I'm looking to replace an E55 with a W212 E63. I was initially thinking a 2010 would do nicely as that would allow some other lucky soul to absorb more of the crushing depreciation that occurs on these cars, but out of an abundance of caution I started poking around trying to verify that the W212's still have the alcantara headliner and nappa leather that were standard on the W211's and it appears that may not be the case. From what I've been able to gather on prior threads, it sounds like the general consensus is that the alcantara headliner was not available on the '10 models but was then brought back as standard on the '11's, although there is at least some disagreement as to whether a few of the '10's may have had it as an option or something. And as to the nappa leather seats, it sounds like it is still available but as an option rather than standard, and that it may not be the smooth, soft leather of old but instead an embossed sort of leather or something?

So, given that some of those threads I was reading have some age on them, can someone clarify the above issues? Was the alcantara headliner on any of the '10 cars? And is the nappa leather an option on all W212's, and if so is it worth it if it isn't the smooth, soft stuff we had before?

Oh and no need to respond to this one, but has MBZ lost its f***ng mind? Did they really try to cut corners on a flagship model that costs tens of thousands more than the standard model and depreciates like a rock? Obviously they got a lot of things right or we wouldn't be buying AMG's, but this kind of thing really makes me want to buy something else--I feel sure most potential AMG buyers would rather they just add another $2k to the price of the new car than try to decontent it of some of the nice touches that differentiated it from the lesser models. Unbelievable.

 

U are correct on all accounts

 

The good thing is, wait a year and let the "lucky souls" absorb the depreciation. Buying CPO is the way to go.

I read alcantara roofliner is standard on '10 for Canadian-bound E63's. Yeah, MB cutting corners on a $90K+ for the States--ridiculous! Anyway, it depends where you are at.