SL/R231: Welcome to the New R231 SL Forum for the All New 2013 SL
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 357
Likes: 51
From: S. Florida
'12 R197, '17 S63A4, '13 CLS4M, '99 A208 320CLK'99 CLK320A
I took delivery of the SL550 in Sindelfingen last Wednesday. It will take ~6 weeks for my car to arrive here in Northern Virginia.
RichardB, I ordered the B&O sound system. You made the right choice not to order this expensive option. It honestly does not sound any different or better than the Harmon Kardon System in my previous E550 Coupe or the SLK. The bass is so-so. The only "cool" thing about the B&O system are the little tweeters on the dash board. The Mark Levison system in the IS that I test drove actually sounded better. Althought I would never buy a Lexus, I can honestly say that their sound system is better than the ones Mercedes has to offer.
I also got the Magic Sky Control. And I noticed that you also have that option. Can you please tell me if your SL550 headliner is plastic or lined in faux suede? I got an Obsidian exterior with premium black leather interior. Even though my Confirmation of Order indicated that there is a grey headliner, my SL550 came with a cream colored hard plastic headliner.
Not to be anymore negative but it is the same headliner as my old SLK350. Pretty disappointing for a $100K+ car.
Thank you.
RichardB, I ordered the B&O sound system. You made the right choice not to order this expensive option. It honestly does not sound any different or better than the Harmon Kardon System in my previous E550 Coupe or the SLK. The bass is so-so. The only "cool" thing about the B&O system are the little tweeters on the dash board. The Mark Levison system in the IS that I test drove actually sounded better. Althought I would never buy a Lexus, I can honestly say that their sound system is better than the ones Mercedes has to offer.
I also got the Magic Sky Control. And I noticed that you also have that option. Can you please tell me if your SL550 headliner is plastic or lined in faux suede? I got an Obsidian exterior with premium black leather interior. Even though my Confirmation of Order indicated that there is a grey headliner, my SL550 came with a cream colored hard plastic headliner.
Not to be anymore negative but it is the same headliner as my old SLK350. Pretty disappointing for a $100K+ car.
Thank you.
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
2008 CLS 63 & 2005 SL55
My dealer said that no changes can be made within 45 days of the production date! Check with your dealership and see what they say. I now have a june, 11 production date and I can't make any changes at all. I was going to cancel the B&O stereo and add a dash top clock. Can't do anything now except take the car with the equipment that I originally ordered. I guess $3200 per tweeter must be Mercedes way of sticking it to us!
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
'13 SL550 '15 C400 4MATIC and a really old Honda Accord
55-Bear is correct. I actually tried to cancel it after I read the review on the B&O System 1 month prior to delivery but was also told I could not do it. After taking delivery, I played around with the sound adjustment. As a consolation, it seems to sound a little better if you select "Left" driver side sound enhancement instead of "All."
A couple more things. It will take time to get used to the gear change as Park is now push button (since I never had an S or ML classes, it will take time to get used to this change). In addition, the ECO mode is on once you start the engine. You have to disable it everytime you start your engine. Pretty annoying because once you come to a stop in a stop and go traffic, the engine shuts off then immediately starts after you release your break pedal. The first 5 times, it was bearable but after the 25th times it began to get really annoying...this is when I drove from Sindelfingen to downtown Stuttgart at the Graf Zeppelin Hotel.
A couple more things. It will take time to get used to the gear change as Park is now push button (since I never had an S or ML classes, it will take time to get used to this change). In addition, the ECO mode is on once you start the engine. You have to disable it everytime you start your engine. Pretty annoying because once you come to a stop in a stop and go traffic, the engine shuts off then immediately starts after you release your break pedal. The first 5 times, it was bearable but after the 25th times it began to get really annoying...this is when I drove from Sindelfingen to downtown Stuttgart at the Graf Zeppelin Hotel.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 357
Likes: 51
From: S. Florida
'12 R197, '17 S63A4, '13 CLS4M, '99 A208 320CLK'99 CLK320A
----------
My dealer said that no changes can be made within 45 days of the production date! Check with your dealership and see what they say. I now have a june, 11 production date and I can't make any changes at all. I was going to cancel the B&O stereo and add a dash top clock. Can't do anything now except take the car with the equipment that I originally ordered. I guess $3200 per tweeter must be Mercedes way of sticking it to us!
My dealer said that no changes can be made within 45 days of the production date! Check with your dealership and see what they say. I now have a june, 11 production date and I can't make any changes at all. I was going to cancel the B&O stereo and add a dash top clock. Can't do anything now except take the car with the equipment that I originally ordered. I guess $3200 per tweeter must be Mercedes way of sticking it to us!
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
2013 SL550, 2011 E550 4-matic, 2010 S550, 2010 ML350, 2010 BMW X3, 2010 BMW 328i
I took delivery of the SL550 in Sindelfingen last Wednesday. It will take ~6 weeks for my car to arrive here in Northern Virginia.
RichardB, I ordered the B&O sound system. You made the right choice not to order this expensive option. It honestly does not sound any different or better than the Harmon Kardon System in my previous E550 Coupe or the SLK. The bass is so-so. The only "cool" thing about the B&O system are the little tweeters on the dash board. The Mark Levison system in the IS that I test drove actually sounded better. Althought I would never buy a Lexus, I can honestly say that their sound system is better than the ones Mercedes has to offer.
I also got the Magic Sky Control. And I noticed that you also have that option. Can you please tell me if your SL550 headliner is plastic or lined in faux suede? I got an Obsidian exterior with premium black leather interior. Even though my Confirmation of Order indicated that there is a grey headliner, my SL550 came with a cream colored hard plastic headliner.
Not to be anymore negative but it is the same headliner as my old SLK350. Pretty disappointing for a $100K+ car.
Thank you.
RichardB, I ordered the B&O sound system. You made the right choice not to order this expensive option. It honestly does not sound any different or better than the Harmon Kardon System in my previous E550 Coupe or the SLK. The bass is so-so. The only "cool" thing about the B&O system are the little tweeters on the dash board. The Mark Levison system in the IS that I test drove actually sounded better. Althought I would never buy a Lexus, I can honestly say that their sound system is better than the ones Mercedes has to offer.
I also got the Magic Sky Control. And I noticed that you also have that option. Can you please tell me if your SL550 headliner is plastic or lined in faux suede? I got an Obsidian exterior with premium black leather interior. Even though my Confirmation of Order indicated that there is a grey headliner, my SL550 came with a cream colored hard plastic headliner.
Not to be anymore negative but it is the same headliner as my old SLK350. Pretty disappointing for a $100K+ car.
Thank you.
Sorry so long to respond, Sinbat. The headliner is black matte plastic. Our car is also obsidian black, but with the porcelain/black premium interior. Not sure about why they cheaped out on that part----maybe to keep weight down?
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
2013 SL550, 2011 E550 4-matic, 2010 S550, 2010 ML350, 2010 BMW X3, 2010 BMW 328i
55-Bear is correct. I actually tried to cancel it after I read the review on the B&O System 1 month prior to delivery but was also told I could not do it. After taking delivery, I played around with the sound adjustment. As a consolation, it seems to sound a little better if you select "Left" driver side sound enhancement instead of "All."
A couple more things. It will take time to get used to the gear change as Park is now push button (since I never had an S or ML classes, it will take time to get used to this change). In addition, the ECO mode is on once you start the engine. You have to disable it everytime you start your engine. Pretty annoying because once you come to a stop in a stop and go traffic, the engine shuts off then immediately starts after you release your break pedal. The first 5 times, it was bearable but after the 25th times it began to get really annoying...this is when I drove from Sindelfingen to downtown Stuttgart at the Graf Zeppelin Hotel.
A couple more things. It will take time to get used to the gear change as Park is now push button (since I never had an S or ML classes, it will take time to get used to this change). In addition, the ECO mode is on once you start the engine. You have to disable it everytime you start your engine. Pretty annoying because once you come to a stop in a stop and go traffic, the engine shuts off then immediately starts after you release your break pedal. The first 5 times, it was bearable but after the 25th times it began to get really annoying...this is when I drove from Sindelfingen to downtown Stuttgart at the Graf Zeppelin Hotel.
To the guys that already have this car....can you check the headlights and see where the light source of the nasty orange line is coming from? Is it from a standard orange bulb that is accessible from the back of the headlight, or does it seem to be some sort of built in LED light?
Reason Im asking is because I want to change this color to white when I get mine, and hope its possible.
Reason Im asking is because I want to change this color to white when I get mine, and hope its possible.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 1
From: Florida
AMG SLS & S coupe
The car has a few---relatively minor---things we do not like. The reversed levers for cruise and turn signals is not that hard getting used to, but it's different from our other Mercedes. You have to remember to press that PARK button. If not the car drops into neutral when you shut it down. The other thing is that aggravating ECO button! What a waste of time, effort and materials! It should be my choice to activate that thing, not make me turn it off.
Fortunatally, when you open the door to get out, the transmission goes to park.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon
Porsche Cayenne S - BMW 525 (2011) - Mercedes A Class - SL 350 (2013)
I already ordered my car and it went into production last week. My dealer said delivery is in September (local delivery, not in Europe). I was wondering if the Magic Sky Control Option is worth it? Do you think i can still add it at this stage?
Last edited by Soly20; Jun 13, 2012 at 10:08 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 1
From: Florida
AMG SLS & S coupe
I live in Florida so I'd find out if it defaults to dark when the car is shut off.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon
Porsche Cayenne S - BMW 525 (2011) - Mercedes A Class - SL 350 (2013)
Yeah thats very important if you're parked in an uncovered space for a few hours! I will contact my dealer and ask him, however if anyone knows about this here, it'll be great to know.
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 155
Likes: 12
From: San Francisco
2015 S550 Coupe
But I never use my sunroof in my other cars and always keep the sunroof shade closed... So I didn't include the Magic Sky option in my order.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 1
From: Florida
AMG SLS & S coupe
I have the standard setup.
I leave the shade open. The visibility in the car is so good, that with the sunroof, it's almost like having the top down. I have not noticed any heat coming in and I'm talking about 90+ degree in June here in northeast Florida.
OTOH, I rarely drive at night. With those stars being visible must surely help any evening turn into a "fun" night. If you know what i mean.
Why the bowing and praying? A moon roof by itself can always use some extra persuasion.
I leave the shade open. The visibility in the car is so good, that with the sunroof, it's almost like having the top down. I have not noticed any heat coming in and I'm talking about 90+ degree in June here in northeast Florida.
OTOH, I rarely drive at night. With those stars being visible must surely help any evening turn into a "fun" night. If you know what i mean.
Why the bowing and praying? A moon roof by itself can always use some extra persuasion.
Last edited by Daytona-flyer; Jun 13, 2012 at 01:14 PM.
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
2013 SL550, 2011 E550 4-matic, 2010 S550, 2010 ML350, 2010 BMW X3, 2010 BMW 328i
Because we want one. Of course, you have to be able to afford one first, or at least afford one so that it's not that big a deal to buy new----no disrespect intended.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 395
Likes: 1
From: Florida
AMG SLS & S coupe
I bought mine because of it's great technology and engineering. The new design and will be around for at least a decade, perhaps two. That's a lot of time for everyone to get used to it.
The old SL is now just that, "The Old SL"!
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: East of Athens, GA
Steel Grey 2012 ML350 is wife's
I greatly enjoy reading the r231 haters because I genuinely hope it keeps on-the-fence buyers from pulling the trigger...
...this way I'll be one of the few owners driving around (in the r231) without competition for the accolades that I continue to receive everywhere I go
Anyway, I may as well be comparing my new R231 to a R107 when I occasionally drive my R230
...this way I'll be one of the few owners driving around (in the r231) without competition for the accolades that I continue to receive everywhere I go
Anyway, I may as well be comparing my new R231 to a R107 when I occasionally drive my R230
