Mr. Xristo

be sure to let everyone know when you will be in house/senate chambers during a CSPAN broadcast.

Maybe you could hold up a sign:

+------------------------+
+ HELLO MBWORLD +
+------------------------+

Turbo2

Noah Miller-
Sorry, never saw your question. Ill see if I can find some info. on it on Monday... most likely its probably the same reason why the US doesnt get a lot of stuff (rear seat entertainment, etc.). Because the people upstairs dont think that there is a market for it here in the US, but that may be changing.

Mr. Xristo-
Hahaha...good one, Ill let you guys know if Im on CSPAN

mbprince

turbo2,

1) congrats
2) enjoy
3) answer only my questions

Was raised in the DC area and hope to bring the wife and kids there this summer for a vacation (job permitting). If not we have to come this December for a family function.

Questions:

Relating to: a) E500 and b) the E55

1) when will the 7 speed auto ship

2) when will nav ship

3) when will voice command ship

4) when will MB release the phone with
adaptors for other brands (I've heard
this is in the works)

Thanks and no hurry!!

rgbyhkr

The Universal Handy Interface (UHI) is already available in Germany for CLK, SL, C and M models with availability in other models starting MY 2004. See the Motorola press release here:

http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/...057_23,00.html

Whether this makes it to the US anytime soon is anyone's guess. Supposedly, this is the list of available options for US 2004 E500s:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...138#post398138

The current V60 phone is on there but there is no mention of the UHI. My guess is that we won't see this until at least a year after Germany, if at all. I would love to have it as phone tech changes so rapidly these days. The next few years will hopefully see some big changes in the US market as mobile offerings here start to become as cool as what we see in Europe and Asia.

For those that are interested, it looks like true mobile phone number portability will finally be a reality when the FCC mandate goes into effect this November as the wireless carrier lawsuit to block the mandate was thrown out of court yesterday:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/interne....ap/index.html

Jeff

Turbo2

mbprince-
Just read a few days ago, the 7G-Tronic transmission will be in all 2004 MY cars that it will be offered on, including the E500. Should be arriving on the first '04 E500's. Ill look into the other two questions, looks like rgbyhkr had answered your fourth question.

mbprince

Thanks Turbo2,

the one question that concerns me most is when the 7G-Tronic transmission (beefed up version) will be available for the E55. I was reading a document in german the other day (my german is barely ok) and it indicated that while the 7G should be available for all 5 liter V8s it would be at a later date that the 7G would be available for the high output engines of the AMG series and V-12. I love my E500, but as soon as the 7G. nav and command are available for the E55, that's what I'm ordering!!

Thanks again, mp

Turbo2

mbprince-
The only news I have heard regarding the 7G and the E class is with the E500. If I hear of any new info. regarding the 7G and the E55 I will be sure to pass it along. In the article I read, I believe it stated that it wwould only be the 430 and 500 models receiving the 7G-tronic, so it's not like the S and CL series AMG's are getting it and the E55 isnt. Once again...ill let you know if anything comes up.

mbprince

Turbo2, just thought of one more question regarding the E500. Since we know that the '04 BMW 5 series is getting a horsepower bump to 325hp, I wonder if MB will counter that with a modest increase in their E500 V8? (good old fashioned horsepower wars) mp

Turbo2

mbprince-
Ill see if I can find anything out.

Richandall

Hi Turbo 2, here's one for your office petrolheads! The officially published bhp outputs (here in the UK, anyway) are not specified as DIN or SAE or RWHP or whatever, so what exactly is the power output measuring? And does M-B ever fudge the figures do you suppose, for 'marketing' reasons?