I bought an 2008 E320Bluetec in August, and picked it up from the factory in mid September. I had every option I could think of put on the car. While in Europe, the GPS system was packed with a European DVD. The I-pod Integration wasn't working, nor was the satellite Sirius radio. When I got the car delivered to Oregon last week, the dealer had all the above fixed. I then spent another $420 for a Bluetooth connector for my PDA (a Palm Treo 680). I upgraded the sound system to Harman-Kardon with 10 speakers and a sub-woofer. I think the whole package came to around $4,200.

The Premium package electronic systemreally sucks.

The I-Pod integration only registers through the display behind the steering wheel, and I can't pause the I-Pod, nor get to a particular song on an album, nor really even know where I am in the I-Pod, except in a very minimal way. The GPS system can only get me close to an address (a range of street addresses), not to an actual address. In the dark, in the rain, this is very discouraging. I can't get traffic from the GPS. I can't integrate my PDA with the Bluetooth adapter ($420) and the car system. I had to buy a new PDA from Blackberry, and come to find out that the model that I was sold, also won't integrate with the Bluetooth. Only a model that isn't sold by the cellphone provider, because it's so old. I call TelNet from the information to find out how I lock the car automatically with Keyless Go, and they were too busy to talk to me then.

Tomorrow, the whole center console is being ripped out, and an aftermarket center console is being installed, to the tune of $4,500, which does everything I want plus a back-up camera to augment to Parktronic system, which I like.I have GPS, I-Pod integration,DVD, Sirrius and XM radios, and Traffic reports.

I'm confused why German engineers, which, in my mind, build one of the best cars ever, can't get the electronics figured out. Am I disappointed in the car? Not even a little bit. I drove it on the German Autobahn, after a 1,000 mile break-in, at 135MPH!! My wife was doing crossword puzzles in the passenger seat, and barely looked up. At the same time, I was getting 28MPG. The car here performs exactly as I expected, responsively, holding the curves. I couldn't be more thrilled.

I just wish someone had told me about the electronics integration before I bought it, and could have saved some money.


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Germans have always built great tanks. If you want great electronics too, buy Japanese. They also got the "road handling" down to a fine art. Problem wit the new generation Mercedes is that the engineers haven't designed one since the mid 90's......the accountants have taken over! They produce a so so car. Nothing special anymore....not like it use to be.

 

Daimler-Benz has put in electronics as if they're trying to build an Airbus. The Airbus is plagued with electronic problems. Garbage in and out the other.