Discussion
robemcdonald said:
I asked about running in when I picked mine up. The dealer told me not to worry about it, so I didn't. I might have been a bit easier of the first 500 miles if it were my money though.
I asked a few sources but got nothing I'd consider authoritative, just vague opinions. Manual said 1500 miles IIRC but it's generic for the whole range, nothing specific about the hybrid where you could in theory never run the ICE at all in 1500 miles. Our ICE only runs about half the miles we drive on average.Got the impression they don't really know much about the hybrids and don't really care all that much fulll stop.
Kermit power said:
One of the first things I intend to do with mine is figure out how to open the roof! I couldn't for the life of me find the relevant button on the test drive car I had, and almost reverted to actually reading the manual! 
My neighbour had his C-class for over two years before he realised it opened. He thought it was a fixed glass roof! 
Chris-S said:
robemcdonald said:
I asked about running in when I picked mine up. The dealer told me not to worry about it, so I didn't. I might have been a bit easier of the first 500 miles if it were my money though.
I asked a few sources but got nothing I'd consider authoritative, just vague opinions. Manual said 1500 miles IIRC but it's generic for the whole range, nothing specific about the hybrid where you could in theory never run the ICE at all in 1500 miles. Our ICE only runs about half the miles we drive on average.Got the impression they don't really know much about the hybrids and don't really care all that much fulll stop.
I took it easy for the first couple of hundred miles for the brakes etc.. but subsequently haven't really bothered. 30,000 miles later I am averaging 42(ish) MPG. Not bad considering the sorts of long journeys I am doing.
Kermit power said:
Before I go trawling through the rest of the internet, does anyone have a vote on the best people to fit a wall socket at the moment?
I'm in Epsom if it makes a difference.
Save yourself some cash and just get a regular 3pin installed (mine cost £50) there is no benefit in anything more fancy as the car won't charge any faster.I'm in Epsom if it makes a difference.
robemcdonald said:
Save yourself some cash and just get a regular 3pin installed (mine cost £50) there is no benefit in anything more fancy as the car won't charge any faster.
That's all I do. Charge overnight on the low (8 amp) setting from a plug in the garage, with the cable passed through a hole in the door frame. The charger is fastened to the wall inside the garage. The cable and connector are just hung on a hook outside.If you do want an installed charger (as opposed to the one which comes with the car) Rolec seem very popular.
RicksAlfas said:
robemcdonald said:
Save yourself some cash and just get a regular 3pin installed (mine cost £50) there is no benefit in anything more fancy as the car won't charge any faster.
That's all I do. Charge overnight on the low (8 amp) setting from a plug in the garage, with the cable passed through a hole in the door frame. The charger is fastened to the wall inside the garage. The cable and connector are just hung on a hook outside.If you do want an installed charger (as opposed to the one which comes with the car) Rolec seem very popular.
The brick charger has a decent length cable on it, so would that get you a bit nearer from the socket to where you need to be?
One guy near me has his curly cable coming underneath his garage door and he leaves the connector draped over the garage door handle.
At least with these cars you can back right up to the connector. The BMWs have the charging point on the front wing, which doesn't look as convenient.
One guy near me has his curly cable coming underneath his garage door and he leaves the connector draped over the garage door handle.
At least with these cars you can back right up to the connector. The BMWs have the charging point on the front wing, which doesn't look as convenient.
I opted for the grant funded Rolec with a tethered cable just for the convenience of it. I already had a suitable outside 13A socket but it was a bit of a faff TBH. I went for the 7.2kW option as well, just in case I ever end up with something that has a bigger battery capacity, although I only charge at 3.6kW
Chris-S said:
I opted for the grant funded Rolec with a tethered cable just for the convenience of it. I already had a suitable outside 13A socket but it was a bit of a faff TBH. I went for the 7.2kW option as well, just in case I ever end up with something that has a bigger battery capacity, although I only charge at 3.6kW
^^ This, so much less hassles111dpc said:
Chris-S said:
I opted for the grant funded Rolec with a tethered cable just for the convenience of it. I already had a suitable outside 13A socket but it was a bit of a faff TBH. I went for the 7.2kW option as well, just in case I ever end up with something that has a bigger battery capacity, although I only charge at 3.6kW
^^ This, so much less hassleIt costs significantly more (and there is no grant available any more)
You have to have a survey on your houses mains first.
They usually find you need some additional work, at additional cost.
You end up with a large charger on the wall.
Depending on what car you get next it may have the wrong cable or not be up to the job (if you get a model 3)
Sounds like a lot more hassle than getting the local sparky to fit a 13 amp socket for £50.
robemcdonald said:
Is it though?
It costs significantly more (and there is no grant available any more)
You have to have a survey on your houses mains first.
They usually find you need some additional work, at additional cost.
You end up with a large charger on the wall.
Depending on what car you get next it may have the wrong cable or not be up to the job (if you get a model 3)
Sounds like a lot more hassle than getting the local sparky to fit a 13 amp socket for £50.
Horses for courses I suppose. I had mine fitted 18mths ago and don't recall needing a survey and it was subsidised so that did make a difference to be fair.It costs significantly more (and there is no grant available any more)
You have to have a survey on your houses mains first.
They usually find you need some additional work, at additional cost.
You end up with a large charger on the wall.
Depending on what car you get next it may have the wrong cable or not be up to the job (if you get a model 3)
Sounds like a lot more hassle than getting the local sparky to fit a 13 amp socket for £50.
I also went for a thethered Rolec and charge at least once a day and it is very convenient being on the wall right next to where I park. Should I danger the car then I can simply change the connector.
As I say personal choice but I have no regrets
I suppose it depends on the layout of your parking and available sockets. How I've got mine setup is exactly the same as a fixed wall charger. It would make no difference to me in speed or ease of use whichever charger I went for, but I appreciate that wouldn't be the same for everyone. Back to the OP - I think I would wait until you get the car, have a look at the charger which comes with it, decide where you are going to park, and take it from there.
Whatever happens, I'm hoping to need to put a socket of some sort in, as even with the optional 8m cable, I'd still need to leave a downstairs window open to run the cable to the car.
The idea of having a tethered cable so I can plug and unplug in a couple of seconds and leave the curly cable just for when we're away is also attractive, as otherwise, especially if it's raining, I know I just won't bother...
The idea of having a tethered cable so I can plug and unplug in a couple of seconds and leave the curly cable just for when we're away is also attractive, as otherwise, especially if it's raining, I know I just won't bother...
robemcdonald said:
Is it though?
It costs significantly more (and there is no grant available any more)
You have to have a survey on your houses mains first.
They usually find you need some additional work, at additional cost.
You end up with a large charger on the wall.
Depending on what car you get next it may have the wrong cable or not be up to the job (if you get a model 3)
Sounds like a lot more hassle than getting the local sparky to fit a 13 amp socket for £50.
I won't argue about it being more expensive that a 13A socket but my installation wasn't any hassle at all. They asked for photos of the drive, consumer unit and location of the charger. I emailed those across, paid my money and at my convenience, a guy came and fitted it. I do appreciate that your circumstances may well involve what they consider additional work (basically, any thing awkward and or more than 10m from consumer unit to charger).It costs significantly more (and there is no grant available any more)
You have to have a survey on your houses mains first.
They usually find you need some additional work, at additional cost.
You end up with a large charger on the wall.
Depending on what car you get next it may have the wrong cable or not be up to the job (if you get a model 3)
Sounds like a lot more hassle than getting the local sparky to fit a 13 amp socket for £50.
I don't find the charger on the wall any bother myself, again, I appreciate that YMMV.
Personally, I found using the brick with my existing 13A outdoor socket was a bit of a PITA. Had to be pretty accurate where the car ended up parked or it ended up with what I felt was too much tension on the cable. Faff of getting the brick out of the boot, plugging in both ends then reverse the procedure when done. Find the tethered option just so convenient and with the length of cable supplied. I can park the car with way more freedom and still connect up with no bother.
Ultimately, it's entirely down to how you feel about it. Personally, I have no regrets having gone for the Rolec.
It finally arrived this morning!! 
Observations so far...
1. It certainly appears to have the towbar fitted and stowed up behind the bumper, but I'm buggered if I can figure out how to deploy it!
2. If you order the free optional 8m mains charger, you get a nice sensible cable, not a stupid curly one!
3. How the hell do I get to the TV mode? The instructions tell me how to do it, and there's nothing in the specs to suggest it's an optional extra, but when I go into the Media settings, it's not there...
4. Time to get on to the leasing company to figure out how on earth I set up the App when I don't have all the paperwork I'd have if I owned the car...
5. It's not the blue I was expecting it to be, although it is what I ordered, and I'm much happier with it! Ever since I ordered it (over 8 months ago!) I've been seeing loads of A class Mercs in that light blue, so had persuaded myself that was what was going to turn up!
6. Very glad I went for sunroof, beige interior and dark brown wood. So much lighter and airier inside, and none of the dreaded immediate dust buildup that comes with piano black surfaces.
Observations so far...
1. It certainly appears to have the towbar fitted and stowed up behind the bumper, but I'm buggered if I can figure out how to deploy it!
2. If you order the free optional 8m mains charger, you get a nice sensible cable, not a stupid curly one!
3. How the hell do I get to the TV mode? The instructions tell me how to do it, and there's nothing in the specs to suggest it's an optional extra, but when I go into the Media settings, it's not there...
4. Time to get on to the leasing company to figure out how on earth I set up the App when I don't have all the paperwork I'd have if I owned the car...
5. It's not the blue I was expecting it to be, although it is what I ordered, and I'm much happier with it! Ever since I ordered it (over 8 months ago!) I've been seeing loads of A class Mercs in that light blue, so had persuaded myself that was what was going to turn up!
6. Very glad I went for sunroof, beige interior and dark brown wood. So much lighter and airier inside, and none of the dreaded immediate dust buildup that comes with piano black surfaces.
Kermit power said:
It finally arrived this morning!!
Observations so far...
4. Time to get on to the leasing company to figure out how on earth I set up the App when I don't have all the paperwork I'd have if I owned the car...
.
I hope you aren't with Lex as they don't allow a connection to the appObservations so far...
4. Time to get on to the leasing company to figure out how on earth I set up the App when I don't have all the paperwork I'd have if I owned the car...
.
Quick update on MPG
I drove back from Cardiff on Friday following a meeting at work and a night out on Thursday.
As I had the whole day to get home and was feeling a little worse for wear I thought I'd take the journey at a very steady 60-65. Despite a couple of blasts to facilitate overtakes without holding up traffic I managed a very respectable 49.5 MPG. I should add that I started with zero electric range.
A bit of back of a fag packet calculations showed me I could have been home 20-30 minutes earlier had I done 80.
Not sure what it means for my driving style going forward, but there is a certain sense of achievement in getting the most from the car. Also with a little patience and control it can be as economical as a diesel on the motorway.
I drove back from Cardiff on Friday following a meeting at work and a night out on Thursday.
As I had the whole day to get home and was feeling a little worse for wear I thought I'd take the journey at a very steady 60-65. Despite a couple of blasts to facilitate overtakes without holding up traffic I managed a very respectable 49.5 MPG. I should add that I started with zero electric range.
A bit of back of a fag packet calculations showed me I could have been home 20-30 minutes earlier had I done 80.
Not sure what it means for my driving style going forward, but there is a certain sense of achievement in getting the most from the car. Also with a little patience and control it can be as economical as a diesel on the motorway.
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