northbenz

Just saw the new US brochure from Mercedes which incorporates the new 2006 E350 (along with the 2005 E500, AMG, and 2005 Wagons) and note that now the only E you can get the Distronic option on is the E55 AMG version. (Same thing is true for drive dynamic seats on the
CLS Class. The CLS requires stepping up to the CLS55 AMG to get that option according to the CLS brochure since on the CLS it is only offered as part of the premium package and the premium package on the CLS500 only gets the multicontour seats.)


Interesting though is that on the new E based CLS500, Distronic is an available option! (Looks like you can get drive dynamic seats with the E350, but not the CLS500 while you can get distronic with the CLS500, but not with the E500. Go figure.)

Also of note, while the Panoramic roof is available on all the E Class sedans, including the Diesel, the 2003 and 2004 option of solar panel cooling remains deleted for the 2006 model as it was for 2005- at least for the US. (Would be curious to learn if these aberrations are unique to the US or if the same limitations apply globally? For the current model year, have you guys in Europe been able to get the solar panel cooling option on your E's?)

miroj

You must have missed the press release about the several hundred mods that are being deleted. By keeping it AMG the programming need only handle a small number of engine types - thus keeping spares simple ......

But that wont stop Sunman anyway.

northbenz

Yikes - I heard about all the decontenting last year. Now the options are disappearing too? I see you post from Australia - is the press release you refer to market limited?

miroj

According to a reliable source, there is cost cutting at bizarre levels going on.

Example - Door controllers for cars with and without memory seat, dimming mirrors, folding mirrors.
----------

European door controllers are either basic models or fully optioned. Certainly the spare part is fully optioned as a replacement for both - this has been around for a while.

I heard that USA door controllers come with pins missing so that you couldnt fit options your car was not built with. Think of the cost of a copper pin, multiply it by 3 or 4 million pins .... that is the cost saved.

glojo

I have just looked on the UK Mercedes-Benz site and read the latest description.

It obviously refers to the E350 and then in a separate section it describes all the different seating options, including the dynamic seats. Another section the goes on about how you can elect to have distronic fitted.

I cannot comment on what will be around in 2006 as we are still in the first month of 2005.

If you want to read up on this, then I would suggest you go onto the UK site.

Good luck, and take care
John

A very windy lunch-time in Torquay

Nevada Jack

The Mercedes listing I have dated 1/5/05 shows the Drive Dynamic Seats part of the Premium Option and they are also listed as Optional Equipment for the MY 2005/2006 E350 Wagons. Neither list show the Distronic as an option. Did you see that brochure at your dealer...if so I will contact mine and see if he has any yet.

Nevada Jack

Hi John..could you post the URL for the UK site...thanks.

Jack

cdiken

MB says, today, on MBUSA.com that "REST" mode is a standard feature on my CDI. It has been de-contented since at least 08/2004 when mine was built, I don't have the feature, yet MBUSA.com still claims its standard.

MB has shown descrepancy between promises and reality.

The whole Chrysler thing really sucks air. It tears me that my car was made by the same company that spits out Dodge Neons.

HELL ONA HARLEY

Funny.... I just built a CLS500 on mbusa last night and I was able to add the "drive dynamic" seats (driver and passenger) and "distronic" with no problems....

northbenz

I picked up the brochure at the downtown dealer (Van Ness Street?) when I was on business in San Francisco Thursday. It was new in the shrink wrap so must have just arrived that day as the ones on the display shelf were still the 2005 ones. Apart from the 2006 350 E, the other E's in it are 2005 models. THe only other 2006 brochure was the new CLS complete brochure.

Looks like there are some discrepancies between the brochures, the MBUSA website, and other information. Someone with access to Netstar should be able to provide the definitive word as to whether Distronic can now only be had in the US with the E55AMG E Sedan and the CLS500/CLS55 AMG "coupes."

As to drive dymanic it looks like this is only applicable to the CLS as it is only the CLS brochure that fails to list drive dynamic as a separate option and notes that when you order the premium package with the CLS55 AMG you then get the drive dynamic seats as part of the package. For the CLS500 the seats that come with the premium package are limited to multicontour ones.

Glojo- or anyone in Europe, is the solar panel cooling option still available outside of the US where it has been deleted for at least a year now here?

xraymd

If you have an older '05 model year brochure, you'll see distronic has not been available on non 55 E's since the start of the run. I don't think this is new. In the same brochure, drive dynamic seats are part of the premium package. Did this change? (In the 2004 brochure, they were part of the comfort package.)

ATS

Yes, this is a funny thing in the States. All features for the E class are available in Canada on all E classes including Distronic, solar roof, etc, etc..

It seems that in Europe (and Canada too for some reason) that the options available on cars are endless. The best example look at a Jetta, in Europe there are are a hundred options and in the States there are about 10. It is so weird.

It seems that they like to keep it as simple as possible so that the dealers can sell the cars easier. People are paying for features they didn't want in cars that are already landed - which makes selling and supporting harder.

Also, it seems from talking to a lof people I know, most people buy cars stock.. Another thing I noticed, features are standard here in Canada in all E classes that you guys pay for - sunroof, heated seats, 4 zone climate, etc, etc.

glojo

Morning Jack,
No problem,

http://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/

It is so easy to check out Mercedes-Benz worldwide. The only problem is that National sites actually print the information in their own native tongue????

If you want to see what specs. an Australian, or South African (Armour plated S-class) country has, simply go to Mercedes-Benz.com and select whatever country you want to check out.

Good luck,
John

A slightly overcast morning in Torquay

NATS64

That sounds like a lesson learned from Chrysler. I once had a Chrysler product that had plastic knobs with no metal band on the shaft to provide some strength to the otherwise weak plastic. These bands are standard on this type of knob in all other industries. Naturally, the knobs break from normal usage, such as turning on the headlights. These bands probably cost a small fraction of a cent each, but multiply that by several million... Result, loss of a customer for life!

Nevada Jack

I just got an email from one of my dealer contacts in CA and he is sending me the new brochure and I will get it Tuesday. He also said Distronic and Parktronic will be available on the sedan and wagon as well as on the CDI

silberrosa

The solar panel was dropped worldwide on the 211. It is no longer available in the US or ROW.

ATS

No, it is available in Canada right now.. Cost is: $1150.00.

http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cf...lID=364&id=456