bloozeman

I sort of agree with Jesse... I just picked up my 06 GS300 AWD last week and I was expecting much more from the ML stereo. I feel like when I test drove the car the sound was much better. I feel it lacks bass... I set the bass all the way to the max and only then do I feel the bass. I also noticed that when I turn the "surround" off it sounds better. Does this make sense? I would assume "surround" makes for a better sound?

I personally leave the "surround" setting off since it activates a DSP chipset that either emulates DPL (dolby pro logic) or some variant. In other words it turns a 2-channel audio track into a 7.1 presentation. The vocals and most of the font left/right is "blended" into the center channel speaker (center speaker on top of the dash), etc. Thus, unless you are watching a DVD while on the road (with the hack) or parked you are probably better off with "surround" disengaged.

As for the bass, boy you have a completely different experience than I do. I am constantly adjusting the bass (mostly turning it down) depending on the CD, DVD-A, or FM station in my GS430. For the FM radio I barely have it 2 to 3 "clicks" above "zero" of the EQ. However, for most CDs or DVD-As I have to lower it to "zero". In other words the ML bass response in my GS430 is fantastic and the ML is one of the things I love about the car. I can put in one of the worst produced CDs of all time and get the ML to render it quite well - way better than the stereo in my previous GS400. Of course on the other hand well produced DVD-As, e.g., Steely Dan's Gaucho is just absolutely flat out amazing on the ML.

Definitely the starter... learned the hard way with my 98 GS400 cuz its starter gave out at roughly 85K. The dealer charged $1K for starter and labor due to the manifold issue.

Thanks a lot bro your input shed some light into what to get when tinting

I agree... thanks for the info. If anything starts even looking sqirly with my tint over the next year or so I will make the dealer redo it with ceramic tint. One of the biggest reasons I had it done at the dealer was because on top of the $4400 I got off of MSRP on my fully loaded 430 I also negotiated any "after market" options at their cost. :D I had my 98 GS400 serviced with them for the past 8 years so I know I will not have any issues getting them to redo anything I am not satisfied with.

Oh and when I said anything greater that 30 I did mean darker, i.e., 20, 15, etc. On my Flint Mica exterior with ash/black interior 30 looks pretty dark but I may have gone a little darker on the sides if it wasn't for the laws here in AZ.

Not sure what film they used at my dealer but I know it isn't the crappy dyed variety. I have 30 on the sides and 20 in the rear. Can't do anything greather than 30 on the driver and passenger windows here in AZ. :-(

I'd be interested in the same information as well. Presently I am just running my V-1 from the cigarette lighter (as I did in my GS400) but with the Navigation and ML I'd like to hide the powercord if possible.

I just had my 2006 GS430 tinted by the dealer and so far so good. I believe the sensor under the brake light in the rear window is actually the sensor that the dashboard uses to react to ambient light for glare, etc. I am not sure where the GPS is. I am not sure what film the dealer used but it definitely does not seem to affect the GPS at all.

I finally just made the leap from my 98 GS400 to a 2006 GS430 and I can not say that the angle of the HID is an issue. It does seem a bit low but I definitely would not classify this as an issue and of course as others have pointed out it I am sure it can be manually adjusted.

I had the timing belt changed and the 90K service performed on my 98 GS400 at 85K and it did definitely make a difference. I also needed new brakes for the rear so I believe the total bill was about $1600! The only regret is that I ended up trading the 98 in a fews later on a 2006 430. I should have sold it private party because it was definitely worth more than what I got for the trade. However, I just did not want to have to deal with selling it myself given all the crap going on in my life now.