I just recently found what seems to be a great deal on an 05 E500 (RWD). The car has 21,500 miles, and has everything except for Xenons and heated seats. I've seen the car and driven it, and it is in great shape. They are asking $35,000 for it, which according to my research, is way below the value of the car. It was a fleet vehicle for an executive at the company I work for, and the guy that was using it retired. They just want to unload it to make some of their money back. Before I take the plunge, I have a few questions:
1. I live in the northeast, and therefore snow is a problem during the winter months. How will this thing behave in snow (or even rain)? I nervous that this thing will be virtually undrivable.
2. I know that I can upgrade the headlights to HID, but how much does that typically run?
3. Is there any way to add Sirius radio to the Nav system? There is a button for satellite, but when I clicked it, it just said that no satellite radio was installed.
4. Is there any clean way to connect an iPod to the Nav system?
Thanks for your help. Any comments you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
I just recently found what seems to be a great deal on an 05 E500 (RWD). The car has 21,500 miles, and has everything except for Xenons and heated seats. I've seen the car and driven it, and it is in great shape. They are asking $35,000 for it, which according to my research, is way below the value of the car. It was a fleet vehicle for an executive at the company I work for, and the guy that was using it retired. They just want to unload it to make some of their money back. Before I take the plunge, I have a few questions:
1. I live in the northeast, and therefore snow is a problem during the winter months. How will this thing behave in snow (or even rain)? I nervous that this thing will be virtually undrivable.
2. I know that I can upgrade the headlights to HID, but how much does that typically run?
3. Is there any way to add Sirius radio to the Nav system? There is a button for satellite, but when I clicked it, it just said that no satellite radio was installed.
4. Is there any clean way to connect an iPod to the Nav system?
Thanks for your help. Any comments you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
1: I bet I drive more on snow than you do but I'm afraid you may have worse days with more snow at one time than we ever get. The W211 is not bad at all. I assume "real" winter tyres are self-evident for you. Of course 4WD is still a different beast on thick snow or at traffic lights on icy roads but in 99.9% of cases my driving is obstructed by another car, quite often a FWD or even a 4WD one, not that they could not do better but it does not help if they just do not.
Someone considered 4WD a bid advantage in Florida. I don’t get it, I consider 4WD even more dangerous for aquaplaning.
2: Note that a full HID installation includes self levelling and that asks for quite a lot of work to feed the wires. Some forum members have still done the full installation (or have had it done by Steve).
3: Search Audio & Telematics, at least this thread claims that all ´05 cars are prewired for Satellite radio. Retrofit should be feasible then.
4: Search Audio & Telematics, wouldn't the MB iPod kit be clean or are you after a lower cost option.
1. I live in the northeast, and therefore snow is a problem during the winter months. How will this thing behave in snow (or even rain)? I nervous that this thing will be virtually undrivable.
2. I know that I can upgrade the headlights to HID, but how much does that typically run?
3. Is there any way to add Sirius radio to the Nav system? There is a button for satellite, but when I clicked it, it just said that no satellite radio was installed.
4. Is there any clean way to connect an iPod to the Nav system?
.
1. With snow tires you will have no problem in 99% of the cases
2. Very expensive and above answered well
3. Sirius add is no problem just money and dealer cost is not real expensive
4. Cleanest way is through auxilliary jack in glove box but you can't get the menus or control the iPod. You have to use the iPod to choose songs.
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Jeff
2005 E500S4 Everything except Distronic and Heated Steering Wheel. "87" Porsche 928S4, "87" Porsche 944
1. Will this be your only car? If you are really worried about the snow, would a very cheap early RAV4 or something be in your budget/not too inconvenient? Otherwise, agreed, snow-tires should serve you well enough most of the time in the snow, unless you have to climb up or down a steep driveway.
2. I have to say, xenon headlights seem kind of overrated to me. I wouldn't worry about it!
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