CE750

When did MB switch the design of the center arm rest from the clam shell doors that are mostly leather, to the wood sliding storage?

Cause here's an '05 for sale with what I though were the '04 armrests, and yet my '05 has the wood slider. Is it a build date thing?

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=222364&sessionkey={765CA7AE-840E-4D76-AB61-46FC5A3E5A0F}&modelid=31&makename=MERCEDES%2DBENZ% 27s

sorry you'll have to cut and paste, as I can't get this to post as a link.

DWP

The tambour-door storage compartment came in with the '05 models, to judge from previous posts in this forum. I suppose it's possible that some '05 models have the old clamshell-door center console, but it's more likely that the car in the ad is in '04 misdescribed as an '05. People have asked about retrofitting the clamshell-door console into an '05, and the expert opinion is that it's a no-go.

You can force the forum software to make a URL clickable by typing (URL) before it, and (/URL) after it in the composition window, but substituting brackets [] for parens (). Like this: this isn't a clickable link .

CE750

Thanks, my problem is I used [link] [/link] instead of url.

Thanks for the info, I didn't so much want the clamshell, as I was wondering if there were '05 with it... sometimes the difference between an '05 and and '04 isn't so much the model changes, as it's production dates... therefore many '05 models may be identical to '04 models except for in name.

JimPurdy

I saw an '05 E320 at a dealer that had the clamshell door. I didn't look at the build date though.

Yes, MB builds some strange mixed year vehicles. My 210 '00 E320 wagon doesn't have a 3rd brake light. The '99s have the light just above the wiper and the '00 on have the light on the top of the tailgate. The model refresh must have been just started and the tailgate is a combination of '99 and '00. The build date was 8/99 so I cansee how it happened.

Kev04C320

Arm rest retrofit is possible now, just ask Steve or Dean

weinschela

It was a midstream change. I have an 05 delivered in August 04 (late July build date) and it has the clamshell doors, not the rollup. I happen to prefer the clamshell design.

DWP

Now that you mention it, the distinction between the '04 and '05 models is somewhat arbitrary and which console a given car got probably depended more upon what consoles Sindelfingen had on hand on a given date than the model year assigned to the car. Same thing with the decontenting changes (assuming that the change of consoles wasn't also decontenting) - they were slipped in on a flow basis, not by model year. There is a bright line of sorts between '03 and '04 models, though - the 7-speed transmission.

jameson75

My 2005 E500 has a build date of 09/04, I took delivery in 11/04. I have the sliding type door center console. I personally like it. I have the black birds eye maple trim and the sliding door is the same color. I think that since its a darker color as oppose to the regular wood color, it looks better. I think its more sporty, yet still retains the elegant factor.

Brian_I.

I have the exact same build date, delivery date, model year, color combo, options packages and everything (except I have a 320) and I have the older style console.

CE750

For what it's worth, I asked my dealer if the '06 and '05 E320 CDI are different, and he said not in any way... it's just an arbitrary number. he said that the Gas model is different in that it's 3.5L vs 3.2 and 7spd, vs 5spd... as well as a few small changes, but the diesel is ditto. He also said that MB (like many companies now) evolves their cars over a single year and that some '05 cars will have differences from other '05 cars in several minor areas..

cdiken

08/2004 build date here; sliding wood door.

CE750

small news flash..

Just got done looking more closely at the 2005 E320 CDI booklet and in small print next to the picture of the interior, it states, that they are holding rights to replace the center arm rest design mid 2005.. or something like that. So that settles it, mid 05 it changed over (call it 2005 1/2).