Even a $130k S class has blank buttons
 

http://i.imgur.com/gPh7iEd.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hrfASCk.jpg
Even a $130k S class has blank buttons.

So the hypersensitive aesthetes at jalopnik don't want expensive cars to have spaces to add features after purchase? Personally: I'd pay extra for blank buttons. And electronics in DIN mounts.

Are they car people, or are they latte-sipping flower arrangers?

A good dashboard would follow aircraft design principles, where electronics, gauges, etc can be added and removed as needed and replaced with other compatible units.

I'm mostly appalled at the horrible build quality when you get up close and personal with a $130,000 Mercedes dashboard. I've seen Kias with better fit lines. Shiny black plastic screams of cost cutting.

Textured plastic wears smooth from finger pressure and looks like crud after a while. This is typical German design -- engineering over pretense.

I'll note that the W126 never had any switch blanks - the wood trims on the console and doors match the equipment fitted ;)

-J

If that's the kind of thing that bunches up some folks panties . . . then perhaps their sensitivity levels could benefit from some adjustment. :D

That doesn't bother me so much as it appears many of the new models are literal "plastic", inside and out. What ever happened to the idea of a big bodied W126 with classy styling? Women have actually waived me over to tell me what a nice looking ride the 560SEL is.......

Everytime I go to the stealership and look at the new models, I go back to the classics and decide to keep throwing parts and repair orders at 'em.

Same with the 124 and 201. If one model had more switches than another they cut more holes in the wood panel. The cost cutting on this new S class is ridiculous. I guess new S class buyers just don't know any better.
If you're spending $130,000 on a car...

Modern cars are just meh.

I don't like the vast expanse of LCD screens on the new S class. Audi and Jag have better interiors now.


Also they are so expensive to own the thought of keeping one out of warranty is downright scary. Maybe that's why it costs $60k+ to lease one for three years? Their depreciation curve match's the stock markets downward trend in 2008...

Nope. My 201 has a blank. Right where they used to put the antenna switch. I just have the rear defroster and a blank.

And a 124:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/atta...er-console.jpg

Thats not how it left the factory. My 93 190e doesn't have any blanks in the dash. As for the 124...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/atta...m-dscf1014.jpg

Actually that's not a blank - note the little LED in the middle. It shows when the alarm is set. IIRC 1993+ cars have it.

-J

Mine does. Its a 93 too.

Yeah I knew they made a whole bunch of different cut out wood pieces.

Bah! Didn't even see the LED in there.

The older cars probably have no blanks because they were mostly standard in this country with the number of accessory buttons needed so they could just make a couple versions of the wood and be good. Nowadays there's more variance in the options in a given car, so they'd need several, which would just further increase costs and complexity.

Those blanks are to remind you its not the Pullman edition or S65 :) ;)

With that said, I'm willing to bet you'll find some sort of harness behind the dash that would fit the button(s) that are supposed to fit in there. Newer MBs are awesome in that if you REALLY want something like Distronic, linguatronic, or ventilated seats, all you have to do is add the appropriate hardware, then turn on the feature in the given SAM/module.

If I'm spending $130K on a mass made sedan, the blanking covers aren't anywhere near a deal breaker.

I do agree that the older Mercedes sold in the US tended to be ordered by the dealerships "fully loaded" and only a minority had optional equipment wanting, like ortho seating control, heated seats and the like.

Unless you pay for it up front? Sorry but if I'm buying a 130k car I want it to feel like it has everything and hasn't been cookie cuttered out. Above say, 60k, are you really getting that much better quality and performance?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, technically above $60k, you're getting access to twin-turbo V12s, things like granite interior paneling instead of wood, aluminum accents instead of overlayed plastics (like the airvents and seat switches), more exclusive paint/interior/trim packages, and more options... So yeah, I'd say better quality and performance.

Edit: The S65 has carbon ceramic brakes as standard now... Not available on the S550... So yeah, more options. :D

That $60K to $130K is basically the difference between a E and the S. Better quality . . . as far as materials and engineering, just slightly. With regard to design innovations and comfort, the S has always been ahead of the E in those areas. It takes about 2-3 years for design innovations in the S to make it's way to the E and C.

Why would anyone want to live on the bleeding edge vs having someone else debug the innovations?

have we not discussed risk tolerance before?

There's certainly no shortage of folks that will spend on "the latest and greatest" when it comes to cars, planes, phones and other human inventions. Some companies are hesitant to adopt new technologies for mission critical applications, but individuals not so much.

80-90% of new $130k automobiles that first hit the road are leased, not purchased.

Since the majority of them get dumped at (or before) the lease's end probably many of their drivers probably don't care.

Factory and extended warranties help rationalize the choice. (It sure did with my new BMW.)

I find that an interesting claim. Do you have a reference?

careful, Jim is going to Ignore you and say Good Bye . . . ;)

From 2011:

https://cdn2.content.compendiumblog....tration_tl.jpg

Certainly in my area it seems to back up Jim's claim, and it makes for some great CPO deals. My BMW was off-lease when I got it, but no way in hell would I have paid full price for it. I even had second thoughts on the used price given the issues it has had and the terrible dealers I've mingled with in the last year or so. Especially modified, it is an amazing driver's car, but nothing a turbo miata can't deliver minus the class. When it comes to prices like 130k+ I just wonder why someone needs to get their kicks out with a 4 second 0-60 time, when you can get that with a supercharged mustang on the weekends or even just a used M5 (which, btw there was an m5 and a e90 m3 on the last autox course I ran and beat them both because they didn't know how to drive...shows how much that is worth). Granite trim is nice I suppose, if you have a full time driver.

My 190D has a blank switch above the center vents, and like it or not, there is quite a bit of plastic in the W116 300SD, most of the interior chrome trim is chrome over plastic.

Nothing beats our Sprinter for plastic interior as everything is plastic, but that is to be expected, but the plastic is high quality.

X 2


When you can afford to buy new, and actually do buy new, then it's expected.

Minor Hi-jack ... sorry in advance.

For the two folks with 190's, when I had to replace the plastic above the center vent I was able to order one with only the two cut outs (moon roof and Air circulation). It had the cut for the Ant which was not used. So you can order it with at least 2 or 3 cut outs. I would think if that is possible you can order it with 0-3 cut outs.

OK, back to *****ing about blanks again.;)

$60 to 130K
 

'Not even if I won the Lottery (S) !

FOR $60K you could get a nice used W140 Diesel and "OM 606-erize" IT.
In addition to R+R ing everything else on the "M" Schedule Stuttgart
claims it COULD POSSIBLY EVER need !

("M" as in Make It NEW)

__________________________________________________________________

A New Mercedes ?
'Might rent one ...

ONLY!

I don't think one needs to 'win a lottery' to buy a nice near-new S550. They're very attractively priced on the used market. I'm certain that for a couple grand, one can fill-in the blank spaces on an S550's console, without too much trouble. ;)

I think I will use the blank for something after seeing some cool mods like an exhaust switch over from stock to straight pipe on someone's 300D and he also had a "sport" button for boost, now since my 190D is NA, the boost button would be pointless but that engine does sound rather good straight piped (or more so cut off at the front silencer, don't ask why, just know it has a nice burble and makes the car sound 10 times faster than it is).

My other uncles business partner just bought a new SL550 for what about that probably $130k?

NFW, over $50k and I'd rather buy a used Ferrari, something that will hold its value better.

You can get 599GTO's for about $150k and that is a car that won't be worth $30k in 4 years like the S550 will be.

Also because this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPW31AaAGgM
Makes the $5k services worth it.

I'd have to say most of the people buying a new S550 probably have enough money that its not really a "major" investment for them on the grand scheme of their finances.....a client I work with occasionally has one, he trades in every 2-3 years for a new one. Just got his 2014 S550 a few months ago...I am not sure if he leases or buys...probably leases. His 1,000 a month car payment is a pittance compared to his overall income.

Of course you can get a "lot more for your $$" by going used or modding etc...the reason most buy a brand new 130k car is purely as a status symbol in the driveway of their gated community or down at the country club. Most of them probably don't know how to, (or will ever use) most of the features the car even has....

Just 7 different center console trim