MDMercedesGuy

I just got an email from my sales consultant, and my car has a VIN/was built sometime overnight. I don't have a ship assignment yet - but it should come along shortly.

For those of you with SA builds - do you know how long it was from the time the ship left port until the time it reached the East Coast VPC?

2012c350

JEALOUS!!!! Hope I get the same news tomorrow!

Sportstick

Congratulations!! Glad to see you're a reasonable enough guy not to demand seeing the long form manufacturer's certificate of origin!

Just a note regarding trying to stay on top of the timing. VIN assignment and build do not occur simultaneously. The VIN is assigned days to a week before production usually occurs, starting with body framing. If a VIN was just assigned, that means production was scheduled, but may be days away. If the car came off-line overnight, it probably started the build yesterday, but had a VIN assigned days ago. Either way, the variance is likely less than a week, and less than the vagueries of port operations on either side of the Atlantic!

MDMercedesGuy

What makes you think I haven't already printed and framed the long form?

He was able to verify that it has actually been built for me. The data card isn't in WIS yet, though - which is mildly irritating, but I am being irrational in expecting it that soon.

Glyn M Ruck

Congrats! - enjoy the build up to final shipping & arrival!

2012c350

> The data card isn't in WIS yet, though

What is "WIS"?

MDMercedesGuy

I believe it stands for "Workshop Information System" - basically the parts and repair catalog.

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/

It's expensive and very esoteric, but it has a ton of info. I've still got 2 days left on my subscription from where I was doing some work on the smart so I figured I would scour it for stuff for my new C.

I'd like to see a writeup/steps for oil changes and the like. I don't know too much about the M271 EVO engine, but would like to know it in and out prior to my first oil change.

Sportstick

In this case, I think it's

Where Is Sedan?

2012c350

Pete7874

Or Where Is my Sh!t.


On a related note, how do MB employees (or anyone for that matter) pronounce WIS? Do they say 'wizz' or do they say double-u, I, S? I want to mention WIS documentation to my service advisor and don't want to sound incompetent.

Glyn M Ruck

double-u, I, S

Pete7874

Thanks, Glyn!

nigellin

You can ask your sales to dump VII screen from their NetStar system. Below are the status code info.
A4 FINAL SUPPLIER ORDER/SCHEDULED NOT PRODUCED
B0 19 DAYS TO PRODUCTION
B1 13 DAYS TO PRODUCTION
B3 NO CHANGES POSSIBLE
B4 2 DAYS TO COMPLETION
B5 PRODUCTION COMPLETE
B7 AT PORT/READY TO BE SHIPPED
B8 ASSIGNED TO SHIP
C1 SHIP DEPARTED
C2 SHIP NOTIFICATION/ON WQTER
CS SUMITTED TO CUSTOMS
C3 CLEARED CUSTOMS
C4 AT PORT
D1 VPC RECEIVED
D2 SURVEYED AT VPC
D3 POTENTIAL DELAY
D4 READY TO DELIVER
D5 RELEASED TO CARRIER
D9 WHOLESALE/CONSIGNMENT PENDING
F1 WHOLESALED AND INVOICED
I1 RETAIL
My car was shipped on 1/8/2012 from Germany. The scheduled arrival to VPC (Vehicle Preparation Center) at LA is 2/4/2012. I checked myself the ship should be at port on 2/1/2012. This might give you some idea how long it will take. I ordered my C350 back in Sep. 2011. It took me more than 5 months to get my car. Hope it's worth the wait.

2012c350

Got an e-mail from my sales guy. My girl has been given a name (VIN...) and she's currently at the B4 stage in South Africa. My son turned 15 today and keeps telling me this is his birthday present...buahahahaha...NOT

MDMercedesGuy

Congratulations!

I'm going to email my sales guy in a minute and see if I can get the same result tomorrow.

I'm thinking about rolling up there this weekend. I'd like to drive a C250 again... just to tide me over for the next month or so.

2012c350

Do you know if the 250 and 350 use the same sequential numbering in the vin? I'd assume so if they're both considered the same model (C-class). Be interesting to see how far apart they were from each other in the assembly line by comparing vins.

oh yea...I did 'steal' your sig as a template because I didn't know what else to say...sorry/thanks.

MDMercedesGuy

I'd presume the last 6 would be sequential. I'll PM you my VIN and let's compare.

It's kinda funny - other than color, your car is equipped almost exactly like what I originally wanted. The only real difference is that I originally was going to order the sunshades. After thinking about it - I couldn't justify the shades since I am getting tinted, and I don't parallel park enough to justify Parktronic.

The more sigs the merrier... once I find out what my status code is, it's getting added.

2012c350

Our cars were almost even closer than they are. I was on the fence between black and palladium silver. Not quite grey...but closer than black. I'm curious what your status is showing now being that (as I PMed) mine claims that it had a confirmed VIN and is now B4 but the VIN on my printout is missing the sequence part...???

2012c350

Still no status update on mine. Just sent an e-mail to salesguy...hopefully there's been progress from B4.

nigellin

My car arrived at port on 2/2/2012. Just got another VII screen shot from my sales today after asking him to send me for the last four days, my car's status is now C4. It took a crazy long time.

MDMercedesGuy

That's about right for the Bremerhaven - Baltimore trip. I waited that month for my smart to get here.

Until now, that was the longest month ever.

C300Kid

I kinda want to order my next car so i can enjoy the wait. Watching you go through it makes it seem like a thrill haha. Amazingly I've always bought off the lot.

I have a very specific idea of what I want in my next car though, so I'm thinking this will be the time.

Btw, congrats

MDMercedesGuy

Thanks, Kyle!

I've become insufferable at work. I think they are contemplating giving me an office with a door so they don't have to deal with me.