Running Boards for EQS SUV
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Hi Thorben,
I don't know the answer to your question. But, I do have a comment that might possibly be of use to you.
When preparing to order my EQE SUV here in Sweden, I looked at an EQC in the showroom, as the dealer told me it was very roughly the same size/style as the EQE SUV. I wanted to get an idea of what it was like to sit in a mid-sized SUV, as I have never owned one before. I also wanted to know more about the running boards, which this EQC had. I found that even though the car was an SUV, it was still low enough to enter easily, without using the running board (I am 177 cm). Using the running board to enter was also possible. BUT...here is the surprise... the ergonomics for exiting the vehicle are simply BAD. The running board is not "deep" enough for you to use it as a step to exit the vehicle, thus you must have your foot parallel to the vehicle, which simply doesn't work. So, to exit, you need to bypass running board and step directly to the ground...but this is made very difficult by the existence of the running board. You have to move your leg way away from the car to clear the running board. You will also drag your pants along the (probably dirty) edge of the running board.
I realize you're looking at an EQS and not an EQE... but I expect the situation would probably be the same. You really want to try this out in a showroom somewhere, before you buy the running boards!
I don't know the answer to your question. But, I do have a comment that might possibly be of use to you.
When preparing to order my EQE SUV here in Sweden, I looked at an EQC in the showroom, as the dealer told me it was very roughly the same size/style as the EQE SUV. I wanted to get an idea of what it was like to sit in a mid-sized SUV, as I have never owned one before. I also wanted to know more about the running boards, which this EQC had. I found that even though the car was an SUV, it was still low enough to enter easily, without using the running board (I am 177 cm). Using the running board to enter was also possible. BUT...here is the surprise... the ergonomics for exiting the vehicle are simply BAD. The running board is not "deep" enough for you to use it as a step to exit the vehicle, thus you must have your foot parallel to the vehicle, which simply doesn't work. So, to exit, you need to bypass running board and step directly to the ground...but this is made very difficult by the existence of the running board. You have to move your leg way away from the car to clear the running board. You will also drag your pants along the (probably dirty) edge of the running board.
I realize you're looking at an EQS and not an EQE... but I expect the situation would probably be the same. You really want to try this out in a showroom somewhere, before you buy the running boards!
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I can't answer your question directly, but I did retrofit running boards on a X166 GL-450. The running boards were at least 50% more expensive than they are as a factory option. Installing them required removing the side skirts and replacing them with running board compatible side skirts (which were included with the running boards). The jack points on the SUV had to be removed and a jack point extender was installed so that the jack points could be lowered. Otherwise lift arms would contact the running boards before the jack points. The jack point extenders and new jack points were included with the running board kit. The cable harness in the car did not have the connector for the light plug that comes with the running boards. I ended up tapping into the sill light cable connector to power the running board lights.
Even though the running boards make exiting the SUV awkward and frequently soil your pant leg, my wife used them to help get into the vehicle. I frequently used a roof top carrier for my business, and the running board helps when accessing the roof top carrier.
I suspect that retrofitting running boards on the EQS or EQE SUVs will be similar to what I did on the GL-450. I did the install myself over a couple of days, in January laying on the driveway. If you have a dealer do the install, they will probably charge between $1000 and $2000 on top of the running board kit, since they will take the interior of the car apart to install the proper cable harness for the running boards.
BTW, the jack points on the EQS are the same ones as those used on the X166.
Hi Thorben,
I can appreciate that, and of course, you need to make the decision that's right for you. To put my comments into perspective -- I too really like the look of the running boards, but I would not take them even if MB or the Dealer were to offer them to me for zero cost!
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I have an EQS 580 SUV on order. (Put the order in Oct 15, scheduled for production in this coming May's 2nd decade!) Anyway, it has been confirmed with the illuminated running boards even though they are nowhere to be found in the website build and price. I didn't expect them to be much for functionality, and it looks like that's the case. It was a cosmetic thing mostly for me, although MB says they have aerodynamic value. Apparently they will affect the AMG line options, even though it's a Pinnacle trim.
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Mercedes says they increase the range due to aerodynamics. Did they ever put a number on that?
I think it was in one of the many Paris EQE SUV introduction/review videos I heard a MB engineer state to the reviewer that the running boards helped with aerodynamic efficiency, mumbling some seemingly miniscule improvement number to the coefficient. Unfortunately, I don't remember exactly what it was. I just made a note to self that the improvement was absolutely NOT enough to be interesting when making range-improvement decisions.
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Fair enough, that's the impression I had as well.
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That was the first thing i wanted to get for my SUV when i bought it. I was quoted by my local MB parts guy for over $2000 for the Illuminated running board & $1600 for non-illuminated not including labor. The part numbers are not available in their systems for your SUV if it doesn't come with running board. you need to find a Vin # from a EQS450 with running board if you want it.
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If you use an EQS 450 VIN you may get parts with a matte black finish. If think you will need a VIN from a 580 with running boards to get a set that will match the AMG exterior trim which is standard with the 580.
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You ae correct, it is matte black, but I haven't seen a 580 with running board. Anyone seen a 580 with running board please take down the Vin#.
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I am in US as well and looking to order them. Do you know how much they are charging?
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I should also note that I ordered my car in October of 2022. The original production date was November 2023!!!! It has now moved back to May 2023. No doubt options like these running boards and the huge glass for the MBUX hyperscreen are hung up in the supply chain and contributing to this delay.
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