On the boring tyre matter !!!
Saw in Hawaii on a GLC 300 with 18” rims.
Cross Contact LX Sport, SSR, Continental, treadwear 480, M&S,
Size 235 / 60R18, 103H. Tyre has an inside and outside install requirement, interestingly one tyre was installed with inside facing out, !!!! Poorer workmanship, these I think were fitted later, not by MB.
They were Tubleless, not RFT !!
Not many 18” rims in Oz, but interesting to see fitted. Unable to ask any questions of owner, as they were not around.

Stop the Presses !!
This is from our UK sister site....

“ Just had a very interesting telephone call with mercedes customer help about tyre replacement for the crabbing complaints on glc models.They have said that when my car gets delivered next week if i have a problem with tyre crabbing that they would replace the tyres with all season tyres but also as of yesterday they have engineered a different suspension knuckle that helps alleviate the crabbing problem and it would more than likely be that this would be there first action that they would do.Hope this is true and it helps anyone who is having this issue.
unfortunately mine was built before this rectification was done at build stage. “

“ I was contacted by Mercedes UK yesterday they say they have identified an engineering solution to the problem and, will retrofit the new parts in January, FOC under the 3 year warranty. A little bird tells me that they won't recall every vehicle they will only do those where there has been a complaint. “

Maybe something along the way to a solution, may not eradicate, but may help with tension and alignment settings........

This is worth making more enquiring with MB Oz and Dealers, my guess is feedback may not happen until Feb 19 here at the earliest, given UK are RHD like ours........

Recall for some GLC models re software issue with passenger airbag deployment, here in Australia.

https://www.productsafety.gov.au/rec...passenger-cars

Appears those with Command system are not affected.

Hi from All of us Down Under.
It’s Xmas Day here, so best wishes to all, stay safe and enjoy .
Special thoughts to our emergency workers and our Defence personnel, wherever you serve.
Par Oneri.

New article from UK re impending release later in 2019 of GLB.
Also possible update on GLC release info at Geneva motor show. Looks like MB have a lot of things going on, especially in the smaller car segment.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/merced...rce=newsletter

Cheers

Hi- how do I setup the Mercedes Me app for remote start? Is that available in Sydney?

At this stage the App is not supported in Australia.
Talk for the last 12 months has indicated it might get over the line and be activated. I think Aust Govt legislation and ADR issues are delaying it.
We are still a Third World country when it comes to certain issues with compliance.

Info re concerns with keyless entry being hijacked by scanner and amplified signal to open your car when keys at home, inside, but near car.... no need to put them in an RFID sleeve.

According to Mercedes-Benz website (https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/pass...ip.module.html) on recent Mercedes cars the proximity function of the key can simply be deactivated and reactivated.

Quote: "When you have your hands full of shopping or your key fob is buried in your bag, Keyless-Go is a very handy feature. It’s important to remember, too, that for all of our current models and those produced since 2014, our Keyless-Go keys can be simply deactivated by pressing the lock button twice.
A light will flash to show that the key has been de-activated, and it can be re-activated by pressing any button.
By deactivating the key, it can no longer be compromised – great for when your car is parked outside your house or close to where your fob is stored.
If you keep a spare key at home, this should also be deactivated when it’s not being used to ensure ultimate security."

This works with Aust GLC remotes with keyless entry, well it does on ours.
Good luck.

Hi,
David Blackman <david.blackman@coveru.com.au in NSW.

I ended up getting 3 policies, our cars already in use. ERIC Ins have two types of policies I think, we took 5 Year plan that kicks in after OEM stops.
Our Dealership at the time did not sell extended warranty. Other MB dealers were dearer and offered les features and cover.
David was very helpful.

Price will vary, we got discounts with 3 cars. Price has gone up from others who have used him, my guess for 5 years maybe $2800 ??? Really depends on car Km, age, etc. Eric ins may have updated risk profile of GLC too ?
Good luck.

Copy of an article in a Fleet Owners magazine.
Hopefully this may flow down to our various cars here in Oz. FYI.

Car manufacturers demand quieter tyre technology

Posted By: Marcon: January 30, 2019In: Global News, Maintenance

Demand from car manufacturers for quieter tyres to improve the experience for novated lease and fleet buyers has always been high. As the quality of vehicle sound proofing improves it becomes quieter inside the cabin, so the focus turns to external sounds such as road and wind noise from tyres.

Pirelli OE tyres equipped with innovative Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) technology numbered 78 by the end of 2017. One year later, the figure increased by 100%, now making a total of more than 150.

This system created by Pirelli has been on sale since 2013 and is increasingly requested by the world’s best-known carmakers, especially those in the premium and prestige sectors, to offer greater comfort to drivers and passengers.

Pirelli are not the only manufacturer with this technology. Most tyre manufacturers supplying OE fitments have developed noise cancelling technology. Hankook supplies OE tyres to several vehicles including the Audi Q7. They claim the sound absorber reduced noise by 4-6 decibels.

How PNCS technology works

This technology is designed to reduce perceived noise on the inside of the car, derived from the interaction between the road surface and the tyre itself. Thanks to Pirelli’s PNCS, this road noise can be reduced by up to 25%, as if the car were travelling on only three wheels.

It’s made possible thanks to the use of a specific sound absorbing material placed within the tyre, which absorbs vibrations in the air that would otherwise be transmitted to the inside of the vehicle, creating annoying background noise. This ‘sponge’ is made from foam consisting of open cells that maximise the working surface of the material, intensifying the deadening of vibration, and therefore reducing noise.

Tyres equipped with this technology can be recognised by special markings on the sidewall, which depict a speaker and soundwaves with a bar through them, next to the PNCS symbol. Owners of vehicles equipped with PNCS technology are advised to always buy appropriately marked tyres specifically made for their cars, in order to continue to enjoy the advantages of this relaxing technology. Of course, it’s also important to look after the tyres properly: maintaining the correct tyre pressures as advised by the manufacturer also helps to contain road noise.

Maurizio Boiocchi, Pirelli’s Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation, said “Alongside tyre development, Pirelli also works every day on technology designed to improve the lives of each and every motorist: Run Flat and Seal Inside minimise the risks associated with punctures, while PNCS improves comfort on journeys.

These specialities are much in demand from premium and prestige carmakers, helping to ensure the highest standards of quality. Pirelli’s contribution can be seen from nearly 3100 homologations, of which more than 770 are linked with these specialities, and more than 720 are marked tyres that identify the actual car manufacturer.

The presence of technology such as PNCS within our products demonstrates to drivers the importance of choosing tyres that have been specifically developed for their cars, when it comes to changing rubber. That’s the only way in which drivers can get the very best out of their cars, which will then continue to benefit from the characteristics built into them by the engineers responsible for the original design.”

Recently found article.

Australian car buyers want longer test drives, less pressure to buy and better informed sales staff when shopping for a new vehicle, according to the J.D. Power 2018 Australia Sales Satisfaction Index Study.

The J.D. Power study is one of the biggest of its kind, surveying 3075 Australians who either purchased or leased a new vehicle between March 2018 and January this year. They were asked how satisfied they were with the experience, focusing on six specific areas: the sales staff, delivery process, the dealership itself, negotiating the price, the required paperwork and the dealer's website.

And it wasn't all doom and gloom for dealerships, with Holden and Mazda landing in shared first place for customer satisfaction in the mainstream manufacturer segment (ahead of Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Volkswagen, Honda, Kia, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Hyundai). BMW took first position (ahead of Audi and then Mercedes-Benz) in the premium car market.

Among the findings for this year's survey was that test drives are too short to make a proper decision about a vehicle. While 80 per cent of shoppers take a test drive, 70 per cent of those people spend less than 20 minutes in the car. But buyers who get a longer test drive (31 minutes or more) are happier with the buying experience.

The study also found that high-pressure sales tactics are still used, mostly for younger or first-time shoppers, and that buyers want collecting a new car to feel like a special occasion. Just over half of buyers say they remember a special ceremony occurring when they took delivery of their new car (be it uwrapping the vehicle or even balloons), with J.D. Power suggesting those kinds of celebrations spark an increase in customer satisfaction and in the likelihood a customer will recommend a dealership to family and friends.

“Given the slowdown in sales, it is essential that sales consultants spend the required time with each shopper to identify the best model and variant for their requirements,” says J.D. Power country manager – Australia, Bruce Chellingworth.

“Simply ‘pushing metal’ won’t help the dealership gain positive referral, ensure customer loyalty or promote the brand. In an increasingly competitive market, it is imperative that dealers understand and build trust with their customers.”

We took Lexus overnight and test drove GLC at 3 dealers for around 35 min each time, looking at different aspects as ‘small groups of features’’ each time to confirm or challenge thoughts.

Tyre article re crabbing from UK.

Recent update from UK re tyre issue.

May be a solution – issue will be road design , camber, material in Oz compared to UK.
Hopefully UK solution will work n Oz – Hopefully MB Oz are secretly testing to see if it works here.

“ Our dealer fitted the re-engineered front wheel suspension struts and knuckles today

After fitting the new components, a full-wheel alignment test showed an adjustment of a couple of degrees was required, as expected.

With the weather today being dry and mild at 10 degrees, I couldn't make a full comparison to assess whether this has fixed the crabbing. But have to say the car does feel 'more planted' without any trace of the slight-twitchiness previously felt through the steering wheel. I'm quietly confident this will be a big improvement and dare I say, be the permanent fix we are all so hoping for

Watch this space

For reference – 2017 GLC 250d AMG Line on 20" wheels fitted with Good Year All Season Run Flats “

Feedback from Oz owners will be useful.