My new R Class :)

[joeysnowey]

I was thinking of Scotchguard but someone said its not leather so maybe won't work

 

[joeysnowey]

yes i have used BT FM transmitters before, cheap and cheerful, might try that, i am skint! thanks

 

[Mark F6233]

Get ready to spend the best part of £1000 minimum!
Hence why I am considering a Parrot MKi9200 - look them up on Youtube. I have used them before and amazing bits of kit and a fraction of the cost of custom Merc systems which are often not as effective in use!

I don't think the bit I need was that expensive it already has the command system and is pre wired for a phone just needs the adaptor to connect, I believe there is a Bluetooth adaptor option looking at their website.

 

[joeysnowey]

Ah, I have comand but not the phone preparation (don't think anyway!)
All i have is (I think!) a 3.5mm jack in glovebox. I think there is a nice bluetooth device you can use for those 3.5mm jacks, it sits plugged into it in glovebox then connects to the phone via bluetooth. Only trouble is I don't know if my iphone 5 can connect to two bluetooth devices at once, as i want it connected to head unit for phone calls as that works lovely, just want the audio to play from it as i listen to lots of audiobooks on long drives
this kind of thing - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KON1JIA/?tag=amazon0e9db-21

 

[MD5]

Yes, a pic or two would be nice to see.

All you chaps with an R Class - one question - does the middle row of seats fold flat to give a long and flat load area? Thinking about an R Class in the New Year and available cargo space is a big concern.

Yep, they make a massive estate car. Mine is the 6 seater, which has a big storage armrest between the middle two seats, others would have a small third seat in the middle row, which I think are configured as two and one, rather than three separate seats. The storage armrest removes completely in mine, which you need to do for a flat floor, and there is space under the middle two seats, when folded, for shallow items such as laptop bags etc, as well as the space between the two middle seats with the storage armrest out of the way.

@joeysnowey It looks fab, Joey. They really look the business in black, and I'm slowly getting hooked on the looks of the R class.

 

[joeysnowey]

Thanks Mike. Wow yours is a gorgeous spec! I need the 7 seats otherwise a 6 seater would have been my choice too. I also prefer silver, all my cars have been silver but I couldn't be fussy with this one at the price I got it for.
Get that blue plastic protection tape off your rear end and let that bugger shine (and get scratched!)
Tell me something...... where did your rear DVD screens go?! One picture has them one doesn't?!

I have a feeling the older R class 7 seaters were 2/1 rear seat setup, but mine is 09 and its 3 separate seats, well not separate but each can fold down, also you can get into the boot seats from either side whereas I think the older ones you could only get in from passenger side.

 

[MD5]

Joey, the first picture is my car, the second from the Internet, but in the same colour scheme. Mine doesn't have the rear entertainment, and whilst it looks silver all day long, it's actually lasurite blue!

I've seen pics of middle seats configured as 2 plus 1, with the double seat sharing the same base. I've also seen 6 seat configuration with the middle row seats having armrests with no middle storage compartment, so several options were available.

 

[GordonTarling]

MD5 - Thanks for that and the pics. Looks like I'd be better to look for a 6 seater if I can, but I'll see what's available when I start looking. Is yours the 'L' version?

 

[joeysnowey]

Ah that explains why the second picture looked so clean i wondered if you had ever driven it
Yes I see the blue in it now, nice colour that. I actually looked at one in that colour but it was a SWB so I didn't go for it.

Gordon - As far as I know there is a Sport or SE version as the main choice for spec. Personally I actually would've preferred the SE as the wheels are smaller, hence larger profile tyres, and softer ride which I suspect will make the air suspension last a lot longer. I am not a fan of low profile racing car tyres after years of trying them! But thats just me, I am sure most people would prefer the Sport version with these huge 19" wheels, at least until they come to buy new tyres anyway!
6 seaters are much easier to find a good one, the 7s are hard in my view. For every 10-20 nice 6 seaters, I found maybe 1-2 7 seaters in LWB version. LWB 6 seat and SWB 6 seats - plenty of those around (well, not exactly like Mondeos, but compared to 7 seaters!) so you should be able to find a good one with only a month or two of hunting around. I just scoured eBay and auto trader daily for any new cars coming up.
Good luck if you go ahead with the idea. I am sure you won't regret it, I am dying to find a reason to get back in mine having only driven it a few times! It is the type of car which would look perfectly placed driving up Downing Street behind the newscasters on news at ten! Quality, luxury, speed and class.

 

[MD5]

MD5 - Thanks for that and the pics. Looks like I'd be better to look for a 6 seater if I can, but I'll see what's available when I start looking. Is yours the 'L' version?

Mine's the R320L Sport Edition, with either 19" or 20" AMG wheels (I'll have to look - a previous owner went mad with AMG this that and the other on it, inc exhaust and stickers on the aluminium interior trim! CBA to remove it all, tbh, as the boot badge will leave the same mark that the removed CDI badge has left - only visible in the right light).

 

[joeysnowey]

That's surely a Prada steering wheel?!

 

[MD5]

Mine's the R320L Sport Edition, with either 19" or 20" AMG wheels (I'll have to look - a previous owner went mad with AMG this that and the other on it, inc exhaust and stickers on the aluminium interior trim! CBA to remove it all, tbh, as the boot badge will leave the same mark that the removed CDI badge has left - only visible in the right light).

View attachment 73735View attachment 73736

Ha ha! I've become quite fond of it now! Spot the AMG badge inserted into the steering wheel spoke?

Today is the final pay day for my R, as my work away ends today, and all my equipment and luggage will be loaded when we head off to the inlaws later.

Sorry for hijacking your thread, Joey, and I hope you all have a great Christmas.

 

[joeysnowey]

Hijack away old chap!! I was beginning to get Stockholm Syndrome

I am going to have to say this.... please don't tell me you're so gay about your car that you choose the grease you buy based on the colour? Bwaa ahah ahaaa haaaaaa

I wouldn't mind the steering wheel though!

 

[joeysnowey]

Does anyone else's R Class make a HISS sound from the suspension bags just after you switch the engine off and get out of the car? I hear it every time.

Also, The AUX IN socket in the glovebox - what a waste of time! I just used mine, and it works, but the volume doesn't go beyond about 25% of normal stereo volume, so that's no use to man or beast! Anyone else found the same?

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Try turning the volume up on the device?

I do that on most of my cars when playing iPod etc.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Does anyone else's R Class make a HISS sound from the suspension bags just after you switch the engine off and get out of the car? I hear it every time.

Also, The AUX IN socket in the glovebox - what a waste of time! I just used mine, and it works, but the volume doesn't go beyond about 25% of normal stereo volume, so that's no use to man or beast! Anyone else found the same?

Yes, the hiss is normal, it's depressurising the system, you'll see the car lower slightly too.

Turn up the volume on you're iPhone. You're phone thinks you're listening through ea phones as you're connecting through the jack socket, and will cap volume at 80% to protect your ears - turning up the volume overrides the cap, until the next time you disconnect/reconnect.

 

[TheFoX]

I do like the 'R' Class. I believe the replacement, size wise, is the new GLE class, as Merc is rationalising their class usage.

I was looking at one a few years back as a competitor for the M Class, which has also been superceded by the GLC class.

Nice motor mate. Does look the business in black.

Similar in size to the Vaneo as well.

 

[GordonTarling]

Joey - Thanks for your thoughts. I think I'd prefer a 6 seater, but most that I've found online so far are 7 seaters! How perverse is that?! I get you on the wheels and would prefer 18" wheels, but I feel 20" is a step too far, even though they can look better. I'll go take a look at one or two in the new year and decide from there.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I do like the 'R' Class. I believe the replacement, size wise, is the new GLE class, as Merc is rationalising their class usage.

I was looking at one a few years back as a competitor for the M Class, which has also been superceded by the GLC class.

Nice motor mate. Does look the business in black.

Similar in size to the Vaneo as well.

GLE is the ML (renamed)
GLC is the replacement for the GLK (new model)
In terms of size, GLE is a class above GLC.

 

[joeysnowey]

hahaha, I thought the "try turning the volume up" was a joke at first, but apparently not! Yes, when having trouble with sound levels, I tend to try the volume as a first course of action
Volume was up full. Still very low in the car. It's audible, at low speeds, but definitely nowhere near as loud as the rest of the stereo. I am gonna go for one of those bluetooth Amazon cig lighter jobbies, cheap and cheerful but hopefully will be good, especially as the radio reception is so nice in the car.

"the hiss is normal, it's depressurising the system" - THANKS! That's a relief.

"Nice motor mate. Does look the business in black." - Thanks, yes it does when it's CLEAN! I suspect it will need washing 4-5 times as often as my old silver E Class. Silver never looks dirty, hence it's always my first choice (or silvery something, metallic anyway), but I can't knock it as it was the only affordable decent one I could find. Will get the kids on a rota with the washing brush!

"I think I'd prefer a 6 seater, but most that I've found online so far are 7 seaters! How perverse is that?!" - HA HA, that is VERY weird! 3-6 months I have been looking. I did come across 7 seaters but nowhere near as many. It was almost a weekly ritual.... go to auto trader, open 20-30 cars in new tabs in browser, go through them clicking on pics (as the ad data is nearly always WRONG, watch out for that before you view one!) so the photos were the reliable way to tell if 6 or 7 seats. I would end up with 2-4 browsers open with real 7 seaters, and those were always overpriced! Good luck mate, well worth finding a good one. And not sure where you are, but get a Merc Indie near you to inspect a car you are serious about buying, SO many electrics and ECUs etc, worth it even just to plug in and get a proper report from inside, the bits you can't see!