Mbracer26

I have two 2014 E350 sedans and the newer build is missing some stuff. The first one is a 8/2013 build and second one with exact build is 4/2014 build. Its missing a wood trim around the climate controls and its missing the trunk net on the right hand side of the trunk. But the newer build has aluminum gas/ brake pedals, is this a model refresh or did they forget the wood?
Same packages, same color

K-A

You have a pic? What's around the climate controls that replace the wood? Maybe a different trim package?

Sounds like it could be some sneaky decontenting or minute switcharounds that happen during even same year model runs. My 2010 E350 for example had ridges around the aluminum window trim that you could see when you opened the door, while my 2011's was flat, which is kind of weird. Most notably and annoyingly is that my 2010 E's center console had a rubber extension that covered the slit in between the wishbone "doors", so you couldn't see inside of it. Starting with 2011 models (not sure if still), they removed that rubber extension and I could then see inside of the center console if I looked right at it, most annoyingly at night how the bright LED inside of it could be made out, and make out what I had inside. My dealer said it was a sneaky cost cutting move and were nice enough to make a little piece of black felt to cover up said little crease-hole.

wanderfalke

[QUOTE=Mbracer26;6225585]I have two 2014 E350 sedans and the newer build is missing some stuff. The first one is a 8/2013 build and second one with exact build is 4/2014 build. Its missing a wood trim around the climate controls and its missing the trunk net on the right hand side of the trunk. But the newer build has aluminum gas/ brake pedals, is this a model refresh or did they forget the wood?

Does this link help? My 2014 with a late build date looks like this. As far as the net goes they are really pushing the comfort cargo box, at a price of course.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicl...b=tab-interior

K-A

Wow, they removed the nice wood trim around the A/C controls. Definitely decontenting.

If you pay attention, automakers will often decontent and cost cut on the detail oriented bits of a car as the production goes on, and then make up or cover up for it in more obvious ways (as to distract from the decontenting), such as aluminum pedals (the wood is only for the W212 so likely is more costly to produce, while the pedals are probably universal), etc. Seems to be a pretty common tactic. I find a lot of the times that in terms of underlying details, the first model years tend to be the most detail oriented.

BeachBunny

You forgot to mention the rear-headrest lower button...that's gone from mid-2014 onwards as well.

wanderfalke

You could order a replacement part from a earlier model, it should not cost that much.

DerekACS

Both the right side trunk net and the fold down 'tree nail' or grocery bag hook have been deleted from MY2014/2015.

The part # for the 'tree nail' is # A212 810 0040 9B27; cost about $12.00 .

The cost accountants are likely responsible !

Rear headrest button still present on 06/14 production for Canadian E250BT; definitely missing from 09/14 MY2015 production.

sigx5

my co-worker bought car one week earlier then me; his car built in Jan 2014; mine built in Apr 2014. Almost the same options (except AMG wheel, 3-spoke sport steering wheel, lighting package, Panorama roof, Active multicontour driver seat)
difference between two cars,
the April built,
- missing a wood trim around the climate controls
- missing the trunk net on the right hand side of the trunk
- missing rear-headrest lower button
- has aluminum gas/ brake pedals

BeachBunny

Does anyone have the part # for the wood trim around the climate controls and approx cost? Most of the de-contenting, while regrettable, annoys me but not enough to do anything about it...EXCEPT that piece of wood trim.

The black trim piece looks sooo cheap, like an aftermarket piece of plastic.

wanderfalke

I have the back ash option, I would not object to buying that piece if it was around 100 bucks. Where MB saved some money was getting rid of the headrest lowering option. Maybe they were prone to breaking.

wanderfalke

I called the dealership and not much luck trying to order the wooden trim surrounding the climate controls. What is needed--- A member would have to own a earlier production 2014 with back ash and call his dealer and provide a vin. number to get a replace part number and share the part number. I wonder if the 2015 E400 might have this part as well?

What type of trim do you have beach bunny?

BeachBunny

wanderfalke: I have the burl trim. Although I don't have the car yet, currently being built (literally is supposed to be on the assembly line this week) and hoping to have it sometime in December. I just know that's one of those things that'll bug me about the car.

Mbracer26

I noticed today that behind the steering wheel the wood trim is missing in my 4/14 build but present in 8/14 build. Also different tires and windshield wiper on the 4/14 build, same standard 18" sport rims on both cars. Will look for more differences later on. Never knew Mercedes would cut so many corners to save a few $$$.

BeachBunny

"(Value) Engineered like no other"

noka

2015 build seems to be missing Comfort Box accessory.

DerekACS

MB is not alone in the de-contenting of various items. BMW has pursued a similar path over the years, e.g.. removal of the trunk tool tray from under the trunk lid, deletion of storage nets behind the front seats, etc.

BeachBunny

Comfort box has always been an add-on. IIRC, they're installed at the dealerships or VPC, not factory.

The de-contenting of the cars bothers me... I'd rather they raise the price. I know this segment of the auto industry is competitive, BUT are people in this segment really all that price-sensitive? I know I'm not like many buyers, but to me +/- $2.5k wouldn't change my mind between cars. It'd probably need to be a $5k difference before I'd start to consider something different.

K-A

Unfortunately, due largely to the fault of their own, this segment is being increasingly trained to be price conscience, or "cheap" if you're looking at it from what a premium genre is supposed to be. Lease-centric, highly discounted, etc. Base price goes up every year, yet little detailed refinements go down, often with the masking of something like aluminum pedals, etc. Car enthusiasts will notice the de-contenting, while the general "I don't care just give me the cheapest lease with the biggest emblem" will get fooled by the smoke effect.

While reliability generally improves as the models years move on, I've noticed and also seen interesting write-ups by people in the business of volume production, stating how in the first year, automakers will typically get the best materials and most exact tolerances, to ensure that they can minimize the typical first year issues as much as they can. Then, as the years go on, and possible glitches are sorted out, bean counters take over, de-content the detailed bits, tolerances get a little less tight, etc. while things like facelifts and the like train to mask that. Makes sense.

xxGenericSNxx

This is typical of MB as the body style grows older. Small things that many don't notice are removed and instead we are offered a couple more big ticket options/features to draw one's attention to instead.

The first few model years had a 12V in the glove box- now gone.
2010 AMG had matching trim in the center console and AC surround later ones are all black plastic.
2014+ deletion of matching wood trim under the armrests on all four doors.
Running change in 2014 is the deletion of the headrest button.
Running change in 2014 is the deletion of AC surround trim in favor of matte black plastic (for non AMG).
No tree nail on later years.
etc.

At least these parts are easy to add on afterwards and not too expensive (check eBay) if you have a more common interior trim like Burlwood.

petee1997

There you go, you've been smoking the drapes again. Why do you make up such stupidity. The cars carry four years of full warranty not one. The cost of warranty exceeds the cost of reducing tolerances.

K-A

Well considering MB's recent CR reliability rankings, it appears there might be truth to that after all (I'll trust that the source is more educated on the subject than you). As for material de-contenting, that's obvious, and a classic bean counter trick.

BeachBunny

Indeed. If anything, the newer ones have more features standard. For the purpose of this discussion, they're the bullet point-worthy items. Just off the top of my head, all E class now come with the equivalent of the P2 Lighting package, folding seats & folding mirrors are included in the Premium 1 package. Flipping through the brochure for the 2009 E vs. 2003 E, there's a huge difference in what was standard equipment. Almost everything which was optional in 2003 was standard by 2009.

I'm still torn on it though -- I'd rather have the option of adding things than have them gone entirely. I know there are price targets they're trying to hit, and no one certainly expects a mass-produced E-Class to be built with no consideration to price like a 6.9, but I still miss things...especially that missing piece of wood -- it's something I'll see daily.

noka

Interesting. When I did a couple of '14 builds, just before MBUSA updated the site to '15, there was a checkbox to add it (+$290).

BeachBunny

It was an option when I custom-built my '15 E350 as well. I declined @ the $300 price tag. I figured I'll just pick one up off eBay or salvage yard for half the price (or less!) The comfort box installs with 4 thumbscrews, no tools needed. I'd be surprised if it took anyone longer than 5 minutes to install it.

noka

It's one of the options I was going to omit but it's coming with the car I located. I don't mind,... and maybe I'll find it useful.