Mercedes only uses real wood in their cars. Even though a good number of car manufacturers have switched to fake wood, Mercedes have remained true to their customers by fitting high-quality wood into their vehicle interiors.
You may have heard that several car brands, Mercedes included, are nowadays using fake wood trims in their cars. Or, you may have bought or seen a Mercedes with a fine wood interior that almost looks fake.
And you were wondering whether Mercedes use real wood? You can be assured that the wood you see in Mercedes is real. Even though it may be engineered to look flawless, that doesn’t mean it’s fake.
Understandably, it is allowed to question everything you see nowadays. Thanks to technology, nearly everything can be imitated, wood, leather, concrete, and anything else you may think about.
For the years that Mercedes have been fitting wood interiors, at no single point have they substituted their wood for plastic.
You probably know this. Mercedes is a luxury car brand. Their vehicles are known to be sleek, classic, and elegant. Their vehicles are not cheap and neither are the materials used to assemble their cars.
From the tires to the top, every material used in Mercedes is of high quality. For a company that has been so consistent with redefining luxury in their vehicles, they would never use fake wood.
Of course, there have been several complaints against the Mercedes wood interior. Most of these complaints were that the wood fades or discolors.
However, these are genuine effects of aging wood. Similar to other materials, wood wasn’t crafted to last forever. It fades, wears out, and eventually needs to be replaced.
Mercedes Wood Trim Options
For a brand that pays keen attention to interior car décor, you can expect Mercedes to have several awesome wood trim options. They include;
• Natural grain ash wood
• Black piano lacquer wood
• Light burl walnut wood
• Black poplar wood
How Do I Tell If the Wood in My Mercedes Is Real?
It’s important to find out by yourself that Mercedes uses real wood because this will clear any doubts you may have.
Before sharing with you tips on how you can tell real from fake wood, please note that Mercedes uses wood veneers.
If you don’t know what these are, we will explain them later in the article. Here are some of the ways you can tell if the wood on your Mercedes is real.
The surest method on how you can tell real from fake wood is by touching and looking at the grain.
Wood has a distinctive pattern that you can feel when you touch it. Because the wood in your Mercedes is coated, look at the grain pattern.
There should be some variances. In an attempt to create the perfect wood trim, Mercedes may have been very careful when selecting the veneers. However, no matter how careful they are, there must be some slight variances.
Look for flaking or cracking on the wood finish. Wood doesn’t easily crack and neither does it flake, especially if it has been engineered. If you notice the above signs, then that is plastic that has been imitated to look like wood.
There is another way you can tell real wood from fake wood and that is by durability. Even though this may not give you the answer you want right away.
But, if you have just bought a car, calculate how long the wood takes to fade. If this happens in less than a year then that is probably plastic. Real wood can withstand abuse from the sun. And it won’t fade easily.
If you are having doubts about the wood used in Mercedes interiors, please use the above methods and find out for yourself if it’s fake.
And if that’s not enough, you can always visit the Mercedes website, contact them, and find out from their representative whether they use fake or real wood. An international company such as Mercedes can’t lie to you regarding the materials they use.
What are These Wood Veneers Used by Mercedes?
If you were wondering what these wood veneers are, we are going to explain that in this sub-topic. Veneer refers to a thin coating of solid materials that are bonded together to look beautiful.
Wood veneers are not as heavy as solid wood because they are peeled off barks and that’s why they are lightweight. Wood veneers don’t crack easily as mentioned earlier and are great for designing.
Why Does Mercedes Use Wood Veneers?
There are so many reasons why not just Mercedes but all luxury car brands use wood veneers. These reasons include;
• Wood veneers are very beautiful. The thing with solid wood is that it takes a lot for it to be crafted into a beautiful piece. Veneers are sliced from quality wood and that’s why they look so perfect.
• It’s eco-friendly. We are living in an era where deforestation is rampant. In an attempt by Mercedes to conserve trees, they switched to wood veneers. Veneers don’t need a considerable amount of wood as is the case with solid wood. Only several thin slices are needed to fit into a Mercedes interior.
• Veneers have many design options. This is why at Mercedes, you can choose from several wood trims.
• Wood veneers are durable. No matter what it is exposed to, wood veneers can withstand the test of time and that’s why Mercedes prefers them to solid wood.
Most people may think that Mercedes uses wood veneers because it is cheap. However, that is not true. Even though wood veneers are economical, Mercedes goes the extra length of sourcing these veneers from high-quality wood.
The process through which the wood is engineered is very expensive and that’s why the wood interior in a Mercedes looks so flawless and aesthetically pleasing.
But Why Does the Wood Grain Look So Identical As If It Has Been Designed?
For those of you who have a keen eye, you may be wondering why the wood grain looks the same. Could it have been designed graphically? If this is what’s going on in your mind, you are probably thinking that it looks too good to be real.
What you need to know is that Mercedes isn’t your ordinary car brand. This is a company that perfects every detail in your car, even in the wood.
To ensure the wood looks perfect or identical as you may want to say, they cut veneer sheets from the same log. These sheets create a mirror copy and are placed strategically on your dashboard.
This is why when you look at it, it can be hard to tell the difference in the grain pattern. But if you look closely enough, you will realize that there are some variations.
Mercedes Wood Trim Restoration and Replacement
With time, the wood in your Mercedes will start to show its age. It may fade or lose its glossy shine.
If its look becomes unappealing to you or you plan on selling the car, you will need to seek Mercedes wood trim restoration and replacement services.
Restoration is done on wood that shows slight signs of aging. However, wood that has completely lost its elegance, will need replacement.
Several experts provide Mercedes wood restoration and replacement services. You will have to do some research on this so that you can find a professional technician near you.
You need to find a wood restoration expert who will provide you with the right wood trim for your vehicle. If you wish, you can change to another trim so that you can spice up the look of your interiors.
Is Wood the Best Material for A Car’s Interior?
With there being so many materials that can be used in a car’s interior, is wood the best? That depends on your preferences as a car buyer.
Some people love wood trims and finishes and others not so much. Wood has been the go-to choice material for many buyers ever since it began being used in car interiors.
A wood interior has always been a sign of luxury that’s why it is common in high-end vehicles. Rolls-Royce is a great example.
It is this popularity that led to some car brands using wood imitations in their vehicles simply because the price of their cars can’t accommodate such a luxury.
Wood is however becoming an old-fashioned car interior design. This is why some people opt for other materials in their cars. One of the latest trims to be used in cars is carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber looks great, it’s durable and has many customization options. It is not cheap and you may have to pay more for a car with a carbon fiber package.
In most economical cars, you will be very lucky not to find plastic as the material used in the interior. Plastic is cheap and even though it may not look as elegant as wood, carbon fiber, or even aluminum, it does serve its purpose.
Most cars have a plastic interior and it does last for a considerable duration. As time goes by, we can expect more materials to be invented. And hopefully, they will be better, more affordable, and aesthetically pleasing.
Why are Some Car Manufacturers Switching from Wood to Other Materials?
Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Porsche, and a couple of other car brands may be the only ones left using real wood in their cars.
And even these brands are not using wood in all their cars, they have moved on to other materials. As a curious car buyer, you may be wondering what’s causing this migration. Hasn’t wood been the go-to choice for car interiors?
The main reason why car manufacturers are replacing wood with other materials is to cut down on costs.
Wood finishes in cars cost a lot of money. And because these manufacturers are after profits, replacing wood with other cheap materials seems like the best option.
Another reason is that more people are becoming conscious of the environment. And wood doesn’t seem like the eco-friendliest material to have in a car interior.
This doesn’t mean that plastic, aluminum, or carbon fiber is in any way better. But, reducing the need for wood in car interiors is a huge step in fighting deforestation.
Wood interiors have been there since some of us were born. And as a result, a wood interior may seem too old school. Aluminum and carbon fiber are the new trends because they introduce a new and interesting look to car interiors.