[Merc1]

Originally Posted by klier

I think it is because the piece of wood in that area is exactly the same shape in every 5er, regardless of transmission and before and after the facelift. Because SMG and Steptronic transmissions have a different shape than the manual, they put the piece of plastic there to fill up the holes. That is probably cheaper than a differently shaped piece of wood in every 5er...

Oh ok, I see. Yeah that is cheaper than cutting a different shape of wood for each car. Even the might BMW has to cut costs somewhere I guess. The day Mercedes started putting blank buttons in cars without certain options I knew the cost cutters had gotten their way.

M

[bmwownage]

I have just seen this thread talking about the plastic to cover up the different size of the gear lever unit..
Looking at the E46, it's actually the same, the whole space is only used up with manual, with the steptronic automatic, it is still a plastic covering it, then with the DSG option, it is aluminum that covers up for the unused space. Every car is like that isn't it? Who will be bothered to put a different piece of trim just because one is auto and one is manual? The preFL was actually the same, but there were PRNDS display on the side which looks like the whole space has been used.

[GTA8.5]

lOl, the f/l 5-series front spolier is exactly like that of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Right down to the same (lens) shape of the foglights. I always thought something looked very familiar.