Active Ventilated Seats Missing
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
Active Ventilated Seats Missing
Active ventilated seats are standard on the CL55, but my 2003 CL55 came without them. They are AMG seats and they are heated, but there are not ventilated. Mercedes says that they must be installed at the factory and can't be added now. In fact they had the nerve to say that "they aren't an opition I paid extra for so what's the problem?" Nice customer service.
Is it true that they can't be added?
Mark
Is it true that they can't be added?
Mark
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,340
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Are you sure about this ? I have NEVER seen a 55 not come with this. Look at your doors. Do you have BOTH the heated seats button as well as a ventilitaion button ? One lights up a series of red LEDs and the other lights up a series of blue LEDs ?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
I'm sure. Here's a pic of the switch. Heat only. And a friend who also has a CL55 said that on the back of his seat there are vents and as you can see here there aren't any. So it's not just the switch that's wrong, these seats are not actually ventilated.
The dealer has never heard of this happening either and they have been totally useless. Nobody seems to have a clue at Mercedes.
Mark
The dealer has never heard of this happening either and they have been totally useless. Nobody seems to have a clue at Mercedes.
Mark
Last edited by sequencesf; Feb 9, 2003 at 09:02 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
YOU ARE CORRECT ! Those do not have the active ventilation ! Do they have the "pulse" massage feature however ? Sounds like a major factory screwup. Contact the Mercedes Client Assistance Center in NJ. I am sure they will rectify this situation.
Here are some pictures of what it 'should' look like. Notice also that the 'pockets' on the rear of the seats are different as well. The outer pockets on mine are perforated, whereas your are not.
Here are some pictures of what it 'should' look like. Notice also that the 'pockets' on the rear of the seats are different as well. The outer pockets on mine are perforated, whereas your are not.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
Believe it or not, they have blown me off. Three phone calls and two letters have netted me a one sentence reply from customer service saying that I'll be contacted by the "San Francisco Region" (whatever that means) which never happened. It's been eight weeks since I first contacted them. I guess they have better things to do than address the concerns of customers who drop $130K for a car. Too bad the damn thing is so fun to drive or I'd buy something else. My Ferrari hasn't seen the light of day since I got this thing.
Do you have any idea if they can be added now or is it really a factory only installation? Just wondering. They do have the pulse feature.
Mark
Do you have any idea if they can be added now or is it really a factory only installation? Just wondering. They do have the pulse feature.
Mark
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,340
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Mark, pull your window sitcker out (You did keep it didn't you ?), and look under the Comfort / Convenience section. Do you have line item that says, "Active Ventilated & Dynamic Multi-Contour Front Seats" ? Also, what was your month/year of production ? You can find this information out by looking at the sticker on the drivers side door opening.
As far as being added afterwards, you would need 2 new seats to start as well as the new switches and wiring harnesses, etc.
As far as being added afterwards, you would need 2 new seats to start as well as the new switches and wiring harnesses, etc.
Thread Starter
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
The date of production is 08/02. I took delivery of the car 12/27/02. The window sticker does, in fact, say "Active Ventilated & Dynamic Multi-Contour Front Seats" but then it says nothing about Parktronic which IS in the car. It's also supposed to have "Exclusive AMG Floor Mats" which it doesn't. And, of course, it doesn't have the wheels on it that are in the brochure. I think Mercedes has some real quality control issues. They most certainly have some cutomer service issues.
But thanks for the pics. That's helpful.
Mark
But thanks for the pics. That's helpful.
Mark
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
August 2002 ! You definitely got one of the first US production models. My 2003 is a 11/02 production (11/19/02 build) and I took delivery in So. Cal. on 12/21/02. I didn't even think Mercedes was producing these for the US market that long ago. Something doesn't sound right here. You should have gotten the CL55 AMG floormats. If you did not, I would bring that up as well. When I bought my 2001 CL55, it did not come with the AMG floormats either. Mercedes CAC took care of me and shipped me a set. As far as the wheels, early production 2003 CL55's did not come with the dual spoke. The CL55's arriving now are coming with them. Mine came with the 5 spoke rims, however, my dealer was good enough to order a set of the dual spokes and swap them out for me on my 2003.
I would say your early production is the root to most these snags. If I were you I would compose a nice letter to Mercedes Corp detailing all the above. If your window sticker lists items, you by all rights deserve them. The Parktronic addition that is not on your window sticker is an interesting clue to the early factory screw ups.
I would say your early production is the root to most these snags. If I were you I would compose a nice letter to Mercedes Corp detailing all the above. If your window sticker lists items, you by all rights deserve them. The Parktronic addition that is not on your window sticker is an interesting clue to the early factory screw ups.
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From: Maidenhead, UK
My inital thoughts were that your vehicle sounds like an a European model. The CL55 in Europe does not come 'fully loaded' like the US ones, and some options can be added, i'm not sure if ventilated seats are on the list though in Europe.
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Newbie
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
If it were a European model, wouldn't there be other differences like KPH vs MPH on the speedo? Here's the VIN: WDBPJ74J33A031540. Thanks for your help.
Mark
Mark
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
I used the vin decoder at http://www.mbnz.org/modelguide/vin.asp and it says:
VIN: WDBPJ74J33A031540
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Chassis Code: 215
Manufacturer Name: Daimler-Benz
Model: 074
Restraint Systems: Front/Side/Head Curtain Airbags
Displacement:
Horsepower:
Fuel: Gasoline
Production Plant: Sindelfingen
Country of Manufactur: Germany
Production No.: 031540
How do you tell what country it was made for?
Mark
VIN: WDBPJ74J33A031540
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Chassis Code: 215
Manufacturer Name: Daimler-Benz
Model: 074
Restraint Systems: Front/Side/Head Curtain Airbags
Displacement:
Horsepower:
Fuel: Gasoline
Production Plant: Sindelfingen
Country of Manufactur: Germany
Production No.: 031540
How do you tell what country it was made for?
Mark
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Maidenhead, UK
That sure is a US Model.
All European Models have VIN numbers like
WDB215xxxxxxxxx = 215 - CL
WDB220xxxxxxxxx = 220 - S-class
US VIN codes don't have the internal model number next to the WDB code (WDB is an identifier for German cars).
Hope this helps
All European Models have VIN numbers like
WDB215xxxxxxxxx = 215 - CL
WDB220xxxxxxxxx = 220 - S-class
US VIN codes don't have the internal model number next to the WDB code (WDB is an identifier for German cars).
Hope this helps
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Francisco
2003 CL55
I called again (fourth call) and the woman was extremely apologetic. They have good customer service software because she has a record of the three calls and two letters I have sent. She assured me that the regional manager - who's name she gave me - would contact me. He hasn't but that was only two days ago. Maybe he actually will. They promised to swap the wheels on the very first call but that's the only real progress there has ever been.
Oh, and the dealer mailed me the full set of nav CDs because he feels bad. So that was nice (I bought the car from a dealer in NJ and I live in CA so it's not like I can go back to the dealer very easily).
Mark
Oh, and the dealer mailed me the full set of nav CDs because he feels bad. So that was nice (I bought the car from a dealer in NJ and I live in CA so it's not like I can go back to the dealer very easily).
Mark
Last edited by sequencesf; Feb 14, 2003 at 09:45 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 85
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From: Cali
2003 CL 55 AMG
Well. when i called Mercedes regarding my paint deffect issue the representative was rude. He insited that having my vehicles roof repainted is no big deal. If the dealership offered to repaint it then thats what i should do, let them repaint it. I dont think that is acceptable!
