Does it concern you at all that thr w205 is built in Alabama?
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21
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C 300
Actually, yes. I live in Alabama (Montgomery and Huntsville) and have a C300 on order to be built the first week of September. One of my greatest worries is the quality of the assembly and overall craftsmanship.
I know Alabamians (I am one). They tend to be lazy, have a great sense of entitlement (i.e. they want to be paid for doing "nothing") and are about as overall stereotypical as TV portrays them to be.
I'm not joking, I only hope MB has hired top tier workers and not the usual riffraff that makes this State their home. We shall see. . .
On another note, my prior two BMWs were built in the Carolinas and they quality of them was horrible compared to those previously built in Germany.
I know Alabamians (I am one). They tend to be lazy, have a great sense of entitlement (i.e. they want to be paid for doing "nothing") and are about as overall stereotypical as TV portrays them to be.
I'm not joking, I only hope MB has hired top tier workers and not the usual riffraff that makes this State their home. We shall see. . .
On another note, my prior two BMWs were built in the Carolinas and they quality of them was horrible compared to those previously built in Germany.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Loma Linda, CA
2014 CLA 45AMG , 2015 C63 (W205)
my dad has a gl550 we've had it since 09 i think 73k miles maybe and no issues so far. i think that cars built in alabama. its a shame that its not built in Europe was wanting my W205 c63 as a Euro Delivery
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
When you consider that the ML, GL, and R were or are all built in Alabama, I think it is a non-issue. I was really on the fence about them being built in the US myself, so I did a good amount of digging at quality numbers and such for what comes out of that plant. It changed my tune a bit.
I would not buy a first year car out of that plant, given how rough the early MLs and GLs were. You have to remember that it undergoes the same quality checks as any MB built anywhere in the world.
The vast majority of W204s in the US came out of the East London, South Africa plant, and their build quality is equal to the ones coming out of Sindelfingen.
I would not buy a first year car out of that plant, given how rough the early MLs and GLs were. You have to remember that it undergoes the same quality checks as any MB built anywhere in the world.
The vast majority of W204s in the US came out of the East London, South Africa plant, and their build quality is equal to the ones coming out of Sindelfingen.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 811
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From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
So, I don't know how much truth there is to this, but my sales rep told me that the C-Class only goes through final assembly in Alabama for tax purposes. All the parts are pre-assembled in germany, packaged together and shipped to alabama. Unlike the GL, R and ML that are completely assembled with parts sourced from all over the place.
It kind of like those houses where the walls and such are all pre-built in a factory offsite and then assembled on the foundation where the house is actually going to reside.
It kind of like those houses where the walls and such are all pre-built in a factory offsite and then assembled on the foundation where the house is actually going to reside.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,846
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
I don't see why this keeps coming up. Really ridiculous at this point IMO. Look at the ML and GL. There is nothing wrong with their build anymore. The cars built here have to adhere to the same standards as the ones built in Germany.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,669
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From: Montana/Alberta
C63 BS, GLA45
So, I don't know how much truth there is to this, but my sales rep told me that the C-Class only goes through final assembly in Alabama for tax purposes. All the parts are pre-assembled in germany, packaged together and shipped to alabama. Unlike the GL, R and ML that are completely assembled with parts sourced from all over the place.
It kind of like those houses where the walls and such are all pre-built in a factory offsite and then assembled on the foundation where the house is actually going to reside.
It kind of like those houses where the walls and such are all pre-built in a factory offsite and then assembled on the foundation where the house is actually going to reside.
Not that it really matters anyways, robots build 99% of the car, and robots perform the same in Bremen as they do in Alabama.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 910
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From: North Scottsdale
06 C 350 2014 GLK350
I believe the biggest concern is not Alabama, which has proven they can produce top quality cars, but the beginning of a completely new model.
Historically, most every completely new model MB has had issues. They get resolved but the early adopters have to suffer.
Historically, most every completely new model MB has had issues. They get resolved but the early adopters have to suffer.
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
2015 C400 4matic W205
I figured this as well, yet I couldn't help myself from ordering in the first production run. I wonder if I should lease instead of purchase, or get an extended warranty because of the potential issues.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,073
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From: San Francisco, CA
2017 E300
Seeing as how the W205 has been built and sold in Europe for a few months now, I hope that they have found and have corrected any issues before starting to build them in the US
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,846
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
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