kainep

Just working on a spec for the GL420 - heres the current setup

• 20" light-alloy wheels (4) - 5-spoke design
• Bi-xenon headlamps with active light system and headlamp wash
• Chrome-look running boards with rubber studs
• Tow bar - excludes 13 pin adaptor
• Easy-Pack tailgate - opens/closes automatically
• Keyless-Go
• Multi-function steering wheel - heated
• Privacy glass (from B-pillar backwards)
• Reversing camera
• 6 disc CD changer
• Surround sound system - Harman/Kardon® LOGIC7®
• TV tuner (digital and analogue reception)
• Telephone pre-wiring with hands-free facility

the only other options available which I'm currently not going for are;

Distronic - radar-assisted cruise control - is it really worth having?
Luxury automatic climate control (rear)
Infrared protective glass
Rear seats - heated
Front seats (comfort ventilated) - how good is this option? worth $1200?
Electric glass sunroof (includes electric vent windows for third seat row) - might change my mind on this one
Rear seat entertainment system
Linguatronic - voice activation system - had this in my RRS and it was useless

Any thoughts on the bits I'm not going for? or even the bits I've selected?

Cheers

Kaine

oinick

You have options available to you that we don't have over here, even though your GL will be built only 150 miles from where I live.

I strongly encourage the infrared glass. My GL 320 is black and even in summer sunlight it does not get hot. But then again, I have the rear climate control, which I also encourage you to get. We cannot get the active ventilated seats, but my wife's last two BMWs and her current M5 has this feature. It's really cool and I would have it on my GL if I could have gotten it. Agree that rear heated seats are not a deal but I love my heated steering wheel.

We can't get the TV tuner, which is a pretty cool option. Can you watch it driving down the road? Again, I would get it if I could.

I have the RSE in my GL and am not sure I would get it again. My kid is 13 and has a portable DVD player so she uses the RSE only sporadically. Along those lines, don't you want to get the iPod connector? It's great.

I think you are wise not to get Distronic, but I only drove with it once. Maybe someone else who uses it all the time will have greater insight than I.

Currently, there are 21K miles on my GL and I can say that I have been happy with the way it was optioned, which was with every possibility except Distronic and Keyless Go, which I think is useless.

oknish

IMO, Distronic is well worth the money especially if you do a lot of long distance driving.

kainep

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated. The more I think about it the Infrared Glass option actually does sound a good option

mortenmol

The ventilated seats are well worth the money, love it in my fathers CL550 and ML63, I didn't get it in my gl420 since it was in the dealers lot.

I love my distronic, use it often and ot also has a warning if you drive to fast up behind other people, saved me once or twice in the city.

kainep

Thanks Morten - you guys are making this very expensive

mortenmol

Isn't it always with merc's?
Don't complaine, in DK we have serious taxes on cars, my Gl 420, with the equip. I have, would be around US$412K and UK 204K, if I had any seats in the back, built into a van it's a mere UK 87K and US$ 175K.

mercgl

My 320 CDI has all the equipment and the options on your list, except from Linguatronic. I also have the Offroad Package, Adaptive lights (turns with the front wheels) and the Comfort Seats. The problem is that as soon as you have a car fully loaded you get really spoiled ... Most features are in use now and then, and I don't regret getting any of them really. Remember, most of the options you can't add later, therefore better safe than sorry ... :-) BTW, living in Scandinavia I too face the same problem as Morten has with rediculous high prices compared to the US/UK. If we have had the same prices as you I would have ordered a fully loaded truck with all available options without any second thoughts.

StevethePilot

Too true! I didn't get the lighting package or three zone climate control, nor the adaptive cruise control (which is different here in the US than the rest of the world for some reason), and these are all things I wanted that I can't really add afterwards. Then again, I did add a wood steering wheel, chrome fins, chromed wheels, and I'm still looking at lit door sills and a tow package.

And maybe an OME bull bar, front and back, and a winch. Or maybe not.

SToP

oknish

Pics, we need pics of your setup.

MERCFAN

Good choice. Mine has all the options that you mentioned plus:
Luxury automatic climate control - A god option for the 3rd rear seat.
Infrared protective glass - Works very well, protecting the inside of the GL from the heat.
Electric glass sunroof - Nice for mild weather when opened.
Rear seat entertainment system - If you have kids, it's a must.
That's it, make good choices, so you do not regret later on because you want them...and are too late.

cablvr

morten,

What is the Euro price of the GL420 before VAT?

mortenmol

€70.350 for the gl420 $108.191
€56.750 for the gl320 $87.276
with out any extras

On top of that, the diesel prices as I drove home today was 8,14 $/g

StevethePilot

Once it's done. Patience, young Padawan!