bob01

On the positive side... it rained while loading for the trip home after a tough 2 hours with the dive instructor this evening.
Rain was cold, just enough for damp cold. Google said rush hour would add 45 min to the 1 hr trip.

Get in, close the door - turn on the seat heat + low seat ventilation - sirius realjazz, drop into "Curve" mode - "mercedes... open roller blinds", let the last of the evening light in, acoustic glass keeps the road noise out - the smile starts. Even with 21" wheels the uneven back road surface is muted and barely noticeable - the curves are fun.
The nav exits the rolling country road onto a busy local highway w/ a left turn - fast moving traffic - no traffic light - drop into "Sport+" - no problem .
Back to "Comfort" mode, engage drive pilot, relax and enjoy the peace, quiet and warmth of the heated interior for the next hour.

About 45 min a notification pops up w/ an offer to engage the "Vitality ENERGIZING coach" - don't know if I was showing signs of fatigue (quite likely) - accepted - pretty cool.
Got home feeling like I'd driven 30km instead of 110 - wasn't ready to get out.

All this stuff makes for a wonderful experience after a long day - fantastic when it all works - fingers crossed.

bad habit

Looks like ATT is running a $15 per month special for the hotspot till 10/31 with a 30-day auto renewal not a bad way to give it a try without having to get a 2-year contract

https://www.att.com/plans/connected-car/mercedes.html

Keep in mind there is a throttle after 22GB

Ron.s

Tempting offer. I’ll bet you are way past being anxious for a car. Crazy....some 3-4 months and others still waiting. Mercedes must still have component supply issues and delays.

bad habit

Yessir.

bad habit

I am still unclear however on whether MBUX can make use of my phone's Internet service while connected to it for all of its apps (such as TuneIn), plus the MB Navigation.
Because if it can, then the only reason to get a wifi hotspot would be for a dashcam which needs access. Otherwise my phone has truly unlimited internet, no need to pay more.

Ron.s

I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure that MBUX does not use your phone other than the Bluetooth links for Phone and Music. Then USB for Car Play or Android Auto and the Apps allowed by those systems.
‘Mercedes probably has a contract with one or more cell services like AT&T/Verizon and maybe a satellite backup. The Mercedes “me’ app works with no phone in the car as an example. A very nice App that will only get better.
Our Audi and my GMC truck used Satelite for limited Nav when no Cell Service was available. I’ll be traveling through Nevada next week and will get in no Cell zones so will see what happens with MB Nav.

bad habit

That would be unfortunate considering the fact that my rented VW in Italy was using it via Bluetooth and Volvo has had this functionality for years now. Let's see...

bob01

SPORT+ mode rocks - is it my imagination or does the suspension seem to subtly lean into corners like it does in CURVE mode?

'mercedes close/open sunblinds' will open/close the sunroof shade and the rear passenger window roller blinds

The windshield has an interesting gold tint - most noticeable on overcast days

There is no need to pause after 'hey mercedes' (no need to say 'hey' either) - stating your request in an unbroken sentence works even if mbux starts speaking ('how can I help) before you're finished, it's still listening so 'mercedes change station to the bridge' works just fine

Wish the HUD graphics were 25% smaller (like say the E53) - sometimes too distracting

Distronic + stop and go (traffic) assist work very well on the slow grind evening commute - the steering wheel 'hunting' has improved since the recall service visit.
It would be great if 'stop and go assist' wasn't disabled by CURVE mode - I can understand why it may need to be disabled in curve mode but it's previous state should be restored when returning to one of the other modes COMFORT etc

GregW / Oregon

No, it doesn't lean in, but it stays pretty flat. I was impressed blasting through a canyon in Eastern Oregon.

AMMBGLE

I have noticed some have opted not to get running boards any reason other than personal preference.
i know the AMG exterior package does have more ground effects so maybe the running boards would ruin the look but
i see the new Gle 53 has running boards?

bad habit

I actually think they add a bit to the look even with the AMG package. Unfortunately for me at least they were too narrow and somehow I always managed to dirty my pants on them every time I exited the vehicle.

bad habit

Based on a Reddit thread I saw last night, MBUX will not make use of your phone's connection for its own apps.

user 7208224

I think the running boards are attractive however I opted not to get them because they are of little use (because of size) and they just get the back of my pants dirty. I used the money elsewhere. It is a matter of personal preference.

Ron.s

I agree with Bob. They aren’t very functional and are a dirt catcher. But the AMG trim isn’t great either. There are grooves that catch dirt and they stick out a little making exit a little tricky for some. The trim gives the car a good look though.

bad habit

Two things (so far at least) that I haven't been able to figure out:
- How to switch places of the tachometer and speed (they are backwards to what I am used to)
- How to skip to next track from the steering wheel
Any tips?

Ron.s

I don’t think you can switch tach and speedo and they are backwards. I have eliminated the speedo since it’s in the HUD next to the posted speed. It took me a while to get used to the huge HUD and I know not everyone has it.
I gave up-maybe too soon, on switching tracks and just use the touch screen. I only stream from my phone on longer trips but hope someone can shed light on a shortcut. My MBUX and Mercedes Assistant are acting up anyway and there are some subtle changes since my TSB updates. Either that or my resident ghost is still messing with me. I need to sit in my car for a few hours and go back through everything.
I have an update on towing and some recent issues that I’ll post next day or two. I keep having several settings change back to the factory default for one of several.

earlvolfan

I use an IPod in connected to the USB-C in the console, so I just make the middle display (between the 2 round displays) to be the radio/music display. Change tracks by swiping up or down on the thumb trackpad on the left side of the steering wheel.

rominl

to skip to next track, i use either the left or right motion touch sensor. if left touch sensor, select the middle section of the gauge, change to audio, and then swipe up and down to skip track. if right touch sensor, make sure already on audio page, swipe up to highlight the current track, and then swipe left and right to skip track.

tried this on both usb and BT streaming from phone music

bad habit

I figured out that you can switch tracks by highlighting the thumbnail of album art and then using the right touch sensor on the steering wheel.
By default, when you are on the Entertainment screen and a track is playing, the highlighted function is Search. You need to swipe up twice to highlight the album art.

Ron.s

Update on Distronic while towing and mileage.

My Distronic is still working as it’s supposed to when not towing. So towing my car disables the lane centering function as well as the lane change function. But the distance function still works so what I have is Cruise Control with distance when towing..at the moment.

I hand calculated Towing mileage (3300lbs) to be just over 12.5 mpg with almost zero wind but numerous elevation changes. My RZR is more aerodynamic than an enclosed trailer would be. I drove 75-80 and passed cars on a 2 lane road at least a dozen times. I used Distronic frequently. I think it would easily be 2mpg higher if it could pull higher gears like our Audi. At 65 on level ground it runs in 9th gear but at 75 its 8th gear and with any grade 7th or even 6th. As I mentioned earlier, at 65 and 9th gear the mileage was reading 15-16 about 25% higher than 12 at 75-80. Even going down a decent grade it wanted to hold 8th gear. I have driven the Audi (-500lbs) faster and been over 14...about the same as my gas truck (+1000lbs) with a 6.2 liter (420hp/460T) engine. Hopefully Mercedes isn’t done with ECU/TCU mapping for towing.

Philamg

Perhaps it disables lane centreing because it doesn't know the width of what you are towing and lane change because it doesn't know the length of what you are towing and thus doesn't know if it is safe to change lane - only guessing.

bad habit

So question about AIRMATIC and Sport vs. Individual Mode. According to the manual, Sport mode lowers to -1, and Individual allows to lower to -2.
Well, I am on Sport, I switch over to Individual and try to lower it further by nothing happens. Anyone else experience this?

Ron.s

With Airmatic all you get is about an inch lower. Might be different with E-ABC. In individual mode you can select Sport for suspension and get it lower but it defaults to Comfort, no lower. An odd thing is the Console Rocker switch only raises the car but will lower it if it’s been raised. In Offroad it raises 2” so there is a 3” range of movement. I haven’t looked at the Manual for ages but found it confusing. I’m easily confused though!

GregW / Oregon

The manual is not clear (as with many things). The Individual suspension setting depends on how you program it, but you need Sport+ to get the -2 (-1.0") setting, and I believe only E-ABC gets Sport+ mode.

GregW / Oregon

The -1 setting, lowest with regular Airmatic, is -0.6" (Sport mode). Sport+ with E-ABC gets you the -2 setting, which is -1.0", not a huge difference.