SKYKING44

In late May I was looking for a new C350 for my wife and after looking through out the U.S. I decided to order one built to my specifications. My dealer said he had a build date around June 20th and the car should be here early July.
I ordered the car. Received confirmation of the order and it stated it was a 2014-1 vehicle. The car was built on June 14th, shipped to the U.S. on June 19th and arrived at the Baltimore port on July 2. Normal ship time to Minnesota is three days.

Expecting the car to be delivered this week, I called to check on the status of the car today. The dealer told me Mercedes has not assigned a "Release" date for the car. He does not know why. Mercedes has not responded to his request as to why or when the car will be released.

Have any other board members ordered a C Class in the past month?
Have any members seen a 2014 at any dealerships?

Just to confirm, this is not the new 2015 model. It is still a W204 built in Germany. The new 2015 will be built in Alabama.

Appreciate any help.
Thanks.

vic viper

September is usually the switchpoint of model years

MercedesBenz23

The dealership in my town is already giving deals on them hosting a release party. Sept 1st in the official date

ralawren

My dealer told me possibly the end of August for a 2014MY W204. But it might be September before they are released. When I purchased my 2012 C204 it sat at the port for a couple weeks until MB Corporate decided to release it. It was released in September.

MDMercedesGuy

Did you specify 07P for German build, or is that where your order just ended up?

mrmarie

the w205 will be available in 2015 not 2014?

Drazil

Is there a way to find out where your car was built? I looked at a bunch of C's and all the VINs started with "W".

SKYKING44

Thank you for your responses.

Did you specify 07P for German build, or is that where your order just ended up?
When I ordered the car, I knew it would be built in Germany because it was a 2014 W204 and I knew the new car, W205 would be built in Alabama starting in 2015. I wanted the car as soon as possible because we wanted to get rid of the BMW.

the w205 will be available in 2015 not 2014?
Yes. The new W205 has not been revealed to the world yet. Probably later this year or early next year.

Still waiting for the dealer to provide "official" information from MBUSA. I can't believe the dealer was not aware or was not told, the car ordered would not be delivered until late August or September. I traded her BMW in on the new car and was told I would have it by mid-July.






Is there a way to find out where your car was built? I looked at a bunch of C's and all the VINs started with "W".

SKYKING44

I know the car was built in Germany. MBUSA confirmed it was and provided the ship name and shipping date information from Bremerhaven Port on June 19th. They also confirmed the car's arrival at the Baltimore Port on July 2nd.

MDMercedesGuy

It is good that you found that your car came through Bremerhaven if you were determined to get a German build. The vast majority of US C classes hail from East London, South Africa.

Drazil:
You can't determine build location from the VIN itself without records, SA built C's also have a VIN beginning with W. Short of seeing the window sticker, I think you would have to go back to MB - and I am not sure if they would have that information.

MBFrankie

SKYKING44 -

I was in the same boat as you. Ordered a 2014 C Coupe - it's been sitting in Baltimore since last Friday - but got word today they are being shipped out today. So it should arrive as early as this weekend or as late as Tuesday July 23. Got the text from the dealership this AM....

SKYKING44

Great news and congratulations.

As of yesterday, my salesman said he has no "release" date. MBUSA status still says "At Port".

I have learned the 2014 C350's have a Black grill. The dealers received a notice from MBUSA telling them the differences between a 2013 and 2014. I can't believe that is the only change.

Appreciate your information on a 2014 C Class being "released"
What city do you live in?

Today is the salesman's day off so will have to wait until tomorrow to hopefully get updated information.

ralawren

There were not many changes on the March version of the MY2014 Order Guide. The silver slats in the grill are blacked out, the standard wheels on a C350 are a new 18" and the 17" AMG wheels are no longer available. I think the split rear seats are also standard.

MB may have made other changes but they were not noted.

SKYKING44

ralawren, Thanks for your information.

The dealer has confirmed, only C Class Coupes have been released by MBUSA.
No sedans. He thinks it is because there are a lot of 2013 C204s on the dealer's lots. What he cannot understand is why they will not release a "Sold" car to dealers that have customers waiting for their car.

Anxious to see the new 18" standard wheels as well as the upgrade AMG sport package wheels.

MBFrankie

SKYKING - I live in Lexington, KY. Sounds like the wait is close to over..

Ron Jr

Just got my MY2013 C300 on Tuesday night. I wanted a Coupe but no Black on Black were available locally he did have a silver grey 2014 that he tried to sell me but I have to have black. I asked if a 2014 C300 was available and looking on his computer all they had on the lot were 2013's.

mrmarie

the 2014 C sedan will be the new shape or the same facelift shape?

ralawren

MY2014 will still be the current body style, W204. The new US assembled W205 will be available summer 2014.

bobblehead

I am in Canada. I ordered C300 4-dr sedan and the car not released yet and sitting in Halifax for the last few weeks already. My dealer is hoping it will be released first week of August.

My dealer does not understand why MB Canada is holding them but are aware that they are still 300+ leftovers MY2013 still not sold as of this month.

bobblehead

Update:

My dealer (Canada) just told me today they can begin to release the 2014 C class on August 1 and there is a 1.5% increase in base price over 2013.

SKYKING44

Today, my dealer called and, after my ORDERED 2014 C350 sedan has BEEN SITTING at the Port of Baltimore for a month, advised me the car will not be released for ANOTHER MONTH.
When the order was placed in May, I was told the car would be built June 20 with a delivery date around mid-July. The actual build date was June 14 and it arrived at the port on July 2nd.
Over the past month, the dealer has requested the release date many times and either the zone rep or MBUSA has not responded or said they would get back to the dealer, with no results, until today.

I am a bit protective of my vehicles and never have I had a car sit outside other than when I am driving it. This new car is sitting outside in the Port's un-protected holding lot, in the hottest time of the year with the sun, harsh weather, and salt air.

The car is for my wife and Mercedes really let us down by taking away the fun and enjoyment out of what should be a pleasant experience.

Let's see if Mercedes will publish this in their "Owner's Experience" news letter.

bobblehead

^ I got the call last week and going to pick up my 14 C300 tomorrow (7/30). Dealer actually released it, even though MB Canada says August 1.

SKYKING44

Congratulations. Please post photos when you get it.

makeinu0

That's pretty wack.
Make sure you inspect the vehicle in/out and take pictures before leaving the dealership. Anything, and I mean any small evidence of wear/tear due to the sun exposure, or rust/water spot formed on the paint/windshield, you make sure that the dealership takes care of it. If that happened to me, I would bring my attorney with me and demand I receive a loaner vehicle from the promised delivery date...

bobblehead

picked up the 14 C300 4matic this afternoon. I cannot find any difference between a 13 & 14. Wheels & tires are the same as 13, the only exterior difference is blacked out (kind of glossy) front fender grill. Nothing difference interior at all (that I can tell).

Overall, delivery went smoothly and took about 1 hr and the best of all things, no swirls/scratches on the paint at all.