FloridaE55

This is my first thread and I am very sad!
Is it really true that the solar-panel isn't avaliable any more?

As I ordered my 05 E55 three days ago, my dealer couldn't find it in the option-list. He had no idea if it is still avaliable or not.

I can understand that they might change and discontinue some minor options but THIS option ??

Maybe they forgot that there are some areas in the U.S. that might get hot over the summer-month....

ATS

I am guessing here but that is a luxury item. I could see the sales of the S class having been brought down due to people buy the E class. Maybe they are holding back certain features.. I was told that Distronic isn't available on the US E class in 05 as well..

FloridaE55

Well, I would understand that move from MB IF they would offer that feature on the S-Class, but as far as I know, they don't. I ordered Distronic in my 2005 E55 and it was still avaliable.

DavidNJ

My guess is it was a warranty issue. MB went across the board to reduce costs. Removing things like the charcoal filters says to me: "If it costs €€€, and you can't tie it directly to sales, kill it!". Other posts indicate the pano roof and solar panels were expensive to maintain. If MB was getting warranty calls, and most pano customers didn't know it existed (most pano cars I've seen don't have it), they killed it to cuts costs.

xraymd

Distronic is only available on the E55 this year. That's right, the version least likely to sit in the slow lane on cruise control.

alewifebp

I never really liked the pano roof option, but the solar panel is a very cool idea. Certainly was a unique option, and from what I have heard, works quite well. It seems to be just another feature that most people did not buy (or I should say most dealerships), and it doesn't seem to be worth it to continue offering it (at least in MB's mind). One of the ways to increase reliability is to make each unit as similiar as possible. The less options means less complexity, which makes it easier to build it more efficiently.

ATS

I probably would have bought the solar roof if I didn't have to get the Pano..

I think it is really cool.. (and it keeps the car cool, hehe).

lyrixmajor

i guess i got lucky with my 04 order. i only wish i had added the electronic trunk closer. only thing missing. the feature is nice, not great. remember, it only turns the fans on and not the a/c which the engine runs. the car is still hot, just not stifling hot. i live in south florida, so i love it. and its greta when chicks get in and say. Why is your a/c on when your car is off? When i tell them it blows their minds. As the old benz guy at the dealership said when i was picking up my car. "Son you have joined an exclusive fraternity" Which fraternity is that? "The one where blonde chicks throw themselves in front of your car......LOL...LOL

ATS

Looks great. The Pano roof looks great on black cars.. Can you disable it? Does the fan blow at the same strength as the REST feature or is it totally different fans?

DavidNJ

Audi has offered the solar panel on A6s. However it replaced the glass 'moonroof' with a metal 'sunroof' covered with the solar panels. MBs pano roof implementation was nicer. Good hot climate option.

Randy B

The solar panels are great. As previously stated, still hot inside just not scorching!!!! And my 99 E430 was scorching when it sat outside for about fifteen minutes or more. At least this E500 is coller than that. Plus the roof with the two windows is awesome especially at night when you are cruising on the turnpike away from the lights of the city. Makes the wife think we are back in sometimes and that's ok with me.

Randy

marksatex

I love my pano roof and the solar panels. The panels work great and as stated before the car is hot (We had a 100 degree day this week) but not blistering !

DavidNJ

How much cooler is a white car than a black one (with or without solar panels)?

Fastbuck

ehh? No comprehende!

PA28150

If anyone does figure out how to add the solar panels, please let me know. I'd be most interested to add these to my CDI with Pano roof.

Rich

MARK CUMMINS

The Cost will SCARE you!...
A Complete new Solar / Pano roof...Harness...Control unit...Then The Labor!
I Know of One person that is adding it to a W211....And its NOT CHEAP!
It can be done!

Flash Gordon

When I ordered my car back in 9/02, the Pano roof has to be ordered with the solar panel. You could not just order the solar alone. By the way, Mazda was the first to include the solar panel on it's 929 model back in the early to mid 90's. It was a standard item for the car. It did a great job to remove the heat from a parked car. Too bad the 929 was discontiued due to the competition from Lexus and Infiniti. It was a good looking car!

johna1

I always thought it was a neat option too, what a shame it has been dropped. BTW I think it is dropped worldwide, not just for the US.

BudC

A very long time ago someone got a big award for recommending that the tops of airliners be painted white. Dark colors retain the heat (so to speak).

johna1

And leaving them natural silver (like Air Canada or some US airlines) gives most of the benefits of white with real weight savings!

Brav

I'll sell you my car. Then you can have it much cheaper than the cost to retrofit.

ruykava

yeah, unfortunately no longer available around the world.

however, the charcoal filter IS still in - it's just that you can't turn it on or off independently now.

the roof was a great idea, but i guess so few ppl ordered it it just didn't make sense to continue.

Brav

I dont think many people knew about it. Every E owner Ive come across for the most part was like "wow, howd you get that?!"

I had to special order my car this way. Most So Cal E classes are pretty stripped. 2 different dealers told me most buyers are very "price sensitive.."

pa28pilot

There is an MB solar panel kit that is to be used for cars in storage on a lot. One lead clips to metal contacts in the passenger's sun visor clip and I think the other may go to the ground in the cigar lighter. It looks like it's about the same size as the panel that (I believe) was used under the pano roof, but it has legs or suction cups or some mounting bracket on it.

I have often wondered whether it might, at heart , be the same solar panel. I cwonder if it could be adapted t to do the job of the discontinued one?

It is described in the July 2004 Star Bulletin P-I-54.10/116

Autoluver

Would anyone happen to know why my ventilation would quit kicking on after replacing the motor blower and resistor?