Mercedes Makes The Choice For Buyers

Monday Rant For All The SL Owners

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.comn on October 17, 2005 at 12:40 AM CST

It's a Monday, and as everyone knows, nobody likes Monday.  That's  
why I thought it would  be the perfect time to voice a complaint I  
have with Mercedes.

A little while back, I received an email from a reader asking how to  
install an XM Satellite Radio in his new SL. "That shouldn't be too  
difficult," I thought to myself, "after all, it is just a radio, how  
difficult can it be?" After doing some research, it turns out with  
the help of an auxiliary port in the glove compartment, it is  
possible to install the XM radio.  But there's a problem - after the  
2004 model year, Mercedes decided to remove the auxiliary port.  "No  
problem," I thought to myself, "I'll just call Mercedes and find out  
what the solution is."  After speaking with Mercedes, it turns out  
that there is no solution.  Mercedes offers no support of the XM  
radio, which means that if you are interested in adding one, your  
only option is to find an aftermarket installer to add it for you.   
The reason for this is that Mercedes, along with many other auto  
makers, has signed an exclusive contract with Sirius Satellite Radio,  
making it impossible to purchase XM through Mercedes dealerships.

In addition, removing the auxiliary port has made it virtually  
impossible to add iPod integration to your new SL.  Check Mercedes'  
iPod page - you won't see the SL on the list, or the new S-Class, or  
the CL...

In other words, Mercedes has decided that some Mercedes should have  
iPod integration, and some shouldn't.  They've also decided that you  
should listen to Sirius Satellite Radio, but not XM.  Mercedes, you  
know we love you, but what are you thinking?  Take a step back for a  
moment, and think about your customers.  I don't have scientific  
research to back me up on this, but I would assume most people that  
drive Mercedes are rather intelligent.  I would even go as far as  
saying they know what they want; they are, after all, choosing to  
purchase the greatest automobile ever made.  Why then are you trying  
to make choices for the obviously intelligent customers that have  
already chosen to support you?

OK Mercedes, if that didn't get you, think about this.  With each new  
model, it seems you're focusing more and more on comfort.  You've  
even released a study indicating the new S-Class reduces driver's  
fatigue and stress.  I whole-heartedly support the new features  
you've implemented to help reduce driver's stress; the new S-Class  
looks like it will be amazing to drive.  But when you think about it,  
isn't listening to music one of the most fundamental means of  
relaxation and stress reduction?

Now, I'm not saying it's impossible to install an XM radio or iPod in  
your car.  But what I am saying is that I would like to see Mercedes'  
offer both forms of entertainment made available directly from the  
Mercedes' dealership. Why? One reason, and one reason alone -  
Mercedes customers, being the resourceful, intelligent creatures that  
they are, deserve to make up their own minds; and once they've made  
up their own minds, they deserve to have that decision made available  
to them directly from Mercedes, not SLIM JG's Car Audio and Security.  
It's that simple.



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