EQE SUV questions.

[snerkler]

I'm looking at buying an EV for their tax benefits, I have to admit the BMW iX was top of the list but I found the seats uncomfortable, likewise the Audi SQ6, however today I took the EQE SUV out for a test drive and overall I was really impressed and am seriously considering one, however before I pull the trigger I have a few questions.

Firstly, the air suspension was even more floaty than my current BMW X5 and I'm embarrassed to say it made me feel ever so slightly car sick even though I was driving. Has anyone else experienced this and do you get over it?

The HUD was very basic and only showed the car's speed, whereas in the iX is showed your speed, the speed limit, the upcoming speed limit, directions from the sat nav and also how economically you were driving. In the X5 it also shows what the traffic lights are showing, which I think was pretty cool Can the EQE be configured so the HUD shows more details such as those in the iX?

The car I drove was the 350 and whilst the initial acceleration is rapid it soon runs out of steam, and also acceleration from going from something like 40-70mph wasn't great, is the 500 noticeably better in this regard.

I'm used to Harman Kardon Stereos in BMW's, I know this is subjective but how does the Burmeister compare?

And lastly, the inevitable what real world range are people getting from the 500? I know this depends on weather, if you've got air-con on etc etc, but is 300 miles acheiveable without driving like Miss Daisy?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

The only way to judge whether a car works for you is to drive a few. Contact a few dealers and drive a few and judge how it works for you. You'll have it for a few years, why not spend a few hours driving it to make sure it's the right choice?

Real world range? Reckon on 85% of quoted range and you'll be in the zone. It's the universal advice from anyone who's driven a lot of EV's

But just plug the thing in at home, and top up on the road on the few occasions that you're far away from home.

The only people who agonise about range are people who haven't bought an EV yet.

 

[snerkler]

The only way to judge whether a car works for you is to drive a few. Contact a few dealers and drive a few and judge how it works for you. You'll have it for a few years, why not spend a few hours driving it to make sure it's the right choice?

Real world range? Reckon on 85% of quoted range and you'll be in the zone. It's the universal advice from anyone who's driven a lot of EV's

But just plug the thing in at home, and top up on the road on the few occasions that you're far away from home.

The only people who agonise about range are people who haven't bought an EV yet.

Thanks much appreciated. I do plan on driving another, the only issue is that no dealers near me appear to have the 500 version. I'll continue to look though.

Are there any common reliability issues I need to be aware of? I can't say I've seen any in the reviews etc but obviously that's not real world day to day,

The only thing I didn't like on my test drive was the brake pedal, seemed vague and at times I wasn't sure it was going to work but I guess you get used to it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks much appreciated. I do plan on driving another, the only issue is that no dealers near me appear to have the 500 version. I'll continue to look though.

Are there any common reliability issues I need to be aware of? I can't say I've seen any in the reviews etc but obviously that's not real world day to day,

The only thing I didn't like on my test drive was the brake pedal, seemed vague and at times I wasn't sure it was going to work but I guess you get used to it.

There aren’t many EQE SUVs in the UK so I’m not surprised that you are finding it difficult to test drive specific version, and I can’t think of a member of MBClub who has one either.

Generally speaking, braking in an EV feels different on the pedal because most of the braking is regenerative, is the brake pads aren’t touching the disks, then in a hard stop the brakes kick in.

I personally prefer to set regenerative braking to the maximum available and drive on the accelerator, meaning that I hardly ever touch the brakes - more relaxing and improves range.

It takes no time at all to adjust your driving style to suit, and once you do it becomes second nature.

 

[snerkler]

There aren’t many EQE SUVs in the UK so I’m not surprised that you are finding it difficult to test drive specific version, and I can’t think of a member of MBClub who has one either.

Generally speaking, braking in an EV feels different on the pedal because most of the braking is regenerative, is the brake pads aren’t touching the disks, then in a hard stop the brakes kick in.

I personally prefer to set regenerative braking to the maximum available and drive on the accelerator, meaning that I hardly ever touch the brakes - more relaxing and improves range.

It takes no time at all to adjust your driving style to suit, and once you do it becomes second nature.

Ahh, I didn't realise that about the number of cars. I have driven a few EVs now, and I have played about with the different regenerative settings, but it's not this that I'm referrring to. There were times when I was approaching a t-junction and I pressed the brake pedal and it almost felt as though nothing was happening, and then when I pressed pretty hard (in a slight 'panic') it did of course come to a stop. I've not experienced this with other EVs, there's always been feel/feedback. As I said, I'd likely get used to it and it would begin to feel normal.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Ahh, I didn't realise that about the number of cars. I have driven a few EVs now, and I have played about with the different regenerative settings, but it's not this that I'm referrring to. There were times when I was approaching a t-junction and I pressed the brake pedal and it almost felt as though nothing was happening, and then when I pressed pretty hard (in a slight 'panic') it did of course come to a stop. I've not experienced this with other EVs, there's always been feel/feedback. As I said, I'd likely get used to it and it would begin to feel normal.

Generally the switch between regen and braking requires brake-by-wire which can feel unnatural or awkward, and can result in braking force not correlating linearly with pedal movement/force. That can feel strange to ICE drivers used to hydraulic brakes.

Based on what you’ve said I would say it’s definitely worth driving another EQE to see whether it’s common to them all or a fault.

 

[tode]

Hi Snerkier,
Before buying, you can have a read of the owner's manual to get an idea of how things work:
link: EQE OWNERS MANUAL
You'll find info on the HUD on page 518

 

[BlackC55]

We have one and the ride is certainly odd. you get used to it but its a strange feeling at first.

 

[snerkler]

Generally the switch between regen and braking requires brake-by-wire which can feel unnatural or awkward, and can result in braking force not correlating linearly with pedal movement/force. That can feel strange to ICE drivers used to hydraulic brakes.

Based on what you’ve said I would say it’s definitely worth driving another EQE to see whether it’s common to them all or a fault.

Thanks, as I said the EQE is certainly more vague than other EV's I've driven.

Hi Snerkier,
Before buying, you can have a read of the owner's manual to get an idea of how things work:
link: EQE OWNERS MANUAL
You'll find info on the HUD on page 518

Thanks for this, I'm sure it'll make for a good read. I did actually find a good youtube video yesterday showing the HUD, nice to see that it can be customised and I particularly liked the augmented reality bits

We have one and the ride is certainly odd. you get used to it but its a strange feeling at first.

That's good to know. I did also wonder if the rear wheel steering is partly to 'blame'

 

[Steveml63]

Hi,
We have a BMWiX and at first, I hated the seats.
The seat side bolsters are electrically operated on ours - and once I moved the bolsters inwards so that the seats “hugged” me and I slightly adjusted the lumbar support - I find the seats very comfortable now!
We test drove the Audi, Mercedes & the BMW before setting on the iX.
No regrets after 50,000km
Cheers
Steve

 

[snerkler]

Hi,
We have a BMWiX and at first, I hated the seats.
The seat side bolsters are electrically operated on ours - and once I moved the bolsters inwards so that the seats “hugged” me and I slightly adjusted the lumbar support - I find the seats very comfortable now!
We test drove the Audi, Mercedes & the BMW before setting on the iX.
No regrets after 50,000km
Cheers
Steve

It's the base of the seat that's uncomfortable for me. I can't work out why as it's pretty flat with no pronounced bolster

 

[snerkler]

One thing I forgot to ask is how easy it is to remove the running boards on the EQE SUV? I'm tall so they are of no use to me, and in fact make getting in and out of the car more awkward.

 

[tode]

I was looking at buying an EQE (over here in France) and the SUV was available with or without the running board. I have no idea, however, if they're easy to remove. I would imagine that you would have to change the part on each side . . .

 

[snerkler]

I was looking at buying an EQE (over here in France) and the SUV was available with or without the running board. I have no idea, however, if they're easy to remove. I would imagine that you would have to change the part on each side . . .

Thanks. Some model variations have them and some don't, however Mercedes don't let you pick and choose for some reason. So for example, you can't have the Premium Night Edition but choose the wheels that are on the Premium Plus Night Edition. There's VERY little scope in personalising the vehicle. You get to choose the colour, and whether you want the luxury interior pack and that's pretty much it in the UK

I'm having to look at the Premium Plus Night Edition as it's the only version that has the comfort seats and the nicer (IMO) wheels which makes the build price eye watering. In an ideal world I'd have the AMG line but with comfort seats and the wheel that come with the prem + but I can't. It's the first manufacturer I've come across that do this tbh.

 

[markjay]

One thing I forgot to ask is how easy it is to remove the running boards on the EQE SUV? I'm tall so they are of no use to me, and in fact make getting in and out of the car more awkward.

You mention tax benefits - I take it you're planning on getting a new car a via business lease? If so, then at the end of the lease period you'll need to hand back the car exactly as you got it. If removing anything, make sure that it can easily be fitted back to the car with no sign that it was ever removed from the vehicle in the first place.

 

[snerkler]

You mention tax benefits - I take it you're planning on getting a new car a via business lease? If so, then at the end of the lease period you'll need to hand back the car exactly as you got it. If removing anything, make sure that it can easily be fitted back to the car with no sign that it was ever removed from the vehicle in the first place.

Thanks, yeah I know

 

[snerkler]

So I might not be ordering an EQE anyway. I've just been speaking to the dealership and they've advised me that they have an offer on at the moment (0%) and if that is removed before I take delivery of the car then the quote would change to reflect that. I queried asking that if I order a car now and the price changes before delivery my quote would change accordingly and they said yes.

Surely if you sign a contract it's binding and they can't change the price down the line???????

 

[ALFAitalia]

Yep.....we would not be allowed to do that. Contract is from point of signing. Finance props last 3 months from proposal regardless if rate changes after signing.

 

[snerkler]

Yep.....we would not be allowed to do that. Contract is from point of signing. Finance props last 3 months from proposal regardless if rate changes after signing.

Build times are currently over 3 months so I guess if the proposal only lasts 3 months that'd be their get out?

 

[markjay]

So I might not be ordering an EQE anyway. I've just been speaking to the dealership and they've advised me that they have an offer on at the moment (0%) and if that is removed before I take delivery of the car then the quote would change to reflect that. I queried asking that if I order a car now and the price changes before delivery my quote would change accordingly and they said yes.

Surely if you sign a contract it's binding and they can't change the price down the line???????

Very frustrating, but as far as I know, this is how it is with business leases, across all marques.

We've leased a few cars and we were always told that the price might go up (or options removed!), but if the price or terms changed then they'll notify us and we can cancel the deal.

I'm not sure about private purchases or hire, though. The thing is that a business lease is a B2B transcription and not covered by the Consumer Rights Act.