We just installed our first iPad docking stations in a 2012 GL450! For this particular client we installed an iPad 2 dock behind the driver seat and an iPad 1 dock behind the passenger seat.

Here are the empty brackets. They are very slim and I hardly noticed them while I was driving the car.

iPads and USB charging cables are not included. The cables were $5.99 at my local Fry’s Home Electronics.

The iPads slide into the bracket so that the headphone jack, volume controls and plug line up with the openings in the bracket. The iPad 1 is fatter than the iPad 2 and will only fit in the specific iPad 1 bracket. The iPad 2 will fit in the bracket for the iPad 1 but is more stable in the bracket that is specific to the iPad 2/3.  

The iPads can be tilted up or down to adjust the viewing angle.

The brackets can be rotated vertically for reading.

Our first experience with the docking stations was great! The system was easy for the technicians to install, looks great in the vehicle and offers our customers another way to entertain back seat passengers! You can listen from the iPad out loud or through headphones. Also, vehicles with Bluetooth Audio Streaming should be able to pair to the iPads and stream through the vehicle sound system. Each docking station costs about $400 plus the cost of installation. That is a pretty good savings over the $1950 Rear-Seat Entertainment system, considering you can take these screens with you!

designo

An exclusive selection of exquisite paint, leather and interior trim options, designo is the ultimate expression of your style and Mercedes-Benz quality.

The beauty of a Mercedes-Benz is how it blends innovation you never imagined with craftsmanship we never forgot. designo offers refinement and individuality on an even more rewarding level. Exotic choices and colors in paint, leather and interior trim are crafted with a personal touch, from their selection to their fitment to your automobile. With exquisitely tailored packages and a gallery of individual elements, designo expresses your appreciation of design and our attention to detail like nothing else.

You can now visit MBUSA.com to see more details about paints, leathers and trims. Most items can be mixed and matched to create the perfect combination for your new Mercedes-Benz!

The Foldable Cargo Liner has been available for the GL-Class for a few months and is now available for the 2006-2011 ML-Class. The mat for the 2012 M-Class should be available next month. This is a really handy accessory for drivers who want to protect the carpeted cargo area from spills and scuffs while still folding the seats at will. You can order this item from your local parts department.

Part # BQ6750038 GL-Class Foldable Cargo Liner MY07-12, Black MSRP $145.00

Part # BQ6750039 M-Class Foldable Cargo Liner MY06-11, Black MSRP $145.00

Mercedes-Benz will begin producing CLS550s and CLS63s with designo paint and leather this month! You can order now through May and get a CLS-Class that no one else will have!  MBUSA even posted a quick designo video in the CLS-Class section of the website.

For model year 2012 the Wheel Packages (321 and 421) are not compatible with any designo interior orders.

Pricing:

• designo Paint – $2300
• Magno Matte designo paint – $3950
• designo Interior – $3750

The paint and interior can be ordered individually, mix and match or use one of the recommended designo editions, thoughtfully chosen by the designers.

Paints:

• Mystic Blue Metallic
• Mocha Black Metallic
• Graphite Metallic
• Magno Alanite Grey
• Magno Cashmere White

Leathers:

• Sand
• Platinum White
• Saffron Beige
• Auburn Brown
• Light Brown
• Jet Black
• Deep White
• Mystic Blue – new!
• Classic Red

*Click on any thumbnail picture to enlarge

Trims:

• Burl Walnut
• Black Ash – CLS550 only
• Piano Lacquer
• Carbon Fiber – CLS63 only – adds $2850

Editions:

• Espresso – Mocha Black with Sand Leather and Piano Lacquer
• Magno Alanite – Magno Alanite Grey with Auburn Brown Leather and Piano Lacquer
• Mystic Blue – Mystic Blue with Platiunum White Leather and Piano Lacquer
• Portofino – Graphite with Saffron beige Leather and Piano Lacquer
• Satin Pearl – Magno Cashmere White with Jet Black Leather and Piano Lacquer

The In-Vehicle Hotspot for your Mercedes-Benz in now available. This accessory item was just released and should start arriving in dealerships for installation this week. The In-Vehicle Hotspot will allow you to connect multiple devices to the internet while the vehicle is in motion. Service is provided by Autonet and several data plans are available.

Mercedes-Benz In-Vehicle Hotspot

• Part Number BQ 682 9001
• MSRP: $499 plus installation
• Includes 6-Months Service free of charge
• requires $35 activation fee with Autonet when activating the product
• Internet connectivity in the vehicle (3G network; where available) 
• Connection will not be interrupted while vehicle is in motion
• Router is securely installed in the trunk
• Password encrypted router
• Works with any operating system 
• Support ANY WiFi enabled devices: PCs, Macs, PDAs, PSP, MP3 players, etc
• Simply connect up to 4 WiFi enabled devices to the router
• Installation instructions can be found online
• Activation part for customers will be included in the packaging
• Monthly subscriptions start at $29 for a 1GB plan and $59 for a 5GB plan

A new cargo liner has been made availabe for the GL-Class through Mercedes-Benz. It solves the problem of how to protect the area behind the third row AND behind the second row with the third row folded flat! Until now I have been using the ML-Class cargo liner, which is a little too short, and just folding it in half to put the third row up. It worked well until you needed the third row and the storage behind it. This mat simply velcros to the carpet at the top and bottom and folds as you raise the seats. It allows access to all of the tie down points and allows you to raise the seats individually. Perfect! You can order it from your local parts department.

GL-Class Foldable Cargo Liner – Part # BQ6750038 - MSRP $145  

For the next 60 days most 2008 and newer Mercedes-Benz models will receive a free trial of 60 SiriusXM Satellite radio stations! If your vehicle is equipped with SiriusXM and the service is no longer active you should be able to tune in a sampling of the music, sports and entertainment that SiriusXM offers until July! Enjoy! I bet you get hooked!

For Model Year 2012 the Accessory Navigation System (ANS) will replace the Nav + 4 system in the SLK-Class and C-Class Sedan and Coupe. The ANS will equip cars without the COMAND system with Navigation through the standard screen (Audio 20). The standard screen for these vehicles is larger for 2012 with enhanced clarity and better display. The system is also fully integrated with the central COMAND controller.The features of ANS include:

• Reality View Pro
• Display of highway intersections and exit ramps
• Image display of road signs and lane information
• Lane Guidance Pro
• Recommends the optimal lane
• Destination input via map
• Real Time Traffic

Unlike the Nav + 4, ANS does not include iPod adapter, USB connection, or Bluetooth Audio streaming. The Nav +4 will still be available on the 2012 GLK-Class. The ANS MSRP is $1290.

Most 2003 and older Mercedes-Benz vehicles are not equipped with a Bluetooth systems and there has not been a cost effective way to integrate it into the car until now. The new Mercedes-Benz Portable Hand Free Kit was released to dealerships today to solve this problem!

Product Highlights:

• One button control to answer and receive calls
• Omni directional microphone and speaker design
• Streams audio from phones for navigation and audio playback
• Voice dial is supported through the phone
• Supports 9 languages
• 400 hours standby time, 14 hours talk time and auto shutoff after 30 mintues

The part number is BQ6820981 and the MSRP is $105. The kit includes the Hand-Free Kit, Visor Clip, Cigarette Lighter Adapter, USB Cable for charging, and user manual. Contact your local parts department to get yours!

Mercedes-Benz introduced the Media Interface Plus (MIP) several months ago to give advanced functionality to the iPod/MP3 Media Interface Cable. The part is around $500 and can be purchased from your local Mercedes-Benz dealer.

A few weeks ago a free software update was made available for current MIP owners that allows Blackberry users running OS6 with MAP to have e-mails and texts read aloud by the car and  reply with 10 customizable responses. Mercedes-Benz is hoping to expand this capability to other phones/operating systems in the future.

Mercedes-Benz also just released the Video Cable for MIP that allows the playback of video files from iPod/iPhones to the COMAND system or factory installed Rear-Seat Entertainment system. The part number is A001 827 9904 and the MSRP is $30. The Video Cable is compatible with:

• 2009 E-Class Sedan
• 2009-2011 CLS-Class
• 2009-2011 M-Class
• 2009-2011 GL-Class
• 2009-2011 R-Class
• 2009-2011 SL-Class
• 2009-2011 SLK-Class