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Never had a black car and thought I'd try one. The dealer let me have one overnight and I couldn't believe the diff in the A/C. I live in S. FL and the afternoon temps are in the mid '90's. Anyway, I found this S model, a coupe, couldn't keep up with the heat. With the cars I have now, one silver the other white, I put the temp control at 73 or so and never have a problem. This black one I kept turning down until I got to 67 and it was still warm in the car. Putting my hand on the vent, the air flow was normal (on high) and the air amply cold. I took the car back and the dealer said I just needed to tint the windows which he offered to do. Is this normal? I'd appreciate some comments from those who own black MB's.
Last edited by Jud Chapin; Jul 22, 2019 at 02:42 PM.
Never had a black car and thought I'd try one. The dealer let me have one overnight and I couldn't believe the diff in the A/C. I live in S. FL and the afternoon temps are in the mid '90's. Anyway, I found this S model, a coupe, couldn't keep up with the heat. With the cars I have now, one silver the other white, I put the temp control at 73 or so and never have a problem. This black one I kept turning down until I got to 67 and it was still warm in the car. Putting my hand on the vent, the air flow was normal (on high) and the air amply cold. I took the car back and the dealer said I just needed to tint the windows which he offered to do. Is this normal? I'd appreciate some comments from those who own black MB's.
Probably not the best test day yesterday. We live in Orlando and I burned my hands on my steering wheel yesterday after the car sat in the sun for just 90 minutes. We had an hour ride back home and the air was on max the entire time. It was 102 here.
Probably not the best test day yesterday. We live in Orlando and I burned my hands on my steering wheel yesterday after the car sat in the sun for just 90 minutes. We had an hour ride back home and the air was on max the entire time. It was 102 here.
Are your windows tinted? Thanks for the comments. I guess black exterior is off my list.
2015 S550 Palladium/Deep Sea Blue, 2016 Tesla Model S 70D, 2015 Volvo XC70
Here's a study that puts some numbers on the difference body color can make. I guess if you tint windows it would help, but I've no idea how much, as the S already has special windows (metalized or something?) that is supposed to help some with heat.
Probably not the best test day yesterday. We live in Orlando and I burned my hands on my steering wheel yesterday after the car sat in the sun for just 90 minutes. We had an hour ride back home and the air was on max the entire time. It was 102 here.
2014 E350 Sport (sold), 2015 S550 Sport (sold), 2018 S560 Sport (sold), 2018 GLE43, 2014 E550
Recirculating the air also keeps things cooler. Another tip is to close the rear and/or passenger vents (that are within reach) if you are driving alone and/or don't have folks in the backseat. This A/C is a beast and I love it. Another huge upside to the S class.
How can the exterior color effect the interior temperature? Im not arguing just trying to understand the logic? The variable from that study missing is all S have black roofs which I would think is the largest panel to reflect or absorb the heat and transfer it into the cabin. Interesting read!
We have Verde Brook Green which is almost black with saddle interior and just came home from Palm Springs with over 110 degree and AC was not at full fan in auto after about 15 minutes of running set at 70 degrees. I do have window clear ceramic? tint, full rear factory shades and I bought a $50 custom ft windshield shade. The windshield shade is a life saver with that wood wheel. Its a pain but don't see any other option. Seat vents are useless.
I would try the tint as technology has advanced quite a bit from the standard dark tints. Besides the windshield screen there really aren't any other options. Keep that interior as cool as you can before you get in it. Didn't the Audi S8 used to have a solar fan in the sunroof?
remember the sun is more intense down here in Florida versus say Maine.... window tint did help in our old Lexus... have not done it on the newer Mercedes.. but we should...
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Yet another good reason that MB should—at least on their top line vehicles—offer three roof choices: Glass or “Panorama” Roof, traditional “Moon” Roof or plain, solid steel roof. There are some of us who truly hate the glass roof, but on S Class coupes and sedans since 2014, they have insisted on shoving it down our throats, whether we want it or not. I find it very interesting—and depressing—that you can order a C or E Class sedan with or without the glass roof, but on the S, we get NO choice. True luxury is having something the way YOU want it, not the way some bean counters decide how you should have it. I’m going to be taking a serious look at the new Bentley Flying Spur this next time around. I can order it with a beautiful, solid steel roof.
Problem is the color schemes are just bad. Some are so bad that it looks like a mistake.
I don't get why in the C you can get nicer color choices with better complimentary color and metal accents. How they don't have a dark saddle or red interior is wrong.
I never noticed the roof as I have darker cars but I agree on a white car it would be an issue.
Why cant they make seat vents that work? It would make such a difference on those hot days. Why cant it be done?
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Best car for a very hot environment would be one painted in a light, reflective color, such as silver or white, with a solid steel roof, with plenty of insulation material between the exterior and the headliner. Black glass, to my way of thinking, would be close to the worst.
I have a black on black S550 here in sunny Southern California. We are not as far south nor do we have the humidity as Florida, but it does get hot. 110 F this week on a couple of days, and my car was parked out in the sun outside my office all day. Yet the A/C in my S550 is phenominal. Two things I find really help. First, I use an inexpensive front windshield sun visor to protect the dash board and steering wheel from direct sunlight. You have no idea how much it cools the car. It also prevents the dash from absorbing heat which can take a long time to cool. The other thing I do is always keep my rear sunshade and the rear door sunshades up. But regardless, the S550 should be able to keep the car cool even at 110 F without working on full blast all the time. It could take the car 10-15 minutes to cool down enough to pull back from full blast on a very hot day. I would suspect there is something wrong with your A/C. I'd have it checked.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
