bluesheaven

I was checking the inventory with a local dealer ( CAL) and found all new cars arriving next month come from South Africa.

Moviela

Is there a point here? South Africa has a long history of building quality automobiles. I would never hesitate to purchase any product from South Africa. The wines from the Cape reigon are deightful. Buy a case at BevMo and bring them home in a new C class. What could be nicer?

chilledbenz

I think I know where he is coming from though. You look at Mercedes and think Germany..not South Africa. Nothing against South Africa, I'm sure they produce just as good of a car as the guys in Germany, but I'm all for tradition. Had my salesman double check to make sure mine was being built in Germany. I wonder if South Africa is just building "filler cars" or cars that haven't been special ordered and are just for filling dealer stock. Anyone know what the rhyme or reason behind where a car is built?

itcrashed

my special order C300 is coming from SA. i dont have a problem with that.

RLE

<<I was checking the inventory with a local dealer ( CAL) and found all new cars arriving next month come from South Africa.>>

Omigosh. Will they be right-hand drive, then?

jrct9454

Get used to it. The SA plant is targeted to produce a significant percentage of the cars for our market. So what? Their quality scores are as high or higher than the Bremen plant. If you really need to sweat this, buy a BMW 3er...oops, no, a large number of their cars for our market ALSO come from South Africa...oh, well...

thaihula

wasn't your ML built in USA?

Krytech

I requested to get one being built in Germany just because I don't want my first German car built somewhere else. That's the only reason, though I've heard really good things about their SA plant so it wouldn't bother me otherwise.

chilledbenz

Yeah..Alabama along side the R and GL classes. BMW X5 and Z4's are built in South Carolina and pretty much every Honda Accord and Civic is built in Ohio. The list goes on and on, doesn't really bother me, I just like the idea of a Benz being built in Germany lol.

Dema

I've spotted Toyota plant in Fremont Ca. But Benz must be built in Germany. I wouldn't buy it if it made somewhere else.

CarGuru

Does anyone know how to tell where the car was built? I could care less, just out of curiosity. I would rather not have to call the dealer to find out if it says it someplace on the car or in the vin?

-Ryan

Roberto

Well I ordered mine last week of Sept. (9/23 I think) and I oice mail from yesterday told me that my car is ready to be shiped and it is German and will takeabout 30 days , most probable at the 1st week of Dec.

chilledbenz

Theres a thread on this board where someone posted a link where you enter your vin number in and it will tell you. Someone also broke down the vin numbers and told you what they stood for. Wish I would have saved that link now doh! Can always try looking at the sticker on the inside of the drivers side door frame. That usually tells you where it was built and the build date, unless they just use a generic sticker for the location.

alexyanglaw

Me too, I order mine on 08-06-2007 and got it on 10-25-2007, and it is made in Germany, I dont have a problem if it is made in SA, but if people can choose, most people will choose to be build in Germany for their MB

Rick Hunter

It should be on the window stickers that came with your car. Mine was stuck on the front window drivers side (something like "Assembled in: Bremen, Germany; % Parts from Germany, yadda yadda). Usually that data is on the New Vehicle summary sticker they place on the driver's side rear window, but it wasn't.

I guess as of now until the end of the W204 run, all US destined W204s will be assembled at the Oos London plant, South Africa. Apparently it's huge news for that local community. *LINK* I'm sure that will be just fine, but I can understand some people's reactions about the car being assembled outside of Germany.