NemesisUK

2 hours ago, Verbout said:

£116, you are kidding?

Ha.. Link keeps reverting to amazon UK....

I certainly didn't pay that much! I ordered directly from amazon in the USA  and paid £70 for two covers, including postage and import taxes. Arrived in 4 days ...

I bought a couple of these 'easy-on, easy-off' covers for my RC, just for when I'm in my scruffy clothes. I didn't want anything fitted, so these work a treat. Easy to wash as well 

https://www.amazon.com/Seat-Armour-SA100LXSBE-Black-Protector/dp/B00L51X5FK

I'll certainly give that a go next time out, thanks!

ETA .. Just read the handbook and I think you've got it spot on... 

"If the shift lever is in a position other than
P when turning off the hybrid system,
the power switch will be turned to
ACCESSORY mode, not to off."

Never had a problem being understood in the Merc, perhaps my German heritage helped?? 

I was impressed with the Lexus VC, worked 'straight out of the box'

1 minute ago, royoftherovers said:

Life can be a bitch Peter. Just get used to it ;););)

 

Regards

John

It's my sympathy for things mechanical rather than my getting used to it..

Far too much unnecessary switching and motors moving 

3 minutes ago, Britprius said:

Good idea John, but it would be much easier if it could be programmed out rather than reaching for yet more buttons.

Nemesis, I too find it somewhat of an anoyance for the radio/CD to go off, and then have to go into accessory mode to continue listening again with the steering wheel bobbing in, and out when not required.

John

. 

^^^^ this exactly. That steering wheel motor is going to work harder than really necessary! 

5 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

Tangential point Peter,.......if you press the start button without depressing the footbrake ????

 

Regards

John

Sorry, I didn't explain myself very well. I meant when one reaches one's destination and parks up waiting, is it possible to stop the Hybrid system, a/c, lights etc.. but keep the audio playing. I know I can press the Start button but that then kills the audio and I have to press it again, as you say, without depressing the brake pedal, to get audio back.

Ditto, I'd like to know f this is possible as well.

Even better for me would be a way of the steering wheel raising but not retracting, as it lowers again as it nears the fully retracted position.

On a slight tangent, is it possible to switch off the hybrid system (IGN off) but without switching the audio system off, as in stopping and waiting for one's passenger to arrive?

Yes, ETA is very useful, (I often tried to beat it but that's another story  ) and I would use Google maps to pinpoint my destination, transferring that to the Merc COMAND system.

Voice control of the sat nav is superior in the Lexus but then it is 12yrs newer..

Correct, an AMG 

Not sure of the respective insurance groups but I'd imagine the RC, being brand new and a hybrid, wouldn't be far behind the 12yr old CLS in repair costs? When I changed from my Mercedes C270cdi to the AMG my annual premium effectively halved!! How a 467bhp supercharged V8 petrol car could be cheaper to insure than a 180bhp diesel burner was beyond me...

Coming from Mercedes, I'm used to only 5 digit Post Code input. I mainly used the sat nav for traffic congestion notifications, which the Merc system was very good at. Still early days with the Lexus system but seems ok and fairly accurate.

The cost of the map updates isn't horrendous when viewed as cost over version lifespan 

My experience with Lexus insurance is the opposite to yours. When changing from my CLS55 to my new RC300h my current insurer issued a £20 rebate reducing my annual premium to just £180. Lexus wanted to charge me £400/yr on a like for like policy.

It's just the area under the parked wipers that is heated.

If memory serves, it was the supply to the power socket in the centre console.

You really need to meter the connections

I've never understood why manufactures don't reset the Auto-wiper function when the IGN is cycled? Would prevent inadvertent operation on dry or frozen screens..

Be aware your handbook describes many options that may not be not installed on your car. Do you have a button that corresponds to this option?

By pressing the Start button but without depressing the brake pedal?

Firstly, it's always worth reiterating one will always read more posts regarding problems on a forum, than good news stories. The vast majority of car owners are not members of forums (fora??) so one is never really sure of the relative reliability simply by reading the web..

Bit like working in a hospital and thinking everybody is sick

Mercedes certainly are no more or less reliable than the majority of marques. That said their modern diesels if they do breakdown, are prone to very expensive problems. Petrols much better and cheaper to repair/maintain. 

My two Mercedes, one a 270cdi, was very reliable needing nothing more than normal service related items and a few wear related parts. It covered 140k miles. The second a 55k AMG was equally reliable but hugely more expensive to maintain...

On 26/12/2016 at 8:16 PM, NemesisUK said:

I've noted a number of times the ICE fires up but it's not driving the wheels, simply generating heat for the cabin. Motion is via the traction battery. The  Energy display shows no power flow from ICE to the wheels but the engine is running...

As I posted before, are you sure it's not using electric to pull away? The engine cutting in only to warm up and provide heat to the cabin?

40 minutes ago, olliesgrandad said:

Mercedes do not have a service book any longer. The car records only basic servicing. There is no record of brake replacement etc recorded anywhere. Purchasing an approved used Mercedes gives very little information. I was very pleased when I bought my Lexus to be able to read the service book. 

Mercedes do have complete service records, all digital now. Accessible only by dealers or indies with the official Xentry online diagnostic software.

Not Eco mode, EV mode. Do you have the separate button labelled EV? Forces the car to run only with the electric motor.

I think you'll need to have a poke around the under-bonnet fuse box with a multimeter..

I had a pair of those Osrams fitted to my Merc, replacing the OEM fog lamps. Gave me drls and all original foglamp welcome home functionality. Excellent product, looked very OEM. 

Guys who fitted them took switched and permanent live feeds directly from the fusebox.

Not sure it'll prove anything but if the car goes into EV mode and moves it would suggest there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the hybrid system?

I've noted a number of times the ICE fires up but it's not driving the wheels, simply generating heat for the cabin. Motion is via the traction Battery. The  Energy display shows no power flow from ICE to the wheels but the engine is running...

Is it the same if you press the EV button immediately after starting?