jimm

1450 miles. Got it on July 12. Overall, VERY satisfied.

Reasons for all day shop visit:

1. Pulling bad to the right, since day one. They installed a caster-camber
“bolt kit” and pin (whatever that is) and did all new alignment. Alignment
guy claims that MB cars come to US aligned for up north where roads are
level, while here in Florida they’re sloped. To me that sounds like a lot of
BS. But anyway, whatever he did, fixed it. Also, don’t understand why he
had to put a “bolt kit” in a new car. There couldn’t have been much wear.

2. Put on new wipers. Mine had the jitter bug jumps.

3. Did the “1,000 mile free check-up.”

4. Installed the new wood/leather steering wheel which I had ordered but
didn’t get with it, etc.

However, just a little note of caution to you all: The steering wheel wood
seems to be the regular burl walnut ... while the car’s interior came with
the designo walnut (at 300 extra.) I’m guessing that it is the regular burl
walnut.

At any rate, the steering wheel walnut is darker and not nearly as pretty
as the designo. But, it looks “good” and I'm satisfied enough. But, having
to do it over, I would have checked all options, including 3rd party.

They gave me a C-230 to use. It’s a fine little car but I was really glad to
get back to my 350 sport.

jimm

==========

‘08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black,Parktronic,
Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut, Split rear seat,
Wood/leather steering wheel

Diesel Benz

I believe the point 1 claims are true. It is not a wear issue (of course at your mileage) but the new kit allows an alignment that would not work without it.

2. Did you get new viper blades, arms, or both? Tried it yet, any better?

konigstiger

Curious did anyone at the dealership actually discuss with you that the wood/leather steering wheel would not match your designo wood trim before ordering? If it is any consolation the steering wheel wood, more times than not will not match the interior trim exactly most especially if it is not factory ordered however, in your case it should have been specifically discussed.

Vik888

Hi Jimm,

I actually found out from the dealer the diff between Burl Walnut and Designo Burl Walnut and he showed it to me in person .. absolutely no difference.

The reason there is a W60 code for Designo Burl Walnut is because cars with a Sports Package normally come with the Black Birdseye Maple. In order to override that, they have to put in the W60 code.

You can see this now on the MBUSA site by doing build a car, and Burl Walnut adds $300 to the car.

Do you recommend it to be prudent to drive the car when it arrives on the lot to verify alignment before paying for it?

Vik

jimm

No.

Take it home; drive it a while and take it in if need be.

jimm

Yacht Master

Don't know why the all seem to pull right, the crown in the road is about the same north or south. What I have found is that in the left fast/passing lane my W211 goes netural and I can take my hands off the wheel.

konigstiger

To clarify you are saying the MY08 sports package walnut for maple substitution costs $300 and the substitution is the reason why it is called “designo” walnut?

Barry45RPM

My '04 was ordered with the wood wheel from the factory & the wood on the wheel was not a perfect match to the dash wood. It was close, but not perfect.

Back then the air bag covers on the wheel were different if the car came from the factory with the wood wheel vs the standard leather wheel from the factory.

pinebaron

100% perfect match here.

Vik888

Yes, and thats exactly what my dealer told me. My "special order" form has a code for Burl Walunt which is 7XX (don't recall and dont have here). When I talked to the dealer b/c he told me a car similiar to mine w/ more options was avail a month earlier, his invoice showed W60 designo Burl Walnut.

So I asked him and he told me. Sports = Black Birdseye Maple. You want to special order it with Burl Walnut, you pay $300, it ends up as code W60 instead of 7XX. If you look at any W211 brochure (07 or 08) there is no such thing as designo burl walnut in any of the designo packages.

konigstiger

I had the wood/leather wheel installed at the dealer with the 03 E and it was a near perfect match to the interior trim however, did not care for the non-leather insert. On the CLS it was factory installed together with the gear shift knob and both are a perfect match with the trim.

jimm

In fairness to the salesman, I was listening when he ordered it and I heard
him say something like: “well nothing matches perfectly.” He knew I heard
this but didn’t specifically repeat it to me.

So, I don’t really fault him. He knew I wanted it.

HOWEVER, while driving today, when the sun was hitting both the steering
wheel and the other trim EVENLY, I was Surprised to note that there really
wasn’t as much difference as I'd thought! So .. it looks good and I’m glad I
got it.

jimm