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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans
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Comments
Jean
Interesting interactive site from Mercedes in europe.
MOre interesting than tasting zaino!
I have a bad back (herniated disk several years ago) and I find the standard seat
lumbar support to be VERY good (better than the adjustable lumbar support in the last 2
cars I owned, a 96 and 99 Dodge Intrepid). If you want adjustable lumbar supports, get
the multi-contour seats.
bug-free operating system!
On a related issue (the end of the first year), is it possible to get the extended warranty at less than the $2800 my dealership wants? That is, will other dealerships sell you the warranty for less? I know it's possible to buy other brand warranties, but I prefer to stick to the Mercedes warranty.
When I tested it out on the COMAND system, it said that it was not activated. I called MSUSA and they told me that I would get a brochure with a password for the purpose of choosing my options on-line. After I did select the options, I found that the Info Services still didn't work. I called MSUSA and the guy said to call SOS on the Tele Aid system. I spoke to a lady. I don't know what she did, but I heard several beeps. She said that when she would hang up, my Info Services should be activated. This call ate up about ten minutes of my precious free 30 minutes of air time.
During lunch time yesterday, I had an opportunity to test it out. On the COMAND screen, I read the latest news headlines, sports scores, weather, and business news. I found out that I made a fortune in the stock market, worth more than the ten minutes; in fact, more than the price of the car. So I was happy to receive this information.
I think that the Info Services is an expensive gimmick that you can use if you want to impress someone. After a year, I still think I'll cancel it.
Jack
D
Although I don't have the voice activated system, I still like it alot.
I've programmed all my most frequently dialed numbers into the handset so all I have to do is use my steering wheel controls to scroll and dial.
Other numbers are dialed through the keyboard next to the radio.
The unit is totally hands free, other than the initial dialing, and everything works great.
Is it over priced? Probably. But it's worth it to me.
Thanks.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Can any one comment about winter driving (snow/ice)? Am I doing something wrong here? Thanks in advance.
After you start your car, scroll to the telephone section of your dash display by using your bottom left steering wheel button, (do not hit the tel button on your radio) The display should say "ready". Then use the top left steering wheel button to scroll thru the numbers and the bottom right (outside) steering wheel button to dial. It should work.
I experimented with my phone, and found that if you push the tel button on the radio first, it renders the steering wheel scroll button useless.
Of course this is only for numbers that are programmed into your handset. For all other numbers, you have to push the tel button on the radio, dial from the keyboard, and push send.
I've never seen the "not activated" in my dash display. I've only see the "no phone" when the phone was unplugged from the coil cord.
I have the same car and this is my first winter with it.
It takes some getting use to, and it is a little scary. You think your going to lose it, and then it corrects itself.
I've done some playing in the snow with mine. Tried to make it spin out, but I couldn't. The ESP took over.
All in all, I think you'll be fine. Especially if you live in Texas. Try Minnesota some time. You guys don't know what real snow is ;-)
Wish I didn't :-(
Those other cars that seemed to be doing better were probably FWD's or AWD's.
I'll double check this with the dealer when I go in for the first service (including 1st oil change) which the display says will be in 900 miles. I've gone over 11k, and living dangerously, have followed the manufacturer's schedule for oil change. I will request Moil 1 at that time.
My insurance company is Safety Insurance in Boston. I deal with a local agent who selects the company based on their experiences with claims, financial condition, etc. In Massachusetts, basic automobile insurance is compulsory with rates regulated by the Commonwealth. So, the basis of competition is service and "good driver" rebates managed through the "point" system that many states have.
LoJack, when they started their business, did a very smart thing: they demonstrated effectiveness of their system and lobbied the insurance companies for insurance discounts to create a market for their product. The problem with LoJack is the need for the police to have special hardware for tracking the stolen vehicles. Whether LoJack gives this hardware away to expand their market is unknown to me. Stolen vehicles are rightfully a low priority with police compared to armed crime, crimes of the person, etc. unless the sv is connected with some other crime. Law Enforcement has to be equipped, interested, and available when your car gets swiped.
Tele-Aid, OnStar and their cousins would seem to have an advantage here. You notify the police and TA, TA locates the car and tells police where it is - - much less work for police than LoJack, and then, hopefully, the police have time to go to the place TA has identified as the location. And, you get coverage wherever cellphone coverage exists. LoJack is very regional: the police have to have the hardware. A TA limitation is that the ignition on your TA-equipped car must be on for TA to function. And, I suppose aluminum foil taped down over the outside TA antenna (which is in plain sight on top of the car) could thwart both the cell signal and the GPS locator if the thieves are smart enuf to know to do this (so, if you ever see an MB with tinfoil over that antenna .........). LoJack installations purport to be concealed and functional at all times. Who knows whether State Farm has these reasons for not offering the discount? If State Farm isn't interested, I'd go to a local agent and have them scout a company that WILL offer the discount.
IMOH, Tele-Aid would be smart to lobby for insurance discounts as LoJack did, which would increase the attractiveness of their services. And, unless it's too tough on the battery, TA should be active at all times, at least for the locator service. If Tele-Aid, OnStar and the others lobbied the insurance companies, demonstrated effectiveness, and priced their product reasonably, I think they could put LoJack out of business and own the vehicle recovery market. We should all tell them.
Good Luck
By the way, has anyone seen any statistics about the theft rate for MB models compared to other comparable brands, particularly MB Models with TA installed as standard? I'd also be interested in hearing about anyone's experience in getting a vehicle recovered with TA.
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Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I have and love a 00 430 E. Its very sporty and at 45 I am starting my mid life crisis. I do drive a little fast and most of my driving is around Atlanta (im in Real Eatate) BUT the brakes had to be replaced at 8,000 miles eeek and the Goodyear tires got bubbles on the sides and had to go ar 11,500 miles eeeeeeeeeeeeeek I never had this experence in My lexus 320 no compairsion I agree. The tires cost $1250.00 because the are z rated. i had to go to a more expensive tire store because several stores would not offer road hazzard. PLEASE HELP ME!
Does any one know of a different tire that will go on my 17 in rim.I put 20,000 miles a year and the Z tires were out quickly so I am told. 2. Are there any brakes that do not wear out as quickly as MB soft brakes
Thanks for your help
All: (Zaino) Since my 00 E320 is black I've noticed some swirl marks, that I believe started after having the dealer put on their teflon coating. My wife has a 99 C that is gold (parchment?) in color and we had the teflon applied to hers with great results. Hers looks brand new with just regular washings. Mine is a year newer but the finish needs help. What a difference a color makes! So I just ordered the Zaino line of products (Z1, Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7 and the clay bar). For those of you who have gone through this process, I understand that you start with a one time only Dawn wash and then the clay bar. My question is, How is the clay removed? (I didn't see reference to this on Zaino's web site.) With car wash; just water; or just wiping off? It will probably be a couple of weeks before I receive the products. Thanks for your input.
What does this mean? Is the car due for a service or what?
Also, any experience with the rolling garage door programming. I followed the instruction on HomeLink's website and it did not seem to work. Any tricks here?
Thanks!
It'll probably take a few coats (4-5) of Z5 to get the swirl marks out.
I have an Obsidian Black 00 E320 and it took 3 coats before the swirl marks started to disappear.
Also, don't apply the Z5 to heavy. I did, and I just about killed myself trying to remove it.
A little goes along way. Very thin coats.
BTW..when your dealer reprograms your phone, it should be no charge. They obvisiously didn't do it right the first time.
Jeff
ESP and the winter mode improve performance in snow conditions up to the limits of the traction of your tires. The addition of four snow/ice tires have a profound synergistic effect.
I've been doing a lot of reading on www.tirerack.com of their professional reviews, as well as the customer ratings and comments. As a very tentative and preliminary choice, I am intrigued by Yokohama AVS dB. This W-rated tire comes in the same size and rating as the original Continentals. Apparently, the construction emphasizes noise reduction and ride comfort. It is an all-season ultra high performance tire, so that there will be some loss in (dry wearther) grip. The UTQG is 320AA. Thus, there might be a slightly longer life.
There are a couple of other tires in the same 235-45-17R size that are H-rated. The overall reviews of these tires weren't too good, however.
A drastic approach is to switch to a tire with a lower aspect ratio, such as 55. I understand from previous discussions on this forum that it wouldl throw the speedometer out of kilter
Jack
Thanks in advance.
Thanks
Drew
Host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Jack
When I first got my 00 E320 in late Aug of 2000, I noticed that on the freeways the car seemed to drift left while in the left lane, drift left while in the center lane, and stay straight while in the right hand lane.
I'm aware of what road crowning is but I still think the car drifts to much to the left.
I had them do a wheel alignment and it improved a little, but still drifts left.
Would the "unadjustable" chamber and caster bolts have something to do with this?
Should I ask the dealer to put in adjustable ones?