remote starter for Mercedes

[IVOR BIGGIE]

emailed my dealer to see about a remote starter for my car. Here is the reply.

"they do have one which is installed by a company called Nutek. It can be operated from your existing key(no fobs). It is listed for $1,695 plus HST and has to be ordered "

WTF. It is a 2011 E550 . Any one any ideas for someting more reasonable that will not screw things .

 

[Worf]

I am not a mechanic, but I have heard that these things are not good for your car. If you are putting one in a Mercedes, with a lot of electronic gadgetry, then I would suspect you have to pay to get a good one, and one that doesn't screw around with the vehicle electronics.

 

[eurotrash1970]

emailed my dealer to see about a remote starter for my car. Here is the reply.

"they do have one which is installed by a company called Nutek. It can be operated from your existing key(no fobs). It is listed for $1,695 plus HST and has to be ordered "

WTF. It is a 2011 E550 . Any one any ideas for someting more reasonable that will not screw things .

Buy a Chevy or a Ford.

 

[Moraff]

The price may be high because it is a current model. I was hoping for a particular option in my current car, but to get it I would have had to upgrade to the "sports package" of which the only thing I wanted was the one option. Dealer suggested I check back in a few months as - now that the 2010 models are done - it may become offered as an "a la carte" option at a much more reasonable price.

 

[james t kirk]

Why is it that higher end cars don't come with this option standard?

BTW, my Dealer refused to install one and specifically told me not to even fucking think about installing one at an AM place.

 

[Harley]

On some remote systems the security system in the car has to be disabled for them to work. Hence the dealer refusing to install one.

Harley

 

[Brill]

A remote starter isn't necessary. Driving slowly for a minute or two is the fastest way to warm up the engine and is fine for the car.
Use a block heater if it's extremely cold.

 

[fun-guy]

Maybe he wants to remote start his car to ensure no bombs explode while he's in the car, lol.

 

[69suds]

I ordered one through a dealer once and it was $1,000+. Since then I have it installed elsewhere. It generally costs me less than $300 for a good one.

Check out Future Shop, they have an ok selection and installation is included in the price of the remote starter.

 

[great_times2]

Have a iphone? There is a mercedes app to remote lock, start and locate car....

 

[IVOR BIGGIE]

Dn't think you can start the car, lock and locatre only...but thanks

 

[Asterix]

Dn't think you can start the car, lock and locatre only...but thanks

Just curious, but why do you think you even need the damn thing? To impress chicks?

 

[b1icaj27]

Dealers will always scare you into buying from them with the old you will void the warranty line. My 2011 Ford Escape came with one from the factory , it was part of the winter package, but is a $500 option otherwise which is pretty reasonable.

I just got one for my SO's 2005 Sportage for $400 installed. It was a little more expensive as the Key has a transponder in it for the security system. I had to buy a special module to emulate the transponder key which increased the price a bit.

$2K sounds a little wacky, but if you can use the existing key fob and security system it is worth it. Check the mercedes forums for some opinions of folks that had them installed.

BTW, for you folks wondering why you need them, you obviously live in Toronto. Us folks living north of HWY 9 have to deal with temperatures that are alot lower on average.

 

[IVOR BIGGIE]

Exactly b1icaj27..it gets real cold here. Nice to get in a car in the mornings that is warmed up and the windows don't need scraping..nothing to do with chicks.

 

[b1icaj27]

I should have added:

They are great in the summer as well when you don't feel like getting into a car that is 110 degrees wearing a suit.

 

[Brill]

It's better for the engine if you didn't let it idle to warm the interior. Use an engine heater and park in the garage if you have one.
I thought northerners were a hardier lot and could handle cold weather - guess some are not.

 

[Moraff]

Dealers will always scare you into buying from them with the old you will void the warranty line. My 2011 Ford Escape came with one from the factory , it was part of the winter package, but is a $500 option otherwise which is pretty reasonable.

I don't think it voids the warrenty, but if the cause of the problem can be traced to the add-on, then the warrenty won't cover the costs I'm thinking.