the R231, and in addition the Black Ash trim and Black Ash/leather steering wheel!
What don't you like about the headliner? This is Ultrasuede (called dynamica) instead of plastic/fabric.
A HUGE upgrade in materials for about nothing. For a few bucks extra you get a full leather interior (dash, doors, etc.) and a headliner that can be easily cleaned.
Btw. I configured a Porsche and they charge $2k just for the that headliner upgrade option alone, never mind the leather options
What don't you like about the headliner? This is Ultrasuede (called dynamica) instead of plastic/fabric.
A HUGE upgrade in materials for about nothing. For a few bucks extra you get a full leather interior (dash, doors, etc.) and a headliner that can be easily cleaned.
Btw. I configured a Porsche and they charge $2k just for the that headliner upgrade option alone, never mind the leather options
Just not a fan of leather dashes, suede, or ultrasuede:
There are many other links. Bottomline, those materials used in certain applications are not for me.
Understood. Most important is to get what you want.
You are always researching the topics which is great, but I hope that your opinions are based on some experience and not just Internet facts
There is too much garbage out on the net and forums and ultimately reflect just the opinion of individuals.
So here is an other opinion from yet just another individual
As it pertains to the headliner, ultra suede is superior to any fabric for a headliner; only leather is better. Alcantara and Dynamica are brands that manufacture these synthetic products. The product is easier to clean and more robust than fabric.
The last link you provided is is just utter garbage though. That guy doesn't have a clue on purpose and benefits of the material. If he is complaining about his old S-Class ultrasuede, I would have loved to see how that car would look with a light fabric headliner.
I am sold on alcantara as we have some furniture made with that material and we also have three cats. They vomit from time to time and always do so in the wrong places.
Nothing more fun coming back from a longer trip to find some crusty vomit on an off-white sofa, but a bit of soapy water removes the stains completely with no residue whatsoever. That is something not possible with fabric or even leather.
As to leather, hot dry climates can kill leather or plastic dashboards. Have seen countless cars with cracked dashes.
But I also don't recall having seen that over the last 10-15 years on an SL. There is a lot of material science that the Germans have applied to car interiors over the years.
Wood veneers that do not splinter and injure in accidents to leather that have UV heat reflective coatings like the SL's.
Older SL's were notorious for wear on the leather bolsters and while it's not completely gone, even that has improved quite a bit.
If you want to see how leather dashes hold up in your climate zone, just look for used SL600's or SL65's from 2004 and up. All those have similar leather dashes
Understood. Most important is to get what you want.
You are always researching the topics which is great, but I hope that your opinions are based on some experience and not just Internet facts
There is too much garbage out on the net and forums and ultimately reflect just the opinion of individuals.
So here is an other opinion from yet just another individual
As it pertains to the headliner, ultra suede is superior to any fabric for a headliner; only leather is better. Alcantara and Dynamica are brands that manufacture these synthetic products. The product is easier to clean and more robust than fabric.
The last link you provided is is just utter garbage though. That guy doesn't have a clue on purpose and benefits of the material. If he is complaining about his old S-Class ultrasuede, I would have loved to see how that car would look with a light fabric headliner.
I am sold on alcantara as we have some furniture made with that material and we also have three cats. They vomit from time to time and always do so in the wrong places.
Nothing more fun coming back from a longer trip to find some crusty vomit on an off-white sofa, but a bit of soapy water removes the stains completely with no residue whatsoever. That is something not possible with fabric or even leather.
As to leather, hot dry climates can kill leather or plastic dashboards. Have seen countless cars with cracked dashes.
But I also don't recall having seen that over the last 10-15 years on an SL. There is a lot of material science that the Germans have applied to car interiors over the years.
Wood veneers that do not splinter and injure in accidents to leather that have UV heat reflective coatings like the SL's.
Older SL's were notorious for wear on the leather bolsters and while it's not completely gone, even that has improved quite a bit.
If you want to see how leather dashes hold up in your climate zone, just look for used SL600's or SL65's from 2004 and up. All those have similar leather dashes
Short story, I am getting exactly what I want. You are the man, Wolf! Really enjoy your comments; respect and value your comments, and your extensive knowledge! Please keep it coming for me and so many others!
2013 SL driver seat bottom leather developed split in middle. Also, both arm rests became wrinkled and faded. All at approximately 30K miles. Both replaced.
2013 SL driver seat bottom leather developed split in middle. Also, both arm rests became wrinkled and faded. All at approximately 30K miles. Both replaced.
Interesting. Sounds like quite a bit of deterioration! Did you take any pics?
Our porcelain white was more or less perfect at 23k miles
2013 SL driver seat bottom leather developed split in middle. Also, both arm rests became wrinkled and faded. All at approximately 30K miles. Both replaced.
My arm rests have also become wrinkled.. What would cause this condition? I have unknowingly opened another thread on this same issue...
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