Most wonderful options for a new W211

[BfromH]

Hello!

Considering a return to MB after their first go at new E-Class broke my long history of E-Classes back in 2004.


So I'm sitting plotting an order for a new E-Class Estate (Elegance).

It will def have Leather, BiXenons, COMAND, Parktronic, electric chairs, etc

I wonder about

1) Luxury climate control. What is the practical difference really (ok beyond it looks sexier)

2) Lingutronic. Hysterical video on You tube. Any fans? I'd love it to work with the Navigation but including phone prep too it's a big price

3) The electricaly closing tailgate (Very cool but gives up if it finds resistance which is somewhat at odds with how I normaly pack/close the tailgate going on hols (squash, bump bump bump - click)

4) Any other thoughts


I would say that I visited a main dealer yesterday to try and make a few of these decisions but clearly couldn't really test aircon in November, thought the tailgate closing cool on an empty boot . . . and
interestingly they had no Linguatronic E-Class to show me.

Just giving a little back:
Having been totally confused by forum discussions on COMAND versions I went equipt with 2 home-burned test CD-R's and can confirm the current COMAND has TMC and plays mp3 tracks burnt to EITHER the mp3disk (Files, folders, imbedded playlists etc) format and to the data disk formats (Files, folders), reading files at least 2 folder levels down and showing the track information on the comand screen. For any other mp3 fans the files had both ID3 v1 and 2 information and bit rates up to to 320. The quality was excellent ! Track seek was a little slow at c 1-2 seconds to shift, but that's no worse than currrent generation mp3 playing mobile phones like the Samsung D900i

Again contrary to posting elsewhere although the Album art was not displayed anywhere it being in all the mp3 files caused no problem.
I intentionally went for a middle of the road CDR blank as well (imation) and that caused no loading or reading problems and the marker pen was not scrubbed after 4 trips in and out for each disk.

The sound via the Harmon Kardon system was stunning, couldn't try a 'plain' car.

 

[DieselE]

If you're going for both full leather and bi-xenons it might be worth looking at going for Avantgarde. If you opt for Comfort suspension (no cost option) you'll get the same ride as with Elegance. Reason for the suggestion is that Avantgarde with full leather is cheaper than adding both bi-xenon and full leather to the Elegance option.

Luxury Climate Control gives individual control to both back seat occupants as well as the two front seat occupants and also additional face level vents for the rear seat. The control system monitors temperature in all four zones so gives better response to sun effects. I've got this option on my car and think it's great. That's not to say that other forum members might think it's not worth the money.

 

[glojo]

If you have a read of the options fitted to our 211 I think I can answer most of your queries.

Having read your list I would strongly recommend the electric tailgate. It should be a standard fitting and everyone that does not have it and then tries one with this option always regrets not ordering it.

Linguatronic
When we ordered our vehicle the sales person assured me that Linguatronic was not available for the estate and it has always annoyed me that we never got this option. I have seen the very funny footage of Clarkson playing with this option in the S-class, but I would recommend you watch this same person playing with it in his own SL55AMG! I am also told that the 211 Linguatronic accepts the full post-code but have no knowledge of whether this is fact.

Luxury Climate Control
We have it but is it a must have?

Will you keep the car in a garage? I ask this because I never saw the electric door opening in your list.

When playing with an E-class Avantgrarde my wife complained about the 'sportier' suspension and did not like either the noise, or feeling ever matchstick we run over, plus she was unsure about the white dials. However after a couple of days she was convinced that she preferred the looks of the Avantgarde compared to the Elegance, but no way did she like its suspension. So when ordering our vehicle we opted for the no cost comfort suspension. I did consider airmatic but thought it a waste as we would never make use of it.

I see that you have specified bi-xenon's which is a great idea and in all honesty it negates wanting the active headlights as the xenon's are more than adequate at turning night into day.

The boss also likes the sliding floor that is another option we elected to have, it really helps when putting things into and out of the car.

If you have any queries then please feel free to contact me.

Good luck with the decisions
Regards
John

 

[Dryce]

4) Any other thoughts

With regard to the comments on suspension I'd suggest you try and test drive both the Elegance and AG.

I'd concur the AG suspension brings some disadvantages in terms of ride refinement but it's still not that hard a ride and it gives the E tremendous poise on 'real' roads.

 

[Diesel Benz]

With regard to the comments on suspension I'd suggest you try and test drive both the Elegance and AG.

I'd concur the AG suspension brings some disadvantages in terms of ride refinement but it's still not that hard a ride and it gives the E tremendous poise on 'real' roads.

I would go for Airmatic where you can select basically between Sports and Comfort, plus high ride.

 

[Diesel Benz]

1) Luxury climate control. What is the practical difference really (ok beyond it looks sexier)

This must be the 4-zone option? The main advantage I see from this option is that it has air nozzles for the rear windows (like a basic Volvo has had, or my W221 with the standard AC). I don't think it makes a big difference in UK but if you would drive with 2 or three persons at the rear and at cold weather, it helps keeping the rear windows open. The B-pillars on MBs are so big that they tend to block air flow from the front to the rear windows.

 

[jeremytaylor]

How about phone pre-wire? If not for you, then for future residuals.

 

[BfromH]

Thanks everyone for your input (more still welcome)

Jeremytaylor
Phone wiring comes compulsorily if I go for Linguatronic, dubious on its own as separate Parrot kits not integrated but run rings around MB bluetooth on features and have their own voice commands etc
. I'm therefore regarding view on Linguatronic as vital

Dryce DieselE and dieselBenz
I drove the Avantgarde with Airmatic. Other half not pleased with pedals ride or black maplewood. Shame as financially it makes sense but wood seems a show stopper. Given the task of getting the bill past the 'finance director' anyway I think it may have to be Elegance

Glojo
Thanks for a great reply. No garage opener because never use garage and no electric opener anyway. Toss up for £185 as i think it would never be used. Regarding the electric tailgate I loved playing with it but does nayone know what it's behaviour is when the back's full of cases and duvets and you want to see if the door will shot with a bit of squeezing?

I think I'm sold on the Luxury Aircon, Borrowed a volvo with rear vents a while back and the back seat loved it.

Final probably highly provocative question. Flint Grey. I think it looks great, so why are 99% of E-classes the same Iridium Silver . . (If this starts a riot forget I said it

Thanks all!

 

[crockers]

When I visited Stuttgart they said that 28% of all Mercs were silver...That was in 1998....I expect that it is now a close call between silver and black..

 

[glojo]

but does nayone know what it's behaviour is when the back's full of cases and duvets and you want to see if the door will shot with a bit of squeezing?

No different from n 'ordinary' tailgate. If it closes against the boxes or whatever, it will stop. You can then put your size 12 boot against it and try to finish the job

On a serious note, I think you would really regret not getting this option and it is something that should definetly be fitted as standard. As a point of interest you cannot close the tailgate via the remote. You must press the button in the tailgate.

I hate silver or black as they are so common, but each to their own and get the colour YOU like and if that is silver then so be it.

Regards
John

 

[DieselE]

Dryce DieselE and dieselBenz
I drove the Avantgarde with Airmatic. Other half not pleased with pedals ride or black maplewood. Shame as financially it makes sense but wood seems a show stopper. Given the task of getting the bill past the 'finance director' anyway I think it may have to be Elegance

Whilst the wood colour is a matter of choice, I'm intrigued when you say that your other half didn't like the pedals or the ride. The pedals are the same on all the models (obviously differing between automatic and manual) so that might mean that your other half doesn't like driving the W211 at all. This probably means you can avoid spending on the memory seat option.

Before my next comment, I should admit to being a total lover of Airmatic. In its "Comfort" mode it mimics the ride of the Elegance together with the ride height of that car. In sport 1 it lowers the ride height by 15mm and mimics the Avantgarde ride. Sport 2 is a stiffer ride again.

I see that John (Glojo) says that the didn't specify Airmatic as he wouldn't use it. The S Class, the E500 and the E63 all come with Airmatic as standard (though I think the S Class version is different from that in the W211), so you're buying what MB considers the right suspension for its finest cars. Apart from a brief period of experimentation, I've left mine in Comfort so could I say I don't use it? Well I regularly cruise at over 50mph so I take advantage of the automatic lowering of the suspension by 15mm to improve the aerodynamics. When I corner on country roads, I take advantage of the stiffening of the suspension to reduce roll. Lots of people who don't have Airmatic fitted cars will tell you it's a waste of money. I've yet to meet or read about anyone who has one who regrets specifying it.

 

[glojo]

When I corner on country roads, I take advantage of the stiffening of the suspension to reduce roll. Lots of people who don't have Airmatic fitted cars will tell you it's a waste of money. I've yet to meet or read about anyone who has one who regrets specifying it.

With the greatest of respect anyone driving an E-class 211 with the suspension in good condition should not experience wallowing, rolling or instability when negotiating country roads in the UK. I don't disbelief you, but I cannot begin to imagine the speeds you are acheiving when negotiating bends that would be capable of making a 211 roll (as in the text we are discussing) I also accept that older cars do have a soft suspension that might need stiffening, but we are talking specifics; the 211.

In my experience country roads are poorly maintained, uneven and full of pot-holes. Very recently we test drove a GL 420CDI, after driving a couple of hundred yards along a country road my wife commented on how awful the suspension was. We not only felt every bump, we could also HEAR them. A quick check of the dash showed a button which I guessed was airmatic, and sure enough, it was and what a difference. The quietness was deafening and the ride so much more comfortable, why buy an executive car and then have to listen to every movement of the suspension (road bumps, sticks and stones). We will never race around the Top Gear race track or drive our car in a similar manner on a public road so have no requirement for the very firm sports suspension. I do take onboard your point about lowering the car by 15mm, but with only one motorway in our county which is also located in just the far eastern tip, we would never use that option, plus some of this motorway is the old concrete surface which would magnify all the bad features of the sports option. I am not saying airmatic or sports suspension is useless, far from it, if folks like the firm ride and all the other benefits then go for it, but don't forget the estate has self levelling suspension as a standard fitting.

My advice.
TRY BOTH the Elegance and Avantgarde if your unsure then go for airmatic. Just like everyone that enjoys speccing up a new car, I gave this option a lot of thought, but it is something we would never use.

My advice
Electric tail-gate. If you search the forum on this topic you will find posts of owners regretting not getting this option and I don't want you to buy a brilliant car and regret not ordering this needed facility.

Incidentally our car was the first in the West Country to have the sliding floor and I doubt if many cars have this very nice option but it is not something I would push for unless you really need it. We do and it's great, I weigh eighteen stone and it easily supports my weight (German engineering at its finest)


Regards
John

 

[DieselE]

Hi John. What I was trying to get over albeit badly was that Airmatic is a complete suspension system not just a means of altering the suspension stiffness.

I didn't mention the self levelling because the benefits for an estate car are not that great because, as you said, it is fitted to the standard suspension anyway. On my drive, the change of gradient between drive and pavement is quite severe and I had several instances of fully loaded cars grounding. Having checked the undercar clearance during the test drive I decided I had to have Airmatic for the self levelling alone.

I also forgot to mention the ability to raise the ride height by 25mm which is useful for negotiating rough ground or light flooding.

If I'm honest, I have no idea how a W211 with steel suspension feels when negotiating curves on country roads so I don't acually know if one would roll more.

 

[hawk20]

Personally I would go for Elegance as the walnut and leather look spells pure luxury to me and the dials are much nicer than the rather naff silvery ones on the Avantgarde IMO.

Also the Elegance ride is vastly better on the UK's under maintained road system -especially round here- than the 'sports style' ride on the avantgarde (for sport read harsh and bumpy!).

But the ultimate ride is, of course, the airmatic suspension which contributes hugely to the magic carpet ride on the S class that gets it chosen as best saloon in the world by so many motoring mags. It really is worth trying as it irons out ridges, ripples, bumps and potholes in a most exemplary manner. Nothing comes close IMO. You can switch between 'comfort' and 'sport' but even performance obsessed motoring journalists mainly agree just leave it in comfort as roll is minimal.

 

[MBManInKen]

Here are some thoughts from an s-class owner, if that is permitted in this e-class discussion .

Linguatronic: I love it, it's great to be able to change to a different track or radio station while driving. Yes, you can use the steering wheel controls, but that requires more interaction, looking for the right button, etc. With linguatronic, you just say "next track" or "cd 5" etc. I'm very pleased with my linguatronic option and use it all of the time. Despite being a bloody foreigner, it doesn't mind my accent either .

Airmatic:comes standard with my s-class and is definitely an improvement in terms of smoothness and comfort over a more traditional suspension. I'd go for it.

Climate control: the s-class comes with climate control as standard and a full climate control is just a lot better than simple semi-automatic aircon. I have the option of separate rear seat aircon, which comes with separate controls in the back for airflow and temperature. Probably a bit of a gadget though if you don't drive with passengers in the rear continuously.

Self-closing doors: had them on the last two cars, definitely a great feature, irrespective of an electrically operated tailgate. Not sure if they are available on an e-class, although I would think they probably are.

I'd suggest you might also want to get Parktronic - great option.

I find the Bose sound system a lot better than the standard audio, again had it on the last two cars and very satisfied with it.

I have had memory seats on the last two cars and they are excellent as well. Most of us take a while to find their ideal seating position and with memory you don't need to go through finding that position again everytime you get your car valeted or services or when different drivers use the same car.

Oh, and I don't know if distronic is available for the e-class, but it's an option I do not have and regret not getting. My next car will have it.

 

[MBManInKen]

the walnut and leather look spells pure luxury to me and the dials are much nicer than the rather naff silvery ones on the Avantgarde IMO.

I would strongly agree with that, leather and wood just exude class and elegance.

All the carbon fibre and aluminium in modern cars looks a bit too Barry for me .

 

[RichardM]

Personally I would go for Elegance as the walnut and leather look spells pure luxury to me and the dials are much nicer than the rather naff silvery ones on the Avantgarde IMO.

Also the Elegance ride is vastly better on the UK's under maintained road system -especially round here- than the 'sports style' ride on the avantgarde (for sport read harsh and bumpy!).

That's interesting as I've never really understood why people went for the elegance over the avantgarde. To me the nicer alloys, beautiful dark work and those dials in the avantgarde really make the car, and the standard bi-xenons are worth the extra alone. I never found the ride anything less than perfect and although lower than standard it is not the same as the sports suspension option (486) which is harder.

 

[RichardM]

I would strongly agree with that, leather and wood just exude class and elegance.

All the carbon fibre and aluminium in modern cars looks a bit too Barry for me .

The avantgarde has Bird’s eye maple wood trim which is dark grey, it doesn't have any carbon fibre or aluminium.

 

[television]

As MBManInKen get distronic if it on the list, its very good.

 

[stevesey]

Self-closing doors: had them on the last two cars, definitely a great feature, irrespective of an electrically operated tailgate. Not sure if they are available on an e-class, although I would think they probably are.

A friend had a nasty, thumbnail losing, experience with those on his S-Class. Mind you my father did similar when grabbing his seat belt with his left hand and closing the door with his right.