Optional Extras You Thought Useless But Cannot Do Without
- Thread starter DSLiverpool
- Start date
Another one I wrote and suggested to Mercedes , must be almost 20 years ago , was illuminated seat belt buckles : this was prompted by my then young daughter complaining that she couldn't find the buckle in the back seat of my W123 one dark night . It also occurred to me that the buckles being illuminated would help people get out easily in the event of a crash after dark - I would envisage them lighting up as soon as the ignition was turned on , and/or for , say , 30 seconds after door closure . On cars which now have the overhead 'seat belt sign' , they could even be tied into this .
I have never actually seen this feature implemented into any car , but MB R&D dept in Stuttgart did send me a nice thank you letter and a leather wallet for my trouble .
I have never actually seen this feature implemented into any car , but MB R&D dept in Stuttgart did send me a nice thank you letter and a leather wallet for my trouble .
tylerdurden
Active Member
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Quite a bit of this stuff is now standard on many models.
How about power boot, rear camera, COMAND.
I don't have it but would have thought distronic is one of those things that once experienced one wouldn't be able to do without
How about power boot, rear camera, COMAND.
I don't have it but would have thought distronic is one of those things that once experienced one wouldn't be able to do without
crockers
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- XC60 MY2014 SeLux Nav plus lot and lots of toys...
Auto locking ..... makes the wife feel safe when she is driving...
Speedtronic -- should be mandatory on all cars.
Miss the lovely ticket holders for parking tickets - found on Volvos and Saabs.
Auto dimming mirrors - brilliant.
Heated seats
Would have loved a heated windscreen (aka Ford, LandRover etc)
Speedtronic -- should be mandatory on all cars.
Miss the lovely ticket holders for parking tickets - found on Volvos and Saabs.
Auto dimming mirrors - brilliant.
Heated seats
Would have loved a heated windscreen (aka Ford, LandRover etc)
Power boot - introduced on the W100 , circa 1963 .
BENINLUX
Active Member
almost as essential as a sunroof for me
Sunroofs aren't standard when I am, and I wasn't too impressed when I saw that it was over a grand as an option. I'm not getting one on my (being built) C63
snoop51
Active Member
Miss the lovely ticket holders for parking tickets - found on Volvos and Saabs.
Auto dimming mirrors - brilliant.
Heated seats
Would have loved a heated windscreen (aka Ford, LandRover etc)
+1
I miss the ticket holder having had Saab's & a Volvo too.
My missus would kill me if I didn't have heated seats fitted. As far as she's concerned they're more important than the engine & wheels.
Don't know how anyone can put up with NON dimming mirrors any more.
Heated windscreen, I believe Ford's patent is finished as of about 2 years ago, so other manufacturers should start to introduce this now. All ex Ford owned manufacturers offer this feature, Jag, Land Rover etc. It's the one thing I miss from my Mondeo.
You should remind them, bulb technology has advanced a lot, this could be easily achieved with a little LED fitted inside the buckle.
+1
Heated windscreen, I believe Ford's patent is finished as of about 2 years ago, so other manufacturers should start to introduce this now. All ex Ford owned manufacturers offer this feature, Jag, Land Rover etc. It's the one thing I miss from my Mondeo.
I agree with heated windscreen, my wife has it on her Focus and always boast's of it when I'm standing in the cold scrapping the ice off of mine while she's sitting in her car waiting for the screen to clear, which she tells me takes 1 min
Aletank
MB Enthusiast
Split/Fold rear seats, My car doesn't have them but would be so much handier if it did.
A very rare option and hard to find on 2nd hand cars.
A very rare option and hard to find on 2nd hand cars.
bluevenetian
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I wouldn't want to have to do without a sunroof, but pretty much everything else I can live without...especialy all this heated seats, steering wheels marklaky and parking sensor... what's all that about??
is panroof a option in Europe would definitely recommend it also keyless go is good.Sunroofs aren't standard when I am, and I wasn't too impressed when I saw that it was over a grand as an option. I'm not getting one on my (being built) C63
welland99
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- W210 E280 estate 1999 facelift; 6th gen honda accord coupe 2000
I agree with heated windscreen, my wife has it on her Focus and always boast's of it when I'm standing in the cold scrapping the ice off of mine while she's sitting in her car waiting for the screen to clear, which she tells me takes 1 min
Oh yes the heated windscreen
. I had one of those a long time ago on a 1987 escort. It was the best bit about the car (I'm not joking)! :bannana:Was this about the time when Ford introduced it?
Glad to hear about Ford's patent expiry. Look forward to seeing them on other marques in the future.
0ptic
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- 2002 C32 AMG, 1999 w202 C200 Esprit
Big fan of LSD, when you've had it there is no going back! Not got it on my car though ;-)
I don't have any optional extras on my car except the 80l vs 70l fuel tank. And at today's fuel prices it's just depressing. (Everything else was standard with it).
The things that came as standard that I didn't care about originally but can't live without.
- auto lights
- auto dimming mirrors
- bi-xenons
The one thing I miss from my previous cars is the lack of a split rear seat to load stuff.
The things that came as standard that I didn't care about originally but can't live without.
- auto lights
- auto dimming mirrors
- bi-xenons
The one thing I miss from my previous cars is the lack of a split rear seat to load stuff.
Going off on a slight tangent - I have never understood why the clever seat belt fastening arrangement found on my SAAB 99 Turbo was never taken up by other manufacturers - and was quietly dropped by SAAB by 1980 or so.
ss201
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- 190E 2.6 Sportline, W203 320 CDi SE Estate
Front arm rest/ My first W201 didn't have one. My second one did. So much better for cruising along. I'd miss having it.
Going off on a slight tangent - I have never understood why the clever seat belt fastening arrangement found on my SAAB 99 Turbo was never taken up by other manufacturers - and was quietly dropped by SAAB by 1980 or so.
"Owners of certain 1970′s Saabs, especially 99s, would be familiar with one of the more unsightly but incredibly practical seat belts in Saab’s history. The seat belt had no buckle on it, the buckle being in the receiver unit bolted in the floor. As you can see in the photo, this made the receiver unit rather large and unattractive. The good part was that you never had to look/feel for the buckle on the belt. Just grab the belt itself, slot it in and close the buckle."
My 1976 Audi 100GL had exactly those belts too - I liked them .
I'd forgotten about them .
Simon_M
MB Enthusiast
Bet the owners enjoy the smooth ride though
Ha Ha, yes they do!!
I was being a bit silly - iPod integration would be my serious suggestion.
JamesCB
Member
AC is pretty essential too on a hot day. Being on the motorway isn't much fun without it.
