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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans
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Comments
2d question is on the Timeport phone. Is it a 3 watt a 0.5 watt. The dealer wasn't sure. Also, will it handle AT&I text messaging. I've become very dependent on short messaages from the office that don't interrupt a conversation with client, just a beep and I have a message on my Nokia screen.
The info your dealer is giving you doesn't seem accurate.
Only change for 2002 is a remote trunk release (not even sure where this is). No final word on special release versions or packages but if they do this, it will likely be in Spring 2002 as they wind the factory down for the retooling of the 2003.
http://www.mbworld.org/forum/w210/board/messages/2736.html
Jean
Regarding the cd player, my car has the COMAND system, and the factory-installed 6-cd changer is mounted in the trunk. I can play single cd's in the COMAND system if I am not using the navigation feature. I believe an after market cassette player can be added in the glove compartment.
The Timeport phone has a key for both voice mail and text messages, but I have not used these features. I don't know the power, but previous posts have stated that the telephone has higher power when plugged into the car. I can confirm this, as I've never had reception problems in the car.
MSRP 52,114
Invoice 48,500
The sales price was 47,386 (around a 1K less than invoice, 5K less than MSRP). My monthly lease payment is 638. for 39 months/12k miles. I will pay the taxes up front so I need to bring in a little less than $2900 when I pick up the car for taxes (2114), first payment, and tags.
I did not haggle at all except for asking to throw in the cd player (would have added $12 per month) and the cargo nets. I just put in a request for a quote through autobytel (which gave me another dealer in my area - I'm in NY) to make sure I'm getting a fair deal. The dealer I went to had 2 desert silvers on the lot.
I'm still trying to decide whether I should upgrade the wheels (my wife prefers the stock wheels) to give it a sportier look.
Please share some thoughts on this purchase with me, I've found the posts on this site extremely valuable. TIA
Let us know what you end up with.
Is anyone using a k&n stock replacement air filter in an E-class MB? Drew, what do you think? K&N claims it will increase the air intake over the stock paper filter and possibly improve the fuel mileage slightly. Any ideas?
Thanks,
John
What is the thought of adding additives like Prolong or Power Max to the engine oil, transmission oil and fuel? Also adding to synthetics (Mobil 1)?
Just out of curiosity, why not? All I know about them is that they used (20 yrs ago) to be highly touted for motorcycle aftermarket use.
Pat
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Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Anyways, I have few questions for you folks, I will appreciate your kind response to these:
1. Steering column is not centered, it is little bit to the left. I talked to the technician and he told me this is the way all the Mercedes are because of safety reason. Is this correct?
2. To me it seemed like car pulls to the right and technician looked at the alignment. Alignment is all good according to him. So is this also normal or is it because of the roads we have in the NorthWest?
3. If I have my radio or CD ON, the Navigation will not mute the Radio/CD. My understanding was that it will mute the radio or CD until Navigation gives the instructions. Could some one please verify the functionality on this?
Otherwise I think this is a wonderful machine to drive!!!
Thanks for the help in advance!
Costco Wholesale stores are offering a $50 dollars off for Michelin Tires. The sale is on from June 18 through July 1st only. Besides, a coupon is needed and you could ask for it at customer services before making the transaction.
I received this info in the mail and I thought of sharing it with you..
Cheers
Just a reminder that the MB chat is on tonight (6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern). Hope to see you there!
http://www.edmunds.com/chat/mercedeschat.html
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Steering wheel is offset slightly to the left; no idea why this is a safety factor, seems like a b.s. factor.
Radio , cd, should mute when directions are given:Is the volume of the nav turned up?
Thanks for taking your time to answer my questions.
Yes, the volume for the Navigation is turned up. I do hear the Navigation instructions but they are coming out while the CD or Radio is playing. And my impression was that it will mute the CD/Radio while giving the instructions and will un-mute the CD/Radio after it has finished giving instructions.
So, I do not know if the system is suppose to work like this or there is a problem with it.
Can my phone be adapted? After all, how many cellular phones do you need?
Wheel off set, I never noticed it.
Good luck.
I have the Alpine Nav in my E430. I have yet to take any pictures of it. I will as soon as i stop being lazy. What questions to you have ?
Email me at kcsupratt@yahoo.com with you number and I will call you if you want to talk in person.
Thanks
Kenny
Hope this helps. And while walto's adjustments are slick (having only the driver's speakers activated during NAV vocals), most of my passengers are enthralled when the magic COMAND NAV system tells me what to do and when! So I let everyone hear the instructions and just glow with pride in my MB!
Why do you think F1,CART etc use them?
http://www.escribe.com/automotive/european/mbmc/m5490.html
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
P.S. The MB dealership was much more considerate than the Subaru dealership regarding the test drive. Subaru said that we could not drive over 4 miles. Give me a break!
I am very happy with the ml and would recommend it, but would wait on the c-class unil some first year bugs are worked out. I do think that mercedes in the past over engineerd the cars and they were very expensive. They are comming down in price and in quality in my opinion. Still excellent and still amung the best you can buy, and certainly the safest. This current E class model is the oldest of the mb line up (g-class excepted)and perhaps is the best car they make. For example the build on the old s-class is better than the new one. But you need to figure out where your going with price. I have never had a day of regret for upping my spending on my car and have enjoyed it greatly.
To CTE430, Bargamon.
My 2000 E430W4 was also shipped with F1's. So far, about 10k miles on the tires, can't say too much about the tread wear yet. The tread pattern looks very aggressive and is a good rain design, but my first outing on New England snow was terrifying - even with 4Matic! Ordered 4 Blizzaks on AMG rims from The Tire Rack, put 'em on, and everything was fine after that. F1's are very noisy! The Blizzaks are very quiet! Go figure. When the F1's finally wear out, I'm going to be shopping for sneakers a little quieter than these. Anyone with any thoughts on suitable tires for E430?? What other tires are shipped with E430's? Just F1's, or are there others?
To Landing Gear - -
I got the K2a/StarTAC with my car. My wife's StarTAC will not work on the car's connector. Mercedes changes the firmware in the phone to proprietary code that works with the K2/K2a options. Since they get something like $1000 for the phone, they're unlikely to update your phone's flash memory for compatibility. Actually, I had some early problems with the MB phone working with my Cellular provider, Cingular. For instance, the COMAND display does not show that I'm roaming when I actually am. Cingular offered to "flash" my phone so it would work consistently with the Cingular net - but had I done this, then the K2a features would not have worked. DO NOT let anyone change the flash memory code in your phone. Sort problems out with MB instead.
My experience with the car's quality has been spotty, at best. While so far the 4-year warranty has covered everything, here's a partial list of what has been replaced.
Planetary gear set in 4-matic system (slight whine at neutral throttle)
Steering rack (intermittent squeaking "dry O-ring feel" in steering)
Rear Brake Rotors (throbbing on braking - appeared suddenly after the service call to fix the steering rack - no relation to changing a steering rack - explanation = ??)
COMAND system in its entirety (numerous flaky problems, CD starting problems, Radio reception)
Gas tank fuel level sender (started out OK, ended up very inaccurate)
Antenna amplifier somewhere in the headliner (!?)
Phone Battery (one shipped with phone would not hold a charge when out of the car)
As I write this, the car is in the shop for completely dead AM and WB radio reception.
I deliberately did NOT buy an extended warranty, for two reasons. The most important is that COMAND, Radio, and other related stuff is NOT covered by this warranty. If you are tempted to get a warranty, ask for a list of what is NOT covered! The second reason is the question about how long one ought to keep this car. If you buy just a basic car without all of the electronic add-ons, then it may make sense to run it into the ground based on MB durability reputation. If, however, you like hands-free phones, COMAND, CD Changers and all the rest, this stuff is going to go obsolete far earlier than the car is going to wear out. So, you're gonna to be hankering for a new car every couple of years to keep these bells and whistles up to date
Another note to all 2000 and newer M-B owners. Massachusetts (at least) offers a 20% comprehensive insurance discount if you have an alarm system, and 35% discount if you have a vehicle recovery system (such as LoJack, OnStar, TeleAid, etc). The small number of M-B's in the overall U.S. "Fleet" most likely makes your insurance agent unfamiliar with the TeleAid/LoJack equivalence. I had to submit "proof" to the agent that the system does this - which I did by sending in a brochure and a copy of the standard equipment list, and am now getting the discount. While this does not offset the $200+ annual cost of TeleAid, it was enough to get me to extend TeleAid coverage. I've had 2 cars stolen in the past and in each case, the thief never had to pay. Knowing they could get caught red-handed is incentive enough for me to pay this! I've suggested both to M-B and the TeleAid contractor that they should do a better job of publicizing these potential discounts.
And, a final note to Varig.
An MB vs a Subaru?? Gee, if you bought a Kia, you could have an EVEN BIGGER in-ground pool. Cars are not investments, IMHO. I agree that E-class is probably the best MB right now. My warranty experience, above, might be of concern since even the dealer (who says the E-Class is the most trouble-free) is surprised at the number of times he has worked on my car. I still am very happy with the car, like the ride, the handling, the power, the 4-matic - - and the cachet, I suppose. For these elements, the car is a good enough value if you can afford it.
Curt's latest newsletter (www.curtrich.com) has a comparo of the E w/ a few competitors. He's quite blunt :-)
Anyways, if safety is your top priority, I'd still stick w/ a MB...
Could someone please verify this for me if they paid $1680 for 3 years or 4 years for E430.
Also like to know if COMMAND system will display callerID on the screen. I have K2a package in my car. Please provide instructions how to have it display callerid if it is capable of doing it.
Thanks.
On my 2001 E-class without COMAND, the callerID number appears on the dash as well as the radio so I'm sure it will appear on the COMAND screen as well.
The phone is smart enough to match the incoming number to your address book and display the name of the caller.
What I expect of a MB is better durability if current models are like the old ones. They are also more solid (compare frame members, bumpers, etc.) than most Japanese models (though maybe the high end Lexi or Acuras are better now since mine was really a souped up Civic). They are not as reliable as Japanese cars. Just be aware of that tradeoff.
Every maker makes a lemon once in a while, even Honda and Toyota.
What I was wondering, if $1680 is what people paid for 7 years/100000 or 8 years/100000 warranty.
Thanks.