YourMercedes-Benz Dealer Blog

Gas prices have been the major topic of conversation around the world in the past several weeks. This is causing many people to scale down or even cancel their summer vacation plans. However, there are plenty of wonders to be found close to home. Earlier this month we discussed some amazing beaches and exciting amusement parks around the country. Today, we will discuss some of the best bridges in the United States.

Northeast
The architectural beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York earned it a number six spot on the Travel Channel’s roundup of the top ten bridges in the world. The bridge was considered an engineering marvel at its completion in 1883, and it is no less impressive 125 years later.

Southeast
One of the few structures on the planet that can be seen from space, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel took over 30 years to complete. The bridge tunnel connects Virginia’s East Shore with the mainland at Norfolk/Virginia Beach, and provides a truly stunning drive.

West Coast
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is a study in impressively large statistics. The bridge is so long that 40 jumbo jets could be parked end to end on top. The towers are 2 ½ times the height of the US Capitol building. There are 80,000 miles of cable wire. The bridge is massive, impressive and instantly recognizable, making it the Travel Channel’s number one bridge in the world.

Florida
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge to St. Petersburg is as long as Mount Everest is tall. The bridge is the fifth largest cable-stayed bridge in the world, and the design incorporate 36 dolphins. The dolphins play a functional role in strengthening the bridge’s support columns. The columns could withstand the impact of a ship twice as large as the Titanic!

These are just a few of the many wonderful bridges that can be found across the United States. Despite the high price of gas, there is no reason not to hop in your Certified Mercedes and head out to experience a marvel of modern engineering.

Mercedes-Benz has made an incredible splash in the upcoming summer blockbuster film Sex and the City. Mercedes chose this film to debut its highly anticipated GLK Class. Trying to keep the vehicle a secret when filming on public streets, however, proved to be quite a challenge. Nonetheless, Mercedes was up to the challenge, having provided vehicles for a seemingly endless list of feature films. Provided here are just a few of my favorites.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets
The most recent major film to feature a Mercedes-Benz was the hit movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Both the newly released 2008 C Class and the Mercedes GLK were featured in separate chase scenes in the movies, for a combined total of approximately seven minutes of screen time.

Men in Black II
The wildly popular alien film sequel put the then-new 2003 Mercedes E Class W211 in the spotlight. As the heroes’ car, the Mercedes was able to do several things that were possible only due to the magic of movie making. Nonetheless, this was a great way to showcase this highly advanced brand new vehicle.

Road House
This classic 1989 Patrick Swayze vehicle featured Patrick as an expert bouncer hired to tame the violence that was taking over a bar. His car was a 1989 560 SEC, the year’s flagship Mercedes vehicle. Interestingly, the car was priced at over $90,000 leading to the inevitable question of how a bouncer could afford such a ride.

Above are just three of my favorite Mercedes sightings in film. If you would like to learn about other famous Mercedes films, pay a visit to Mercedes in the Movies, a site that attempts to fully catalog the long partnership between Mercedes-Benz vehicles and blockbuster films.

A lot of hype has been going around about Mercedes’ new BlueTEC technology. BlueTEC is a unique and forward-thinking green technology that is available on several of Mercedes’ high-end vehicles. The system uses new clean-burning diesel fuel, carefully cleaning the exhaust to avoid smelly or dangerous emissions. The system represents a real technological breakthrough, and allows Mercedes to market the vehicle in states such as California that have extremely stringent emissions standards.

However, when the system was developed, we were not yet aware that the price of diesel fuel would outstrip even the recent soaring costs of gasoline. With diesel fuel now costing nearly $5 a gallon in many areas, consumers are understandably reluctant to take advantage of BlueTEC vehicles, particularly when they are regularly priced at $1000 more than non-diesel versions of the same vehicles.

Business Week recently ran an article that discussed this topic. Their conclusion was that diesel vehicles continue to offer a cost savings over gasoline cars, despite the higher price of diesel fuel. The reason is that diesel engines are more efficient than their gasoline counterparts. It is estimated that a BlueTEC vehicle is between 25% and 40% more efficient than a non-BlueTEC equivalent.

At current diesel prices, Mercedes owners should expect it to take two years to pay off the initial cost difference between a diesel and gasoline vehicle. After that, fuel cost savings should average approximately $500 per year.

Of course, if diesel prices continue to outpace gas prices, at some point the scales could tip. For now, however, a BlueTEC vehicle is not only environmentally friendly, but is also able to save money in fuel costs. If you would like to learn more about BlueTEC or any other Mercedes technology, we invite you to visit our convenient local dealership.

Humans are strange creatures. As a whole, we have a sort of pack rat mentality. We enjoy collecting souvenirs and mementos as proof that we went somewhere or did something really cool. Some people collect Hummel figurines, others collect shot glasses. No matter what the main focus of our collections, however, almost everyone enjoys certificates of recognition. We get these when we accomplish major goals, such as crossing the Arctic Circle or the Equator, as well as when we purchase such collectible items as Cabbage Patch dolls.

If you are a Mercedes-Benz owner, you may be unaware of the certificates for which you may be eligible. According to the Mercedes website, owners of new as well as classic Mercedes are eligible for the Mercedes Classic certificate. The certificate provides details of your car’s original factory features. Your application also allows your name to be recorded in the company’s Corporate Archives, allowing future generations to learn your name as a registered Mercedes-Benz owner. The certificate also makes an excellent gift for the Mercedes lover in your family.

If your Mercedes has logged at least 155,000 miles, you can apply for the Mercedes-Benz High Mileage Award. The award includes a personalized certificate along with a traditional star and laurel badge to place on your car. Awards can be obtained at 155,000 miles, 312,000 miles, 466,000 miles, 625,000 miles and one million miles. The award is a true testament to the care with which Mercedes vehicles are built. The current High Mileage champion owns a 1976 Mercedes with over 2.8 million miles.

A personalized certificate is an excellent tribute to the special bond that exists between you, your Mercedes-Benz vehicle, and the company that created it. So don’t miss your chance to become part of Mercedes’ recorded history.

Your new Mercedes-Benz was a high priced investment. Why not make the most of it with a range of accessories designed to customize your experience? Mercedes offers a full line of useful car accessories on its shopping website.

License Plate Frames
Show the world that you are proud of your Mercedes with a sleek and elegant license plate frames. Available in a range of colors, there is sure to be a frame that is just right for you.

Covers
A high quality car cover can help to protect your new Mercedes from dings and scratches, as well as fading and even the effects of rain. Mercedes offers two covers from which to choose: a UV resistant light cover or a black Classic cover.

Your rear seats can also be protected against mud, dirt and water from playful kids or an exuberant family pet. Just look for the rear seat cover on Mercedes’ accessories site.

Cargo Storage
Your Mercedes is expertly crafted to provide as much storage space as possible. Nonetheless, you can create even more space by optimizing your storage facilities. From trunk organizers to rooftop storage cases, Mercedes offers a range of durable storage containers that are designed for the needs of busy families. You will even find coat hangers that mount to the headrests of the front seats.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are carefully designed and built to provide you with as many options as possible. In order to maximize your experience, why not take a look through Mercedes’ online catalog of vehicle accessories? You are sure to find a few items that will make your driving experience even better. While at the site, you might also want to take a peek at the wide range of clothing and other logo items that are available.

The new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class is full of changes. These vehicles represent a return to the roots of the famous line. After several years at the top of the luxury market, the new SL Class is sleeker and sportier, more reminiscent of the Gullwing and other early SL designs that set a standard in the sports class. The SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG are the finest examples of the redesign, clocking a brain-numbing 518 horsepower V8 and 604 horsepower V12 respectively. Nonetheless, if you are looking for the pinnacle of the 2009 SL Class, you need look no further than the Limited Edition SL 63 AMG IWC.

It is all about the precision engineering in these vehicles, of which only 200 units will ever be built. The AMG package is standard, but the new Kashmir white color and exclusive interior package are not.

Look for the finest nappa leather in Tobago Brown, effortlessly coordinated with the black AMG floor mats, which are trimmed in the same color. You will find multi-contour heated memory seats with AMG-specific perforations and the IWC logo on the center console.

The AMG performance package offers such enhanced features as Active Body Control, along with a smaller steering wheel and aluminum gearshift paddles in a striking silver finish. The light alloy 19 inch wheels make the car gleam in the sunlight.

Of course, a Limited Edition vehicle comes with a correspondingly higher price tag, although it does include a free watch. Nonetheless, if you are searching for the crème de la crème of the new SL Class redesign, a car that recalls that the power of grace of the legendary early SL Class, you cannot go wrong with the new SL 63 AMG IWC.

Whether you own a classic Certified Mercedes or are merely a fan, the Mercedes Classics Center is sure to intrigue you. The website is home to an astonishing collection of merchandise for classic enthusiasts of all ages. Provided here is just a brief overview of some of the more eclectic offerings that are provided on the site.

Print and Media
No matter what your area of special interest, you may find a book about it here. Biographies and Mercedes history books and special editions detailing specific lines can all be found in this section. Some of the books are written in German, however. The Print and Media section also contains wall calendars, CDs and DVDs, and a wide range of Mercedes posters.

Accessories
If you want to show off your love for classic Mercedes, then you might be interested in the Classics Accessories line. A wide range of watches are available, with prices ranging from the low hundreds to multiple thousands of dollars. Mirrors, umbrellas and other accessories are also available.

Clothes
Mercedes offers an extensive collection of clothing for Mercedes lovers of all ages. The Classics line is a tasteful way to express your love for these beautiful automobiles.

Gift Items
If you are searching for the perfect gift for a classic Mercedes lover’s birthday or other special event, you may want to search through the gift collection. From business card holders to Christmas ornaments, these items are impersonal enough to be appropriate for office exchanges, yet personal enough to let someone know you care.

Whether your Certified Mercedes is vintage or relatively new, you may enjoy some of the items in the Classic Mercedes collection. If your tastes run more towards newer Mercedes vehicles, be sure to check out the Lifestyle collection as well.

Since the early days of its history, Mercedes has been known as a technological innovator. Mercedes-Benz vehicles have long been prized for their forward thinking and environmentally friendly design. This month, the company was again honored with a prestigious award, this one for its unique RobScan laser welding procedure.

The award is a joint venture between Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V. and the European Laser Institute. The prize, which Mercedes has said that it will donate to charity, is 10,000 Euros. The award is given once every two years to a researcher or team that has contributed greatly to the advancement of laser technology.

RobScan was a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Cars Production Planning and Group Research. It is used to create more than 650 weld joints on the Mercedes C Class, as well as performing similar functions on other Mercedes vehicles. The technology has greatly increased energy efficiency in production.

RobScan is based on a Master PC control unit, which coordinates tasks between scanner, laser and robot. The scanner head is mounted at the end of the robot arm, and uses electronically controlled mirrors to precisely guide the laser beam. The robot arm is in constant motion, while the scanner controls the laser’s path. This allows precise welding at high speed.

RobScan is just the latest in a long line of technological enhancements for which Mercedes has become famous. If you would like to learn more about Mercedes vehicle technology and the ways in which Mercedes continues to strive toward environmentally friendly vehicle construction, we invite you to stop by Fort Washington Mercedes, your Philadelphia Mercedes dealership, or your Wilmington Mercedes. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Your Certified Mercedes was a major investment. You probably considered your options carefully and selected the Mercedes of your dreams. Now it is time to think about protecting that investment. A car cover is a low-cost means of keeping your Certified Mercedes looking like new. However, not all car covers are the same. Here we will provide you with a brief guide to selecting the cover that best meets your needs.

Thickness
Car covers are available in a wide range of thicknesses. The one you choose will depend on where you normally park. A car that you park daily in a garage might need only a lightweight, easy to manage to cover. A car that is parked on a busy street might require a thick, padded cover that can help to absorb dings and scratches. Keep in mind that as a general rule, the thicker the cover is, the heavier and more unwieldy it will become.

Weather Conditions
Weather can wreak havoc on your car, making it more prone to rust, fading and other problems. Choose a cover that is designed to combat the weather in your area. For example, if you live near the ocean, a marine-grade cover can help to fight the effects of saltwater. Those in sunny locations may select a cover that has built-in UV protection.

Color
Although it is uncommon, car covers sometimes bleed onto light colored cars. If you have a light car, strongly consider purchasing a light cover as well. Darker colors absorb heat, which can be an advantage in cold climates and a disadvantage in hot weather.

The Bottom Line
Choosing a car cover for your Certified Mercedes can help to protect your investment. The tips above can help you find the car cover that is best for your situation.

Until quite recently, diesel vehicles in the United States were largely considered the poor relations of gasoline cars. Diesel engines were noisy and rough, and the vehicles often belched noxious fumes into the air. However, diesel fuel was relatively cheap, and diesel engines achieved better fuel economy than their gasoline equivalents. This made diesel an attractive alternative for heavily driven vehicles and semi-trucks.

Today, however, diesel bears little resemblance to its predecessor. Legislation that was implemented by the Clinton administration in 2000 mandated a change in diesel fuel by 2006. The new diesel is low-sulfur and clean-burning, allowing diesel vehicles to, for the first time, pass California’s stringent emissions standards. By 2009, diesel vehicles in California and the states that follow its requirements must be at least as green as gasoline vehicles.

New technology has also quieted diesel engines, making it virtually impossible to distinguish the cars from their gas-powered cousins. Meanwhile, the engines retain their superior fuel economy, which can be as much as 40% better than that of an equivalent gasoline engine.

In the 2009 model year, Mercedes is introducing diesel version of its ML Class, R Class and G Class SUVs. Mercedes is taking the green idea one step further with its enhanced BlueTEC system, which cleans the exhaust before it is released.

The new green diesel movement could prove to be a serious competitor to hybrid technology. However, a spike in diesel fuel prices has some experts concerned. With gas prices already at an all-time high, consumers may be reluctant to invest in vehicles whose fuel is even more expensive. Consumer education will be necessary in order to explain the savings over time that these cars can provide.

If you would like to learn more about BlueTEC and other exciting Mercedes-Benz technology, we invite you to stop by our friendly local dealership. We are happy to answer any questions you have.