W211 Biggest Complaint?
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Clifton, VA
'05 BMW 545i, '09 E350 4Matic
Yes, you can get the average mpg over drive time but the reset after 4 hours is dumb, IMO.
In my 5er, you need to reset the car drive data manually. This is a great feature and I use it to calculate mpg over a tankful of gas. The car also has a mpg gauge which gives you the mpg at any instant.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 4
E320 CDI, SL550, clk550
So far the only complaint I have is the general decline of the Mercedes buying and service experience. It's spotty at best and is completely dependent on your relationship with the dealer. 5 years ago it was a pretty good experience everywhere.
When I bought my wife's SL550 I was in the business office and it was the land of high profit up-selling. It gave me a headache and was similar to a Chevrolet visit. I worked out a deal. I wire funds to them and they deliver the car to my house with the paper work on the front seat.
Service at my "home" dealership is great. Florida, not so much. I pull the CDI in and the on site Dent Wizard guys are crawling over the car. No dents. The Service advisor measures tread depth even though the tires still have the **** on them and are new. Pretty tacky. Fix the damn A/C. I don't need buying help. If you want to be helpful have the loaner running when I get there.
Sadly, it's pretty much the same for all high end brands. The land of nickel diming after you already paid too much for the car.
When I bought my wife's SL550 I was in the business office and it was the land of high profit up-selling. It gave me a headache and was similar to a Chevrolet visit. I worked out a deal. I wire funds to them and they deliver the car to my house with the paper work on the front seat.
Service at my "home" dealership is great. Florida, not so much. I pull the CDI in and the on site Dent Wizard guys are crawling over the car. No dents. The Service advisor measures tread depth even though the tires still have the **** on them and are new. Pretty tacky. Fix the damn A/C. I don't need buying help. If you want to be helpful have the loaner running when I get there.
Sadly, it's pretty much the same for all high end brands. The land of nickel diming after you already paid too much for the car.
Last edited by Boulder GT3; Jan 7, 2009 at 11:24 AM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: California / Hawaii
GL350-Bluetec P1
I understand it is for business reasons, but the Enterprise Rent-A-Car's at the dealerships are annoying; I just want to get in the car, and go. I am not going to wreck it. I paid at least 200k to the dealer in 2 years give me a break. The annoying rent-a-car sell up on the insurance is insulting. I have auto insurance. I understand it is my responsibility. I do end up buying the damage waiver because I don't want to deal with their bs if something does go wrong. I know bad decision, but it saves me getting the same speech about I could be in for an expensive bill. Generally I choose to wait. I bring my laptop, and get work done there (2 hours at the dealer), and I get more stuff done than I do at work.
Last edited by philfna; Jan 7, 2009 at 11:06 AM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 4
E320 CDI, SL550, clk550
I understand it is for business reasons, but the Enterprise Rent-A-Car's at the dealerships are annoying; I just want to get in the car, and go. I am not going to wreck it. I paid at least 200k to the dealer in 2 years give me a break. The annoying rent-a-car sell up on the insurance is insulting. I have auto insurance. I understand it is my responsibility. I do end up buying the damage waiver because I don't want to deal with their bs if something does go wrong. I know bad decision, but it saves me getting the same speech about I could be in for an expensive bill. Generally I choose to wait. I bring my laptop, and get work done there (2 hours at the dealer), and I get more stuff done than I do at work.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: California / Hawaii
GL350-Bluetec P1
I will never rent from Enterprise unless its my only option. I feel your pain on the missed deadline. My wife's car won't be done today. Just called 25 minutes before they close. BTW it takes 45 minutes to get there from here.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 470
Likes: 3
From: McLean, VA
2003 E500 Benz & 2015 BMW M235ix
I own a 2003 E500 and probably most of the "bugs" have been resolved in the newer cars. I bought the vehicle in 2005 with 21,000 miles from a MB Dealer so it was automatically a Certified Pre-owned car which had 1 1/2years left on the original warranty and a CPO vehicle includes a one year CPO Extended Warranty. But I also bought the two additional years which at that time was only $1800. I'm glad I did because the inherently design in the radiator caused coolant to get into the transmission and had to replace the converter. Since the cost for parts and labor is so expensive any German luxury cars, I would get the CPO Extended Warranty just to play it safe. When mine runs out in January 2010, I also plan to get a some type of third party warranty just as insurance in case something major fails. But, overall, I love this vehicle, it's looks, handling and ride!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 470
Likes: 3
From: McLean, VA
2003 E500 Benz & 2015 BMW M235ix
I can't complain about the Enterprise Rent-a-Car service. At least MB Dealers provide us a vehicle any time I leave my vehicle for service and the Dealer pays for it except for the insurance and gas........not bad in my way of thinking. I used to own a Lincoln Continental and that dealer was located right across the street from the MB Dealer and the Lincoln Dealer would never cover the cost of the Enterprise Rental Car except in one case where they were redoing the entire front end and the vehicle was left there for several days.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 59
From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
I can't complain about the Enterprise Rent-a-Car service. At least MB Dealers provide us a vehicle any time I leave my vehicle for service and the Dealer pays for it except for the insurance and gas........not bad in my way of thinking. I used to own a Lincoln Continental and that dealer was located right across the street from the MB Dealer and the Lincoln Dealer would never cover the cost of the Enterprise Rental Car except in one case where they were redoing the entire front end and the vehicle was left there for several days.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 4
E320 CDI, SL550, clk550
I agree. My wife drives a Lexus and while I think the car is only so so, and she has had a fair number of problems, the service experience is miles ahead of any of the Benz dealerships I've been to. The loaner is ready to go when you arrive and I've never had them miss a deadline.
My rub on Enterprise is the relentless up selling by a fresh out of college kid. Just STFU and give me a car.
The good news about Florida is there are plenty of Benz dealers. I picked my car up from the first dorks and I'm on to dealer number two. Never try to make an ill fated service experience good. Cut the loses and move on.
MB of Ft. Lauderdale lost a sale too. I'm buying my wife a new car <3 months.
My rub on Enterprise is the relentless up selling by a fresh out of college kid. Just STFU and give me a car.
The good news about Florida is there are plenty of Benz dealers. I picked my car up from the first dorks and I'm on to dealer number two. Never try to make an ill fated service experience good. Cut the loses and move on.
MB of Ft. Lauderdale lost a sale too. I'm buying my wife a new car <3 months.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: California / Hawaii
GL350-Bluetec P1
Boulder you hit it on the head. For 10 dollars more you can have the E...kid I drive an E and an S so this C loaner isn't much of an upsell. Also, the insurance -- I am so sick of being told all the bad things that will happen if I don't take it.
We're a bit off topic, but the other thing I dislike about the E is the LCD on the nav screen. I finally got a screen protector from E-bay for like 5 bucks works great -- fits perfectly too. No more glare.
We're a bit off topic, but the other thing I dislike about the E is the LCD on the nav screen. I finally got a screen protector from E-bay for like 5 bucks works great -- fits perfectly too. No more glare.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
W211 Elegance Saloon
I agree. My wife drives a Lexus and while I think the car is only so so, and she has had a fair number of problems, the service experience is miles ahead of any of the Benz dealerships I've been to. The loaner is ready to go when you arrive and I've never had them miss a deadline.
My rub on Enterprise is the relentless up selling by a fresh out of college kid. Just STFU and give me a car.
The good news about Florida is there are plenty of Benz dealers. I picked my car up from the first dorks and I'm on to dealer number two. Never try to make an ill fated service experience good. Cut the loses and move on.
MB of Ft. Lauderdale lost a sale too. I'm buying my wife a new car <3 months.
My rub on Enterprise is the relentless up selling by a fresh out of college kid. Just STFU and give me a car.
The good news about Florida is there are plenty of Benz dealers. I picked my car up from the first dorks and I'm on to dealer number two. Never try to make an ill fated service experience good. Cut the loses and move on.
MB of Ft. Lauderdale lost a sale too. I'm buying my wife a new car <3 months.
MB in Fort Lauderdale is awful. Customer service is horrible. Last time I was in there was in 2005 and I swore to myself I'd never return
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 3
From: California
i535
Coliseum Lexus at Oakland is a really nice dealership. Not so many women working here though, so the dealership is better for wives. Now we hope that Lexus will start making good cars, first step as dealers has been done though.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 4
E320 CDI, SL550, clk550
I always cut my loses early on a bad experience. I called MB in Pompano (closer for me) and they seem great. Wouldn't have gotton there if I didn't tell
MB FT. Laud to put the clip board down and give me my car back.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2009 E350 4Matic AVANTGARDE
E350 2009 window wipers
Hi all
I just got the E350, I think it is a great car.I am happy i did not wait for the 2010 version ,since I love the current body style. My biggest complaint is the window wipers. I live in Montreal and we get a lot of snow and slush. either the wipers freeze up or dos not clean well. Mercedes does not even sell winter blades..
Anyone else have this issue?
Thank you
I just got the E350, I think it is a great car.I am happy i did not wait for the 2010 version ,since I love the current body style. My biggest complaint is the window wipers. I live in Montreal and we get a lot of snow and slush. either the wipers freeze up or dos not clean well. Mercedes does not even sell winter blades..
Anyone else have this issue?
Thank you
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: canada
2006 E 500 4matic W211
Hey Zig
Congrats on your car, I am in mtl too. Have a 2006 e5004matic. Thing I dislike about it is the front defroster, when it is on air only blows through front window vent which is very noisy and car get's to hot, when I change to auto heat no air blows on windsheild so of course wipers freeze up, a never ending battle. First car I have owned that is like this, even my BMW had split heat for front defrost and heating. I can't even control the temp or amount of heat when in defrost mode
Congrats on your car, I am in mtl too. Have a 2006 e5004matic. Thing I dislike about it is the front defroster, when it is on air only blows through front window vent which is very noisy and car get's to hot, when I change to auto heat no air blows on windsheild so of course wipers freeze up, a never ending battle. First car I have owned that is like this, even my BMW had split heat for front defrost and heating. I can't even control the temp or amount of heat when in defrost mode
Last edited by GABMAN; Jan 9, 2009 at 10:11 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: chicago
06 SL65 AMG, 04 E5004Matic,02 911Turbo (Fluidmotorunion tuned),06 Cayenne S
hmm, i have an 04e5004matic and the dial allows me to direct air to the front windshield without having to turn on the front defroster...newer models are different???
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
2018 E300, 2014 C300
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 3
From: California
i535
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 2
From: Saskatchewan
1969 280S, 1991 300E
I've had my 06 E350 and here are my observations:
Car is built solid, very smooth, very luxurious, and can't go wrong with the Mercedes brand name.
Don't like the depreciation? Buy a used one. Much better than new.
Things I don't like:
1) The ugly clock in the cluster.
2) No little place to put a cell phone while driving to see if you get a call. You need to put it in your arm rest area, or on the seat.
3) Ugly stock wheels
4) No way to read your current MPG as you drive
5) Incredibly large gas tank makes fill ups expensive.
Other than that, I love it!
Car is built solid, very smooth, very luxurious, and can't go wrong with the Mercedes brand name.
Don't like the depreciation? Buy a used one. Much better than new.
Things I don't like:
1) The ugly clock in the cluster.
2) No little place to put a cell phone while driving to see if you get a call. You need to put it in your arm rest area, or on the seat.
3) Ugly stock wheels
4) No way to read your current MPG as you drive
5) Incredibly large gas tank makes fill ups expensive.
Other than that, I love it!
6) No AMG badge on non-AMG models....why not?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
