Tech Features Not Well Received in US
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Tech Features Not Well Received in US
Mercedes didn't make the R-Class overly complicated, Mercedes-Benz USA President Paul Halata said at the preview. Halata said Mercedes "overdid it" by giving some fairly recent Mercedes models technical features not well received in America—a move that has resulted in lower quality ratings in national, independent surveys.
"We found our American customers don't want as many technical features as those in Europe," Halata said.
"We found our American customers don't want as many technical features as those in Europe," Halata said.
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You know he does make a point. I bet more than half the owners of the new Mercedes vehicles dont know what features their car have. Only people like us who come on the forum would like such features as the Europeans.
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'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Amen. People who visit online car forums aren't representative of the drivers of that brand in general when it comes to caring about technology. Many, if not most, M-B drivers care most about just three features of their cars - the emblems on the hood, the steering wheel and the trunk. Crush zones? SBC? Stability control program? Whuzzat?
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From: Central California Coast
2004 SL55, 2005 E500 Wagon
Originally Posted by BudC
"We found our American customers don't want as many technical features as those in Europe," Halata said.
Maybe DC should buy Apple...
Jim
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From: NJ
'05 e320 cdi, '05 lexus rx330
Originally Posted by CASL55
I like lots of features, but I want them to work reliably, and I want well-thought-out human interfaces. I want consistancy of those interfaces among different models. It gets harder to do all that the more features there are.
Jim
Jim
Comparing the MB to my lexus, the nav system, the bluetooth interface (MB doesn't offer it) the xenons, the directional headlights, the Benz doesn't compare well, the lexus is superior.
The moral to the story is that maybe MB should partner up with some Jap or korean doodad maker and put quality electronics in their cars, then the perception of quality will be raised.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
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"Americans don't respond well to doodads that are poorly designed, and work only somethimes.." ...thats what the man MEANT to say.
So MB USA is going back to cars equipped like the ones in the '90s were equipped like. Whats next? Huge steering wheels, AM Radios and dependable, tried and true cassette players? The fact is: There are some things the Germans don't do well, and are too arrogant to "get help" with. Deleting these items will surely lessen the complaints that they don't work well, but they will see that the people who buy Benzes will start to skew older and older, as the old purchasers continue to buy them, and younger potential customers who want all the "gee whiz" doodads, will buy elsewhere.
You can't ignore or excuse poor design, by deleting it and remain in the game. Period.
So MB USA is going back to cars equipped like the ones in the '90s were equipped like. Whats next? Huge steering wheels, AM Radios and dependable, tried and true cassette players? The fact is: There are some things the Germans don't do well, and are too arrogant to "get help" with. Deleting these items will surely lessen the complaints that they don't work well, but they will see that the people who buy Benzes will start to skew older and older, as the old purchasers continue to buy them, and younger potential customers who want all the "gee whiz" doodads, will buy elsewhere.
You can't ignore or excuse poor design, by deleting it and remain in the game. Period.
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
Once I understood how the options on my '04 E320 were supposed to work, I discovered that they did work.
What MBUSA should do is what BMW NA used to do, give a new car buyer a form listing the programmable options and then have the salesman explain them to the buyer. Once the buyer understands what the options do, then they fill out the form and it's used by the Service department to program those options.
It's up to MBUSA to resolve problems that are unique to the American car buying public.
What MBUSA should do is what BMW NA used to do, give a new car buyer a form listing the programmable options and then have the salesman explain them to the buyer. Once the buyer understands what the options do, then they fill out the form and it's used by the Service department to program those options.
It's up to MBUSA to resolve problems that are unique to the American car buying public.
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E500 4matic, 2014 GL320, 2013 C300, 2015 Stingray
I agree w/ Barry...
So MBUSA feels that if the decontent the car, they will kill 2 birds with one stone.
1 ) Based on the statement in the first post, quality/survey feedback should improve
2 ) Reduce their cost, thereby increase their profit.
Now a new way of thinking about it would be to actually fix the poor designs rather than getting rid of them....
Pathetic MBUSA...........not the way to make me want to buy another MB.
Aceman OUT.
1 ) Based on the statement in the first post, quality/survey feedback should improve
2 ) Reduce their cost, thereby increase their profit.
Now a new way of thinking about it would be to actually fix the poor designs rather than getting rid of them....
Pathetic MBUSA...........not the way to make me want to buy another MB.
Aceman OUT.
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From: Central Jersey
2003 E500, 2004 G35X
Originally Posted by kort677
ditto, I like the new doodads available on cars the problem is that MB's version of these doodads aren't up to par. The only problems on my car have been centered around the command system, mechanically the car is sound.
Comparing the MB to my lexus, the nav system, the bluetooth interface (MB doesn't offer it) the xenons, the directional headlights, the Benz doesn't compare well, the lexus is superior.
The moral to the story is that maybe MB should partner up with some Jap or korean doodad maker and put quality electronics in their cars, then the perception of quality will be raised.
Comparing the MB to my lexus, the nav system, the bluetooth interface (MB doesn't offer it) the xenons, the directional headlights, the Benz doesn't compare well, the lexus is superior.
The moral to the story is that maybe MB should partner up with some Jap or korean doodad maker and put quality electronics in their cars, then the perception of quality will be raised.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
what a total cop out!
The Acura RL has more features than I even would want in a car (I'm a tech junkie) and it's lists for $49000, with them all, AND... they work!
Moreover, more of that car is made in labor expensive Japan, than my W211 is in Germany, and more over, the Japs are making money.
I want the safety and handling, style of my MB, but I would have liked RDS, Presets control, and a bit more advanced GPS/NAV for the $55K... SBC was nice (had it been trouble free), and so are many other features. They're all working well so far, touch wood, and the car is build like a tank. Instead of stepping backwards, we need to step forward MB!
Sure, bring back the old ways when it comes to quality, but progress on the technical front, by all means.
Damn it, somebody needs to save this company from itself!
The Acura RL has more features than I even would want in a car (I'm a tech junkie) and it's lists for $49000, with them all, AND... they work!
Moreover, more of that car is made in labor expensive Japan, than my W211 is in Germany, and more over, the Japs are making money.
I want the safety and handling, style of my MB, but I would have liked RDS, Presets control, and a bit more advanced GPS/NAV for the $55K... SBC was nice (had it been trouble free), and so are many other features. They're all working well so far, touch wood, and the car is build like a tank. Instead of stepping backwards, we need to step forward MB!
Sure, bring back the old ways when it comes to quality, but progress on the technical front, by all means.
Damn it, somebody needs to save this company from itself!
Last edited by CE750; Oct 25, 2005 at 04:48 PM.
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Well, all I have to say is that all those people who think the Japanese build twice the car for half the price had better not show up here telling us they've just bought another Mercedes 
They'll have a lot of explaining to do.
As I've said, my car runs fine. The two or so things I didn't like (touchy brakes and drive by wire throttle) have been resolved. EZ Exit works fine. COMAND works fine. The brakes work fine. All the lighting options work fine. What is there to complain about?
They'll have a lot of explaining to do.As I've said, my car runs fine. The two or so things I didn't like (touchy brakes and drive by wire throttle) have been resolved. EZ Exit works fine. COMAND works fine. The brakes work fine. All the lighting options work fine. What is there to complain about?
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by BudC
As I've said, my car runs fine. The two or so things I didn't like (touchy brakes and drive by wire throttle) have been resolved. EZ Exit works fine. COMAND works fine. The brakes work fine. All the lighting options work fine. What is there to complain about?
I mean, Bud, you know I'm no rjm, but why is it that we all have to fall into two camps:
100% behind MB, or 100% against them. Can't people just be intelctually honest with themselves, and observe that this company (which today is still arguably the top tier of car makers) is on a spiral dive if they keep running MB, like a division of Chrysler (which we all know it is not!)?
I'm just calling a spade, a spade bud.. and If I bail on MB (not anytime soon, as I love my CDI), it will be to Audi or BMW.. not the Japs.. they lack soul.. Even if they do build a lot of car for the $.
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It's not so much Mercedes that are taking things out, it's MBUSA configuring cars that supposedly will appeal to Americans. The new console is a perfect example. The rest of the world got to keep the clam shell console but because most Americans consider cup holders more important than just about anything else, we got stuck with the change.
I'm not 100% behind Mercedes. I bought mine because I couldn't find anything else that was better for the money. If Bangle hadn't screwed up the 5'er, I'd probably be driving a 545i right now.
I'm not 100% behind Mercedes. I bought mine because I couldn't find anything else that was better for the money. If Bangle hadn't screwed up the 5'er, I'd probably be driving a 545i right now.
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06 320E CDI, Porsche 911 C2, Pontiac Montana
That statement is filled with a whole lot of horse ****.....
The ONLY reason MB is saying that is for them to decontent the catrs and sell it on "reputation". What reputation? They are pissing all over the reputation they had build up ofver the decades. The FACT is that they are trying to make the cars cheaper and cheaper and yet sell it to us as a premium brand.
What an arrogant bunch of a$$holes telling us that we need inferior cars and we don't "care" for technology. What? Are we stupid? The problem is that THEIR version of technology is unreliable and troublesome. That's a MERCEDES problem, not the consumers problem.
You know what, nobody needs to buy a Benz. NOBODY. When they get this through their arrogant skulls, they will be better off.
I wish that BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Infinity would bring diesels to North Amercia and then we would see how arrogant they are.
The ONLY reason MB is saying that is for them to decontent the catrs and sell it on "reputation". What reputation? They are pissing all over the reputation they had build up ofver the decades. The FACT is that they are trying to make the cars cheaper and cheaper and yet sell it to us as a premium brand.
What an arrogant bunch of a$$holes telling us that we need inferior cars and we don't "care" for technology. What? Are we stupid? The problem is that THEIR version of technology is unreliable and troublesome. That's a MERCEDES problem, not the consumers problem.
You know what, nobody needs to buy a Benz. NOBODY. When they get this through their arrogant skulls, they will be better off.
I wish that BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Infinity would bring diesels to North Amercia and then we would see how arrogant they are.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by Spartan
That statement is filled with a whole lot of horse ****.....
The ONLY reason MB is saying that is for them to decontent the catrs and sell it on "reputation". What reputation? They are pissing all over the reputation they had build up ofver the decades. The FACT is that they are trying to make the cars cheaper and cheaper and yet sell it to us as a premium brand.
What an arrogant bunch of a$$holes telling us that we need inferior cars and we don't "care" for technology. What? Are we stupid? The problem is that THEIR version of technology is unreliable and troublesome. That's a MERCEDES problem, not the consumers problem.
You know what, nobody needs to buy a Benz. NOBODY. When they get this through their arrogant skulls, they will be better off.
I wish that BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Infinity would bring diesels to North Amercia and then we would see how arrogant they are.
The ONLY reason MB is saying that is for them to decontent the catrs and sell it on "reputation". What reputation? They are pissing all over the reputation they had build up ofver the decades. The FACT is that they are trying to make the cars cheaper and cheaper and yet sell it to us as a premium brand.
What an arrogant bunch of a$$holes telling us that we need inferior cars and we don't "care" for technology. What? Are we stupid? The problem is that THEIR version of technology is unreliable and troublesome. That's a MERCEDES problem, not the consumers problem.
You know what, nobody needs to buy a Benz. NOBODY. When they get this through their arrogant skulls, they will be better off.
I wish that BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Infinity would bring diesels to North Amercia and then we would see how arrogant they are.
Seriously, we should all put ink to paper and write MBUSA, and copy DCX on how we feel. I've done my part, I can say truthfully. However one "less than pleased" new customer isn't going to do it. They need to hear the same message in stereo.
I believe strongly in this company, and this brand.. I just don't believe in their current management... can anyone say "John Scully"?
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by DWP
Amen. People who visit online car forums aren't representative of the drivers of that brand in general when it comes to caring about technology. Many, if not most, M-B drivers care most about just three features of their cars - the emblems on the hood, the steering wheel and the trunk. Crush zones? SBC? Stability control program? Whuzzat?
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Originally Posted by BudC
As I've said, my car runs fine. The two or so things I didn't like (touchy brakes and drive by wire throttle) have been resolved. EZ Exit works fine. COMAND works fine. The brakes work fine. All the lighting options work fine. What is there to complain about?
Its like being "a little bit pregnant" you can only hide it so long... 9 months later a baby comes out, and you can't deny the problem any longer. You can't deny the Japanese, and now the Koreans... the very cars we used to laugh at, are now setting the mark that all manufacturers are scrambling to meet. All Lexus needs is some more time. Hell, the brand didn't even exist a few years back.
Mercedes can deny, and hide behind their heritage, or the can admit they've lost a couple of battles, and fight like hell to win the war.
I love my E too, but a lot of the car's brilliance comes from its past glories.
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Oct 26, 2005 at 11:51 AM.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by Barry45RPM
You see, Its not enough that YOUR car's "gee-whiz" features work fine.(Most of the stuff in my car works more than 98% of the time too) Its well documented here the number of people who ARE having problems with one feature or another... and the intermitant operation of some items is a huge black eye. ...The stuff has to work on all the cars, all of the time. If it doesnt, and its not because of a rare defective component here and there very occaisionally, then the stuff is poorly designed or poorly executed, and deleting the stuff and saying that Americans don't like "Gee-Whiz", is short sighted, insulting, and hides the problem only for a short while.
Its like being "a little bit pregnant" you can only hide it so long... 9 months later a baby comes out, and you can't deny the problem any longer. You can't deny the Japanese, and now the Koreans... the very cars we used to laugh at, are now setting the mark that all manufacturers ar scrambling to meet. All Lexus needs is some more time. Hell, the brand didn't even exist a few years back.
Mercedes can deny, and hide behind their heritage, or admit they've lost a couple of battles, and fight like hell to win the war.
I love my E too, but a lot of the car's brilliance comes from its past glories.
Its like being "a little bit pregnant" you can only hide it so long... 9 months later a baby comes out, and you can't deny the problem any longer. You can't deny the Japanese, and now the Koreans... the very cars we used to laugh at, are now setting the mark that all manufacturers ar scrambling to meet. All Lexus needs is some more time. Hell, the brand didn't even exist a few years back.
Mercedes can deny, and hide behind their heritage, or admit they've lost a couple of battles, and fight like hell to win the war.
I love my E too, but a lot of the car's brilliance comes from its past glories.
I am almost starting to think in many ways that the 2005 E is probably one of the last true MB's (and it's got many short falls mind you).... I really am not looking forward to the disaster that they're going to introduce in 2009 (nightmare scenario, it's a sister car to the 300C
)It's odd, but sometimes when I drive my car, I have short flashbacks to sitting in my friends dad's 450SEL back in 1979 and smelling the leather, and feeling the solidity of the car (compared to my dads piece of **** LTD Ford) and being envious (mind you I was 10).
That keeps the fantasy alive, but the reality is I've been luck with my car.. no problems.. YET.
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From: New Jersey, USA
W211 & Q7
Tech Features Not Well Received in US
SBC-hold and SBC-stop
Why this safe feature did not come with US SBC? How much exactly can save from MBUSA? All owners have to press brakes on the hills and be afraid of an accident due to rolling back.
Mercedes didn't make the R-Class overly complicated, Mercedes-Benz USA President Paul Halata said at the preview.
We found our American customers don't want as many technical features as those in Europe
Have Paul Halata said "We found our American customers only want 10 radio stations?"
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by Otto
The major one in my e is
SBC-hold and SBC-stop
Why this safe feature did not come with US SBC? How much exactly can save from MBUSA? All owners have to press brakes on the hills and be afraid of an accident due to rolling back.
SBC-hold and SBC-stop
Why this safe feature did not come with US SBC? How much exactly can save from MBUSA? All owners have to press brakes on the hills and be afraid of an accident due to rolling back.
Don't get me started
