ADD0514

I'm in CA and the lemon law deals with failure to repair a single problem after multiple attempts or failure to correct a serious problem. My E300 suffered minor cosmetics and electrical issues which were promptly corrected by my local dealer. Issues relating to the COMAND system requires longer troubleshooting and often the local dealer had to wait for assistance from MB. For example, currently the dealer is waiting for a "master disc" from MB to update the navigation software, which won't arrive until February! In the meanwhile, they are keeping it for extended test drives to troubleshoot other issues.
The bright side is I get to test drive all permutations of the E300. I'm driving a nice luxury version today. It's creamy and quiet, no stomping on the gas pedal required.

c4004matic

For me it would still be a major pain, I live 90 miles from the closest dealer. If its a minor issue, i.e., a dead door LED, I just leave it for the regular maintenance appointment. At least your dealer has the courtesy to provide a similar loaner. I've always had the distinct displeasure of getting CLA's with variety of issues. The first one had a horrible interior plastic smell (there was a TSB on that issue to replace the whole interior!) the second had a busted rear speaker, plus, I hate the CLA since it has no rear space and the engine/transmission combo is wholly dysfunctional.

jdawg21

I'm not sure we're reading the same thread? I believe the gentlemen that bought that S8 was pissed at MB because the discount of his order E43 was only $1000. So we aren't comparing S8 to E300. I myself am due for lease turn in 8 months from now and if I can't get a decent discount or the lease is outrageous on an E43 I'll sure be walking to BMW for my next car. I'm assuming the lease for the E43 is a $1000 or more a month right now, which I can lease a $120k s class for a couple hundred more as well as an M5 around the same price range. I'm all set with the pseudo AMG being wayyyy overpriced for just the v6 motor. But to each ther own!

dieseldoc

I totally agree with you. E43 is a nice car but not a real AMG. Should have a better discount.

c4004matic

Discount on a preorder for a new model are you guys nuts? 1k is more than generous. Next year is a different story.

dieseldoc

Got a discount on my GLC when I ordered it the first week Nov 15. It was not huge but still got something. The cars were not even released in the US yet.

c4004matic

1000 dollars is a discount! Again if you want a decent discount you wait a year and of vourse it still depends on how well its selling. If MB is selling every car it makes, dont count on more than a token.

ngerstman

I would have been very happy with the e43, should be a great car. As a matter of fact it would suit me more than an e63, didn't want a full blown AMG. But as I said before, my timing is a bit off, need a car now. With the 8-9% discounts on e300's, I just couldn't pay $20,000 for the same car to go up to the 6. I have been intrigued by the s8 for a few months and got a great deal on a 2016 s8 plus, so off to Audi and a completely different auto experience. I drove the e300 before I ordered the e43 and was actually surprised how fast it was off the line, felt great, just wish it had a bunch more ponies, even as a four. Probably would have stuck with the e43 if they met me halfway, but they wouldn't budge. I know it seems silly to walk for $5,000-6,000 and then go spend more money elsewhere but I'm happy I did, the s8 is crazy, runs circles around an s550, even an s63 which costs way more. Enjoy all. Regards. Ned.

c4004matic

Unless you are an avawed lead foot, I don't think the 300 will disappoint you. It is a surprisingly dynamic car.

ngerstman

Old habits die hard. I'm coming from a 2011 e550 and a 2001 e55 with full Kleeman mods and 525 hp. I do enjoy the power, as many Mercedes fans do as well. As you said, most should be thrilled with the e300, for some it's just not enough. Regards. Ned.

ADD0514

1/ There's a MB dealer operated by FJ literally a mile away from my place. They will not get a dime from me. I drive 30 minutes to the one that provides service without the attitudes.
2/ This dealer has a pool of loaners from CLA to E class vehicles and they try to match you up with the same type of car that you have, which is nice. My lower back got a kink today and I'm so glad they gave me an E300 with P2, which has the heated massaging seats!
3/ I got CLA and GLA from time to time. Your descriptions are apt about them.
4/ 90 Miles! You're one die hard MB customer.

c4004matic

Its not so much devotion as the fact that I live in the "sticks" WI 😀

ngerstman

You should have one of those original Hummers with gun racks to scare off the back woodsmen. Regards. Ned.

Yeezus

I stopped by to drop my car for service to look at the e class, been wanting to get my hands on it for a while. Had my wife with me as well, and she is a big Mercedes fan so we both got in and test drove one.


from the outside the car has beautiful lines but I just wish it would be a little more different looking compared to the rest of the line up. I'm glad the have two drl led, I can tell from afar it's a new e class, same with the tail lights but I only see the dust effect up close; not when I'm 100 feet away on the highway. I was suprised they even offered a moonroof. I thought it was just panorama or no roof at all so I'm glad but I love the look of the panorama more.


exterior wise I think it looks great it's just we are now at a different time with Mercedes, so the cars will look similar.


interior wise, I think this is one of the biggest reasons I will buy this car when it hits that 38-42k mark. It was beautiful, I've seen at night how great ambient lighting looks and wow.

this is miles ahead to any German car. Audi looks great but the interior is lacking the emotion that Mercedes has. I asked my sales/friend he said the e isn't selling like crazy, the old used e hit 30k range and everyone is buying those. i think I'm gonna wait for the refresh cls and see what to do from there. But this car just needs a bit of tweaking to become a great car, which I think the e43 will do.

ADD0514

I took the grand tour of CA this weekend, driving from the Bay Area down to Orange Co., Imperial Co., Burbank, then the back roads back to the BA. I encountered a single E300 during the trip - I kid you not! There were plenty of S, C, and GL class; Specially the S550/CLS500/S600/GL450-550 in certain SoCal pockets. The weather was perfect, stretching from bright, clear to stormy down pours and gusty winds. Here are some observations.

HIGHLIGHTS
- I twisted my back the day before the trip and had real worries about the long drive. The heated & massaging seats actually helped with eliminating the back pain and fatigue for the entire 2 days I spent in the car.
- I've made the same trip in other cars, including the GL450 and the E400. The E300 has plenty of quirts but provides a superior experience when it comes to comfort, quietness, interior space, and sheer fun to drive factors.
- I did not miss the V6 at all. The E300 has enough torque for passing and going up the passes at high speeds. I often reached 110-120MPH at the completion of a pass with ease and without feeling any hint of turbo lag.
- The E300 loves to gobble up the road at 90-100MPH - The car feels completely boring at this speed. At one point, I was accompanied by a GL450 and a Honda Accord, trading lead and moving at a sustained 95-110MPH clip with no drama what so ever. I was simply moving along with the pack and discussing classic rocks with my passenger for much of the trip.
- NVH are well controlled, though wind noise becomes noticeable at 120MPH and above.
- I steered around a few unforeseen obstructions in the road at high speed with complete control of the car, without the usual white-knuckled moments.
- The E300 felt unflappable driving through the storm in LA and the Pacheco pass.
- The Crosswind Stabilization feature really works. I could see the tree tops swinging wildly while the car remained stable like a rock.
- The LED headlights and the brakes are fantastic.

GRIPES
- The navigation system works fine most of the time. but when it sucks, it SUCKS big time.
- Music searching is a PITA.

At the end, I got home with very little wear and tear. Driving the E300 was enjoyable and not a chore as I had felt with some other cars. The design of the interior provides a very relaxed environment and plenty of "personal" space for the occupants, which make trips like this very pleasurable. The E300 is a great car, which begs a question - If they sell well, where the heck are they?

mjsbenz

It was great to read your post as to how satisfied you are with your new E300.

Mine was delivered on January 20th and my maiden voyage was very enjoyable as well.

Why are the E300s not selling as well?

I think it is less about the resistance by some to the Turbo 4 Cylinder and more about the pricing.

My previous MB was a 2015 350 W4 and there were significant discounts that made the monthly lease price very attractive. IIRC there was a conquest incentive of about $3,000 and another "fleet" incentive that was then stackable. And the money factor was subvented as well.

With similar MSRPs, the 2017 E300 is more than $100 a month more expensive. It is tough to make a person want to spend another $100 or more and also deal with the turbo 4 cylinder motor. There will be incentives in the future as MB wants to make its numbers.

c4004matic

Guys give it some time, the C class was the same thing. The first year they were fairly sparse, now it feels like MB is giving them away there are so many. I saw an E 43 in Chicago this weekend someone must have bought a wet one off the boat or it was a dealer car. It looked awesome!!!! I still have a 2mth+ wait

ADD0514

I also saw an MB passing me in the opposite direction in Diamond Bar that peaked my curiosity, couldn't verify the badge but all visual cues matched the E43.
I guess for the old schools, a less flashy exterior plus 4 banger in the E class is not a proper combination. IMO, the new E feels like it's ready to dance at any time, it has much more relaxed and yet sharper manner than the old E, a very pleasing and open cabin - All lead to an improved driving experience which will not be apparent in short stints. I dodged a crash scene that had tires and and bumpers strewn all over the lanes - which had occurred just moments before I got there at about 80MPH - I went up and down mountain passes in hard rains, the new E maintained its absolute composure through all these. I felt I was in total control and did not experience ANY anxiety in these unexpected and less than ideal situations. This alone, is worth the trade off to me.

Benzinini

Again, I don't think anyone is stating the E300 is not a fine automobile.This is not a" bash the E300 thread" . I believe the reluctance for most people to buy it at this time,especially coming from the 212 E350 such as myself, is that after a test drive, some find the performance unsatisfactory and as stated by others, not worth the extra cash. It is simply this, the E400 is available in other markets and we want it here. There has been no credible explanation for it not being offered here. Why is this same engine being offered in the wagon and as I believe, the upcoming coupe and not in the sedan? Are they planning to release this at a later date? I would probably buy one now(E300) if I did not have a secondary vehicle, and also the fact that I know I will never forgive MBUSA if 6 months down the road the E400 is offered here.

Mike__S

One credible explanation is the CAFE regulations. Truck rules, which conveniently include SUV and some Crossovers have much lower fuel economy targets. This has distorted the market place by insisting on much higher passenger car fleet mileage than that for truck fleets from each manufacturer. That is really about the size of it.

Welcome to your congressionally mandated two liter world. Thankfully, the World Rally Championship in 1988 mandated a 10 year run of two liter, turbocharged, AWD cars at 5,000 units per manufacturer. At least everyone knows how to make them today.

There were large political considerations in thinking CAFE fuel economy bias this would protect Detroit's one time dominance of the light truck/SUV market. The long term effect is something quite different. Everybody sells SUV's now and cars have two liter motors.

Consumer preference has a lot to do with it too. The upper 10% income prestige SUV market is hot, the prestige sedan market is almost dying, quietly right in front of our eyes.

One other severe problem is the prestige of owning a 'fine' car and the practicality of a heavy lease payment are both seeing significant demographic shifts. Established professionals (and not all of them these days) and business owners excepted, but for the rest the 2008-2010 recession was a real eye opener. The labor market and job security for upper income earners has become much more fluid and uncertain. Why lease an expensive car, if all you need is a car to get to work to afford a car? In the early 2000's some forgot this fact. Especially a really expensive car.

Of course many actual new Mercedes buyers and lessees think themselves perfectly middle class and may wonder at such claims. I thought so myself until one day it dawned on me that in fact, our family and most of my acquaintances were in the upper 5% of wealth. Even this group saw severe individual financial stress in the past decade they sincerely wish to not repeat.

ADD0514

Just bantering about the trip. There's nothing wrong with expecting a better version of an already good car.

As usual, you get the nail on the head. In order to move a lot of high margin SUV product lines, car manufacturers have to balance the CAFE requirements some where else. In this case, the E series.

CanadianEKlass

2016 was the best year ever for Mercedes-Benz USA, as the American branch reports sales of 380,752 cars....The most popular model in December was still the C-Class sedan, with 7,345 units sold. The GLE SUV follows close behind, wih 5,574 models delivered. The new E-Class gets on the podium as well, with 4,851 units sold.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA
Sales — December 2016
Mercedes-Benz
Passenger Vehicles E-CLASS/CLS
Dec-16 4,851
Dec-15 5,580
Monthly % -13.1%
YTD 2016 50,896
YTD 2015 55,888
Yearly % -8.9%


Source:http://mercedesblog.com

ngerstman

All things being equal, it should have been a record year for Mercedes as 2016 was the all time record for US auto sales. Just how well the new e class is selling would take a deeper dive of analysis as there are so many moving parts such as availability, the fact that it was the new model which should have resulted in pent up demand from those who put off upgrading with the new model expected, etc. I'm one long time Mercedes customer who jumped ship with the dissatisfaction of engine options and money grab of the e43 and dealer gauging. Regards. Ned.

c4004matic

I would bet the E class sales numbers include the previous model. Furthermore, that also includes all models, as we all know only the sedan is W213, coupes, etc. are still W212. Personally, I haven't see any W213 (except for the suspected E43) in "the wild" yet. In my neck of the woods most MB's are SUV's by a long shot.

mjsbenz

Ned,

It is unfortunate that Mercedes was unable to retain your business. I think the issue of the turbo 4 was way overblown and now that I have mine for a almost of week, I am very pleased with the performance (and I do have a "need for speed". A few photos of my new car. Sorry that for some reason photos are coming in sideways. Help!