The demo ML I drove today did not have a sliding cargo cover, but every single page of the Accessories page that has a picture of the trunk, showed the cargo cover as being there.
The dealer said it was standard in last year's model, but may not be this year. I couldn't find it in any of the catalogs/online that I looked.
For your owners out there, do you have a sliding cargo cover? [?]
Believe it comes with one of the packages. Do not remember which one but it will be on my ML500 due in aug. It was std with the W163 as was Teleaid which now is only std in the ML500 and/or a package
According to the catalog, it is part of the Comfort Package. "retractable/removable veritcal partition net AND horizontal luggage cover". Hope this helps.
GregW was kind enough to send me the link for the owner's manual and it is indeed an accessory. It's referred to as the Cargo Compartment Cover and the dealer mumbled something about $280 for it. Between that and the $300 [:0] for the Ipod connector, I might as well forget the wood steering wheel.
Too bad they don't have a Bluetooth phone connector like the Prius and the Jaguar. I guess I'll have to wait for after market.
It does not look that this Sliding Cargo Cover is available in Canada despite the fact that it is exhibited in almost all demo cars which were part of the Launch Package. Neither the Canadian E-Brochure nor the Self Build Configuration refer to this option. I wish some wise guy from MB Canada volunteers to explain why they left it out. The pathetic part is that my dealer assured me earlier that my ordered ML-500 will come equipped with this cover which he thought was referred too as "Cargo Net" in the ML-500 Standard Equipment. He has never seen a Cargo Net yet in the ML but only the Sliding Cover. My guess the net will be like the simple cargo net in the trunk of my E320 which is fastened to four corners. MB Canada should have warned all their Salesman long ago that the Cargo Cover is not available in Canada and that what is shown on most demo cars was done for the Start Up Production Run for USA configuration only. This kind of bad behavior by MB Canada can be considered as misrepresentation. The dealer was kind enough to admit his mistake for the gross mixup between Cargo Cover and Cargo Net. Let's hope it is the only mixup.
Thanks for the information. I'll make sure to press my dealer for an answer before the car arrives. Without the cover, the trunk is almost useless, since it allows passers by to see what's inside. I certainly don't want any of my hardware (I'm in IT) wandering from the car while I'm on a job.
What type of German engineer would design a car with the molds and hooks for the cover, yet not provide you with it, even at a cost? [:(!]
dimitris: I do not blame the engineers, they came with a good design. In my case the blame is on MB-Canada Marketing who replaced the Sliding Cover with a Nylon Net in order to save few bucks, as if they were selling a cheap car. Ethically MB-Canada should have shown the Net to the dealers or sent them a sample for presenting to Customers. Instead, they let them seduce the prospective buyers with the Sliding Cover then whoops, sorry it is not available.
At least we know now that what you see on the 06 ML is not always what you get.
Just received an interesting phone call from my dealer. He has confirmation from MB-Canada that the Sliding Door Cover will part of the Standard Equipment on the Canadian ML-500 together with the Cargo Net. The Canadian Brochure and ML-500 Configuration will be modified to reflect this new Change. Needles to say this News brings such a good relief. I am impressed.
Thats good news indeed. Would you mind asking if this also applies to the ML350? I haven't heard back from my dealer and I'm getting ready to write to the MB folks...
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