Lanzz

So... I am going to trade our Miata RF for a CPO E Class - lots to choose from, but very few with driver assistance. Found a really nice 2020 E350 Luxury Series at South Charlotte - even has the yacht blue / beige napa leather... But... Doesn't have parking assistance package... So, a stone age backup cam, not even parking sensors, much less surround view. The perfect car - except for that. On the other hand, there's a really nice 2018 E300 4Matic Luxury Series with less than 2,000 miles at Leith in Raleigh. MB tex, which is a big negative to me, but really well equipped other than that - even has air suspension. Going that far back puts the old steering wheel in play and this particular car doesn't have the LCD instrument panel.

The 2020 is really the perfect car - but the omission of parking assistance seems like it would bug me every day. On the other hand... 2018 feels like a big step back. Any thoughts? I am sure there is a decent deal to be had on either one... so less about economics and more about which one to land on. Or maybe keep looking...

rraisley

I for one would not have bought my new 2020 wagon without the parking assistance package. I've had it for a year now, and I've used it, uh, wait, never! I still think it's a great idea, but it doesn't seem to work in the places I go to use it. Which admittedly hasn't been often, what with Covid-19. I go to use it, and realize I can pull into the place fine without it, or have to drive past, then back up, and someone's behind me, etc. I'm still happy I got it; I've got 3 more years left on my lease. Sure hope I get to use it. ;-)

2012 merc amg

Yes I never use mine to park my car, I can park it a lot faster and less frustration without it. But no having the surround view camera would really bother me, when you pull up to a curb parking the car you want to know where that curb is as the front ends on these cars tend to be lower than a lot of the higher curbs or if it's one of those that has the metal studs sticking up that go under the front end and then pull off the fascia when you back up, not good. Plus the proximity assistance that goes along with the parking assist is nice, when I got too close to the wall in the garage it starts beeping and then even closer the car will stop itself and prevent me from hitting the wall. Same thing if I start backing out of a parking spot and there is a car coming the car will stop dead in it's tracks. I believe this is a part of Parktronic and without it the car will not do these cool things.

This one looks pretty good. Carvana. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2020-Merced...8AAOSwy11fy0JF

jhpmbusa

with only 2000 miles since 2018, i feel like if there are any warranty issues on the car it hasn't be taken cared of yet.

LILBENZ230

You're concerned with the parking system coming from a Miata? We had a ND1 Miata that we traded for our Macan - the Miata is truly a special car.

I'd bet you'll be bugged more by the analogue gauges in the 2018 than the parking system you'll likely never use in the 2020.

Elvisfan0108

as stated before. The 360 camera and rear cross traffic alert are worth it.

The_Judge

I have parking assist on my 2018 E400 Coupe, and I've used it exactly twice, both times shortly after I bought the car just to see how it works.

Bottom line: it does work, IF the parking spot is HUGE, and then it takes about five times as long as I can do it myself.

My rating:

Theory A+
Execution: D-

Egonvdv

parking assist is for people who really REALLY don't know how to park
the times it could be handy, the space is not big enough for it to work.. so you still have to park yourself
but the 360 camera is indeed a must have

LILBENZ230

As stated before, that might be true but we've got two options here. One is almost the perfect car and one is pretty far from it. Best to take the one closer to perfect if the OP is not willing to wait to find the perfect car.

DFWdude

I have Parktronic Active parking assist, like it... but only use it occasionally. I could do without it to be honest. However, I wish I had the 360 camera. That would be very useful to avoid fish-hooking the front bumper cover on parking stops. Both were optioned separately on the W212. Maybe OP thinks they are packaged together on the W213, when they really aren't.

JTK44

Several thoughts and only my $.02:

I have used the parking assist twice: once to see if it works and another time and I got frustrated with it and just parked. However, the other things that come with parking assist, the beepers, the automatic brake backing up and forward to me are safety features. I am willing to pay for safety. The 360 camera is also very helpful and I use it often.

MB Tex: this is my second Mercedes with MB Tex. Before that all my cars had leather: Accura, Audi, BMW and Porsche. Believe it or not, I am sold on MB Tex. Not cold or hard in the winter nor sticky in the summer and very, very easy to keep clean.

Ny E450 also has the full digital screen which in 2019 was an extra cost option. I think it is worth every extra dollar I paid for it. It gives the interior elegant uncluttered look and of course it can never rattle or squeak!

fleuger99

I've had my 2020 E450 wagon for nine days now and the Parking package was a must have. I've used it several times making sure not to rub my bumper lip on curbs when parking. I tried the self park feature today for the first time, it was cool but don't see myself using it very often at all. I also wanted the surround view so when I take my dogs to the park I can get close to the curb so they can jump in and out easier.

All this being said, these are not the only two cars offered for CPO. I'd suggest waiting to get exactly what you want versus HAVING to decided. Maybe look further away to find better fitting vehicles? I live in Austin Texas area and bought my E450 in Akron Oh. They had exactly what I wanted and their deal was by far the best compared to the four other dealers I contacted. Good luck in your search.

Lanzz

I appreciate the input, all. I agree, that silly parking feature where it does it for you isn't really all that valuable - the loss of parking sensors and the 360 degree camera is what hurts. Might just wait and see what else comes up - the Miata isn't hurting anything in the driveway... Thanks, everyone.

kingscorpian27

In my opinion it’s really a personal choice. However I have a 2017 Luxury model with the P3 package for 3 and a half years now and can count on one hand how many times I have had the car park itself. The backup camera/360 camera with sensors is a whole different ballgame. That I use religiously and definitely wouldn’t have a car without it

Leather and dual digital displays were also nonnegotiable for me as well. When I purchased mine new I wasn’t able to locate one with the options I wanted within a hundred miles away. Maybe if you waited a little while longer you will find something that tickles your fancy. Good luck on your search. You need to set a standard for the minimum you can live without or you will never be totally happy afterwards if you don’t get what you wanted.

This is my 1st car in 30+ years that I have kept after longer than 3 years with only 3 been leased. I purchased this one and will be keeping for awhile. My two options I really wanted and didn’t get but felt that I could live without are heated steering wheel and airmatic. I was also discouraged from getting airmatic since I was purchasing for extended ownership and the high cost of replacing them out of warranty

places

I'd keep looking until you find the car that right. E's are pretty common far from rare. Personally I would never purchase a car without the camera and sensors at the the very least.

murman

I have to admit that the parking assist has come in really handy once so far. It was dark, raining, poor lighting, and the only available street spot in a dense urban area with no underground parking around, plus the spot was just large enough. I was amazed how the car danced it's butt into the stall.

places

We got a glc loaner one time and it didn't have the park assist. I kept backing up and bam! Fortunately no real damage was done and the dealer didn't make a thing out of it. Once you have it it's impossible to exist without it.

rraisley

You're right. While I haven't used it to automatically park to speak of, I use the cameras ALL the time. Especially pulling into the garage. Worth the (high) price.

beechcamp

I believe Lanzz is looking for the Parking Assistant package not to necessarily have the car park itself (which is the Parking Pilot, I believe), but to assist in parking. I have the Parking Assistant on my 2017 E300 and the cameras and “zones” turn on when I’m parking and show me if I’m too close to something or not in the middle of a space, etc., and also warns me if another car or pedestrian is approaching as I back out, for example. Pretty useful for me as a “nice to have” that is really a must have now that I’m used to it. I don’t really use it to park itself, streets and lots are usually too busy for me to hold up others as I mess around with it.

Now as far as finding a CPO with it, here’s a small tip that worked for me. When I bought my car I knew I wanted one with the Premium Package 3 and initially had trouble finding any. I found that many dealers have filters on their websites that include P1, P2, P3 as a filter choice. I sort of educated myself as to what I wanted and based my searches off of that. I eliminated close to a dozen dealers within 100 miles using filters, as their inventories had no “P3s”.

I finally found a dealer with several P3s on the lot and drove one home a few days later and its happily been mine for a year. Keep searching - you’ll find what you want!

mercedes.fan

I have the parking assist but not 360 camera. Used it once when I got my car, it works but it is so slow and finicky. But rear cross alert is very nice and sometimes I wished I had the 360 camera. But the backup camera on the widescreen is very nice and high res so it might be enough for you, it is enough for me