printemps2001

I've decided my new car is going to be an E550 sedan and as a first time Merc buyer, I'd appreciate some input/advice. I'd ask the dealer but seeing as I informed him about the Hybrid E, I assume he doesn't keep too on top of the model minutiae, so thanks in advance to anyone who wishes to give some input.

1. Does MB do special order colors? I'd prefer Mars Red.
2. Does MB do special order interior colors? I'd prefer brown dash / light carpet / headliner (ala E350 Luxury)
3. Can the car be ordered with summer tires rather than no-seasons?
4. Is model badge delete available from the factory, or will it be dental floss and Goo-Gone?

I was under the impression that Designo was made to order similar to the virtually limitless combinations of colors and trim available with Porsche, but it seems as if that is really just a different trim level and nothing one-off. Is that true?

I'm looking at Cuprite Brown (or Mars Red if doable) with the special order chestnut interior (hopefully with Brown dash), Premium 2, Drivers' Assistance Package, Panoramic roof, roof/rear spoiler kit, badge delete (hopefully from factory), AMG Sport kit.

A couple more questions:

1. I'm up in the air on the night vision. Any opinions? Due to the time of year, I won't be able to see it in action prior to ordering a car.
2. I generally buy cars, but I'm leaning towards leasing. With cars becoming technologically obsolete so quickly, I can't imagine not wanting a newer gadget or safety feature in a few years. Plus the idea of not having to deal with a trade in is nice. Are MB's leases typically favorable, or am I better off buying (1.5% at PenFed)?
3. A local dealer has a 2012 leftover...right options, but wrong color; what's a reasonable discount off msrp for a 13 vs 12 leftover? Or should I just order my preferred colors?

Thanks for help.

PS - Is the MB car club active with track days in the northeast?

Arrie

You are getting the driver assist package, right?

Night vision could be very nice as it shows the livig creatures in the infra red display. You can see thing like deer and of coure pedestrians much sooner than with just normal vision especially in dark wet conditions.

Also, order it with the Airmatic. I understand it is not a standard feature any more but is an option.

W210

That is true, Designo is more like BMW's Individual, not as flexible as Porsche.

xolinlevh

I'd say if you are flexible enough with the color id just go with the 2012 left over, take a good discount on it and save some cash. Though i would also say make sure it has Airmatic, from what ive read it was taken off the '12s unless it was special ordered.

myzmak

depends on the dealer but local ones (in alberta) are offering as high as 11-12% off msrp. some of that is dealer cash, but...still, good savings.

printemps2001

Thanks for the input on Airmatic. Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the benefit of it?

ttoE550

I like airmatic too. I can't speak to the benefits of it per se because I've never driven a 550 non-airmatic.

One feature I use is the ability to raise the car 1 inch above the comfort setting or 1.3 inches above sport. This is useful in heavy rains, snow, and similar conditions. I've even used that to avoid tearing off my bumper by raising the car over a parking curb I had accidentally driven over.

This I'm less sure about: the airmatic seems to adjust to driving style. Floor it and there virtually no dive or squat at start or at gear changes. It's a beautiful thing. Also, i feel like the suspension tightens up when I get playful, less roll, etc. it's not a sports car, by any means, but it's nice.

IMHO night vision is a waste of money. It's too small. It's in the wrong spot. You shouldn't be looking there when driving at night. It might be ok if you routinely have a passenger to monitor it while you drive. But who's that paranoid? It's a gimmick. I haven't used mine in over a year. Oh yeah, when you turn it in, you lose the comand screen to it - no navi or audio on the screen then.

W210

Airmatics are standard on Canadian E550 4matics. There is a significant difference between the comfort and sport setting. Not sure how much weight it adds to the car, but a nice feature.

BenzV12

Congrats on your decision , MB W212 is the best car money can buy imo
Airmatic seems a great option and well worth it but in long term you may end up big repair bill because such systems go wrong and repair is not cheap

Being sad , BMW's thermal night vision is better than MB's infra red . I don't think the screen is too skinny or small considering W221's night view is smaller than Comand screen but W221's has a better angle , you can monitor what's in front of you easily then turning your head to the right to view it

lawjds

That car to lease will be a fortune if you are not buying it I would consider a S class for what your payment is going to be.

xolinlevh

Main perk to airmatic is that its air suspension vs regular so its adjustable. You can switch between 'comfort' which has more give going over rough roads for a softer ride, or 'sport' which stiffens it up for a tighter ride while at the same time lowering the car for better aerodynamics. There is also the 'raise' feature which lets you manually raise the car about a inch, which is great on bad roads, bad weather, etc

printemps2001

Thanks for the input all. It seems as if there is a consensus that airmatic is a must have. I would have never thought about ordering it.

xolinlevh

most people dont even know its offered =/

WEBSRFR

Great choice! You will love the extra power and even if you don;t use the extra power it makes the driving a lot smoother... I've had so many women compliment me on how "smooth" my car is and I think it has to do with the engine offering such effortless acceleration.

The one feature I recommend that you add to your car is the pano roof. It makes the interior much nicer during the daytime as it lets more light in. The car also looks great from the outside...

I wouldn't buy another car without the pano roof

dfordham

Braggart!

Regards,
Don

YYZ-E55

1) You can order any color through a PA1 special order, but the fees are extreme. Figure well over $5,000 for a custom color that isn't available through designo.
2) You can do designo leather but it will always have a black upper dash and black carpets. Again, PA1 is an option but prohibitively expensive.
3) Not in North America. In Europe, yes.
4) Rear badge delete code is 260, not sure if it will work in North America though.