Hundens

The third seat in USA wagon is just a way for MB to force a $3500 option down the throats of its victims. No one wants or uses the darn thing. Much better to not have it or it’s aluminum brace and have a real spare instead.

Streamliner

Ah, but that is NOT a choice. There is no spare, no way, no how from the factory. We are supposed to rely on and love run flat tires. It’s what THEY have decided for us and of course, THEY know what’s best for everyone.

Hundens

Are you saying run flats are standard equipment in every jurisdiction that MB sells the E Class? And that it is physically impossible to fit any type of spare in the wheel well?

Streamliner

I can’t speak for the whole world, but in the USA, yes. Now, you MAY be able to cram some sort of a collapsible spare into the cavity back there, but as for a regular, compact spare, there is no room, ON PURPOSE.

gearFX

Is it really a $3,500 option (I assume in other markets)?

I use it quite a bit but I'm not sure I would pay $3,500 "extra" for it.

TugboatBill

That's not true. You can buy a E class wagon without the 3rd seat. Just buy the E63S.

ua549

The wheel well is not large enough even with the brace removed to fit a spare lying flat. BTW my lawyer has a wagon and uses the third seat whenever his family (5 children) accompanies him. He can't buy a large SUV because his condo has restrictions.

Hundens

Are you saying you removed the brace and tried to put a temporary spare in the well and it would not fit?

ua549

No, I simply said that the space isn't large enough to accommodate a temporary spare. There is a thread here somewhere with the dimensions listed. An 18" spare is slightly less than 27" in diameter. Allow another inch for clearance and the space must be at least 28" on a side and 8+ inches deep for a 155/70 compact spare. If you have larger size tires the space must be even larger. IIRC the limiting dimension is front to back.

Hundens

Not to be picky, but I went out to the garage and measured an 18" temporary spare and it was 26 inches in diameter. Normally when the size of the wheel increases the aspic ratio diminishes and the overall diameter doesn't change much. But I will wait for someone to actually remove the aluminum brace and try to put a temporary spare in the well. Why in the world would that well be there if it could not take a spare of some kind. It's not like the wagon is lacking for cargo space. I am sure eventually we'll get to the bottom of this.

As to the cost of the third seat. Maybe one of our non-US participants who lives in a locale where the third seat is optional will be able to tell us what it costs. The $3,500 is a guess on my part based to buying too much stuff from MB.

Thanks

ua549

An 18" spare is actually 26.7" in diameter according to Tire Rack. With 4matic the spare needs to match the diameter of the full size tire to avoid differential damage.

spotless

the only reason why i got 450 instead of amg is for the third seat. I have two little ones but we are very anti van/suv. The third seat allows us to take one car instead of two when we have in laws/parents visiting. And my kid loves jumping in the cool seat and waving at people on chore run days.

Onefin

I'm finalizing paperwork on a new 2019 E450 wagon tomorrow "for my wife" as it is her turn for a new DD. I successfully convinced her that she really doesn't want an old lady midsize SUV, and she is now all in on the wagon. Really good deals on remaining 2019 wagons near me.

We will use the third seat for the next couple years in a pinch for my 8 year old daughter and her crew.

Wife hates minivans, and my Daily Driver is a 170" Sprinter 4x4....but that is more of an adventure van so it only has seating (and sleeping) for 4 people max.

We put 74,000 miles on a BMW X5D with 20" staggered run-flats and never had a "flat", so I'm ok with the set up on the E450.
No Spare isn't ideal but I can live with it; I was stressed when we bought the X5 because of the RF Tires, but they weren't an issue during our ownership.
They were expensive and didn't last long, but they never had a flat.

I really like my MB dealer service department down the street and that was the catalyst to get a new Mercedes instead of something else "for the wife"

HAILERS2

Streamliner........I've a 2015 S550 coupe and want a spare similar to the one you have. Could you give me a source for the spare you use? Thank you.

Streamliner

I bought mine on eBay. If I recall correctly, the seller was a wrecking yard and they were dismantling a W221. The spare had never been used and I think it was around $200.00.