Benz Werd

Hi guys,

According to my dealer mine is being built today, it's a RHD model ML500 for the Australian market.

Does anyone know if:

1. it will be a MY12 or MY13?
2. it will have the new color display in the instrument cluster?
3. it will have multi-contour front seats (399)?

Thank you, any information would be greatly appreciated.



Cheers from Down-Under!!

mthien

I have a feeling that MB Australia won't introduce a 2013 spec until next year; at which point they will classify it it as a MY13 model. It doesn't make sense to introduce the 2013 specs into the existing 2012 lineup.

When are you expecting delivery?

Benz Werd

Thanks, but I hope you're wrong!! But if you're right it seems a bit strange that MBUSA would be building cars for the US market as MY13s but for us still as MY12s, wouldn't there be too many variations along the production line that would just cause too much confusion? I can't get much info out of my dealer. And I will be quite annoyed if mine arrives and a few months later there's an update released with the color display & multi-contour seats.

Delivery is scheduled for 31 Dec, but I expect that to be delayed, again!! It was originally meant to be mid-Nov early-Dec.

Thanks again for your info anyway .... cheers

iankayem

We probably will not have a MY12/MY13 break as in the US.

The only "change" that is unknown is the colour screen. My car should be in the Tasman Sea right now so hopefully I will see it in about ten days. I will confirm the screen type when it arrives.

The rest of the US MY13 features were additions/deletions to the options which are virtually all standard here. Unfortunately one exception is the multicontour seats.

In the US, this is an $1100 option which would have to have been selected when the car was ordered.

Benz Werd

Hi Ian, thanks for that. Yes please confirm the color of your display cluster screen when yours arrives. I guess you're getting quite excited now being so close to delivery.

Yes, this whole multi-contour seats business is quite frustrating. I'm hoping mine will have it, even though MB Melb have said it probaby won't, but they're not completely sure either. My W164 had them, and they were great, so yeah, my fingers are crossed. I'm not too fussed about the color display cluster screen, but we've got it in our new C250 and it looks great compared with the earlier W204 C-classes, so if my new ML has it I'll be a very happy chappy!

Kindest regards ....

rexgold

I am sure it is the one with colour screen in the console... my was built in Sep and it has the screen.. so can't imagine MB running different config for different parts of the world.. I am in UK..

Benz Werd

That's great news, thank you for sharing ... cheers!

clk200

I am In RHD Market. I have specifically requested Multicontour (option 399) so it was scheduled as MY13 for built after July/August 2012 changeover. It was in fact built in September and expecting delivery in the next 10 days

iankayem

I do have a meeting to attend in the mountains on Saturday, otherwise I could be tempted to sit near the Heads and crack a bottle of bubbly at 4.00pm.

Benz Werd

Thanks clk200, more good news for me it seems. Unfortunately it wasn't on our options list, but I'm just hoping it will be a standard feature as it was on my previous W164.

Cheers

Benz Werd

Haha, now that's a bit too keen!

Any idea what your build date was?

And how did you find out the ship's name and how to track it?

Thanks.

Cheers

clk200

Your dealer should be able to give you the name of the ship on which it was booked. I am tracking mine daily, though usually you cannot get the info when away from coastal areas - Not a big problem for Europe, but you would loose signal when crossing oceans in the non-premium (free) websites. You can try http://www.marinetraffic.com or http://www.shipfinder.com

Benz Werd

Awesome, thanks clk200, much appreciated!!

iankayem

Aussiebenzlover,
You are right. I'm like a six year old shaking the parcels under the tree on Christmas eve.
They say the difference between the men and the boys is nothing more than the size of their toys. (Didn't think it would be this bad since we went through this last time!)

Mine was built August 24. I found the ship name October 6 after hassling the salesman.

clk200, I found www.marinetraffic.com useless for mine. But www.shipfinder.com good once I passed by the various tugs and canal boats with the same name.

http://sagaweb.2wglobal.com/AppSched...esselSearch.do works well too.

For Melbourne delivery, when it gets close, use www.portofmelbourne.com/expected.aspx
That tells the arrival in port, the docking and departure

clk200

Different regions, different websites Glad you found something that is useful for you. Wait is killing me...

Benz Werd

So true, I'm exactly the same don't worry!

I have e-mailed my sales rep for the ship info, and an updated delivery date.

Thanks for the info .. .cheers

Benz Werd

Hi guys,

I had confirmation today from my sales rep at my MB dealer that mine is now built and sitting in the holding yard in Tuscaloosa County awaiting shipment. Now to sit & wait for it's arrival, hopefully before Christmas!!

iankayem

Despite some delays, the wait is over and its finally here! I am now in the learning process to understand the new systems, and loving it.

I can certainly confirm the centre console screen has colour in the post July build for Australia.

So I think it is fair to suggest MB has slipped us the 2013 update, by kitting our cars with some of the later gear silently slipping the rest in. (and perhaps the "rest" is only the colour screen.)

Benz Werd

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing that info Ian. I hope you thoroughly enjoy the car. I have about another 5-6 weeks to go. We're getting closer haha.

Cheers

ChristoFir

Hi guys,
I've had confirmation that my ML350BT is now on its way. Built on 24-Aug and shipped 6-Nov on Tortugus and expected in Port Kembla 10-Dec.
The Vehicle Details indicate it is a Model Year 2013 and my Dealer advised me that the change over of model years occurs in July. The vehicle details sheet that the dealer has access to includes the model year info. So AussieBenzLover, all looks good for yours also being a MY2013.

Ian, you sure scored a quick delivery - enjoy. I'll be interested to hear what changes, colour screen noted, you discover and your experience with it. Could you remind me of your spec? - Did you order the on& off-road package?

Cheers, Chris

iankayem

Hi Chris,

I am puzzled why you do not have your car yet. Mine was also built on August 24, and the ship left Melbourne direct to Port Kembla, so I would have thought they would have come out together.

Mine has CV1, HK sound, OnOff road, Airmatic with Palladium and Grey/Black two tone leather

And if any smart-a complains about the steering wheel, you will note it IS on the RIGHT side.

ChristoFir

Thanks for the Pics, it looks great - very classy. The Grey/Black interior is a very nice choice. I love the uncluttered feel with the centre consol so open. I guess the gears on a stalk will take some adjustment.

The delivery was scheduled for 21-Nov but the car never seemed to get on the matching boat and when a boat allocation was available the delivery date slipped by a month. -

My spec is basically the same with the addition of Tyre Pressure monitoring and white with black interior.

Benz Werd

That is gorgeous Ian, congratulations!

Seeing it makes me again wonder if I should've chosen Palladium instead of Iridium haha. I pondered over it for about 2 months and decided on Iridium again as that's what my W164 was, and my E-class before that, and they were so easy to keep clean and always looked classy IMO.

The other thing I love about the new ML350s are the wheels that are standard. Not sure if I'm a fan of the standard rims on mine (the 5-spoke AMG 20"s), they look a bit cheap & perhaps outdated in the pics I've seen, but until I see the car in the flesh I'll reserve my judgement. Those 10 spoke rims on yours look very classy with a hint of sportiness too. They really suit the W166 very well!

Thanks for sharing your pics.

Happy motoring as always ... cheers

AZHiker

Ian, I'm green. Don't care about the steering wheel side, but you do get the off-road package -- extra transmission programs, 2-speed transfer case, ... that we can't get here in the USA with the bluetec. Also, I ordered my Bluetec end of April and thanks to MY13 switch-over, October certification of Bluetec in USA, and who knows what else, mine is only scheduled to arrive at dealer just this week. Maybe that's why they cost less here. Anyway, thanks for the pics. Great choices in options and colors.

Benz Werd

Yes, seems right that mine's a MY13 also .. it was built after Ian's, and yours too.
It also seems the ships come into Australia at Port Kembla then the vehicles are trucked to the rest of the country from there? Mine was built on 4 Nov but I doubt it would have made it onto the same ship as yours on 6 Nov. I wonder how long after 6 Nov the next ship departs heading this way though ... damn I'm getting a bit impatient now haha. But the worst of the wait is over I guess ....
My specs are similar to Ian's, also with rear entertainment, panoramic sunroof and black designo.
All the best .....