My friend is on a trip in US and found a nice W211 that I am interested in.
So I have some technical questions before letting him import it...
First, the speedometer is in miles and I need to convert it to km. Do I have any options beside buying a new at my MB dealer? Someone told me that you can change from miles to km with a special button sequence in some MBs, how about the W211? And then just change the graph.
I have also heard that the command-systems are different and need to be changed if I want the navi to function? True?
And in Europe we use even or odd FM channels, like 99,7 and 99,8. I know that in some US cars you can only tune in odd channels, like 99,7 and 99,9. Do anyone have experince of the navi-command in the W211 when it comes to this? (With the biggest screen.)
If you are not moving yourself from the US to EU, I would carefully look at the import rules (either way actually), and specifically for a car this new. It may become totally uneconomical even if you got it at half the price from the US originally.
The speedo print will not change from any key sequence. Even the menu options must refer to other settings, mainly the digital speedo at the display and the mileage computer settings, could be that even those do not exist on later car models.
Radio usually can be programmed with Star for Euro frequencies.
I know that with present dollar value tons of German cars are imported from US to Europe and ... Germany ?
I played with my display and had the option to convert it to km. Didn't enter it, but seems it was available. As DB says, the printed scale is still printed and I am upset with W211 that unlike W210 it doesn't have dual scales, but my understanding is, that you can display km/h on the center display, what would be sufficient.
Command center in MB is still a mystery for me, but for every GPS I know, going to Europe is only matter of buying mapping software for that region.
My US software shows contours in Mexico and Europe, just not the roads.
Regarding the speedometer I found info in an online manual that you can change to km/h in the menu and it will apply to:
the total distance recorder and the trip meter
the trip computer
the digital speedometer
cruise control
Speedtronic
Distronic
Sorry if I was unclear, of course I understand that the speedo print will not change.
I have studied the import rules carefully, and already got an OK from our traffic authority, which means I just have to pay the tax in my country and get it registred. Although there is some rules, like the km/h-reading and yellow turn signals.
So I have to dig deeper into the command-issues... Tried to find a MB dealer with info on this, but no success. MBs are usally imported from Germany and not US.
What is your definition of "usually" ?
20 years ago I was in Germany and new sedan at the Frankfurt dealer window was $10,000.
At the time MB prices in CA started at $26k. I know lot of people who at that time imported MB and BMW and even after spending $5,000 on reinforcing bumpers, doors and changing lights still had good deals.
Now the economy plays trick and rust free MB in California can be bought for $4000, when mileage means nothing for those cars. Than the biggest import of "German" cars from US to Europe are SUV. As you might know ML - manufactured in Alabama have been always much more expensive in Europe. Now $12,000 buys you pristine ML55AMG, what in Europe has like triple value. Same with BMW X5 from what I heard.
I have studied the import rules carefully, and already got an OK from our traffic authority, which means I just have to pay the tax in my country and get it registred. Although there is some rules, like the km/h-reading and yellow turn signals.
Can you clarify, if you don't want to mention the exact country, is this the case for importing to Europe or specifically to a European Union member country? Personally I'm not familiar with the import rule details but for new cars (again, I don't remember the car age that makes it different) I've understood that you have to be able to prove things that are impossible without support from MB and MB has no interest and obligation to help (within EU of course completely different).
Since you've investigated this in detail, I hope you report how it turns out for your imported car if you decide to go for it.
Well, I live in Sweden and maybe this import rules differs between european countries.
The only case where I know it is almost impossible to import a car, is if the car is tuned or a special version that is not meant for the european market. In that case documents from the car maker is needed and very difficult to get.
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