No Active Ambient Lighting for '22
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The other day I saw a W223 Maybach in our parking lot. The car was the base engine variant and couldn't be optioned with the original equipment suede pillows. So the owner tied a freaking seat cushion to the driver's headrest
it was a truly sad and ugly sight.
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As far as I'm aware, the four-seater option doesn't seem to be available in the states, or the UK. No idea why.
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23 S580 Executive
Let's see, in no particular order: That sucks on the taxes and fees; hard to appreciate cars (for those that do) that way. Yep, would have gone 4 seat if I could have. I traded a Panamera with the 4 seat, loved it, and it was no issue at all. Have you considered moving?
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Nah, I'll just be thrity and try to cut as many corners as I can with my unconventional purchasing strategy. Truth be told, I even derive a little pleasure from it!
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it used to be an option on the W222, but almost nobody ordered it. The truth is basically no one gets driven in the US, because of expensive labor and it just isn’t the normalized choice, so generally the people buying the car sit up front and Americans seem to like the extra seat for “just in case.” The few people who either get chauffeured, want the Francine’s of the four seat configuration, or simply never have 5 people and think the fixed console is more useful can and will get a Maybach. The difference between a loaded S580 (~$155,000) and a well equipped S580 Maybach (~$205,000) just isn’t insane. It’s noticeable, but not crazy to the people looking at this echelon of car, especially compared to the price of just an S450 in so many other parts of the world.
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23 S580 Executive
It's very popular on the Panamera, enough so that the 5 seat configuration hurts your resale. I didn't know it had been available but wasn't popular here with this one. Kinda strange, the Panny is a little more expensive than the vanilla S class overall but it's not that much.
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it used to be an option on the W222, but almost nobody ordered it. The truth is basically no one gets driven in the US, because of expensive labor and it just isn’t the normalized choice, so generally the people buying the car sit up front and Americans seem to like the extra seat for “just in case.” The few people who either get chauffeured, want the Francine’s of the four seat configuration, or simply never have 5 people and think the fixed console is more useful can and will get a Maybach. The difference between a loaded S580 (~$155,000) and a well equipped S580 Maybach (~$205,000) just isn’t insane. It’s noticeable, but not crazy to the people looking at this echelon of car, especially compared to the price of just an S450 in so many other parts of the world.
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Volvo XC90
That Maybach figure is a little bit lite, LOL.. I know when I bought this S580 and it was 158k I started to think lemme look at the Maybach. I was coming up around 230k after options, and also I felt it was a little bit LOOK AT ME so opted against it. My wife loves to drive and in the last two years or so I've started hopping in the back LOL. So since I didnt get it in my 750 I made sure to go executive in this one so when were coming home from a night out I can sit in the back, recline and catch a massage LOL..
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23 S580 Executive
I rent a limo, better, cheaper, and it's not taking up precious garage space. Different story if I had the need regularly but I don't; just for going to shows and the occasional formal event.
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2021 S500 (Mojave Silver), MB S400 (wife), BMW 750Li (passed on to kids)
I was also keen to get MBs new rear passenger airbags (mounted on back side of front seats) option code 302. Safety first!!
I’m not the type that changes cars often and since its a new S class design, it should keep me happy for quite a few years.
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But the brutal reality here in China is that almost all Maybach S class owners drive the car themselves
I think they went Maybach just because they wanted 'the longest and biggest S Class'. And the added chrome pieces here and there help them appear more baller-y. Which is a look I'm keen on avoiding - but to each his own.
For chauffers, we have a very special class of cars here in China, most notable examples being the Toyota Alphard or the Mercedes V class. People buy these cars at half the price of a properly euipped S class, then send them to a custom shop to overhaul the interior for a dozen grands, and the cabin ends up looking like these:
Like you said, probably not practical for westerners, given how expensive labour is. But our parking lot is filled with these glorified mini-vans.
Last edited by rw594; Jun 28, 2022 at 11:19 PM.
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From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
I really wanted the four-seater configuration, and Mexico was the only country that fitted this options to the 3.0 Litre L6.
And regarding legalizing the car - all parts in my Mexican W223 are road legal in China, nothing seems market-specific. I do need to swap out the Mexican central computer for a Chinese one, to enable local LTE connectivity and Chinese voice recongnition (not that I really need that), but otherwise the car was good to go on day 1.
And regarding legalizing the car - all parts in my Mexican W223 are road legal in China, nothing seems market-specific. I do need to swap out the Mexican central computer for a Chinese one, to enable local LTE connectivity and Chinese voice recongnition (not that I really need that), but otherwise the car was good to go on day 1.
Safety is the primary feature that I choose the S-Class.
Everyone says that, and I'm sure that's how MB designed those cars to be.
But the brutal reality here in China is that almost all Maybach S class owners drive the car themselves
I think they went Maybach just because they wanted 'the longest and biggest S Class'. And the added chrome pieces here and there help them appear more baller-y. Which is a look I'm keen on avoiding - but to each his own.
For chauffers, we have a very special class of cars here in China, most notable examples being the Toyota Alphard or the Mercedes V class. People buy these cars at half the price of a properly euipped S class, then send them to a custom shop to overhaul the interior for a dozen grands, and the cabin ends up looking like these:
Like you said, probably not practical for westerners, given how expensive labour is. But our parking lot is filled with these glorified mini-vans.
But the brutal reality here in China is that almost all Maybach S class owners drive the car themselves
I think they went Maybach just because they wanted 'the longest and biggest S Class'. And the added chrome pieces here and there help them appear more baller-y. Which is a look I'm keen on avoiding - but to each his own.
For chauffers, we have a very special class of cars here in China, most notable examples being the Toyota Alphard or the Mercedes V class. People buy these cars at half the price of a properly euipped S class, then send them to a custom shop to overhaul the interior for a dozen grands, and the cabin ends up looking like these:
Like you said, probably not practical for westerners, given how expensive labour is. But our parking lot is filled with these glorified mini-vans.
it used to be an option on the W222, but almost nobody ordered it. The truth is basically no one gets driven in the US, because of expensive labor and it just isn’t the normalized choice, so generally the people buying the car sit up front and Americans seem to like the extra seat for “just in case.” The few people who either get chauffeured, want the Francine’s of the four seat configuration, or simply never have 5 people and think the fixed console is more useful can and will get a Maybach. The difference between a loaded S580 (~$155,000) and a well equipped S580 Maybach (~$205,000) just isn’t insane. It’s noticeable, but not crazy to the people looking at this echelon of car, especially compared to the price of just an S450 in so many other parts of the world.
Besides the expensive labour, another reason is that Americans simply like to drive. It is in the blood. So many movie or sports stars, having literally billions, still drive their own cars around. It is definitely not that they cannot afford having a full-time chauffeur, it is just in their DNA (the love of driving around, having this great sense of freedom and mobility).
Last edited by bishop64; Jun 29, 2022 at 07:55 AM.
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2021 S450 4Matic
This is very common and will become even more so when the Greater Bay Area develops. BTW, are you in Guangdong?
A pic speaks a thousand words.
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I live in Hangzhou, so not close enough to see Guangdong registration vehicles on local roads. I will be driving the car over to Shenzhen in the coming week for retrofitting though. Apparently the best retrofitters / modders are all based off there.
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2021 S500 (Mojave Silver), MB S400 (wife), BMW 750Li (passed on to kids)
Interesting; is that a temporary allowance, or permanent though?
I live in Hangzhou, so not close enough to see Guangdong registration vehicles on local roads. I will be driving the car over to Shenzhen in the coming week for retrofitting though. Apparently the best retrofitters / modders are all based off there.
I live in Hangzhou, so not close enough to see Guangdong registration vehicles on local roads. I will be driving the car over to Shenzhen in the coming week for retrofitting though. Apparently the best retrofitters / modders are all based off there.
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2021 S450 4Matic
Interesting; is that a temporary allowance, or permanent though?
I live in Hangzhou, so not close enough to see Guangdong registration vehicles on local roads. I will be driving the car over to Shenzhen in the coming week for retrofitting though. Apparently the best retrofitters / modders are all based off there.
I live in Hangzhou, so not close enough to see Guangdong registration vehicles on local roads. I will be driving the car over to Shenzhen in the coming week for retrofitting though. Apparently the best retrofitters / modders are all based off there.
Edit:- And, of course, one has to pay an annual fee for this registration.
Last edited by bishop64; Jun 30, 2022 at 05:08 AM.
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I know they do conduct coding and hacking of some caliber, to enable functions related to retrofitted hardware.
And they also somehow edit your vehicle's registration on MB's system, so that when you visit an official MB dealer afterwards, your vehicle will show up on their ledger as equipped with all the retrofitted options, avoiding confusion and potential headaches.
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2021 S450 4Matic
@rw594
When they are done with your car, I look forward to watch the conversion video in Bilibili.
BTW, what kind of MB factory warranty do you get from a Hangzhou 4S shop?
When they are done with your car, I look forward to watch the conversion video in Bilibili.
BTW, what kind of MB factory warranty do you get from a Hangzhou 4S shop?
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25th Anniversary
@rw594
When they are done with your car, I look forward to watch the conversion video in Bilibili.
BTW, what kind of MB factory warranty do you get from a Hangzhou 4S shop?
When they are done with your car, I look forward to watch the conversion video in Bilibili.
BTW, what kind of MB factory warranty do you get from a Hangzhou 4S shop?
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@rw594
When they are done with your car, I look forward to watch the conversion video in Bilibili.
BTW, what kind of MB factory warranty do you get from a Hangzhou 4S shop?
When they are done with your car, I look forward to watch the conversion video in Bilibili.
BTW, what kind of MB factory warranty do you get from a Hangzhou 4S shop?
And I’ll enjoy posting it here
the photos of my car stripped down to the bones will no doubt scare the living ****e out of everyone on this forumDunno about warranty details from my local dealer (or ‘4S shop’, as you already know they are locally called). All I’ve heard is that they are not very good.
These shops will try to sneak out of any costly repair or replacements, using lines like ‘oh this is just a characteristic of this particular generation’. Which to be fair, is also used often by dealers in the states. The only difference is that people here tend to be less knowledgeable about cars, and less protected as consumers by the law. So dealers often just get away with it.
I have purchased third-party warranty from an established insurance company, covering 3 years or 50,000 KM. If anything major like the engine breaks down, my insurance will pay for necessary repairs or replacements.
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And I’ll enjoy posting it here the photos of my car stripped down to the bones will no doubt scare the living ****e out of everyone on this forum
Dunno about warranty details from my local dealer (or ‘4S shop’, as you already know they are locally called). All I’ve heard is that they are not very good.
the photos of my car stripped down to the bones will no doubt scare the living ****e out of everyone on this forumDunno about warranty details from my local dealer (or ‘4S shop’, as you already know they are locally called). All I’ve heard is that they are not very good.
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2021 S450 4Matic
@bishop64 Are many S-Class sedans/Maybachs chauffeured driven in Hong Kong? Last month finally set foot on MIT Campus for combined 2020/2021 Commencement Ceremony. 2022 Ceremony was held day before on Friday. Daughter came down with Covid following Tuesday...her roommate who is now attending Northwestern Med School sent her text that she tested positive while we were returning to Maryland from Boston South Amtrak Station on Sunday. Fauchi apparently also caught it while at his Holy Cross Alma Mater same time frame. Otherwise trip to Cambridge was fantastic. Got another MIT ballcap for Father's Day. Stay Safe.
(Maybach is not selling very well here. I see more RRs/Bentleys on the road.)
Hope you and your family had a good time during that weekend! I wonder if Toscanini Ice Cream is still there. The little store was just north of the campus along Mass Ave. Just a few minutes walk from the Dome. Those days were often quite stressful and eating their ice-cream with strawberry toppings was my way to de-stress...lol
I had my 2nd booster Covid shot just last week. Now, I had a total of 4 injections, maximizing my defense.
You stay safe too. Hope your daughter is alright now.
Last edited by bishop64; Jun 30, 2022 at 08:19 AM.
