£22k worth of extras on a Merc E Class

[DrYazz]

Not mine, but Auto Express' latest long-termer:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/longtermte...

I copied and pasted for your amusement perusal:

Reversing camera (£390), Telephone pre-wiring with hands-free facility and aerial on roof (£290), Comfort-ventilated front seats – choice of heating or cooling (£700), Panoramic sunroof (£1,460), Dynamic multi-contour seats for driver and front passenger (£1,090), Leather trim (£1,370), Tyre pressure monitors (£295), AirMATIC semi-active air-suspension (£1,055), Speed Limit Assist Plus (£300), DAB digital radio (£335), Luxury climate control (£620), Night View Assist Plus (£1,225), Fire extinguisher (£95) Harman Kardon stereo (£650), Privacy glass (£365), Rear-facing leather child seats (£1,000), TV tuner (£970), Rear entertainment system (£1,765) Heated rear seats (£335), Alcantara rooflining (£1,470), Driving Assistance Package (£2,345), COMAND multimedia system (£2,230), Metallic paint (£645) Memory Pack (£1,225), Sun Protection Package (£365)

Dan Strong, from Auto Express, also said:

I’m also a big fan of the £2,345 Driving Assistance Package, the highlight of which is the Distronic Plus radar-based cruise control. Not only will this system smoothly match the car’s speed to that of the vehicle in front, it will also bring the motor to a complete stop if necessary. A leap of faith is needed to allow the car to perform this hi-tech trick first time around, but once you’re used to it, it’s a fabulous safety feature and one that really takes the effort out of motorway driving.

I despair at this. Everything being made 'easier' for the modern motorist. Soon, we won't have to engage brain to drive anymore. What do Mr and Mrs E Class driver do when their car is in for a service, and the replacement vehicle is not specced with 'Distronic Plus radar-based cruise control'

[kambites]

You could make the same argument about all manner of safety features - ABS, for example.

[geeteeaye]

You despair about that and not the Tyre pressure monitors (£295), Rear-facing leather child seats (£1,000) & Alcantara rooflining (£1,470)! Radar cruise control is how it should be IMO.

[DrYazz]

kambites said:

You could make the same argument about all manner of safety features - ABS, for example.

I own a car in which the ABS can be switched off via a button in the cabin. But I have still have to use the middle pedal to brake.

It could be problematic on our congested roads when someone accustomed to their Mercedes doing all the braking for them, gets into a car which does not. Just a thought.

[Garlick]

Allowing your car to brake to a standstill on a motorway is quite alarming though. At least ABS only works with input from the driver, this is completely different.

Set cruise at 70, cross legs, read paper.

[tali1]

That must be one of the highest specced % over list price Mercs
But don't mags just get them loaned off the Press fleet?

[Garlick]

tali1 said:

That must be one of the highest specced % over list price Mercs
But don't mags just get them loaned off the Press fleet?

but they do get to choose spec (usually)

[kambites]

DrYazz said:

kambites said:

You could make the same argument about all manner of safety features - ABS, for example.

I own a car in which the ABS can be switched off via a button in the cabin. But I have still have to use the middle pedal to brake.

It could be problematic on our congested roads when someone accustomed to their Mercedes doing all the braking for them, gets into a car which does not. Just a thought.

Well yes, but all those people who learn to drive in a car with ABS and are just told that do to an emergency stop, they just mash the pedal... seems like the same thing to me.

[andrew]

you need mercedes' designo brochures

heated granite steering wheel anyone ?

Edited by andrew on Saturday 22 January 20:12

[Wills2]

geeteeaye said:

Alcantara rooflining (£1,470)!

That stuff costs about £5 per sq metre!

And Autocar's S350 has 29k worth of extras bringing the price to an eyewatering 91k

Edited by Wills2 on Saturday 22 January 20:14

[Jobbo]

Not sure what some of these are:
Speed Limit Assist Plus (£300) - something to do with cruise control?
Luxury climate control (£620) - how does this differ from normal climate?
Night View Assist Plus (£1,225) - infra-red camera I guess?
Memory Pack (£1,225) - for what? Surely the already extortionately expensive electric seats have memory function? My old 545i Touring memorised everything for each key, at no cost.
Sun Protection Package (£365) - on top of privacy glass?

[Deerfoot]

It must be a Mercedes thing.

Autocar presently have a Merc S350L Bluetec on their fleet.

List price of £62,440, price as tested.......£90,885.

[kambites]

By no means unique to Mercedes. That's just modern cars...

[john_p]

Jobbo said:

Memory Pack (£1,225) - for what? Surely the already extortionately expensive electric seats have memory function? My old 545i Touring memorised everything for each key, at no cost.

And on my 2000-model E46 ..

I'm sure children will appreciate their leather seats

[hairyben]

Reversing camera (£390), Telephone pre-wiring with hands-free facility and aerial on roof (£290), , DAB digital radio (£335), Harman Kardon stereo (£650), ), TV tuner (£970), Rear entertainment system (£1,765) , COMAND multimedia system (£2,230),

£5.5k for in car ent. amazing what they get away with charging, you could have better kit fitted aftermarket for less than a 3rd.

I have a JVC 2 din 7" touchscreen that does blutooth/phone, music (32GB SD) and nav, will also do DVD, ipod control, rev camera, poss 2nd zone (if not not much more $ would get it, same with DAB and TV etc), for less than £700 inc. the harness that happily talks to mercs famously uncooperative steering wheel volume buttons, and I think it's cheaper now.

Which is why I didn't spec £3k worth of command/phone prep when i got the van

[Jobbo]

john_p said:

Jobbo said:

Memory Pack (£1,225) - for what? Surely the already extortionately expensive electric seats have memory function? My old 545i Touring memorised everything for each key, at no cost.

And on my 2000-model E46 ..

I'm sure children will appreciate their leather seats

Sadly my E46 doesn't have electric seats or steering column to check that What can it be though? Apart from memorising seat and mirror positions and climate settings, what is there which wouldn't be part of COMAND?

[k-ink]

Mental. You could buy two mint Lexus just for the options price! Both of which would be better made than the Merc

[Deva Link]

Jobbo said:

Not sure what some of these are:
Speed Limit Assist Plus (£300) - something to do with cruise control?
>>A camera reads speed signs and displays the limit in the COMAND nav screen

Luxury climate control (£620) - how does this differ from normal climate?
>> More zones, fully digital, charcoal fume filter and residual heat function so the the heater can run for an hour or so after the engine has stopped

Night View Assist Plus (£1,225) - infra-red camera I guess?
>> Yep. Appears in the head-up display.

Memory Pack (£1,225) - for what? Surely the already extortionately expensive electric seats have memory function? My old 545i Touring memorised everything for each key, at no cost.
>> Seats, steering wheel and mirrors.

Sun Protection Package (£365) - on top of privacy glass?
>> Privacy glass is only on the rear windows.

Edited by Deva Link on Saturday 22 January 22:11

[Jobbo]

Deva Link said:

Jobbo said:

Not sure what some of these are:
Speed Limit Assist Plus (£300) - something to do with cruise control?
>>A camera reads speed signs and displays the limit in the COMAND nav screen

Luxury climate control (£620) - how does this differ from normal climate?
>> More zones, fully digital, charcoal fume filter and residual heat function so the the heater can run for an hour or so after the engine has stopped

Night View Assist Plus (£1,225) - infra-red camera I guess?
>> Yep. Appears in the head-up display.

Memory Pack (£1,225) - for what? Surely the already extortionately expensive electric seats have memory function? My old 545i Touring memorised everything for each key, at no cost.
>> Seats, steering wheel and mirrors.

Sun Protection Package (£365) - on top of privacy glass?
>> Privacy glass is only on the rear windows.

Edited by Deva Link on Saturday 22 January 22:11

You are kidding about the memory function, right? Over £1200 for something that should be included as standard with electric seats on any car!

What exactly is the Sun Protection Package then?

[Deva Link]

Jobbo said:

What exactly is the Sun Protection Package then?

"The Memory package has electrically adjustable seats with 4-way lumbar support for the driver and front passenger, including a memory function for the seats, exterior mirrors and steering column.

The Sun Protection package includes pull-out, two-piece folding comfort sun visors for driver and front seat passenger as well as manual roller sunblinds on the rear doors."


Don't know if they still do it, but I used to think it hilarious that MB charged extra for Comfort seats - as though the standard ones are deliberately uncomfortable so they can scam some more money out of people.

Neighbour of mine got fed up with hosing £K's of options every few years and switched to Lexus, where pretty well everything is standard, and the dealers aren't aholes.