Eye_Candy

Hello, I am new to the forum though I have been watching for some time. My turn to order the ML 63 is coming up soon and I am excited!

My questions are:

(1) I see the base price for the U.S. is $85,500, does anyone know what it is for Canada? I can do the conversion ($96,891) but the price rarely seems to follow the conversion exactly.

(2) The internet indicated the tire sizes were 295 45 R 19 with optional 295 40 R 20. Yet, when I called a local tire shop (because the ability to put a winter or at least an excellent all weather ie. Nokian is a must for my Canadian winter) they said that they contacted mercedes and were told that the size was 255 50 R 19. What gives? The 255 50 R 19 will work with a Nokian SUV WRAWP2 but the original 295 45 R 19 and 295 40 R 20 will NOT work with Nokian's and I have yet to find an alternative? On another thread entitled 'snow tires' someone mentioned tirerack but no specifics were given.

Thanks,

Mike

PhilS

Don't know about Canada, but I believe the ML63 comes standard with 20's in the USA.

Phil

Wolfgang

I suspect MB will recommend the Pirelli Scorpion Ice&Snow MO.

Pirelli Scorpion Ice&Snow MO

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/wintertires.html

Eye_Candy

Are you agreeing that the tires are 255/50 R19 ?

Either way those Pirelli's look interesting. I will check into them (http://www.ca.pirelli.com/en_CA/tyre...catid=CAESUVWI)

They also appear to have a 295/40 R20XLTL 110VRB (e) if 20's are standard as was suggested above.

Found review on Tirerack http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....n+Ice+%26+Snow

I have had Nokian before and they have been impressive. The SUV WRAWP2 are snowflake, 107V rated and XL (http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/t...pup.cfm?id=17). A set of 4 comes in at 4 x $441.50 = $1942 Canadian.

Here is a review where the handling is criticized on dry http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/hl/nokian.htm

and some opinions http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1769243&page=2

Any thoughts on Nokian vs Pirelli?

Wolfgang

Yes, 255/50 R19 is the size MB is probably going to recommend. They (DaimlerChrysler sales organisation in Berlin) listed them last winter on the server. Right now that list only shows the summer tires:

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content/...l_RPL_FS06.pdf

I think the Nokian is a great tire for the M-Class. MB will probably prefer the Pirelli though, since the MO version was expecially developed for the new M-Class.

ClayJ

Interesting - I hadn't heard about or come across this yet.

Thanks Eye_Candy and Wolfgang -- I'll have to check out the links and do a little reading...

Whoopsy

The Canadian pricing for the ML63 is $96800

The pricing came out yesterday and I just ordered one today, september build, with Keyless Go and Climate Seat and the grand total is $99400.

There isn't a whole lot of options for ML63, other than the 2 I picked, there is a rear-view camera, rear-seat entertainment, Linguatronic and trailer hitch. I-pod kit is still a dealer install option.

MB lowered their option prices a little bit this year and a fully optioned ML63 is still gonna be less than $110k.

I was thinking about this one and the Cayenne Turbo S, but after learning the price of the ML63 I immediately ordered one, it's like a full $60k less than the Cayenne and in my mind is the bargain of the century.

ClayJ

Good for you.

Good price too.

And thanks for the option info.

Spotty-Dog

Good job. I ordered the rear-view camera and keyless go options and in Obsidian Black. Were you offered a choice of interior colours?

Kent

Whoopsy

either gray or charcoal, and I picked charcoal and Obsidian Black.

I passed up the Rear-Seat Entertainment system because I will never be in the backseat to enjoy it, so why bother.

The camera is kinda nice but I am used to the Parktronic already and don't need the visual helper.

And almost forgot, standard tire size is 20" here in Canada.

Eye_Candy

Thank you whoopsy! The standard size is 20 inch in Canada. Looks like the Nokians won't work. Do you think the Pirelli 295/40 R20XLTL 110VRB (e) will?

I pre-ordered a Pewter / black interior one with Climate seats two weeks ago. My guy said I could separate out the blue tooth from the Linguitronics but I am skeptical. Do you know if he is blowing smoke? I don't want to get saddled with the whole Linguitronics package if it is an expensive option.

Whoopsy, do you have a price list for the individual options?

Whoopsy

I don't have the price list handy as I only saw it as the dealership when I ordered mine, I could ask my salesman to fax me a copy adn post the prices if you need.

The Bluetooth is a seperate option, the ML63s are pre-wired for phone, and there is a choice of either a Bluetooth module or a phone cradle. It is indeed a seperate option from the Linguitronics and you don't need the Linguitronic package to get the Bluetooth or the phone cradle. It will be a dealer-install option like the iPod interface.

The tire size you mentioned are the stock size, so I don't think there is any problem fitting those on.

Spotty-Dog

I can add that the Keyless go is $1,400 and the rear-view camera is $900. I don't know the cost of the other options.

Eye_Candy

Good news! Thanks for the prompt answers.

Eye_Candy

Well, this is my first MB purchase. I have to say I am NOT impressed with the way the ordering process has gone so far. I realize that the ML63 is a new model but the confusion is ridculous.

I explicitly told my dealership that I wanted bluetooth but not as an uber expensive bundled package. They said I needed Linguatronics. Whoopsy disagreed (above). I asked them to check and the changed their tune to say that I needed either the tele-aid package or the premium package (power tailgate, power passenger seat etc). The Cdn ML63 apparently comes standard the premium package so I was all set.

Uh, no. They called back to say that the bluetooth was a $1700 install with the premium but if I ordered the tele-aid (itself $1600) I could get the phone prep for an additional $45 and not subscribe to the tele-aid unless I wanted.

Hmmmm. So I called MB Canada on their 1-800 and there a humourless expert told me I needed to order the Linguatronic to get bluetooth and that Tele-aid, which they said came standard on the ML63, would not help. WTF!!!

So now I don't know what to do!

Is this a harbringer of what I can expect from MB?

Spotty-Dog

A couple of points:
1) I was told the Tele-aid was standard equipment in Canada as well.
2) I agree that the information is somewhat sketchy, and part of this may be the competency of the salesman/sales manager you are dealing with.
3) Keep in mind that the 2007's haven't really been officially introduced yet as they are still flogging the 2006 models (I believe until the end of August) so the fact that they are a bit disorganized is perhaps partially understandable.
4) Your comment regarding the humourless response you got made me laugh because I got a similar type of response from BMW years ago (which is why I no longer drive BMW's) when I asked if they would ever make an automatic m car. I also looked at an Audi S4 Avant earlier this year and they looked down their nose at me when I said I would want an automatic transmission.
5) Bear with them, the ML63 will be worth it!

Whoopsy

ok, Eye_Candy/Mike, which part of Canada are you from? But since you asked about snow tires I am assuming you are not from Vancouver, But I could refer you to my salesman if you are around my area just so you can deal with someone who acutally knows what they are selling.

Attached are 3 pages from the fax I got from my salesman, in the first page at the bottom you will see that Tele-Aid, and cell phone prep is STANDARD equipment on the ML63, and in page 2 it also states the same thing, option code 359 for Tele-Aid and code 389 for phone prep are STANDARD option for MB-Canada cars. In page 3 in the options section, code 396 is the Linguatronic and it is a seperate option from the phone, you don't need it to get code 389 for cell phone prep.

On the MY2007s, I believe if my memory serves me well that the ML500s do need the Premium Package to get the cell phone prep option. I remember reading the dealer info binder on MLs saying that. Linguatronic functions are tied into the phone system but it is a completely seperate option for all model range.

Code 389 means the car is pre-wired to receive a phone module, the phone module will be either a bluetooth module or a actual phone cradle that physically attached to your phone and it will be compatible with Motorola or Nokia I think. Either cradles or the bluetooth module get installed in the compartment just under the front middle armrest, ie the top level.

The bluetooth module or the phone cradles are DEALER-INSTALL option. you will need to order these parts directly from the dealer, not the factory.

The faxes all came from the salesman binder and your salesman/dealer should already have these so they should know what you are talking about. From what you are telling us, it certainly smells like your dealer/salesman is trying real hard to screw you out of more money for stuff that you don't need.

If you want to I can fax the option faxes to you so you can take them to your dealer and shove them to their face.

Whoopsy

On a side note it was interesting to note that of the 17 ML63 allocated to my local dealer, 8 of them are black, 7 of them silver and 1 burgandy and 1 undecided. They are out of allocations already this year and there is a few more people on wait list waiting for the next allocation.

Eye_Candy

You guys are great! This helps me out a lot. Now let's see what they say!
I am ordering out of Calgary. My build is set for November so I still have some time to change options before my order is frozen.

I was also thinking of the motorloa V3 razor phone to go with the car. Incidentally, those 20 inch Pirelli's from earlier in this thread will not be cheap. I was quoted $450 Cdn for each.

Whoopsy

ah calgary, the city that's frozen 6 months of a year no wonder you need snow tires. mind you, we are not much better, like under water for 6 months also. haha

I believed MB has a cradle for the V3 but in my mind I would still prefer to have the bluetooth module.

when you go in, ask to see the sales binder they have for the ML, all MB dealers have them and it comtains all the info you need, my salesman showed me his and that's how I got all my info.

Eye_Candy

Just got off the phone with MB Canada. It turns out that you can indeed get bluetooth with the just the cellular telephone package (389) that comes standard but the catch is that the bluetooth will be manually activated and controlled. To get the full voice integration (i.e. "call home") you need the Linguatronic. Like most things, once they are pointed out they seem obvious.

Is voice control worth the cost of the Linguatronic? Does anyone have any experience?

Whoopsy

from my experiences, as the LR3 comes with Voice Control and I had a 745i before that also has voice control ( these comes with the car, there is no way I am gonna pay extra for it ), you'll be lucky to have the system reconize yor commands 30% of the time. unless you speak PERFECT English, the system will most likely mis-understood you. As my dealer even the salesmans have trouble demonstrating the voice control in the new S-Class.

I prefer pressing buttons on my phone than repeatedly yelling commands to the car, I find it less distracting.

IMHO, I think the best system currently available is my wife, even then she only listens to me about 50% of the time.

Wolfgang

Another option: Conti 4x4 WinterContact XL FR

BoBcanada

wow whoopsy thanks alot man! I think im gonna order one too if i make up my mind!

EgilML500

I did

I am waiting to hear from the dealer on the Designo options. No word at the moment. At least I'm in line and can opt out if I want before the manufacturing date.