ChuckinTucson

The new W222 and C127 are in my opinion the finest cars made today. In the $100-200K price point, I can't think of anything that beats these automobiles. So my question is with all the technology that these cars have, NightView Assist, Lane Departure, Distronic, Intellibeam, Parktronic, all the safety equipment, etc, etc, where does Mercedes go from here.

Is there some emerging technology coming along that will make these cars even more safe and enjoyable or do you think it's more incremental in improving the current technologies?

Is there some feature available on another car line that you'd like to see incorporated in the next Mercedes?

nyca

Price is going to become the issue going forward - price versus content. How do you sustain the market for the S (and other cars like it) at the $100K+ price point, since this isn't a limited production car. Look at the upcoming new C - OK, it may be crazy to think someone would cross shop a C against an S just based on the wheelbase, but content wise a C400 is going to have alot of content the S does, at less than half the price. That's the razor's edge for manufacturers producing cars in this segment - sustaining the value proposition at the $100K+ price point, when alot of the "goodies" in cars these days come from technology, the cost of which is plummeting, so it is easily integrated into cheaper models.

AppleFan1

This has been brought up in a separate thread, but I would definitely like for MB to improve the Internet speed in the car. It is pretty much worthless and embarrassing in my opinion.

ChuckinTucson

I was going to get a hotspot in my ML, but dealer advised against it, so I just got a Jetpack from Verizon.

Mike5215

The problem is the 3G connection. I hardwired a Verizon 4G LTE Jetpack to my 221 and tucked it away inside the dash. Always available and crazy fast. I use it mainly to stream music. My old 3G was never able to keep up with the same content. Even changed the Jetpack's SSID to display the network name:

Quadcammer

I'd like them to focus on better ride quality with large wheels, even better sound deadening, and replacing that hideous interior lighting with something more classy.

aypues

MBC 2.0!! that works for potholes too

AppleFan1

Mike, sorry you lost me. So, what exactly did you do? Are you allowing your iPhone to communicate with the car and use the iPhone's data plan instead of using the car's WiFi? And, how did you hard wire it? Obviously, you know what you are doing.

06E55

The problem isn't actually the 3G connection. This has been discussed ad nauseum in other threads... The problem is with the service contract between MB and the provider...

darwinl

I wonder about the same as well. If we just use the car's USB to power a "hot spot" device, that would be one way. Even for that, that means each time, I need to power on/off the hotspot device when am using it in the car.

But I am more interested to know if someone found a way to enable COMMAND/MB Internet tools to funnel all internet traffics using the external hot spot instead of the build in 3G modem, that would be the best work around.

Mike5215

To clarify, I have an ancient W221 with no built-in WiFi. I wired the JetPack hot by tapping into an unswitched fuse in the panel on the left side of the dash. I installed a 12v receptacle and USB charger, then tucked the whole thing including the hotspot away in the dash cavity and buttoned it back up. When it's always on power the Jetpack's network stays up and active. No need to access the device or restart it.

To change the network name from the default "Verizon LTE 4G Jetpack" to "Mercedes S550 WiFi" I logged into the Jetpack's admin page using the standard router address 192.168.1.1 and made the change to the network ID.

With respect to bypassing the 222's internal modem, it'll take a much smarter guy than me to figure that out. But this mod will give you plenty of bandwidth for your mobile devices while in the car.

K-A

Better and more substantial feeling interior materials in certain places (namely just a little bit of some of the naked plastics, as well as the MB Tex stitching in areas of the frontal-dash, the M-Bgeneric/scratchy headliner, and especially getting standard Nappa seats when even a 5 Series gets free Nappa with a "Line") as well as improved fit/finish in certain alignment aspects inside, a non-carryover chassis with more cutting edge material construction (example: the next 7 Series gets extensive CF use which will cut weight and raise strength to dramatically higher levels than the W222 has, especially considering the outgoing 7 Series is already very close to the W222 torsional rigidity, which is going to make it probably a much more mechanically as well as technologically advanced car) and improved wheelbase-to-length proportions since the W222 being on a carryover W221 chassis uses its exact wheelbase proportions, which stem from 2005.

Updated transmission which is supposed to be on its way (a 7G which is basically over a decade old at this point and was a lousy trans even when it came out isn't acceptable at this range), HUD is finally checked, thankfully. Crisper LCD graphics on the I/C display.

These are just some of the weaker spots to me from what I noticed on the car in personal quick takes from it.

And my biggest issue with Mercedes in general these days: Horrid application of purported "Sport" suspension setups (which still aren't very sporty nor should they be on the larger cars, but at the very least shouldn't be harsh if not benefiting from sporty handling) with large-ish wheels, which hampers ride, interior isolation and lack of impending rattles, etc.