schorert1

There's a board member running a remote start on his ML AMG. I called my local installer and he offers a remote starter for MB with smart keys and keyless go. There is a $650 module that replicates the key, and a starter unit paired with that...out the door was $1400 to $1800.

Strafzettel

Isn't it bad for the engine to let it run idle when cold? I was told that cold cars should be driven so they warm up faster.
In Germany they use block heaters that run on gas and can be programmed to start and stop at certain times but it seems nobody here knows about them. Webasto is one of the big brand names for that. I've read that electrical block heaters are an option here. Does anybody here have that?

Subatomic Power

There are almost no cars in Alberta (Canada) that don't have electric block heaters. In extremely cold weather, where we can get about 2 months worth of -40F, most people plug their cars in overnight. My garage is heated, but at least one of my kids always has to leave a vehicle on the driveway. That vehicle almost always has to be plugged in. I made sure that the kids each of ONSTAR on their Cruz's so that they can start their vehicles every 2-3 hours for 15 min during the days so that the cars start after school is out. Apparently, the conduction of heat through the aluminum block engines on the Mercedes' conducts heat with such efficiency that idle time is not an issue, and the vehicles blow warm air into the cabin usually within 1 min of starting in cold weather. Driving a very cold car immediately (not aluminum block) is hard on them mostly because the lubricants don't coat the machinery as well. In Canada, we always use 5w30 oil because it is a lot less viscous than the normal 10W30 that we use in Phoenix. I personally also always pay for the upgrade to synthetic oil.

Subatomic Power

I was recently poking around the Mercedes dealership in the USA and fell in love with the ML63 AMG. You can option it out in almost any colour and still, in and out, that you want to.....but I live in Canada. For some reason, the ML63AMG in Canada is available ONLY in flat black and flat white - and all the interiors are ALWAYS black! No possibility of making it "nice"! As a result, I ordered the 550's - but the AMG engine is what I really wanted. Anybody have any idea why Mercedes Canada is forcing Canadians to be limited in choice? It just makes me want to go to the USA to buy my AMG!

schorert1

God the thought of trying to get that much HP to the road in slick conditions worries me.
You can any mercedes any way you want, affalterbach is home to the engine manufacturing, but also the custom interior shop. There used to be a horror story on the AMG owners group about a pink interior in a sweet-16 gift amg.

I'd say order one and go pick it up but I don't think ML's are included in the euro delivery program.

Subatomic Power

Canadians can't order the ML63 AMG in anything other than flat black or flat white externally, and plain old black on the inside with only darker wood selections. This is disappointing. Apparently, I can order what I want in the USA for about the same price as in Canada - but MB USA will not honor the warrantee in Canada. Same thing the other way around. That is frustrating.

another_geek

Odd. The Mercedes Canada website shows all the colors available for the ML63. I know a member here, Nanook, who lives in Canada and has an identical ML63 to mine - Black with Auburn Brown (Chestnut) interior.

Subatomic Power

This is true - the Mercedes Canada website shows all the colours/options available for the ML63 AMG. BUT - it will only allow you to choose either flat black or flat white for the exterior colour, and only black leather for the interior colour. That's it. The salesman told me that this is intentional on the part of Mercedes. I might just have to get one in the USA and then buy a Canadian Warrantee on it if that is possible.

jean7of9

I custom ordered my 2013 ML-63 in Quebec. Diamond White with Designo White porcelain seats and Burl Walnut Wood etc.. I could have chosen any color combination. My dealer does not like customization since his preference is selling stock inventory or his back order. I have never encountered a car salesman (BMW or MB) in Canada who encourages customers to configure their own. That will force them to spent an additional five minutes to update the order. They are too lazy for that. They want you to just pay and leave. They also remind you not to forget to award them maximum points for the evaluation.

Subatomic Power

That's great to know. I will check directly with the sales guy again and I will insist on getting my choices for the price I anticipate paying. If he doesn't want to play ball, I am sure that there are many ways to skin that cat.

27T

The Q7 is the exterior equivalent to the GL. The ML is a smaller car yet it is more spacious. Everyone, except you, says the Q7 is very cramped for its size. The Q7 overall is outdated, inefficient and cramped. Audi has had internal conflict which is why it hasn't been reworked years ago. Next year the Q7 should again be competitive. Right now it isn't.

27T

It's not about convincing you. It is about correcting you.

Nanook

You gotta get your head out of the snowbank man ..and remote starters work great in any Merc...mine included

Does this look like a black interior or flat black exterior..your salesman is blowing smoke.. ?

Subatomic Power

Wow! Beautiful vehicle! You have great taste! I'm going to show that to my sales guy if I get that story again. I'm leery about the aftermarket stuff like remote starters though. Don't like the idea of risking the electronics. I wonder why MB doesn't offer them? I just can't fathom putting some Chinese made item into my beautifully crafted German vehicle.

Nanook

Starter works flawless..and through iphone to boot..

schorert1

Ha, look at that thing! I detailed my ML Thurs and Fri...wash, clay, polish, sealant, wax, detailer. We had a storm sat and sun that has left it plastered with tiny bits of leaves...it looks like sh*t today.

Nanook

Ya it's only a matter of time and the days of clean shiny will be gone for another 6 months

Subatomic Power

I love a clean car.....but I don't get the idea behind clay. Doesn't clay wear down your finish and clear coat? Also, my dealer offered me some sort of newfangled protection for the ML550 that is sprayed on with the intent of it being considered a permanent type of wax that never needs to be reapplied. I said yes in addition to the 3M coating on the front (lots of gravel in Calgary). Hope it is worth it for this extra protection stuff......

DUTCH

1.) Clay only removes particles, not the finish.
2.) Spray on coatings are essentially worthless and are not permanent, but do contribute nicely to the dealer's bottom line.
3.) I hope the 3M coating is a clear bra. If not, you've been ripped off again. There are better clear bras than the 3M, but almost any properly applied clear bra is better than nothing.

schorert1

yeah, clay just pulls out dirt or grit stuck to the clearcoat...wash your car a couple of times and feel the paint. then run some clay over it(with some kind of lube like detailing spray) and feel it again. contaminants will be visible in the clay itself. with very little practice you can clay a whole vehicle in about ten minutes.
It's considered a "must" if you're polishing by machine, otherwise those particles are picked up by the pad and just make more swirls.
My black ML550 "looks" perfect, I did I final polish on it, sealed, waxed etc, but when I look at it with a light there are still a lot of swirls in it. It rather looks like it was driven through a carwash at least once a week. definitely a heavier cut next time I polish.
The problem with this labor intensive process is you really commit to it for hours, having another vehicle to drive and spreading the process out over two days really helps.

There are several "nano-coating" products that promise a long protection life, a couple of years. I'd be skeptical of any such product applied by the dealer. These are "ceramic" coatings that come in a small container with a big pricetag.

vinceC

Clay is fine to remove surface contamination if used properly. It must be used with ample lube (quick detailer type product). Use it wrong or near a ridge in the body it can damage the paint. I first wash the car, then feel the surface with my hand. If I feel contamination I first try 3M Adhesive Remover. It will not harm the paint and will often remove the contamination. If it doesn't I use clay. If no contamination I don't use clay.

Barry45RPM

Claying a car makes the paint as smooth as glass. Waxing it afterwards makes the finish look like it did when it left the factory. Just awesome.

Germancar1

Yeah claying your car is the best thing ever. A friend turned me on to this years ago and I thought he was nuts, but it is amazing how smooth your car is afterwards. Smooth as glass.

M

shortspark

Yes, I agree with the using clay recommendations. There are various types of clay and I would start with a mild one, such as Griot. It is very important to use a good lubricant (I use Speed Shine, also by Griot). The best test to determine if your car is a candidate for clay is called the "baggie test", which is better than the bare hand test. Wash and dry the car and then put a baggie on your hand. Run your hand over the car's horizontal surfaces (vertical surfaces usually do not require clay, at least not on new or nearly new cars). If the baggie grabs the paint, you need to clay. If it runs smooth as glass, you can skip this step.

I have found that the next step is the most important of all - cleansing the paint. Some people use Dawn dish soap to do it in order to be sure the paint is totally free of previous wax/sealant. But I much prefer a dedicated paint cleaner (not an abrasive polish unless correction is required). The best I've found is P21S Paintwork Cleanser but I will soon try a similar product that is a little cheaper - Duragloss Squeaky Clean.

I have a Diamond White ML and the paint cleaner really does a great job on this paint as a prep for the last step product, be it wax or sealant. Keeping with German products such as P21S, I have pretty much settled on Sonax NetShield, a polymer sealant. You will get at least six months protection with NetShield, especially if you "top" it periodically with Sonax Brilliant Shine. Both are spray products, one aerosol and one trigger spray. If you want a little richer or deeper look than a sealant provides, Collinite 845 Insulator Wax is hard to beat and lasts nearly as long.

There are a ton of good detailing products out there and I have tried my share for sure! These products are the best I've found for my paint, although everyone needs to experiment to get the look and protection they want. Bottom line is that while clay is important in most cases, a good paint cleanser (or polish) is crucial in ALL cases.

Subatomic Power

The 3M coating is about $1400 for a clear bra that is detailed for the whole front surface of the ML as well as the first 8 inches of the top of the hood from the front. Winter road gravel in Calgary makes the 3M a must. I chose to go with the 3M because it has a lifelong warrantee. When it yellows, peels, cracks, etc....they replace it for free.

There seems to be some sort of guarantee with the spray on coating for the dealer as well. But I appreciate your opinion and I'll check into this some more. The $400 may well be a ripoff....but the guaranteed to not rust feature seems to be worth considering.....