I've finally found something about my M35 that's worth a minor beef, at least to me. The starter button's writing isn't etched in ... it's painted on. A year into my joyous ownership I find it being worn off ... looks tacky! (Now THAT'S a real reach for a beef, but it's the little things that get to me.)
I've already joined the chorus re: the passenger seat and other "oversights".
I just ordered an M45 Sport with Journey & Tech packages, then spent yesterday evening reviewing the dealer brochure. It indicates that even with the ICC turned off, the laser continues to operate for the braking system. I'm concerned that this will be a problem as I've experienced laser false alarms on my Valentine V-1 radar/laser detectors when driving near other Infinities.
Does anyone have experience with this issue? I called the dealer today and told him to put the order on hold pending resolution of this issue.
M: More fun to drive, less expensive, arguably better styling, can likely be had with more gadgets, 45 is faster than LS (I believe), can be had with AWD (35).
LS: Quieter, can be had with oodles of luxury appointments, better gas mileage, may be more reliable.
Believe it or not, interior size is very close. The LS probably has a bigger trunk, though.
It is a personal preference if money is no object. You have to test drive them, though.
I do joke a lot, but not when it comes to speeding.
It isn't a compatibility issue, its a driveability issue. Let's face it, most people don't buy a 335 hp car with a sport suspension to drive at the speed limit.
Laser-based speed detection is a fact of life these days. The inherent problem with any detection technology is false alarms- if the technology constantly sets off false alarms, people either ignore it or turn it off.
That'll run my insurance tab up so quickly, it won't be funny.
I did notice some fading of the lettering but tape, when pulled off could worsen it. Buy some of the plastic sheeting used to cover the face of a Palm Pilot to prevent scratching. Cut a circle and just place it on the center of the button's surface. Voila! It stays put, won't erode the lettering when u pull it off, stops your oily finger tip from erasing the button lettering and is easy to replace as needed! One package of the stuff from the Palm web site should last the life of your car.
Buy some of the plastic sheeting used to cover the face of a Palm Pilot to prevent scratching. Cut a circle and just place it on the center of the button's surface. Voile! It stays put
Great suggestion. Another plus is that it is easier to cut a circle in it than tape. BTW - the diameter of the button is the same as a quarter!
What about glazing the button with some clear nail polish?
I thought about that, but it's too permanent and "gunky". I like the earlier recommendation of tape ... and even better, the clear non-adhesive stuff that's used to make the "change my oil" stickers better.
Are you confused between "radars" and "lasers". Lasers use light (sometimes not visible) and radars use microwaves of a very different frequency (never visible) The Infiniti ICC uses radar waves to measure distance and velocity to the car in front of you. If you experience some interference between the two radars switch the frequency of your remote and the problem should be solved.
I'm pretty certain the M uses a "laser"-based (actually LIDAR, for "LIght Detection And Ranging") system. There are both kinds of systems out there. The radar systems obviously have some advantages with fog and rain.
Correct, it does use laser, both for ICC, as well as "preview" braking. I'm happy to report that after a thorough empirical test, neither of these systems cause interference with the Valentine V-1 radar/laser detector when both are operated from the same car. I'll be picking up my new M45 this Friday...
I have seen other Infiniti and Mercedes vehicles set off my laser detector briefly, and experienced false alarms from Acura RL's (which use a radar-based cruise control system).
Wouldn't something like that be covered under the 4 year warranty? Has anyone been told by a dealer that it's not covered?
rpiercef: It's wear and tear, not a failure/breakdown covered by warranty. They don't replace tires, but I do agree that tires are designed to wear out and this button SHOULD be designed to last for the life of the car. And what's to stop the NEXT button from the same fading UNLESS newer buttons are embossed/engraved? The answer to your question I believe is "no", not to my knowledge. I would be VERY surprised if they were to replace it under warranty ... but I'll ask the next time the car goes in. (The more I think of it, you may have a very good point. Bart :shades:
Do people have a problem with the M45 denting too easily like a beer can? I have tried pushing in the rear bumper with my hand and there doesn't seem to be any metal behind it. Also, the metal on the whole car seems thinner than cars made in the early 90's. I know Infiniti did this to cut down on the weight but it shouldn't dent so easily.
I've noticed this as well. I washed/waxed my M45 over the weekend and was surprised at how much "flex" there was in the hood and other body panels. I had an '04 G 35 that was much "stronger" feeling in the body panels than my new M.
Also, anyone notice a fair amount of wind noise when going down the highway? I'm only getting it on the drivers side but it's very noticeable. Taking it in this week for some adjustments.
You're right about the rear bumper. I dented mine with my knee while getting a piece of luggage out of the trunk. I'm sure that this will not be covered by warranty, but I think Infiniti should at least warn owners about the flimsy bumper. Even though the dent is small, I still notice it every time I look at the back of the car.
After 6 months of bad MPG, wind noise and "performance" exhaust, I ordered an MB E350 to replace my M35x. Because the M is so popular and the E isn't, it cost me only about $10K. I picked up the E350 two weeks ago and am very pleased. All my complaints about the M are gone.
I thought I would loose big time on the NAV, but I like the E's better. You don't have to press Ok every time you start the car. Guidance is presented in the speedo's center. You can type directions using the joy stick OR text entry like on a cell phone. I also find it gives better directions. When not under nav, the speedo shows the name of the road I'm on and my direction of travel. I love that. My M never understood me, so I gave up trying to use speech.
The keyless Go system beats both Lexus and Infinity. You just walk up and pull the handle. No buttons to push. No initial touching. With the M, it was easy to lock the car thinking you were unlocking it. Plus, the MB system works on all 4 doors.
The xenon lights are great. The brakes are great. The automatic wipers are great. I love the electric open/close trunk. The car is very smooth and quiet. The interior is beautiful. I don't miss the ATM style buttons. I have a nice big easy to read analog clock right next to the speedo. I found the M's overly styled clock hard to read.
And I'm getting 350+ miles on a tank. 21+ mpg. That's a lot better than the M's 16 mpg. The MB 7 speed transmission helps there.
I'll admit that I should have known better than to buy a sporty luxury car, but all those awards and reviews swayed me. Like most of the reviews, I thought the M was pretty damn perfect the first couple of weeks. But the honeymoon ended quickly. The only thing that will kill this honeymoon is if the benz runs into those often reported electronic problems. But I have feeling those problems are exaggerated.
Sounds like a cheesy approach in my humble opinion. I haven't yet experienced that, but if I do I guess the clear plastic PDA protectors might be less cheesy. Now that some of the minor warts and wrkinkles (like this one) are starting to show, I wonder how this will affect the popularity of this car over the coming 12 to 18 months???
I'm enjoying my M45 but am surprised by the very sensitive steering. It rarely tracks in a straight line and veers off to the right on crowned road surfaces. It was terrible when new, but is somewhat better with 3K miles. Any similar experiences or suggestions?
I had an '03 E Benz and found it to be a great car with minimal mechanical problems. I'm not sure your $10k trading difference was a smokin' deal but your personal satisfaction is what is important.
Good luck with it.
(Now that you have the Mercedes, watch that you don't morph into a troll on this board.)
You are correct that the ICC uses laser technology. I had read some information on the web that referred to the ICC as a radar system but the Infiniti web site says it's laser based. The laser beam could be much narrower than a radar beam of similar size and was probably the reason for picking it.
I liked my '03 E500 too, but the niggling electronics drove me crazy and the QC and service were terrible (leaky winshield with 4 trips to repair - once after it fried all the headlight computers under my seat). And this was my 5th Benz with same dealer who typically did better. I couldn't stand the way the dealer and MB tried to tell me I was the only customer with these problems, when their rep was cr@p everywhere.
The car was beautiful; handled great (sport package) and strong passing power (not quite up to my '00 E55 but close). But the inability to play a CD without restarting or hiccups, the uncontrollable ear-blasting dtmf tones of the phone, the rain-sensing wipers that never hit high gear, etc. ad nauseum were all complete frustrations and I'm glad to be rid of them. It's too bad; I hope for everyone's sake MB learns to build cars that work again.
Meanwhile, the M45 Sport performs as well (better off the line but more sluggish at top) and just does it's job. So far so great.
Not sure if someone already responded to this. But you can't be serious comparing the M to the Lexus LS? The most common comparison is to the Lexus GS. The big complaint with the GS being an over-aggressive computer which kicks in and controls the car when it is being "pushed." Takes some of the "sport" out of the sports car. The Infiniti answer to the LS would be the Q45.
I was replying to a poster who had asked for a comparison between the M and LS. Yup, the GS is Lexus's competition for the M. The only review I know of that favored the GS over the M was Edmunds' own. That had some serious flaws as it asked for "Sport" and then gave the GS the nod because of "Luxury".
Consumers are now becoming aware of the M as it outsold the GS for the first time last month, despite the similar sticker and Lexus brand identity.
Good luck, edspider1. I hope your E350 lives up to your expectations. I doubt, however, that the "problems (w/ MB) are exaggerated" but some vehicles seem to be trouble-free while others make their owners knutz w/ annoyances ranging from minor to needing entire new powerplants. I have several friends who have Benz's of all descriptions, and the majority of them have had problems. Fortunately MB has good service and loaner programs (as do Infiniti and Lexus) but w/ MB (and BMW) it seems they're needed much more frequently.
One of my friends had an SL 55 AMG. When it rained, the rear compartment filled with water; it took three dealers in three different states to solve that. The passenger's window motor died ... with the window half way down. One of the windows actually fell out! Even the cup holder fell out. And a number of other "issues". As he put it, for 1/10th the cost he could have had a Yugo w/ none of those problems. His car was such a :lemon: that MB took it back after a year AND A WRECK!
Another friend has an SL 500. It runs great. Fuel guage doesn't always register, dimmer switch works .. sometime. Various and sundry other stuff malfunctions unpredictably. Yet another friend had to have the engine in his ML replaced at 10K.
In any event, again ... good luck and I sincerely hope yours is one that proves to be trouble free. My wife had an '86 E300 for ten years ... it was bulletproof and trouble free. But that's twenty years ago. Me? I wouldn't have one even though a few little things on the M annoy me. I wouldn't recognize Infiniti's service manager if he came to my front door and introduced himself!
This reminds me of an acquaintance's SL55 that cought fire for no apparent reason while driving slowly on a suburban street about 2 blocks from my house. Car was less than 6 months old. Made my leaky windshield and electronics bugs pale in comparison. What a shame (and disgrace) for what used to be such a great marque.
Today other friends, who were also a 2-MB family (CLK430 ragtop and M500) decided at end of leases this month to go to GS430 and X3, similar to our move in last 6 months from C320 and E500 to 325 and now M45 Sport. The interesting thing about all these horror stories and defections is that (here in Montreal at least) MB doesn't seem to give a d@mn about customer retention.
I think I posted awhile ago that the Infiniti sales manager was the Lexus sales manager for 6 - 7 years, then 1 year at MB before coming over to Infiniti. He told me that at MB they took back a car each month (on average), at Lexus only one that he could remember, and thus far none at Infiniti (although he's been with Infiniti only one year).
How did my buddy get a new SL 55 AMG out of MB even after a wreck? He simply told them that it would cost them more than the price of a new car to defend themselves if they didn't replace it. I gather they checked into his "litigation budget" and decided he wasn't blowing smoke. Which he wasn't.
I've been lucky throughout my life with cars. On average I replaced my personal car every year until I was in my mid-50's and now it's every two to three years. I've had all sizes, shapes, and descriptions of cars over the years US and imported) and NEVER had a :lemon:. Maybe the odds will catch up with me the next time around but overall I've never had a major issue with anything ---- even my wife's MB 300E that was almost totaled ~ 18 months after we bought it and we kept it for another 8 1/2 years.
Oh, and for the record the State Supreme Court here in AZ just ruled that a leased car CANNOT qualify for "lemon law" protection! For what it's worth. Bart
My wife bought an '02 MB CLK Cabriolet. At around the same time I bought a Q45, and about a year ago I replaced my Q with an '06 M45.
Quality and reliability wise, my experience has been extraordinary throughout, while My wife has ALWAYS had something breaking: Engine problems, problems with the convertible top, broken cup holders, serious engine noise, and on and on.
She's also told me that she's totally envious of my car's electronics and convenience features.
My NAV, is so much better in so many ways, there's no comparison. It's FAR more user friendly, and FAR more feature rich. (Amazingly BOTH are true at the same time. I'm a retired software developer and I do know something about software.) I use voice control on NAV destinations EVERY day, and I think it's fantastic. I hardly EVER have to repeat myself. But even on the rare occasions when I do, it's STILL so much faster, easier, and SAFER while driving, than the alternatives.
Features like rear view monitor, the bluetooth phone connection, excellent intelligent cruise, tire pressure readout, and many others all make make my daily experience far more rewarding.
I totally love this car. Quality, reliability, superior technology, and total pleasure. I'd have a very hard time going for MB or BMW at this point. (And price, BTW, plays no part in that decision. I'd rather pay more money and get more prestige, but NOT if it means a LESS satisfying driving experience.)
I'm into my 4th weeks and still love the E. When I review the problem posts I started to notice the problem models were the low volume high end models. It also seems to take a couple of years to get the kinks out of new platforms. I think the E's last platform was the 02 and there were a lot of problems in the MY. But 06 has the bugs worked out.
I agree speech rec is the way to go for safety. But it just didn't work for me. My friend has the RL and it doesn't work for him either. What I do like though, is I can enter my destination while the car is moving. (I know that's not that safe, but I'm old enought to be cautious.) I also like how it fades the audio when giving directions. On MB you can adjust how much fade. I hear with a cochlear implant so I need all the help I can get. I have the nav set to mute the radio when it wants to speak.
Features like rear view monitor, the bluetooth phone connection, excellent intelligent cruise, tire pressure readout, and many others all make make my daily experience far more rewarding
All these features except the rear monitor are available as options in the 2006 E Class. Bluetooth is available beginning this month.
Please understand. I am not saying the M is not a nice car. It's a stunning, hot car. I was just saying I took the favorable press too seriously when I bought the M. When I told my friends I was switching the the E, 80% of them thought I nuts. After showing them the E and letting them drive it. They ALL said they would take the E over the M and they were very suprised.
the problem models were the low volume high end models
We've cited industrial strength problems with SL 55's and an AMG here but the CLK, the SLK, the SUV and the 2-series don't fit that description (low volume high end) and I have friends with all of them who aren't happy campers. For every nightmare there are plenty of success stories and happy owners and hopefully your E will give you as much long-term pleasure as our M's. In fairness I have friends who have all of the above and do NOT have problems to speak of but there appear to be far more sad stories with MB and BMW than with the Japanese competitors. :shades:
I sat in a brand new E at the Detroit autoshow. Closed the door, it rattled...brand new car. Moved the seat back where it was mildly comfortable, had to crawl forward to get around the B-pillar, and I still didn't like the driving position. For me at least, that was a major turnoff. I fit in the M much better. Would I have liked something else, maybe, but it works fine. Can't say anything about reliability, but if the manufacturer didn't prep a new car that would be seen by thousands to make a good impression, it turned me off. Attention to details...is crucial.
> But I have feeling those problems are exaggerated.
Consumer Reports reported that the worst cars in terms of reliability were MBs. But they also stated that the M35(x)/M45 had a first-year stellar reliability, which did not turn out this way for me. I got a few irritants:
- loose driver seat, which is coming loose again (I weigh 180 lbs) - a rattle coming from the left A pillar, but I can not pinpoint it - a plastic part of the vent underneath the driver seat came loose
So nothing serious at all, and I guess it's part of the issues of having a 1st-year car, but that's not stellar to me (it took me 3 years to have a first issue on a '99 BMW 528), so I take CR's reports with a grain of salt. All this said, keep us informed of how things are doing for you. I didn't buy an E500 (and chose the M45) for my concern about MB's reliability records.
On a side note: PC Magazine (!) choose the M as the best car. According to them, it packs the most electronic features in any car under $100k and they're easy to use. They only complained about gas mileage.
Hello everyone. I thought it might be a good time to post that I have 28,000 miles on my M35X. Knocking on wood, I have had not one mechanical problem to this point. Unfortunately, my 11 year old daughter didn't care if the seat belt is fully inside the car when she slammed the door so I now have a couple of dime size holes in the interior trim of the passenger side door. The saftey belt end caught between the seat and the door and that was all it took. I was dissappointed to hear that the 2007's have not changed some of the little things that have been mentioned here before. Have a great Easter weekend. Hawk.
I agree with other people on this site--as far as pricing, I was dealing with the Cleveland Infiniti dealer on a m35x with Journey and Tech pkg. After 3 phone calls and 4 e-mail attempts they would not come down off of the sticker price (the internet salesman told me that they have people actually walk in off the street and are so impressed with the M car that they pay sticker for it) I told him I don't pay sticker for anything.
So, I took a cue from a couple of people off of this board and found that there were 3 dealers within a 50 mile area in Cincinatti & Dayton & Columbus, Ohio. What I found out is that I could buy/lease the M car I wanted from any of them for $1000 to $1500 over invoice. When I faxed a copy of a dealer's price from Cincinatti to the Cleveland dealer he told me to go ahead and get it from them because there was no way he could come done that far with his cars.
So, let ya go...find an area with more than 3 dealers and go get your best price. It worked for me. By the way, I just marked my 1 year anniversary with my M35x and I am happy to report to you that I have had -O- or zero problems with the car--this after 12,000 miles and 4 trips to Pittsburgh (450 miles) and 1 to Chicago (500 miles)--I really , really love this car and wow does it still ever get looks from by standers here in the great midwest.
You won't be sorry for your purchase of this great car.
Just a little note, I got the same treatment at the dealer in indianapolis found a dealer in Dublin ohio m35x suppose to pick it up x wk 2500 under sticker
I think I am having a mid life crisis. I have a '06 M35x that has been a fabulous car. Today I went and test drove a new Porsche 911 C4. I am now going to sell my M35x. It has the premium package with rear deck spoiler and splash guards. It only has 6,500 miles and is in perfect condition. KBB and NADA do not show used car values for this vehicle yet. What do you think is the market value of this car? Thanks for your help here.
Networth: Oftentimes a market monopoly dealership can demand MSRP but here in Tucson there's only one Infiniti dealer and he gave me $2,500 pff MSRP the first week of April last year! The next closest dealership is in Phoenix ... 100 miles away. May be a volume thing ... your guy may get too few to sell at a discount and make ends meet. In any event, you took his advice and spoke with your feet. Good for you. Now, let him do the service! Bart :shades:
In March, my MB dealer gave me 43K for my 2006 M35x with Premium and 6500 miles as trade. He then put in a premo spot on the used car lot. I don't know if it sold.
I had originally planned to buy a GS because of Lexus' sterling reputation. But after reading published reviews, especially the one in Consumer Reports, and the experience of forum participants, I opted for the M. I took delivery of my M35X with journey and nav 2 weeks ago and couldn't be more pleased. Obviously others share my sentiments because the M outsold the GS in March which is quite a feat given the the fact that Lexus is the top selling luxury brand in the U. S. Do I like this car? You bet. To use a popular term on this forum, I "love" it. The features are awesome. This car is truly a computer on wheels. It is attractive both outside and inside, gives a tight, solid and comfortable ride, and provides the satisfaction that you are driving a safe and reliable luxury car.
I live in Englewood, NJ in the metro NY area. There are 6 or more Infiniti dealers within 30 minutes. I contacted these dealers via E mail. Instead of using Infiniti's web site, I phone the receptionist at each of the dealers and obtained the name and e mail address of the Internet Sales Manager. I described exactly what I wanted and listed the Edmunds invoice price (including destination) and requested that they advise me what they would charge. The replies where below $500 over invoice. But two stood out. One was from Park Ave Infiniti in Englewood, 2 miles from my house. I phoned the internet sales manager, who had replied to my E mail, and explained that his bid was good but that I had a lower competitive offer. He agreed to match this, and referred me to the internet salesman to handle the details. The salesman explained that they did not have the car I wanted in inventory, but should be able to get one from another dealer. I authorized a deposit of $1000. from my credit card, and he confirmed everything via e mail. In less than 10 days the Park Ave salesman called and advised me that the car was being driven in from another dealer and asked if I could come in and complete the paper work. When I arrived, he showed me the car which was still wrapped in white plastic, and explained that they would prep the car and that he would then deliver it. In the interim, he gave me the manual to study (Infiniti has a 37 page starter manual which is thorough and easy to follow). I then met with the business manager who was pleasant and thorough. No hype, no effort to sell undercoating etc. She explained the payment and registration process, completed the contract,offered to get a us a duplicate registration etc. Their document fee is steep... $185, but when you add it all up buying a luxury car at a few hundred (including the doc fee) above invoice is pretty good. As I read about forum participants living in isolated areas who are being asked to pay MSRP I wonder if they would be best served by contacting a dealer in a competitive, area. They may come out ahead even if they paid transit costs.
When the car was prepped, the salesman drove it to our house and spent 2 hours instructing my wife and me. The entire buying experience was simple and pleasurable. I had approached it with some trepidation but couldn't be more pleased with the results and the people at Park Ave Infiniti. My sole complaint... instead of waxing the car, they probably sprayed it the way that they do at the car wash when you pay an extra $3. I waxed it with Meguiars Next Generation Tech Wax and it has a mirror like finish (it's 2 weeks and it doesn't have to be washed because the dust glides off). Emgee
I too cross shopped the M with a GS Lexus, then bought the M. I couldn't be more pleased, and now with 11,900 mi. and over a year old, I've yet to have any real problems with the car. Although it is a real pleasure, I wish the passenger seat had more controls and the gas mileage was better.
Great to hear from both of you (MWG and carnaught), and great to hear about your good experiences.
I've had my M45 for close to a year now, and it's been an absolutely perfect car.
I still love everything about it, and totally agree that the handling and performance is just great, and that the NAV and electronics are the best available.
I've now had my M45 sport, tech/journey for 4 weeks and 2200 miles. Thus far, it's an excellent car. Only issues have been dealership related (tires were out of balance afer delivery, headlights out of alignment....) but the car is awesome. Getting 22+ (as high as 24.6) mpg highway and 18-19 combined. It all depends on how hard you push her. Smooth, firm solid ride with great technology and features. We can all make choices on what is important to us. We can give up performance to get increased economy.......or vice-versa. Lexus is a bit more economy based, Infiniti is a performance automobile.......
The only question I'd like some help with is this: my 11 year old daughter was helping me clean the car after a road trip and she scratched a small portion of the painted part of the front grill. What's the best way to fix this. It's too deep to smooth out with creams and wax. I've not taken it to the dealership yet and have to think there are better options. Anyone with experience in this area?
Comments
I've already joined the chorus re: the passenger seat and other "oversights".
Bart
Bart,
Thanks for that little tidbit. I'm going to cut a circle of clear tape and put it over the button......
-- Bill
Does anyone have experience with this issue? I called the dealer today and told him to put the order on hold pending resolution of this issue.
LS: Quieter, can be had with oodles of luxury appointments, better gas mileage, may be more reliable.
Believe it or not, interior size is very close. The LS probably has a bigger trunk, though.
It is a personal preference if money is no object. You have to test drive them, though.
It isn't a compatibility issue, its a driveability issue. Let's face it, most people don't buy a 335 hp car with a sport suspension to drive at the speed limit.
Laser-based speed detection is a fact of life these days. The inherent problem with any detection technology is false alarms- if the technology constantly sets off false alarms, people either ignore it or turn it off.
That'll run my insurance tab up so quickly, it won't be funny.
Great suggestion. Another plus is that it is easier to cut a circle in it than tape. BTW - the diameter of the button is the same as a quarter!
I thought about that, but it's too permanent and "gunky". I like the earlier recommendation of tape ... and even better, the clear non-adhesive stuff that's used to make the "change my oil" stickers better.
Bart :shades:
Inifinit M ICC
I have seen other Infiniti and Mercedes vehicles set off my laser detector briefly, and experienced false alarms from Acura RL's (which use a radar-based cruise control system).
rpiercef: It's wear and tear, not a failure/breakdown covered by warranty. They don't replace tires, but I do agree that tires are designed to wear out and this button SHOULD be designed to last for the life of the car. And what's to stop the NEXT button from the same fading UNLESS newer buttons are embossed/engraved? The answer to your question I believe is "no", not to my knowledge. I would be VERY surprised if they were to replace it under warranty ... but I'll ask the next time the car goes in. (The more I think of it, you may have a very good point. Bart :shades:
Also, anyone notice a fair amount of wind noise when going down the highway? I'm only getting it on the drivers side but it's very noticeable. Taking it in this week for some adjustments.
I thought I would loose big time on the NAV, but I like the E's better. You don't have to press Ok every time you start the car. Guidance is presented in the speedo's center. You can type directions using the joy stick OR text entry like on a cell phone. I also find it gives better directions. When not under nav, the speedo shows the name of the road I'm on and my direction of travel. I love that. My M never understood me, so I gave up trying to use speech.
The keyless Go system beats both Lexus and Infinity. You just walk up and pull the handle. No buttons to push. No initial touching. With the M, it was easy to lock the car thinking you were unlocking it. Plus, the MB system works on all 4 doors.
The xenon lights are great. The brakes are great. The automatic wipers are great. I love the electric open/close trunk. The car is very smooth and quiet. The interior is beautiful. I don't miss the ATM style buttons. I have a nice big easy to read analog clock right next to the speedo. I found the M's overly styled clock hard to read.
And I'm getting 350+ miles on a tank. 21+ mpg. That's a lot better than the M's 16 mpg. The MB 7 speed transmission helps there.
I'll admit that I should have known better than to buy a sporty luxury car, but all those awards and reviews swayed me. Like most of the reviews, I thought the M was pretty damn perfect the first couple of weeks. But the honeymoon ended quickly. The only thing that will kill this honeymoon is if the benz runs into those often reported electronic problems. But I have feeling those problems are exaggerated.
Keep us posted, please.
Good luck with it.
(Now that you have the Mercedes, watch that you don't morph into a troll on this board.)
The car was beautiful; handled great (sport package) and strong passing power (not quite up to my '00 E55 but close). But the inability to play a CD without restarting or hiccups, the uncontrollable ear-blasting dtmf tones of the phone, the rain-sensing wipers that never hit high gear, etc. ad nauseum were all complete frustrations and I'm glad to be rid of them. It's too bad; I hope for everyone's sake MB learns to build cars that work again.
Meanwhile, the M45 Sport performs as well (better off the line but more sluggish at top) and just does it's job. So far so great.
Consumers are now becoming aware of the M as it outsold the GS for the first time last month, despite the similar sticker and Lexus brand identity.
Good luck, edspider1. I hope your E350 lives up to your expectations. I doubt, however, that the "problems (w/ MB) are exaggerated" but some vehicles seem to be trouble-free while others make their owners knutz w/ annoyances ranging from minor to needing entire new powerplants. I have several friends who have Benz's of all descriptions, and the majority of them have had problems. Fortunately MB has good service and loaner programs (as do Infiniti and Lexus) but w/ MB (and BMW) it seems they're needed much more frequently.
One of my friends had an SL 55 AMG. When it rained, the rear compartment filled with water; it took three dealers in three different states to solve that. The passenger's window motor died ... with the window half way down. One of the windows actually fell out! Even the cup holder fell out. And a number of other "issues". As he put it, for 1/10th the cost he could have had a Yugo w/ none of those problems. His car was such a :lemon: that MB took it back after a year AND A WRECK!
Another friend has an SL 500. It runs great. Fuel guage doesn't always register, dimmer switch works .. sometime. Various and sundry other stuff malfunctions unpredictably.
Yet another friend had to have the engine in his ML replaced at 10K.
In any event, again ... good luck and I sincerely hope yours is one that proves to be trouble free. My wife had an '86 E300 for ten years ... it was bulletproof and trouble free. But that's twenty years ago. Me? I wouldn't have one even though a few little things on the M annoy me. I wouldn't recognize Infiniti's service manager if he came to my front door and introduced himself!
Bart
Today other friends, who were also a 2-MB family (CLK430 ragtop and M500) decided at end of leases this month to go to GS430 and X3, similar to our move in last 6 months from C320 and E500 to 325 and now M45 Sport. The interesting thing about all these horror stories and defections is that (here in Montreal at least) MB doesn't seem to give a d@mn about customer retention.
How did my buddy get a new SL 55 AMG out of MB even after a wreck? He simply told them that it would cost them more than the price of a new car to defend themselves if they didn't replace it. I gather they checked into his "litigation budget" and decided he wasn't blowing smoke. Which he wasn't.
I've been lucky throughout my life with cars. On average I replaced my personal car every year until I was in my mid-50's and now it's every two to three years. I've had all sizes, shapes, and descriptions of cars over the years US and imported) and NEVER had a :lemon:. Maybe the odds will catch up with me the next time around but overall I've never had a major issue with anything ---- even my wife's MB 300E that was almost totaled ~ 18 months after we bought it and we kept it for another 8 1/2 years.
Oh, and for the record the State Supreme Court here in AZ just ruled that a leased car CANNOT qualify for "lemon law" protection! For what it's worth. Bart
Quality and reliability wise, my experience has been extraordinary throughout, while My wife has ALWAYS had something breaking: Engine problems, problems with the convertible top, broken cup holders, serious engine noise, and on and on.
She's also told me that she's totally envious of my car's electronics and convenience features.
My NAV, is so much better in so many ways, there's no comparison. It's FAR more user friendly, and FAR more feature rich. (Amazingly BOTH are true at the same time. I'm a retired software developer and I do know something about software.) I use voice control on NAV destinations EVERY day, and I think it's fantastic. I hardly EVER have to repeat myself. But even on the rare occasions when I do, it's STILL so much faster, easier, and SAFER while driving, than the alternatives.
Features like rear view monitor, the bluetooth phone connection, excellent intelligent cruise, tire pressure readout, and many others all make make my daily experience far more rewarding.
I totally love this car. Quality, reliability, superior technology, and total pleasure. I'd have a very hard time going for MB or BMW at this point. (And price, BTW, plays no part in that decision. I'd rather pay more money and get more prestige, but NOT if it means a LESS satisfying driving experience.)
Pete
I agree speech rec is the way to go for safety. But it just didn't work for me. My friend has the RL and it doesn't work for him either. What I do like though, is I can enter my destination while the car is moving. (I know that's not that safe, but I'm old enought to be cautious.)
I also like how it fades the audio when giving directions. On MB you can adjust how much fade. I hear with a cochlear implant so I need all the help I can get. I have the nav set to mute the radio when it wants to speak.
Features like rear view monitor, the bluetooth phone connection, excellent intelligent cruise, tire pressure readout, and many others all make make my daily experience far more rewarding
All these features except the rear monitor are available as options in the 2006 E Class. Bluetooth is available beginning this month.
Please understand. I am not saying the M is not a nice car. It's a stunning, hot car. I was just saying I took the favorable press too seriously when I bought the M. When I told my friends I was switching the the E, 80% of them thought I nuts. After showing them the E and letting them drive it. They ALL said they would take the E over the M and they were very suprised.
We've cited industrial strength problems with SL 55's and an AMG here but the CLK, the SLK, the SUV and the 2-series don't fit that description (low volume high end) and I have friends with all of them who aren't happy campers. For every nightmare there are plenty of success stories and happy owners and hopefully your E will give you as much long-term pleasure as our M's. In fairness I have friends who have all of the above and do NOT have problems to speak of but there appear to be far more sad stories with MB and BMW than with the Japanese competitors. :shades:
I sat in a brand new E at the Detroit autoshow. Closed the door, it rattled...brand new car. Moved the seat back where it was mildly comfortable, had to crawl forward to get around the B-pillar, and I still didn't like the driving position. For me at least, that was a major turnoff. I fit in the M much better. Would I have liked something else, maybe, but it works fine. Can't say anything about reliability, but if the manufacturer didn't prep a new car that would be seen by thousands to make a good impression, it turned me off. Attention to details...is crucial.
Consumer Reports reported that the worst cars in terms of reliability were MBs. But they also stated that the M35(x)/M45 had a first-year stellar reliability, which did not turn out this way for me. I got a few irritants:
- loose driver seat, which is coming loose again (I weigh 180 lbs)
- a rattle coming from the left A pillar, but I can not pinpoint it
- a plastic part of the vent underneath the driver seat came loose
So nothing serious at all, and I guess it's part of the issues of having a 1st-year car, but that's not stellar to me (it took me 3 years to have a first issue on a '99 BMW 528), so I take CR's reports with a grain of salt. All this said, keep us informed of how things are doing for you. I didn't buy an E500 (and chose the M45) for my concern about MB's reliability records.
On a side note: PC Magazine (!) choose the M as the best car. According to them, it packs the most electronic features in any car under $100k and they're easy to use. They only complained about gas mileage.
So, I took a cue from a couple of people off of this board and found that there were 3 dealers within a 50 mile area in Cincinatti & Dayton & Columbus, Ohio. What I found out is that I could buy/lease the M car I wanted from any of them for $1000 to $1500 over invoice. When I faxed a copy of a dealer's price from Cincinatti to the Cleveland dealer he told me to go ahead and get it from them because there was no way he could come done that far with his cars.
So, let ya go...find an area with more than 3 dealers and go get your best price. It worked for me. By the way, I just marked my 1 year anniversary with my M35x and I am happy to report to you that I have had -O- or zero problems with the car--this after 12,000 miles and 4 trips to Pittsburgh (450 miles) and 1 to Chicago (500 miles)--I really , really love this car and wow does it still ever get looks from by standers here in the great midwest.
You won't be sorry for your purchase of this great car.
Dennis Rockhold
KBB and NADA do not show used car values for this vehicle yet. What do you think is the market value of this car? Thanks for your help here.
The features are awesome. This car is truly a computer on wheels. It is attractive both outside and inside, gives a tight, solid and comfortable ride, and provides the satisfaction that you are driving a safe and reliable luxury car.
I live in Englewood, NJ in the metro NY area. There are 6 or more Infiniti dealers within 30 minutes. I contacted these dealers via E mail. Instead of using Infiniti's web site, I phone the receptionist at each of the dealers and obtained the name and e mail address of the Internet Sales Manager. I described exactly what I wanted and listed the Edmunds invoice price (including destination) and requested that they advise me what they would charge. The replies where below $500 over invoice. But two stood out. One was from Park Ave Infiniti in Englewood, 2 miles from my house. I phoned the internet sales manager, who had replied to my E mail, and explained that his bid was good but that I had a lower competitive offer. He agreed to match this, and referred me to the internet salesman to handle the details. The salesman explained that they did not have the car I wanted in inventory, but should be able to get one from another dealer. I authorized a deposit of $1000. from my credit card, and he confirmed everything via e mail. In less than 10 days the Park Ave salesman called and advised me that the car was being driven in from another dealer and asked if I could come in and complete the paper work. When I arrived, he showed me the car which was still wrapped in white plastic, and explained that they would prep the car and that he would then deliver it. In the interim, he gave me the manual to study (Infiniti has a 37 page starter manual which is thorough and easy to follow). I then met with the business manager who was pleasant and thorough. No hype, no effort to sell undercoating etc. She explained the payment and registration process, completed the contract,offered to get a us a duplicate registration etc. Their document fee is steep... $185, but when you add it all up buying a luxury car at a few hundred (including the doc fee) above invoice is pretty good. As I read about forum participants living in isolated areas who are being asked to pay MSRP I wonder if they would be best served by contacting a dealer in a competitive, area. They may come out ahead even if they paid transit costs.
When the car was prepped, the salesman drove it to our house and spent 2 hours instructing my wife and me. The entire buying experience was simple and pleasurable. I had approached it with some trepidation but couldn't be more pleased with the results and the people at Park Ave Infiniti. My sole complaint... instead of waxing the car, they probably sprayed it the way that they do at the car wash when you pay an extra $3. I waxed it with Meguiars Next Generation Tech Wax and it has a mirror like finish (it's 2 weeks and it doesn't have to be washed because the dust glides off). Emgee
Hope you enjoy the car.
I've had my M45 for close to a year now, and it's been an absolutely perfect car.
I still love everything about it, and totally agree that the handling and performance is just great, and that the NAV and electronics are the best available.
Best of luck to both of you.
Pete
The only question I'd like some help with is this: my 11 year old daughter was helping me clean the car after a road trip and she scratched a small portion of the painted part of the front grill. What's the best way to fix this. It's too deep to smooth out with creams and wax. I've not taken it to the dealership yet and have to think there are better options. Anyone with experience in this area?