New MB Owner - S500 2002

[conington]

Just found the forum, great for sahring knowledge / resoving problems. I have just bought an 02 S500 to replace my A8. The cars are worlds apart, MB are so much more confortable/smooth/refined and I love the layout of the cabin, despite the large engine I also seem to be getting decent fuel economy (not alot different from what I got from my 2.8 A8).

I have a couple of minor issues I need to check and thought that some of you may be able to assist ..... The car came with only one key, this being the remote one with the emergency key clipped inside, I need another remote key (the wife also uses the car) and was wondering where best to get one (assuming they are avbailable outside of the MB Franchise at a cheaper price)?

The boot auto opens with teh remote or a switch on the door (not all of the way all the time but I am guessing a bit of use will resolve this) but when manually closing it is very resistant for the last 1 foot or so (very hard to push down), is this normal?

There is a flashing red light (infra red looking) from the main passenger side coutesey light that seem to always be there even when driving - I assume it is some kind of sensor but cannot see anything advising what it is within the manual?

The Sat Nav has a 2001 dated disc - can upgrades to the map discs be obtained easily?

Thanks for any help.

Great forum - look forward to more reading.

 

[M6AJJ]

Welcome, and I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy the car.

Sorry about this but there is only one way to go to obtain a new key, and that is from the dealers. They will need your log book (or whatever it is called these days) and proof of identity. They are ordered specifically for the vehicle via the VIN number and take about a week. Expect a cost of about £130!!!! Do not purchase from E Bay etc as no matter what they tell you, they cannot be reprogrammed.

I have no idea at all what the flashing red light is, I definitely do not have one, perhaps someone else can help here.

The boot lid can be adjusted for tension, although I have never had it done, i am told that it is a five minute job.

Best of luck

 

[M6AJJ]

Sorry forgot to mention the Sat Nav disc.

You need to check, but I think that you have Comand 2.5 the buttons are on the right hand side and the screen is square.

This uses the DX CD based system,(Check your 2001 disc to be sure).

The 2006 CD DX from TeleAtlas is your best bet. £130 with TMC, and about £90 without, depending on what offer they have on at the time of ordering. Accepts post codes for major cities, and partial post codes in others. Covers all of the UK and most of Ireland.

 

[hawk20]

The boot does not fully open (unless you push it up the last few inches. I read somewhere this was due to owners complaining that it hit the roof in their garages when fully open. True or false I don't know. It is stiff the last foot on mine too. Ensures it springs open well says my dealer. Mine electrically closes the last little bit to ensure it is properly shut and note the little chrome handle that comes out for you to close it with -and once shut it retracts to keep it clean (so you never get your hands dirty). Thoughtful or what.

Get a dealer to check the flashing light. Not seen that.

On mine when I updated the DVD you have to get the dealer to flash in something to make it work properly. Very quick and mine made no charge.

 

[television]

l .

On mine when I updated the DVD you have to get the dealer to flash in something to make it work properly. Very quick and mine made no charge.

The dealers use updating CD's that update the software. other people can unlock them, make them multi region and let you have TV when on the move.

Malcolm

 

[Templar Al]

The spring tension on the boot lid can easily be adjusted. Carefully remove the upper trim inside the boot and you will see two springs (one on each side).

Make a tool by cutting a wire coat hanger and bending it into a 'V' shape so that you can pass it over the hook-end of each spring and use both hands to un-hook each spring and move it to a different hole. You will probably need someone to hold the boot lid fully open whilst you do this.

The springs do not have to be on the same hole on each side, but ideally, they should be within one hole of each other.

As for your Navigation CD, try:-
http://www.bluespot.co.uk/nav_cdrom.asp
and click on the 'Mercedes Factory Fitted Systems' link.

Regards,
Alan.

 

[conington]

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies, I decided that as I had purchased the car outise of an MB frnachise that I would get it in early for the service just to ensure all is safe and no major problems exist.

The dealer thought the flashing red light may be an after market tracker system so this will be just left there.

I wasn't aware of the chrome handle for closing the boot, I'll have to look for that later today.

Ordered the key - £140 !!!

Discovered that the TV is not configured to work, apparantly this was an option at the time of original purchase that was not taken.

Not sure about the Sat Nav - I can see that it is relatively easy to upgrade the disc but is there any "firmware" upgrade that the dealer would need to do before the upgraded disc would work?

Overall I am very happy with this car, it is certainly more "complete" than my A8 was (more comfortable, quiet and the fuel economy seems to be about the same despit having the bigger engine).

Again, thanks for all the help.

 

[television]

The TV, if not on the car cant be switched on after, as it is not there, not the end of the world with the normal service closing down over the next few years.

Re the Sat Nav MB dealers have a upgrade disc that updates the software, it only taks 2 mins. normally they do not charge, the system is not perfect but it is good and nice to have.


Re the flashing LED when you get your new new key why not slip out at midnight with a black hood over your head and sneak away in the car, and see what happens. (though it may not be activated) Trackers do not normally have any indication on them though.

Malcolm

 

[conington]

Tv

The TV does switch on but it's just a black screen with vertical lines rolling across, cannot even get to the menu.

MB didn't know what the flashing red light was - it's not something that bothers me so I think I'll just do my best to ignore it.

Are you stating that instead of spending £90 on the Sat Nav upgrade disc MB offer some form of updating service (sorry but getting a little confused on the matter)?

Many Thanks

 

[television]

There are a lot of moble guys out there who can do the options and updates to make the DVD multi region, give you TV on the move, and more.

Malcolm

 

[mioba]

The TV situation is like this as far as i can read from your situation.

the comand 2.5 has the TV button, this doesnt mean you have TV - the TV tuner is an optional extra.

try the russian site and enter your vin so you know whats on your car.

http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

 

[television]

Mioba is right, what you can see rolling around in the TV mode will be the tv menu, but there will be no sync without the tuner, so it just floats around.


Malcolm

 

[conington]

Apologies

I don't wish to be a pain but just wanted to clarify - For Sat Nav, if I purchase the CD map upgrade will I just be able to insert the disc and all will work or is there any sort of upgade the dealer would have to do to the actual unit (it currently works but with the original disc i.e. 2001 map data).


Many Thanks

 

[M6AJJ]

No, you should not need to have the system re programmed by the dealer to work with the new disc providing it is working OK now.

Just put in the new navigation disc disc, it will take a couple of minutes to read it and off you go with the latest roads, post codes etc.

 

[hawk20]

No, you should not need to have the system re programmed by the dealer to work with the new disc providing it is working OK now.

Just put in the new navigation disc disc, it will take a couple of minutes to read it and off you go with the latest roads, post codes etc.

Well. What a complex world. That's not what I was told. Told dealer needs to flash in updates for the unit to make it work properly with the new disc. As someone else confirmed earlier in this thread. My advice as always is go and get to know your dealer (service department). If you buy the disc from them, they will set it all up for you. Mine did. No charge -above that for the disc.

 

[hawk20]

The dealer thought the flashing red light may be an after market tracker system so this will be just left there.

I think you should find out what this is. Trackers don't normally have that do they? Can you describe exactly where this light is, what it looks like etc?

 

[M6AJJ]

I can only re call my own experience, and do not claim to be any sort of expert, but I replaced the 2001 disc in my Comand 2.5 ( mainly because I wanted the postcode facility, and more up to date routing ) with the Tele disc option as mentioned earlier in this thread. No problem at all, and all is still working fine.

 

[M6AJJ]

And no, my tracker does not flash or have any visible signs of being fitted. I would like to know what this is, we might all like one!!

 

[conington]

Thanks

Again, thanks to all the responses sounds like I can upgrade my disc with no problems.

The "light" is located within the front passenger side main courtesey light above the centre console, it flashes a bit like an alarm sensor and is red (inside the courtesey light housing). To be honest I though it may be the alarm sensor but it is now looking less likely.


Many Thanks

 

[jberks]

certainly sounds alarm related. Definately not tracker - the first I heard that I had one was a letter on the mat.
Great con actually - tell you that you have a tracker, charge you £300 but don't bother fitting one. Chances are you'd never know!