newbabynewcar

As a new 320 owner (bought in sep) I didn't realize how decontented the e320 05 was compared to 2003 and 2004 models. Of course had I not read this board I might be happy in my ignorance...

Okay so in order to be positive what I wanted was to create a list of items and part numbers to add back (Re contenting) the little bells and whistles that Mercedes has removed.

So far we have
1) Center console with double wing style
2) Shelf in Glove compartment.

What else from the 2003 to 2005 - and does anyone know the part numbers
We should also put a cost on it... how much does it cost to recontent the car.

DWP

Somebody tried to come up with a decontenting list a while ago, as I recall. One item that got a lot of discussion six or nine months ago was the deletion of the "puddle lights" on the bottom of the outside mirrors. They light up the ground near the doors. Restoring those to your car would undoubtedly require replacement of the entire mirror assemblies, a very expensive proposition.

SAguirre

Don't forget the deletion of the "REST" function on the climate control along with the cold air wheel for the center vents. I used the REST feature 5 times today, since I was only running little errands in a snow storm, it really helps when you don't have to scrape the windshild!

O, how about the free service? I am very happy that I have a 3-month old 04.

Steve

HELL ONA HARLEY

Might as well sell yours for an 04 model.... Some of the "decontented" items can't be added ( free maintanence) or swaped (center consol )....
Be happy and enjoy your new car the way it came.... Its still an awesome vehicle.

newbabynewcar

Okay so we are up to

1) Center Console Butterfly changed to sliding door
2) Shelf in Glove compartment
3) Free Service (Oil change, etc)
4) Puddle lights (BTW Steve changed my mirrors to the folding kind that have the puddle lights but Mercedes has completely changed the internal wiring on the mirrors in '05 so he couldn't wire up anymore).
5) Rest function (Although my '05 does have it)


On the flip side stuff they added to the car seems to be
1) Digital Tele-aid
2) Ability for Comand to play MP3 DVDs

Anything else...

pa28pilot

Options no longer available:
Solar Panels for the Panorama Roof.

At least for the E320CDI:
Motorized rear window sunshade
Retractable rear pax window sunshades

ATS

Solar Panels and Distronic were only deleted in the US. Although you can get Distronic on the E55 in the US.

The feature I would not want to live without is the puddle lights. They are amazing..

dacbiet

Somewhere I read (I think it was a small sticker on the back page of a MB E-class brochure) indicating the deletion of one speaker on the standard audio system.

levind

The subwoofer was deleted worldwide in the standard audio system. This does not apply to the HK system.

TPAbnz

What a nice, useful feature. Why don't they make some of these things optional instead of eliminating them?

SAguirre

I think that “puddle lights” are the lights that are under the door when it opens. That way, when you open the door, you can see if what is directly under the door. I think that the lights that you are showing (under the mirror) are called courtesy lights.

My 1991 300E had puddle lights under the doors, that is why I know what they are called. I am not sure, however, if the ones under the mirrors are truly called courtesy lights.

The Ford Explorer from 1998 has the lights under the mirrors, why would MB discontinue them? It really makes no sense.


Anyone know the true linguistics of these items?

Steve

konigstiger

If I remember correctly, the lights under the outside mirrors are officially called mirror integrated entrance lamps. The purpose of which is to illuminate your approach to the vehicle.

ElDiabloJoe

Disappointing.

Reading y'all's posts, it seems that while Chrysler's design house is improving (PT Cruiser, C300, Crossfire, etc.), the rest of Chrysler is rubbing off on Mercedes Benz (fewer bells n whisltes, more quality control issues, NAV (Which stand for Never Actually Verks).



EDJ

Brian_I.

Looking at the list of items deconted or changed, the only one I really even feel like I would miss is the free scheduled maintenance. The other things are really not that great, just nice to have if you have 'em.

As far as the features they did give us in 05 such as the digital Tele-Aid's unlimited conference call feature is awesome and I use it all the time. Also the addition of MP3 playback is something I truly love having.

jester2ll2

What about the amount of fabric in and around the foot wells?

It seems like I have to re-Scotchgard everything at least once a month.

Also, why hasn't MB made the T.P.I. standard? Its standard on quite a few other cars.

Another BIG gripe, not being able to lock the trunk separate from the rest of the car. I cannot believe they did that.

Hawkeye04

Hello Samoan-Ridah: Please bear with my ignorance about digital Tele-Aid. I picked up my 2005 E320 4Matic (this month) in a hurry and was not advised about the feature. Is Tele-Aid free? What is the objective of Tele-Aid?

Barry45RPM

Tele Aid is MB's version of OnStar. You get 30 minutes the 1st year of ownership, you pay yearly (automatically on credit card) untill you cancel.

GeoGeo

Does anyone know if I can get a subwoofer from a 04 and install into the 05? Is the wiring still there?

adam3

How does the REST function work and what is it for? I've never used it.
Puddle lights are very useful since i kinda seem to drop keys and odd's and sodds near the car. The centre console is a proper armrest in 03/04.
Do the wing mirrors autofold on entry like in 03/04.?

Oslo

On EU cars, they removed this strap!

Omegaonne

On the 05, we don't have it either, and how did u get ur seats to fold down like that?

Oslo

This was from a stock photo. But the pax seat is an option in EU, and you can also get a Notebook holder to be mounted on the rear of the pax seat.

jschade

Oslo,

Glad to hear this was a stock photo and not your car. I wasn't wondering how you got your seat to fold down like that as much as I was wondering what happened to your center door pillar!!

Brian_I.

As Barry mentioned it is similar to OnStar in that they can remotely unlock your doors if you get locked out, they can summon help if you get into an accident (they get notified if your airbags deploy) and they offer a number of other services like traffic reports, voice-guided navigation and the best one concierge.

What's nice about the 05 with digital teleaid is that there is no longer a 30-minute time limit per month, it's unlimited. And the concierge can conference call anyone for you allowing hands-free outbound calling free of charge. They also have access to the web and can pretty much go to any website for your and do about anything you want such as make purchases, order flowers for the wifey, research something, check your email, read you the headlines from the New York Times, you get the point. What's really great is they can get tickets for just about anything at any time (like the World Series) as long as you are willing to pay up to 3 times the face value.

I signed up with my saleswoman at the dealership before driving off but I'm sure you could call them and set it up. You have to give them a credit card that they will use if you order any additional services and also to automatically renew your subscription after the first year.

Incendiary

Our 2005 E320 4matic has the center console butterfly, REST function (I think), and non-smoker's package (no lighter, no ashtray, yes rubber mat, yes socket cover), but no shelf in glove compartment.

Weird.