Many questions... many opinions sought

Jun 22, 2005 | 01:34 PM

BillP

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 24

Likes: 0

E500 2003

Many questions... many opinions sought

The lease on my 2003 E500 is coming to an end, and I'm considering a CLS500. Here are some things I'm wondering...

1. For those of you who previously had an E-Class, is there anything you miss/that bothers you on the CLS500?

2. Does the radio display RDDS?

3. The voice control on the '03 E500 does not control the NAV nor the SAT. Is this still the case on the CSL500? (Is this basically the same COMAND system?)

4. Assuming I'm comfortable with one of the Motorola phones that Mercedes offers, does it really matter that there's no Bluetooth?

5. Sports package... there're a number of references in the literature to a rougher ride from the Z-rated tires. I like the look of the sport package, but I'm a comfort freak... thoughts? (Also, is the fingertip shift control cool?)

6. Matte Burl Walnut v. Laurel Wood?

7. What are the cool colors? What colors promote regret?

8. Does the single drive in a NAV equipped car play MP3 DVDs?

9. The literature mentions a "run-flat" tire option, but it doesn't appear in the "build your own" section of the website. Is the feature real? Good?

10. Has Mercedes abandoned no-charge routine service?

Thanks for participating in my desire to spend tens of thousands of dollars.

Jun 22, 2005 | 05:26 PM

Philip_Atlanta

Newbie

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 24

Likes: 0

I'll see if I can help in the quest to gain another CLS customer

Answers to what I can answer below -

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillP

The lease on my 2003 E500 is coming to an end, and I'm considering a CLS500. Here are some things I'm wondering...

1. For those of you who previously had an E-Class, is there anything you miss/that bothers you on the CLS500?

2. Does the radio display RDDS?

3. The voice control on the '03 E500 does not control the NAV nor the SAT. Is this still the case on the CSL500? (Is this basically the same COMAND system?)

4. Assuming I'm comfortable with one of the Motorola phones that Mercedes offers, does it really matter that there's no Bluetooth?

5. Sports package... there're a number of references in the literature to a rougher ride from the Z-rated tires. I like the look of the sport package, but I'm a comfort freak... thoughts? (Also, is the fingertip shift control cool?)

** I drove a non-sport as a demo for about a day and can't tell a difference between my sport package and the demo I drove. If you can tell, I'm impressed. Fingertip shift is neat, but imo its a gadget.

6. Matte Burl Walnut v. Laurel Wood?

** Laurel Wood

7. What are the cool colors? What colors promote regret?

** Mine is Iridium Silver, which seems quite popular, for a reason. I also think the blacks look good on the car. Personally, I wouldn't do the red or the green.

8. Does the single drive in a NAV equipped car play MP3 DVDs?

** The single drive does DVD MP3's and the CD changer will do CD MP3's.

9. The literature mentions a "run-flat" tire option, but it doesn't appear in the "build your own" section of the website. Is the feature real? Good?

10. Has Mercedes abandoned no-charge routine service?

** I think so

Thanks for participating in my desire to spend tens of thousands of dollars.

Jun 22, 2005 | 06:27 PM

hlkc

Super Member

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 700

Likes: 0

From: Bay Area

06 CLS500 + 99 ML320

1. For those of you who previously had an E-Class, is there anything you miss/that bothers you on the CLS500?
Please check out my thread - link below.

3. The voice control on the '03 E500 does not control the NAV nor the SAT. Is this still the case on the CSL500? (Is this basically the same COMAND system?)
Yes, still the same.

4. Assuming I'm comfortable with one of the Motorola phones that Mercedes offers, does it really matter that there's no Bluetooth?
Still no BT for CLS same as W211 E.

5. Sports package... there're a number of references in the literature to a rougher ride from the Z-rated tires. I like the look of the sport package, but I'm a comfort freak... thoughts? (Also, is the fingertip shift control cool?)
I ride both models before I bought mine and I don't feel any different. Yes, Sport comes with fingertip shift and I like it a lot!

6. Matte Burl Walnut v. Laurel Wood?
Shiny vs. not shiny.

7. What are the cool colors? What colors promote regret?
I like my silver a lot but it is so common.

8. Does the single drive in a NAV equipped car play MP3 DVDs?
Yes MP3 DVD but not DVD video unless you get one of those Euro command from MBenzNL.

9. The literature mentions a "run-flat" tire option, but it doesn't appear in the "build your own" section of the website. Is the feature real? Good?
Sorry ,no idea about this.

10. Has Mercedes abandoned no-charge routine service?
Nope we still need to pay for that.

I worte up a comparsion when I got my CLS few months ago, I suggest you check it out: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...&highlight=CLS
If you need additional info/idea, just PM me your phone number and I'll be more than happy to call you and chat...

Thanks,
hlkc

Jun 23, 2005 | 12:51 AM

ppilot

Member

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 119

Likes: 1

From: Santa Barbara, CA

'20 CLS450; '14 CLA250; '14 Honda GX Natural Gas Powered

No Mo Free service

BMW still offers free 50,000 miles service but Mercedes (USA) dropped it beginning model year 2005...huge mistake but I had to have a CLS500 so I bit the bullet and bought a white one, burl walnut (which is the matte, not shiny wood which I am happy with), interior cashmere beige with Levinson sound and parktronic the only options. Took european delivery and it still pulls strong at 125 mph on the autobahn (owners manual says 130 mph governor on CLS500, 155 mph on AMG versions).

Last edited by ppilot; Jun 23, 2005 at 12:58 AM.