London Lad

Has anyone taken delivery of a sl55 with command 2 yet. I mean the DVD version?

blueSL

Well, the folks in Bremen must now be back from their vacation which is traditionally the time they introduce changes for the next model year. So, it might be the changes have been made but I do not know for sure.

London Lad

My car is due to be built 2nd decade September and my dealer (UK) says it will have command 2.

I just wondered if any of you guys outside of europe had it already.

Anyway I'll know for sure on the 20th when I go to collect it from Bremen. Roll on September!

morebhp

Mine is being bulti end of September for October collection (Jasper Blue with Alcantera).

Haven't heard about command 2 - what are the pro's and where can I find info.

London Lad

I cant find much info other than the MBspy site at:-

http://mbspy.bacosys.be/index2.html (look under command at the bottom of the menu)

As I understand it the main dif is that it uses DVD for the map data and has much more detail.

I think it is made by bekker ?

I suspect it will aslo play DVD's ?

Anyone know more.

morebhp

The below was found on a USA site:
--------------------------------
Mercedes-Benz DVD Command II system delayed

The good news:

As predicted in our January Auto Show Report, 2003 Mercedes-Benz cars will all be switching to the DVD based navigation systems and the new system will be called Command II. It will be easier to use and will have the data for the entire USA housed on one DVD, so no more switching cd's everytime you drive out of state.

Also, the MB reps and dealer salespeople won't have to be the 'whipping boys and girls' for all those people anymore who are fried that Lexus 'bested' the 'Three pointed star' with the finest navigation system in the business...

The bad news:

The system is delayed until the beginning of 2003...

What does this mean to you?

If you buy any MB vehicle (whether it's a new 2003 E-class or SL, or any other vehicle) between now and then with navigation you are buying an obsolete system and will be sorry you did not wait. And as we stated before, you will not be able to upgrade to the new system without incurring prohibitive costs from the MB parts and labor department.

Our advice to Mercedes-Benz:



Don't get embarrassed like this again...you lost a lot of traditional MB customers to Lexus when you didn't have to, solely because of their navigation system...That's what happens when you get 'too fat and happy'. Luxury car buyers are a picky bunch, if you say you're the best car in the world, every single aspect of the car better be the best or over time the customer will stop buying your story...


------------------------------

Don't know if the 2003 release is USA only to allow production of the required data and software or applies world wide.

Would be great to get the Command II even if the software/data is not quite right. This can be relatively cheaply upgraded later.

London Lad

Is there anyone 'in the know' maybe from Bremen, here who can give us the definitive answer?

blueSL

London Lad/morebhp....

Did you guys go for the panorama roof option? I can see the option listed on the German and US web sites, but not the UK one.

Like yours, my car is supposedly being built in September and the spec of my car is frozen and too late to change without affecting my production slot.

London Lad

Yes I had the glass roof and I think everything else except distronic. I also ordered silver arrow (code 777) paint which was not on the option list but has been confirmed.

morebhp

New this was a US option but did not reaklise I could order it in the UK.

Could possibly change the spec on mine - will ask the dealer the cost, and decide on this basis!

morebhp

Spoke to my dealer yesterday. States the only model due to have it fitted this year (don't remeber what model it was but it was not the SL) has been put back and very unlikely to be installed in my car when built in October, or any other UK cars built in 2002.

Hope he's wrong

blueSL

No reason to delay your car though. There's always changes in the pipeline and this time next year, people will getting worried about 6 speed transmissions and, and, and. You can sit on the fence and wait for the ultimate car or get it now and enjoy it.

morebhp

Quite agree - I work in IT sales and if our clients took this view we would never have made a sale in 13 years :p

Counting the days to collection.

UK S500L

My first posting on here so a big Hi to everyone. morebhp just thought you would like to know I saw (in the metal!) a RHD SL 55 with glass roof at a garage called Romans International in Bansted Surrey. But I know all thier cars Imports !! So maybe they can order what ever options they like, as I guess thier cars are coming through a German dealer
Regards.
Dave

London Lad

Did your dealer ring MB or was that 'off the cuff' ?

My dealer insists my 2nd decade September car will have command 2 with DVD !

He is not always right but I have been able to spec a glass roof and silver arrow paint that other dealers have said were not available.

morebhp

He answered a bit off the cuff.

He doesn't seem to be the best connected person but did sound confident. As you state you have managed to order the panoramic roof and he stated this was not possible (I didn't push this one as personally not that bothered).

He should have my chassis number anytime now (which I am waiting for to sort out the derestriction). He states this gives full details of the car - tyres, etc. I would hope this will show all components.

Have you tried this way (using the chassis no) to see which components are fitted to yours?

Cheers to everyone for the feed back so far.

London Lad

No, I'll try and get the number, but at this late stage I suppose I'll take what comes!

How do you go about the derestriction ?

Will it effect insurance costs? Oh and BTW what sort of quotes have you had for the SL55 insurance if you don't mind telling us

Richard

Hi
With the chassis numbers, they can get hold of a copy of the datacard (on line), and see what is fitted.

My SL55 came thru with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso Y rated tyres (186mph). It was physically built in the 1st week of July (and so got the Nokia 6310i phone, not the dodgy old 6210). Ive only driven it once, roll on Sunday :-)

My dealer also told me that it is not possible to get the speed restriction removed in the UK, but he also said that they will remove the limiter for free on UK cars if you take it to Germany.
- I dont beleive the latter, but I will push later.

I have an AMG price list (from AMG) for technical mods, and they say its about 2500Euros to have it done and certified by the government inspectors. (cant remember exact figures)

The initial dealer documentation said that it wouldnt be possible at all as it would get a 160mph speedo, but then MB rethought and made a UK 200mph speedo

Mines insured thru Privelege, someone else I asked also found the best deal was thru them - they are part of Direct Line. Be *very* careful with Admiral - the small print shows they wont give you back the cost of anything more than the basic spec, so your options arent insured ... Its hard to know what the insurance costs because I was near the end of an insurance year. Im also outside london in a reasonably safe area. Around 2k per year for me (full NCB etc)

Im very unconvinced about you seeing the DVD COMAND system soon. Remember the current comand is called Comand 2.0 - the one in S/CL is Comand 2.5 - (this is the size of the units in DIN slots!)

R

London Lad

Thanks for the info Richard.

I think my dealer is confusing command2 with the DVD version.

My friend has ordered his car from AMG special vehicles department via an agent via a German dealer and I am sure his spec had a charge of 2500 euros for speed derestriction and a 220 or 230 MPH speedo.

I will try Privalidge, thanks for the tip.

Good luck with your car

BTW did you have keyless go and if so is yours in the key itself or a card? also is your carkit bluetooth or hardwired?

Richard

Hi

Its seperate keyless go cards, 2 cards and 2 seperate keys were supplied

The Nokia is hardwired - Ive seen circuit diagrams for the new E class showing a bluetooth module, but I suspect that only will be available with the comandII-dvd system

The AMG technical modifications price list (march 1, 2002) says

"Max speed limiter de-activated, incl inspection by techn. authorities and 330km/h speedometer (1) perm. tyre size/makes on request" 2150Euros + vat (16% in germany)

(1) - Not available for vehicles with code 984

I think code 984 is UK model, and it makes sense not to put the 330kmh speedo in. In fact 200mph is pretty close to 330kmh ..

R

London Lad

984 = "elimination of ownership certificate but with COC papers"

!!!!

blueSL

Whatever in the world that means....

Richard

COC papers are "certificate of conformence" and list the technical data for the car (including the VIN etc).

We get option 984 on our UK cars (we dont have a choice) so I have no idea what the "ownership" certificate is.

Given I dont think UK even needs the COC papers, (never had them on non mercedes cars) - I an hoping that AMG wont need to have the "inspection by technical authorities" - ie they just need to reprogram the car (which I guess will take a short time, and not cost too much!)

R

morebhp

I'm told my car will be ready in early October, and dealer still insists without Command II so I expect this is the case.

I will probably insure through Privelege. I have not had any quotes as yet but will have a go this week. My 360 was with them at about 1500 annually fully comp. Will check what the derestriction adds.

Anyone with them yet - do they insist on tracker?

On the subject of derestriction I was told the same as others - have to take the car back to AMG to have the work done. As I am doing a factory collection I had planned to drive straight from Bremen to AMG in Stuttgart to get the job done.

I am not planning to go the whole hog (200+mph) as this necessitates tyre changes, etc and will probably not get used (often ). I was going for 188 (approx). I had anticipated this would be a half hour job, a few hundred euros and involve an AMG technician with a laptop changing a parameter (delete 155 enter 188 or the KMH equivalent).

I have been quoted the 2500 euros and three hours to have the work done. I need to dicuss this with AMG. At this price I may decide not to bother.

Richard

I use privilege, and they insist on a tracking device ...

Let me know how much the insurance hike is for the 186 derestriction. The AMG price list includes a speedo change, but ytou wont need this as we have 200mph (330kmh) speedo already

Cheers

R