BiTurboV12 AMG

I will be ordering an 06 CDI soon. it will be Flint grey with ash leather. i am going to get lighting package and premium package- Glass Sunroof
· COMAND DVD Navigation
· Power Rear-Window Sunshade
· harman/kardon Sound System
· 6-Disc CD Changer
· Heated Front Seats and Sat radio.
are their any other options you guys would get that are worth the money. Is keyless go really that great?

TPAbnz

Unless you order the optional leather package, you should know that all of the seats, headrest, etc., will by vinyl, save for the two seating inserts on the front seats only.

This is one of the greatest misrepresentations by MB, IMHO.

So if you want ash leather, you need to optionally order it. You can tell which cars have real leather by the tufted leather above the armrest on each door.

You'd never think a $50K car came with vinyl.

russdog

I received my 06 CDI in the middle of July and I love it! Fantastic car!

I ordered mine with almost the identical options, ecpet I added Keyless Go. I am very happy with it and to me it's worth every penny. I often have several keys on my key ring and to not have to hunt in my pocket of having the keys jingle as I drive... just press the start button.

Super option!

Wish I could have gotten the venilated seats, but I believe they stopped that option after 05.

Russ

khaug

I've enjoyed the multi-contour seats that came in the drive dynamic package. I don't care for the drive dynamic feature (wife loves it, however), but the adjustability and the massage feature are tops. I believe this used to be part of the Premium package - don't know if that's still true.

CE750

Must haves for me are (in my signature)..

Park assist, HK stereo, and Sunroof package with shades (for Phoenix)...

Nice to haves are NAV, and ipod & CD Changer

useless here in phoenix is heated seats.. never gets cooler than 50 degrees outside!

also, if you like real leather, you'll have to pay for that.. $2000 or so..

CE750

This is by far, and I've made this known in no uncertain terms to MBUSA, the biggest farce in auto marketing I've ever heard of. They should be ashamed to save a measly $500 (max for their cost) on a car, and not include full leather as standard. Disgraceful.

davequick

To offer a seperate perspective... actually with a 4 year old and an infant I prefer the vinyl believe it or not - the back seats wash up great from milk cups spillage, from crumbs of breakfast bars, etc. There is little care needed beyond an occasional cleaning and they look like new after 16 months of daily use and little feet resting on them.

I'm actually worried that the s500 I just bought this week will show more wear than the E320cdi because of the leather in the s500... I guess I'll know in a couple years.

neilah

davequick, thanks. That was the only reason I could think of for NOT ordering the full leather seats on my CDI when I actually order it!

--Neil

johna1

I like Parktronic, and if I ordered again would include Keyless Go and the electronic trunk closer. The bi-xenons are truly amazing.

SAguirre

All the options you have listed sound good but there is one that you DON'T WANT TO BE WITHOUT!!!!!

I would never have another car without bi-xenon headlights. I find the bi-xenon lights on this E class to be the BEST HEADLIGHTS I HAVE EVER HAD. I am comparing these headlights to other top-notch cars, not cheap ones and the E is a pleasure to drive at night and on windy mountain roads.

They are worth every penny and I really think that they should be standard on all Es.

I seriously doubt you will regret spending the extra money,

Steve

rjm

Just a Hint:
All the OPTIONS listed on this thread for the MB are STANDARD on the Lexus LS430.

Power Rear Window Automatic Sunshade.
Full Leather Seating...front and back.
6-CD Changer.
Parking Assist
Hi-Intensity Headlights
Automatic Electronic Trunk Closer
Heated/Air-conditioned Fully Ventilated Front Seats
Superb Stereo System
Sunroof Package
Keyless Entry

And the kicker.....#1 in Quality and Dependibility for the past 11 years, according to J.D. Powers.

Disclaimer: I am not a Lexus Dealer and I don't play one on TV, and I have no connection with Lexus whatsoever, other than being a satified owner and former MB owner for 5 years. Flame suit on and ready for action!!

SAguirre

I don't see that the Lexus gets 37 MPG on its Diesel engine

Steve

TPAbnz

If Lexus ever brings its diesel to the US, MB will lose another great competitive advantage:
http://www.lexus.co.uk/lexus_cars/is...esel/index.asp

We love our "economy car"!

CE750

This is one area where you and I can 100% agree.. MB (on their 50K+ cars) needs to give us more for the money.. I'll even pay 10-15% more to get it... Reliability for me is low on my list.. as they're all reliable enough... no car is like the old Jag's used to be.

Pierre Louis

Too bad an LS430 lists for $20,000 more. Minor detail! And it looks like a glitzed up ghetto car compared to the mildly understated extremely elegant E.

I would go with the Xenons, panoramic roof, Harmon Kardon, heated seats/steering wheel, and CD changer.

If I had another chance to order, I would add the ventilated seats, solar panel, tire pressure monitors, and side shades. If available.

rjm

Man, have you got your facts screwed up. According to www.edmunds.com a Plain Jane 2006 Mercedes E-320 CDI (unloaded) lists for $51,825. A Plain Jane 2006 Lexus LS430 (with all the options of the MB being STANDARD on the Lexus) lists for $56,225. Add up the price for all your options on the Mercedes, and you are paying THOUSANDS more for that 3-pointed star on your hood. "Minor detail, indeed!"

Pierre Louis

I must have been looking at their deluxe version!

CE750

you will get no argument from me about the "Value" of a Lexus vs. MB.. I 100% agree.. MB needs to be more price competitive (though they can never match the price of an inferior car).

That said.. I'm not a value shopper. I don't shop at Walmart, I don't buy used anything.. and I wear the best cloths I can buy, even if they do require more maintenance and wear faster than Levi's.

Lexus just doesn't have the same class as MB.. that's just a fact.. do a poll one a non-auto message board and you'll see.

rjm

So what you are saying is, "I'm a snob...I won't shop at Walmart because that's beneath me....and I won't buy a superior car because "class", image, snob-appeal, and what other people might think of me are more important than driving a superior, more reliable, more dependible, and a more durable automoble because anything but a Mercedes would just be beneath me and might hurt my image. I just HAVE to have that 3-pointed star on my hood"

OK, I get it. Just keep drinking that KOOL-AID!

stickygreen

On the original topic, here are the options that I consider well worth the $$$ to order:
-premium package
-lighting package
-wood & leather steering wheel (ohhh yeah.....)
-keyless go
-rear seat package
-sunroof package
-ventilated seats (if only they were still available)
-Designo Espresso or Graphite edition (IMO worth $6k if you plan on keeping & driving the car for a while to come, and prefer something unique. Graphite -> best paint, but Espresso -> best interior)

Not worth the $$$:
-trunk closer
-tire pressure monitoring system (lots of problems...just keep an eye on your tires

Toss up:
-parktronic (you know if you need it)
-panorama roof

As far as MBZ quality...I am in MBZ sales so I see it all. The most problematic cars produced by MBZ were the pre-facelift W220 S-class ('00-'02, airmatic & COMAND), late model C-class ('00-'04, just a BUNCH of little stuff), and early w211 E-class ('03/'04, SBC, airmatic). The newer cars are of much better build, though the decreasing feature lists are getting annoying. For example, the later-production '06 w211's are NOT prewired for satellite radio...so instead of being able to install Sirius at the VPC or dealership, it HAS to come from the factory. What the f*ck?!?

The new 350 motor has been doing extremely well, and though we haven't had to replace any 7G transmissions yet, we have had to replace several of the valve bodies on earlier-production '06 models with the new v6 due to an update. CLS has also had it's fair share of first-run niggles, but nothing major.

Mercedes is still nowhere near the build quality they were 10+ years ago, but they're on their way back up. We will never see that kind of quality again (a 300e cost $49k in 1988), but what REALLY matters has never been skimped on (safety, engineering, etc.).

Overall, there is very little in this world that can rival the safety, driving experience, and mechanical reliability of a fine German automobile. Even the Swedish, once regarded as the safest cars in the world, have been sadly diluted. Now Fords share chassis with Volvos, and re-badged Subie's & Trailblazers are emerging as Saabs.

And then there the Japanese...

The only Japanese luxury cars that I have been able to enjoy are the new Infiniti G's and M's. They are like generic BMW's that do the job just as well if not better, but without all the flash. Lexus is extremely comfortable, but feels like a 2-year old Mercedes with a lower price & a lobotomy.

Raj
'97 e320 (cypress/parchment)
'05 e320 cdi (designo graphite)
'85 535i (diamond schwarz/pearl beige)

CE750

very insightful, and very well said Raj... good work!

frogstaple

In my opinion, the lighting package is the biggest bang for the buck, followed by the premium sound. The sunroof cuts into my headroom and the NAV system doesn’t cover my area well. The Drive Dynamic seats are pretty nice too, but I don’t think you can get them on the 2006 model.