pa28pilot

Well, I put my order in today for a 2005 E320CDI for European Delivery. I had ordered a Panorama Roof so I had to ask about the Power Rear Sunshade specifically. We put in an order that included 297 (Rear Side Window Blinds) and 540 (Rear Sunshade).

My dealer just called me back to tell me that the factory called and indicated that neither of those options is available any longer, perhaps due to a supplier change. There is even be talk of removing them from the "Sunroof' package. It is not clear to me whether this is unique to the CDI, or is true for the other variants as well.

I'm a little disheartened. For what is arguably shaping up to be one of the hotter new cars in the U.S. market, they're not doing a lot to make the car interesting aesthetically.

Barry45RPM

I wish my car didn't have them. This is my 3rd car with them & I can say, I've never used the rear shade other than to show somebody "Whee look at this..." ...the side shades not even once. Now a rear camera, THAT would be nice!

It will be a nice car nonetheless! Enjoy it!

weinschela

Agree about the side shades but not about the rear. I use it when parked in hot sun -- make sure sunroof and interior liner is closed and raise rear shade -- keeps the car cooler

pa28pilot

I was hoping the sunshade would keep the car cooler as well. I was already disappointed that the solar panel fan was discontinued. I'm wondering whether that's something that could be retrofit if I scrounged the parts?

ATS

You can use the REST feature to keep it cool.. Ooops they deleted that from 2005 too..

Actually if you have little kids the side shades are amazing..

levind

There is a manual rear window sunshade available in the MB accessories catalog (online). It looks pretty nice. Granted, it isn't as neat as the power sunshade, but it should serve the same function.

ToyCollector

ATS, my '05 has the REST feature and it is prominently displayed on '05 E320s and E500s in the new '05 brochure.

ToyCollector

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...CDI&class=05_E

ATS

Rest feature. I was under the impression it was gone..

I have the side and rear window shades that are in the catalog and they work great. The sides I use, the rear is too time consuming to put in and take out..

ToyCollector

Given the discourse on this site, I too, was not expecting to see it, but 5 weeks or so ago, it appeared on the MBUSA site, and on my car. Heaven forbid the MB folks are reading the site and responding to our observations.

cdiken

My 2005 E320 CDI does not.

cdiken

It looks like the REST feature, according to the website, should be on the CDI, but I have a blank static non-button where rest should be.

Do we have a class-action lawsuit here for false-advertising?

I'm sure somewhere in the fine print it says "features and specifications subject to change without notice..."

KB

levind

The website also still lists the tunnel mode option. Has anyone with a new car tried this feature?

DavidNJ

There are running changes. It looks like the rest feature and the center console hit at the same time...start of August production. If tunnel mode is gone it probably left at the same time.

The rear window shade problem is new and interesting. They had just made it mandatory with a sunroof by eliminating the standalone sunroof option. I wonder if it is included if you order the sunroof or premium package.

The total of these changes would have be consider a BMW or the new Audi A6...which appears to be VERY popular in Germany.

P.S.
With all the griping this beginning to sound like a BMW E60 board!!!

pa28pilot

Heh, funny you should mention that. A day or two ago, my salesman mentioned exactly that sentence. In fairness, he's been very helpful, within the confines of what the order book and Netstar will let him do. (AND he managed to pull a timely build slot out of thin air for me.)

I'm going to be quite vexed if my center console is changed. Proper use of a comfortable armrest saves me from a fair amount of neck pain due to disc trouble. It looks like that sliding door handle on the new style would poke right into one's arm.

scorchie

Yes, both sunshade and solar panel should be doable with the proper time, pocketbook, and attitude.

I have "scrounged the parts" (well nearly all of them) for the solar panel retrofit. Since Distronic is done (the installation part), it looks like the time to work on solar panel is soon.

-s-

jester2ll2

I have it on my '05 CDI as well.

Maybe it has to do with the build date?

But, come to think of it, pretty much all the CDIs that I looked at had the REST feature.

Two questions tho...Whats the deal with the digital display for the A/C is it not an option on the CDI? Also the rear pillar vents that are in the other 211s, not an option with the CDI?

Baby Jocko

Mine does not have REST. The button is blank and static. But, although there may be times that feature could be useful, I doubt I would miss it.

TPAbnz

And if you lean on it, your elbow would go through it.

pa28pilot

When I saw the "manual climate control" option in my CDI's Netstar configuration, I asked my dealer what the other variants were, and if there was a way to get the digital display. He said that it's standard in the E500 (which the brochure indicates), but that in the other E's it only comes if you select the optional rear air conditioner.

konigstiger

Most if not all MBUSA materials contain “MBUSA reserves the right to make changes at any time”. That said, if the dealer makes an oral or written promise to an individual buyer regarding features which would be included on the vehicle that buyer is purchasing and then the vehicle provided does not have these features, then that is a breach of contract. Since new automobiles are almost always sold with written contracts, it is up to the buyer to see to it that the written agreements include the promise for the desired features. If the buyer signed a purchase agreement without such a promise, then there is no breach of contract. The advertising is irrelevant.

This is why 03 buyers were unsuccessful regarding MBUSA inability to retrofit the navigation, and the absence of 4-piston calipers for the front brakes in the e320.

ToyCollector

Jocko, my rest button is in the middle of the right side dial. On E500s, it is a button in the middle of the horizontal array with the others.

cdiken

I have in my hand a 2005 E320 CDI brochure listing the REST feature as standard.

Of course, the brochure has fine print that says eg "options, specifications subject to change without notice...."

I have in my garage a 2005 E320 CDI car without the REST feature.

I would love to have that feature...I do make frequent stops of 1/2 hour or less.

Would it be a waste of time to ask MB for some sort of concession? Cash or a few oil changes free, or what? I'm looking for a response from someone that asked for and received a concession.

While it is perfectly legal for MB to change specs, its not ethical, or fair. A business WILL pay concessions for upsetting a customer. The only thing for the business to decide is whether to do it the easy way or the hard way. In this case, the hard way could mean I drive a BMW next go round instead of another MB.

Any thoughts?

BTW instead of deleting REST, it should have been expanded, to included programmable cool down for when you stop for a predictable amount of time. Let's say you have a lunch appointment and it is 95 deg and sunny. You know you will return to your car in about 1 hour. You set REST to initiate the cool-down fan 45 minutes after you park, so when you return it has cooled off whether you finish lunch on time or run 15 minutes over.

Ken

Baby Jocko

Here's the new 4-Zone Climate Control without REST:

ToyCollector

Jocko, give 'em hell. We have to fight for even our REST feature it seems.

Forgot you had a 500. Dammit man, that gets my collar all starched. And I dislike starched collars.