I'd like to know that when I order my 2004 that the nav will be included and working or I'll just wait some more. Anyone out there have some facts yet?

 

If you want ground truth then the MBUSA website build module for the 04 models is your best bet. Anything other than that is speculation. If you want speculation ... now that nav is being built in the E 03's, there is a high probability it will be in the 04 Es. If anything has been learned on this forum it is any question posed to 2 or more salesmen will elicit the same number of opinions (often couched as fact). Further, MBUSA reps tend to be clueless about the ramblings of the mother ship, and can be openly hostile to current and potential customers.

 

I have seen both the ordering book and the Netstar ordering site, and they show Command w/DVD and V60 w/voice for '04. It also lists 4matic as an orderable. Your dealer can give you all the details, and they can place the order as of last week. Pricing won't be set 'till July.

 

Are you saying that the dealers can take orders on a 2004 E-Class with Navi and Voice Linguistics voice activation stuff?
If so, is the entertainmnet (LCD screens-backseat) an option yet?


amgB

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AMGB
[B]Are you saying that the dealers can take orders on a 2004 E-Class with Navi and Voice Linguistics voice activation stuff?
If so, is the entertainmnet (LCD screens-backseat) an option yet?


Didn't see it listed as a choice. Sorry

 

It is not yet possible to ORDER an 04. You may however get in LINE to order sometime in August for late Sept. early Oct. delivery. Command will be available for 04.

 

Thanks for the info. Now the 7 speed auto transmission sounds like its worth waiting for. I am going crazy trying to figure out when to get the car. I need a Nav. I want the 7 speed. ahhhh

amgB

2004 E55 (1st on the list)

 

just got back from the MB dealer and was informed that nav will not be on the first shipment of 2004 E's. They hope it will be available around February 2004. I don't think I want to wait that long and may just go ahead and order an '03 this week!!

my 2 cents

 

What a bunch of BS!!!! I've sat in several S500 (even got to drive an S55.. hehehe), and they have the new system staring right at me in the cabin... so agravating! I am cancelling my order if I have to wait for an April delivery.

 

Hey, Brav,

The S500 had the COMAND II with DVD Nav? Not the old CD-based nav???

Sorry to be extra redundant...but it looks like we might have all missed a subtlety, thinking "Of course, it's DVD-based..." Can anyone confirm or deny this?

I'm getting the weird feeling that the fiasco continues...

-NavNut

 

Just a thought! The C Class has a face lift which was due for the 04 model sedan.
It is scheduled for the end of February. The changes are nothning that should be delayed from the beginning of the model year except that the major difference is the re-designed console to accommodate the DVD NAV. Is it possible that there will be no DVD NAV systems until then?

 

NavNut - all I can safely say was that it had a nearly Identical (widescreen + look/feel of buttons) face as those depicted in pictures here on the web. It is a totally different unit than the old ugly square units from command I. I can only assume, and/or hope.

On a lighter note - can that S55 SCREAM!! I've never driven a car as fast. Its funny it had to be in one of the biggest sedans on the road. Tranny was not smooth however.. awkward shifts at high rpm, and it seeme to pick wrong gear at times. If I go back, I will inspect the truck and look for the DVD logo.. or maybe you can if you stop in for free coffee

 

I'm confused, they are making 2003 Es with DVD Nav to satisfy all of the pre-order folks, right? Then they stop making them until February 04?

 

from what I understood at the MB dealer today, there will be no E series cars with nav until Feb 04 at the earliest..and regarding the new 7 speed trans....

here is the actual German text, which perhaps some members can translate better than me with my 2 years of german lessons.

from a German website:
http://www.jes-mercedes.de/indexie.htm

Im Herbst 2003 feiert die neue Mercedes 7G-Tronic 7-Gang Automatik Weltpremiere. Diese neue Automatikgeneration wird in jeder Hinsicht neue Maßstäbe setzen. Es ist die weltweit erste 7 Gang-PKW-Automatik. Sie wird für mehr Komfort, schnellere Spurts und Zwischenspurt sowie einen geringeren Verbrauch sorgen. Insgesamt versprechen sich die DaimlerChrysler Ingenieure einen Verbrauchsvorteil von 0,6 Liter auf 100 km. Zudem wird der Geräuschpegel im Durchschnitt sinken, da die Drehzahlen niedriger sein werden. Den Sprint von 0-100 km/h ist um 0,3s schneller erledigt. Auch die Zwischenspurts von 60-120 km/h werden deutlich schneller erledigt, da die 7G-Tronic bei Kickdown jetzt nicht mehr die Gänge nacheinander zurückschalten muss, sondern direkt von 7 in 5 und dann direkt in 3 wechseln kann. Dieser Vorgang spart Zeit. Die Wandlerüberbrückung ist wie auch schon in der letzten 5-Gangautomatikversion schon ab dem 1. Gang aktiv. Obwohl die 7G Tronic 2 Fahrstufen mehr bietet, ist sie kaum größer und schwerer geworden. Dazu trägt vor allem das aus dem Leichtbauwerkstoff Magnesium hergestellte Getriebegehäuse bei - ebenfalls eine Weltpremiere in der Großserie! Die 7G-Tronic wird ab Herbst 2003 im S 430, S 500, SL 500, CL 500 und E 500 serienmäßig angeboten.
Für diese neue 7-Gangautomatik baute DC einen neue Produktionsanlage in Untertürkheim für 400 Mio EUR für insgesamt 1.100 Mitarbeiter.
Seit 1959 sind bei Mercedes-Benz rund 11 Mio PKW-Automatikgetriebe gebaut worden. Die S-Klasse wird serienmäßig mit einem Automatikgetriebe geliefert. In der E-Klasse beträgt ihr Anteil 88%, in der C-Klasse 65 % - Tendenz steigend !


It seems to say that the 7 speed transmission will be out this fall (03)
on the S430, S500, SL500, CL500,
and the E500......

if true, with the 7 speed trans this fall and nav in Feb '04, I may just have to wait (and I hate waiting).

 

If net screen says DVD Nav is orderable on the 2004's my guess is that some dealers will not be getting Nav equipped cars for some period of time due to limited availability of the units from the supplier - but other dealers may well have the clout to get their early 2004's with Nav. I'd check with more than one dealer as it may be as simple as the dealers themselves not having any Nav equipped E's coming into their own inventory for what ever reason.

Also, as I've suggested before, a few calls to Canadian dealers could prove very informative. They get the same equipped cars as the US ("North American Market") and generally have better informed sales persons as to what and when new model/option changes are coming down the pike. (Apparently has something to do with a more open policy by Mercedes of Canada in passing information down to their dealers.)

 

It's confirmed that the 2004 E Class will come equipped with DVD Navigation. The question remains is will it also have DVD movie capability.


Rod

 

I think all will be revealed sometime this July when the MB build configurator starts accepting '04 orders (it won't now).
NAV is definitely listed as an option for '04 just not sure when in '04, as another company (oem) took over the design and build of the original NAV system.

 

Maybe it sounds crazy, but if a DVD navigation is so important, why don't you buy Accord having DVD navigation with voice control, leather upholstery, 240HP, and more.

 

Unfortunately, it's not that crazy... Most of my friends know my penchant for these things and they've been telling me that for a while... You could buy his and her Accords, AND have some insurance and gas money left over instead of just one loaded E500...

-NavNut

 

no, not crazy at all. it's crazy to realize the plethora of cars out there with NAV and that the E Series doesn't have it together. I just want my cake and to eat it as well. I am buying an '03 E500/Sport /Black/Charcoal (have 3 dealers searching) and will drive it for a while till MB gets everything sorted out and then will order either another E500/04 or an E55 with all the items on my wish list.

 

Actually...

I might do JUST that. Except that I will probably end up with the TSX or the TL. As far as I am concerned, MB could have handled, the 1500 or so customers that were affected by the DVD fiasco, far more tactfully. Just the very fact, that dealers are giving different responses to customers, sucks (see my post on 'Who got what?" for details).

And don't say I am getting a new car. I believe that is happening because MB legal said if they don't do this, they will have a litigation nightmare on their hands.

Ain't nothing in this life for free...