LETO

Thought you guys might enjoy this:

http://www.benzreport.com/2014-s550-4-matic/#more-1214

Diesel Benz

How do you expect us to enjoy something that makes us green with envy?

cookstar

rear entertainment system is the most useless over priced option you can put on any vehicle, they should phase these bulky eye soars out. for the same price you can get 2 ipad Airs which have a million more uses than the factory option entertainment system

Diesel Benz

I'm not familiar with the MB rear entertainment features but I don't think it is a fair apples to apples comparison between this and iPad Airs (or should I have said "oranges to oranges" comparison to avoid confusion ).

I don't think you can follow the Comand navigation screen from an iPad Air. The fixture is not very elegant for the OEM screens but probably would not be any better for iPads. Wiring for charging might not be a mess but probably not perfect. Safer to leave OEM screens to the, iPads might not be there when you come back after parking the car in a public place etc.

I'm not promoting the OEM RSE, I have not ordered it and have never had it in previous cars but this is simply because I cannot afford either one, the OEM RSE or a pair of iPad Airs.

DaveVY

I agree, not only are these systems very limited in functionality but are also ugly eyesores that are always visible even if no one is using it.

Besides this one issue I love the color combination and the rear seats in this car.

cookstar

its not apples to apples its more like coal compared to 24k gold lol, it just does not make any sense to pay upwards of $2500 for this system vs $1600 for two ipads and another 50-100 bucks for mounts.
ipad air fully charged gets 10 hours or more on a single charge, charging is not an issue and you dont need to hard-wire anything into the vehicle. Ipad screens you can remove which takes care of the security issue. I know this because my father was contemplating getting the rear entertainment system on our 2013 GL, its basically the same thing in the 2014 S-class. Its a dying technology in cars.


This is one of those outdated things on MB's besides the 7G tranny which came out in 2003!!!!

Diesel Benz

I might agree with you but I think it still is a personal matter and I would not put words to someone else's mouth. For us the price is $5600 and some find it worth this investment. If they can afford, they can't be absolutely stupid people.

LETO

The s has an ios app that gives you access to command via the rear screens. I personally think the ipad solution on a 100+K car looks tacky and after market. The integrated screen pivots to readjust as the front screen rolls away.

sure the 7G tranny is old tech. However, after driving the new S, it really is a non issue. The car wafts quite nicely and really encourages you to relax and not misbehave. Having had the previous S, I have to say the new one is better in my opinion in every single way.

cookstar

Well than at $5600 ur getting what we in North America like to call "raped", $2650 State Side which is ridiculous, listen at the end of the day the people like us that buy these vehicles can obviously afford to splurge on options but just because you can afford it does not mean its a wise choice.

Kratos-TM

I feel the same.

LETO

If we were going with a "wise choice" of having a large sedan we would all be buying 3 toyota Avalons for the price of a nicely equipped S wouldn't we?

option pricing on the S in my opinion is quite fair. Especially when you try to option something like a porsche. But even then if you want something & it is a must have, pony up the cash and enjoy it.

Kratos-TM

One thing I noticed that I really like about the executive rear package is the "bucket" look to the rear seats. Really makes them look luxurious. Hmmm......I might have should have gotten that package......

Jason B

What happened to the elegant looking rear screens that used to "flow" with the vehicle and blend in with the design? Recessed and smooth flowing? This used to be done very well on some cars. The Jag X7 has it done perfect and it looks like it's meant to be there, like a special custom build factory option. I took this pic a few years ago:



This is 100k+ vehicle and the screens should have thought out much better. Designed to go with the interior, instead of an afterthought. Instead we get a completely added on, tacked on, or velcroed on looking appearance. They go to all the great lengths for the sound system, the beautiful dual LCD's up front, carefully/perfectly stitched leather, beautiful ergonomics, etc. then you see these stuck on screens. I do not like them from any angle. Anytime I'm at a car show or an auto show, these type of add on screens are the knife in my back and make me grit my teeth. I understand that most don't want to deal with aftermarket screens, and there are people that will buy the factory screens to save the hassle, but these are the only thing that doesn't flow on this car.

The w221 had better implementation of these screens, but you had to keep the headrests fully down to keep them looking good and no so bulky.

Ever the Range Rover Sport does it well.


2014 S:

LETO

Notice as the front passenger seat moves forward an then rolls the seatback to make way for the foot rest to emerge the video screen has a motor that moves it down.

Head rest embedded screens would be facing the ceiling

Manual ipad holders would require the passenger to lunge forward and adjust the angle which would be quite inconvenient with a thigh extender out.

Also, 7 series like fully embedded into the backrest monitors would need some sort of pivoting adjustment

Kratos-TM

Yeah I'm not a fan of the rear TV's either. That's why I didn't buy the package.

Diesel Benz

The previous model rear screens do fit better to the interior, much more integrated looks. Perhaps there is a competition with the screen size and one simply cannot put larger screens integrated into the headrests?


But one could custom order the same mechanics for iPad screens at less than $20 000 which would be quite an affordable and sensible price. After all we are talking about some Apple products (or products related to Apple products).

Jason B

And here we go with the Ipad:



They offered this in the ML??

http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...-Class-095.jpg

Interesting option for the BMW 7:





Hmm, haven't seen this before in 221.









Usually you see the full recessed look in the 221's that have this option.

hyperion667

I skipped TV's as well, but that is the color I got for mine coming next month or so

Jason B

There needs to be a nice aftermarket option.

Kratos-TM

If the aftermarket comes up with a good option, I'm game.

Jason B

Yep.