450Boss

One of my biggest gripe is Mercedes just like Nissan does not include xenon stock on all cars and must be added on? It's kind of sad a brand new corolla has xenon lighting and a non appearance package GL has halogen bulbs Also another thing to note reverse lights are not led bulbs like a Cadillac. These are just a few nuisances. By far one that's more important how about some parking sensors? On my 2013 it just has the guide lines when backing up there's no beep front or back when parking close to objects or other vehicles. Why is the climate control knobs so flimsy? I found out the other day you cannot sound the horn without the key inside the truck. I was parked on the street and a minivan was backing up really close and was going to hit me I tried to hit the horn nothing I chose to put my hazards on so they would not hit me they were really close and was a tight spot to get out of.

This is just what I noticed please chime in and share your input or thoughts

rominl

new corolla actually even has LED headlights standard

but i think that's just how it is with luxury cars, everything is an option. not saying i particular like it but that looks like how the game is played. lexus used to be the one luxury brand where a lot of things came standard, but even they are moving in the direction of mb, bmw, and audi

jlim

>>
On my 2013 it just has the guide lines when backing up there's no beep front or back when parking close to objects or other vehicles.
<<

I'm pretty sure mine beeps. I think you are missing one of the packages. Lightning package is a must IMO. Everyone is moving to LED. Xenon feels like a dinosaur. The first car I drove with Xenon was back in 2000 (2001 A4 - $500 option).

Occasionally I still see a bunch of 3 series with halogens. A lot of first time buyers see a cheap 3 series and jumped on it without realizing it only has halogen lamps.

update:
ok, definitely have beeping on mine as well as the array of lights on the front center dash lights up as well as rear roof liner lights as well.

drwolf

i feel the same way about the BSA function, like the ones i see out there that have less features than mine have it, i dont mind not having it but its kinda lame that all the new GLE/GLS models come with it standard

450Boss

BSA? Blind spot assistant.

drwolf

yes sir

iconoclast

a lot of the money goes into r&d and higher quality parts along with far better interior build quality. these items are not tangible or visible so it is not a perceived value for most. in order to remain competitive within the vehicle's segment they have to have an entry price that is in line with the competition then customized/optioned to one's taste and budget afterward. in addition MB, Audi, BMW etc. typically have options and features that are usually about a decade ahead of what the economy or mid-tier plain jane vehicles offer in the same year. in the past few years the decade gap has grown smaller because technology is moving quicker and becoming cheaper to implement but there aren't too many new economy cars that offer the same features that a high line luxury product offers today.

drwolf

in terms of the xenon's, on the GL its not that hard to find, alot of the CPO GL's i saw in the past have them. Opposite side on the ML's though, the ones with the Lighting package are hard to find since 95% of the CPO's have the standard HIDs (with the BSA mind you..)

jlim

On the ML's, the standard lightning should be the same as the GL. Just standard Halogen. The lightning package adds bi-xenon which is also the same as the GL.

Not sure why you said 95% of ML CPOs have standard HIDs. I don't think they do.

drwolf

i meant Halogens.. because i looked around alot of MBZ dealers last year for a ML and i only saw 2 with the lighting package, 1 was a ML400 that was new in their lot (had 4K miles on it go figure?) then the other one i saw was at the dealer i delivered mine from. All the other CPO 350's i saw had the standard halogens. I drive a W220 from time to time (S430) that has the halogens and at night the throw is horrible compared to the lighting package xenons.

Alot of GL's i would glance at in the lots had the lighting package (based on what i saw, im in CA so it could be different from where you are)

jlim

Looks like you caught yourself

The forum email notification said you wrote:

>>>
thats what i mean by HID (Halogens).
<<<

which you subsequently edited. HID = high intensity discharged aka xenon

skw

You actually get a lot standard. Gotta ask, where are your priorities? Is xenon/led lighting that important to be standard equipment that you would give up the Mercedes engine, suspension, and pre-safe features and rather have a Toyota, GM, etc engine, suspension, and transmission just because the headlights you want are standard? Is that the trade off you would want to make?

I'll take a MB with auto brake drying as standard over a GM w/ xenon/led lighting as standard any day.

P.S.: I custom ordered both my 2014 320i and 2017 340i to get the headlights I wanted. I don't understand why people buy what someone else ordered that's sitting on a dealer lot when it doesn't have what they want. And then complain about it!

DC-BENZ

In my opinion these "Luxury" vehicles we drive vs "Lesser" brands are like eating at an expensive restaurant. Benz (base model/options) is the Entree and the options are the a la carte vs "comes with" of Outback Steak House the "Lesser" brand. Either way you're/we're still eating steak, veggies and a starch and not McDonalds.

450Boss

Standard is simple they shouldn't cheap out on materials i.e. LED lighting exterior/interior ,360 camera, tow hitch, I never said that point is all auto makers are doing this. Did you ever notice how flimsy the climate control knob is? If you turn it to quick it might break off some cooled/heated cup holders and some not also I do believe we do not have ventilated seats he is that? There will be a long list of what I think should come with for 60k CPO but in the end I have to live with it.

DC-BENZ

Looks like I was wrong. Comparing, via Edmunds.com, the 2017 ($95k) GLS550's standard features vs the LX570's ($92k) standard features seems to show that the GLS is slightly better equipped. We can't compare a GLS350's standard features nor GLS450's standard features to the standard $92K Lexus.

drwolf

given the GLS is the flagship of the MB SUV's, my uncle has a GLS 450 (w/o LED's mind you) but its kidna loaded (minus the pano roof) has the parktronic/360/ambients/BSA/ (not sure on the ventilated seats i dont remember)/ HK 7/ Tow hitch.. i

jlim

Which manuf is throwing in LED lights, 360 camera and tow hitch for free? Nothing is free. If it was "included", you can safely bet it is priced into the vehicle.

BMW used to include free maintenance for the first 4 years, including even the wiper changes. Do you think it is really "free"?

anothercar

Y'all think Benz is bad at this...........try ordering or buying a Porsche. They are the undisputed kings of optional equipment!

dryrunner

We have a 2015 GL550 and a 2015 Land Cruiser. GL is far and away better equipped, more comfortable, smoother, better tech, etc. Now, going offroad, not even close.

DC-BENZ

+1! Nice triple black 996, I can relate.

anothercar

Thanks my friend. Of the four Pcars I've owned this was my fave. 2002 C 4 Cabriolet, Triple black, supple full leather front/rear, Arctic silver pkg, advanced technic pkg, Design pkg, Flared rocker panels, Comfort pkg. Wish I still had her. I knew I'd regret selling it the very day I did it!

iconoclast

Seriously. Everything is optional and Porsche has the widest profit margins in the industry.

dryrunner

And they have the most serious design flaws as well. We had a Gen II Cayene. Coolant tube fiasco. Drive shaft needs to be replaced every 60k. Battery under the driver seat and nearly impossible to remove hex screws without stripping them. Fuel gas leaks under the rear seats. FPOS. First and last Porsche for us.
Oh and two oil pan drain plugs. Really, couldn't make it so only one drains out the oil. The yellow radio and instrument cluster display was useless in the sunshine or if you are wearing sun glasses, plus it just faded away after 5 years. I could go on and on.

anothercar

It's interesting how these threads morph into different, but related subject matter. Of the four I had (2002 C4 cab--CPO, 2006 Cayman S--New, 2008 Cayenne S--New and 2010 C2 cab--CPO) I never had a bit of trouble. I had the '02 for about 4 years........the rest less than 3 years so that might have made a difference.

Extreme Dimensions

I think everyone is forgetting, a corolla is a common car appearing to be more. Where as a Mercedes is refined styling without having to get into as many gimmicks. But you can PAY for those gimmicks!