SL/R231: Received a very interesting phone call today!
12-06-2016, 08:08 PM
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,444
Received 3,742 Likes
on
2,138 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Received a very interesting phone call today!
I've been a bit outspoken about my feelings on the exterior colors MB offers these days. I call it "Fifty Shades of Gray," as most colors are variations of black, gray or white. So, I wrote a letter and received a call today from MBUSA.
I was told that starting with the 2018 model year, MB would offer their customers the option of ordering a new SL in ANY color previously offered by MB on any previous model. In addition, I got the idea that this option would be made available on other models as well. I got the idea that this option would be readily offered by dealers and it wouldn't take jumping through hoops to execute. The caller did not have pricing yet.
I realize that MB has been doing some custom order paint jobs previously, but getting a dealer to even admit that custom work is available is like pulling teeth. Most dealers want nothing to do with special orders. To make matters worse, an MB factory custom spray job is rumored to be in the $10,000.00+ range and can take an ADDITIONAL six to nine months to build. The caller gave me the idea that this new option may be more along the lines of current Designo colors, price wise and build time should not be impacted much.
I was very encouraged in hearing this news. Now all I need to hear is that they will have a similar option for interior colors.
I was told that starting with the 2018 model year, MB would offer their customers the option of ordering a new SL in ANY color previously offered by MB on any previous model. In addition, I got the idea that this option would be made available on other models as well. I got the idea that this option would be readily offered by dealers and it wouldn't take jumping through hoops to execute. The caller did not have pricing yet.
I realize that MB has been doing some custom order paint jobs previously, but getting a dealer to even admit that custom work is available is like pulling teeth. Most dealers want nothing to do with special orders. To make matters worse, an MB factory custom spray job is rumored to be in the $10,000.00+ range and can take an ADDITIONAL six to nine months to build. The caller gave me the idea that this new option may be more along the lines of current Designo colors, price wise and build time should not be impacted much.
I was very encouraged in hearing this news. Now all I need to hear is that they will have a similar option for interior colors.
The following users liked this post:
TennesseeZ4 (12-06-2016)
12-06-2016, 08:47 PM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Look at the BMW Individual program, there's no reason MB can't do the same thing. It's awesome being able to use older OEM colors on new cars.
12-07-2016, 03:37 AM
#3
Junior Member
its the same in the UK...........
all the dealer forecourts are FULL of black grey/silver and white............
they must be just used to dealing with the general "sheep" population who just follow the herd!
Brilliant Blue all the way for us
all the dealer forecourts are FULL of black grey/silver and white............
they must be just used to dealing with the general "sheep" population who just follow the herd!
Brilliant Blue all the way for us
The following users liked this post:
Albertt (05-30-2021)
05-27-2021, 11:27 AM
#4
Member
My dealer has no inventory. I've never seen the lot so empty. They're saying the the international shortage of electronic components is affecting production.
05-27-2021, 07:47 PM
#5
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 10,115
Received 3,323 Likes
on
2,057 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
05-28-2021, 06:44 PM
#7
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 10,115
Received 3,323 Likes
on
2,057 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Trending Topics
05-31-2021, 03:00 PM
#8
Super Member
Relating to the original thread, I wonder if "any color previously offered" included Mars Red? They dropped that color due to trouble they had with it during 2017.
05-31-2021, 03:36 PM
#9
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,444
Received 3,742 Likes
on
2,138 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
The prudent thing to have done, would be to determine the problem with the paint and make sure the problem never happened again. Perhaps suspend offering the color until the problem was proven to be 100% cured, but then, bring back the truly gorgeous color. In addition, MB should have immediately bought back each affected vehicle and tossed in a $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 voucher towards a new MB.
Imagine if the defective paint had been BLACK! Imagine if the brand affected by the bad batch of red paint was Ferrari! To be offering a car like the SL and not offering a fabulous, solid color, “fire engine” red, is just NUTS! OK, I’m done now.
05-31-2021, 03:40 PM
#10
Super Member
Maybe, but you're not wrong. If they hadn't cancelled that color, I might have held out for it. That car is beautiful...
05-31-2021, 04:41 PM
#11
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 10,115
Received 3,323 Likes
on
2,057 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
I remember MB changed the paint process for the W220 S-Class and as a result those cars started rusting like there is no tomorrow.
We had one which which MB fully repainted for free. A few years the rust came through again while the car was already out of warranty.
Not sure if due to oversight or proper rust prevention, the car once again was fully repainted, the trunk, fenders and doors & sills replaced. Our cost was 10% of invoice.
Which I thought was more than fair.
We had one which which MB fully repainted for free. A few years the rust came through again while the car was already out of warranty.
Not sure if due to oversight or proper rust prevention, the car once again was fully repainted, the trunk, fenders and doors & sills replaced. Our cost was 10% of invoice.
Which I thought was more than fair.
06-02-2021, 07:24 PM
#12
Out Of Control!!
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: unbegrenzt
Posts: 13,485
Received 4,005 Likes
on
3,147 Posts
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
PSA on Mars Red class action: https://mbworld.org/forums/general-m...-mars-red.html
06-03-2021, 12:46 PM
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 4,334
Received 1,026 Likes
on
744 Posts
2010 E350 4Matic
I remember MB changed the paint process for the W220 S-Class and as a result those cars started rusting like there is no tomorrow.
We had one which which MB fully repainted for free. A few years the rust came through again while the car was already out of warranty.
Not sure if due to oversight or proper rust prevention, the car once again was fully repainted, the trunk, fenders and doors & sills replaced. Our cost was 10% of invoice.
Which I thought was more than fair.
We had one which which MB fully repainted for free. A few years the rust came through again while the car was already out of warranty.
Not sure if due to oversight or proper rust prevention, the car once again was fully repainted, the trunk, fenders and doors & sills replaced. Our cost was 10% of invoice.
Which I thought was more than fair.
