Rachit.patel

Hey everyone! I have an order placed for a 2020 C300 which is set to enter production in mid April. With all of the craziness involving the Coronavirus, does anyone know if my car has a possibility of being stuck at a port? I was expecting to be able to take delivery around mid May but it seems like if it were to get delayed I would get it around mid to late June. Incase it does get delayed I am considering canceling my order and ordering a 2021 as it will be a W206. Any suggestions or answers to my questions would be much appreciated. Thanks and be safe!

Mikesmith2939

At the moment I don't think any one could answer your question.

Doa

Much of those cars pass the Harbour nearby here at Zeebrugge and although we are in lockdown operations continue as normal.

irondad

What country are you in?

Rachit.patel

I’m in the U.S. and the car is supposed to be built in South Africa

netboy

sorry for you.
soon they going to shut down the factory.

superswiss

All the German car manufacturers are shutting down their factories this weekend for at least the next two weeks. I believe Mercedes has already shut down. This affects at least the factories in the EU. Not sure what the situation is in South Africa. There are also restrictions being placed on goods. I would say expect delays. This crisis is not over yet and if it extends into August as some experts predict, then it's only gonna get worse before it gets better.

Rachit.patel

Would you say it’s a good idea to possibly speak to my dealer about a 2021 instead?

superswiss

To what end? They won't have any information on the 2021 yet. All you can really do is wait and see. Some of the 2020 orders may get converted to 2021 orders depending on how long this is gonna go on and whether or not they plan to catch up on production after the shutdown. I've also heard that an increasing number of people are cancelling their orders, so it's also possible that remaining orders will get moved up.

Mikey53

I would talk to the dealer.

Rachit.patel

How would that work? (Converting 2020 to 2021 orders)

Aren’t the 2021s supposed to be W206?

superswiss

No, the 2021 are still going to be W205. The W205 was just facelifted for 2019 and there's typically another 3 model years of the facelift. The W206 is expected to be unveiled in 2021 and probably going on sale later as a 2022.

Andy74

It will a shame to obtain a car that was produced just before the facelift c class. I recommend you order the w206 because we dont know how this crisis will end and how it will progress. It is about time for all these big countries like US, China, Russian and EU to work together to save the world from this epidemy.

fabbrisd1

If you "need" a new C-Class now - then find a dealer that can get you the 2020 C-Class you want on the ground that fit's and Buy-It-Now.

This will not be a short term thing - it's a World Event - and on a C-Class find what you love now - and enjoy..

Andy74

Well I assume he has a car now? So he is not on an urgent need for a car? My point is why buy a 2020 model when the car will fully change in 2021. His only one year or maybe less from the w206. Also the current situation is catastrophic so why buy a car right now? I am not sure about the US but everything in Lebanon was shut down all borders are closed all shops supermarkets and petrol stations. No gathering no socializing and no sex 😂
Sorry the video is in German. I just wanted you guys to see the New Best or Nothing.

You Tube

Rachit.patel

I’m not in a rush to get a new car but my idea was that if my car gets delayed until around June/July, why get a 2020 C-Class when I could get a 2021 a few months later? Although now that I know the W206 isn’t until 2022 MY, it’s better off that I just take the 2020 when it gets here. If my car somehow gets delayed until August, I see myself going for a 2021 instead.

Rachit.patel

My dealer told me that the South Africa plant has shut down for a while because of the virus. I tried to look up info about it but couldn’t find anything. Does anyone know about this? I know the Europe Plants shut down but I didn’t know the SA plant did

Albundy

Right now I don't think anything is moving whether it's coming from the Alabama plant or overseas. My factory order C63s completed assembly at the Alabama plant in mid-March and flipped over to the dealership inventory before transport to Long Beach when California shut down. At that time my SA said the car would hit the dealership on the 30th of March. The dealership then shut down but my SA promised to update me when the car got to them. I hadn't heard anything since then so I emailed my SA today. He said he has no idea where the car is and he has no idea when it will get here. I figure my car is on a lot at Long Beach for an indefinite period of time and my SA doesn't want to tell me the bad news (I ordered back on Oct 4th). I guess it's possible it may even be on a lot in Alabama, Nothing else makes sense because I just can't imagine a dealership not knowing exactly where a 90K car is once it shifts over to it's inventory sheet. Bottom line is it isn't moving.

fabbrisd1

If you have a PO# then post it - if you only have a spec/order sheet then post that.. just because your CA sales advisor is too lazy to check.. someone else can...

Albundy

PO that I can see on the screen shot the SA sent is 00706715. There could be more numbers because the '5' is partially cut off. I'm up in Washington State too.

fabbrisd1

Well.. let's clarify a bit - Mercedes has "3" S model 63 W205's - C63AS Cabriolet - C63CS Coupe - C63WS

So... which model "C63S" is your's ?

Since you have partial PO - do you have the MSRP on that sheet - or Color - Interior - Short List of Options ?

Rachit.patel

0071543029 is the PO for my C300W

Albundy

Oh, details. Yeah, those would help.

It's a C63s sedan. I asked for the VIN so I could get an estimate on car insurance. The SA sent me this sceen shot of what I am guessing is the Netstar screen with my car's info.

fabbrisd1

Mr C63... just so you know even if a dealership is "closed" or "cut back" dealership Sales Personnel and Management have access to NetStar - and even though MBUSA HQ has been working remote as well - to their credit HQ personnel have been making a decent effort to update most parts of the system.

That said the VII record - your C63 was loaded up on rail Mar 15 (Vance) - and March 29 arrived at the Destination Rail Ramp (yard) to be turned over for truck transport.

Mercedes Distribution has the what/where - your Dealer has to be the one to call Mercedes Distribution M-F for those details - which seemingly your Dealer has not done yet (either l*zy or st*pid) - Distr can give your dealer a company/contact# who has "possession" now - who your Dealer can politely call to see how/when it can be moved along.

As most of the West Coast is on shelter-in-place - it's still worth the Dealer effort - if for no other reason that a bit of work might be able to get it juggled to the front-of-the-line when things start moving again - heck it's just a couple of calls to be made ..
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Rachit... you have ordered quite a respectable C300.. and at this moment - yes - South Africa is closed. "Most" other MB factories are making working remotely to post to NetStar "updated" target production dates - although the "updates" are best guess estimates and not firm - however SA is being "quiet" and has not posted "updated-best-guess-today - technically your C300 has a production date of April 20 which is not going to happen.

Regardless of any previous posts - all 2020's (every model, not just C-Class) will ultimately be produced as 2020's starting when the factories come back online - SA was in production up to about March 22 or so - so there is "about" 30-days production backlog at that plant - however the status of the parts that need to come into SA to restart production - and the status of the 30 days of part flows needed to get to your C300 - that info is all uncertain/unknown since a large amount of those parts have to come down from Euro which is much more serious - SA has been very/very earnest and effective in their "fight" and has good prospects so far.

All 2020's in the pipeline now will have to be built before 2021's can go into production ,,, and whether for a 2020 or future 2021 there is no clear answer when production can restart - or how long from restart it will take to get back to smooth running - this goes for all auto manufacturer's not just Mercedes ..
That said - there are two suggestions for you to consider :

1. I have respect for your Dealer - and they "should" have made you aware they have a quite comparably equipped C300 now - Selenite (not Iridium) - all the Top Packages you selected for build from what I can see - exceptions are Not Panorama - standard exterior trim Not Night Package - and 18" Black Accent Wheels and Not 19's.. It is even quite possible that your order was based on you looking/driving the Selenite one - since that C300 and your C300 build are both very respectably spec'd.
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For both you guy's - I am just laying out here what I can to help - good luck to each of you !

2. With the Top Packages you selected there is not another Comparable C300 on the ground for you or your dealer to pursue - if you were flexible on model - Wilmington NC has a E300 in Iridium with E-Class OBlack Leather - with Options similar to - not quite identical - to your C300 build. So you know are quite strong Mercedes incentives to Dealer's on the E300 - a bit stronger than today's incentives on C's - that would help motivate your Dealer to secure this E300 - or for Wilmington to work with your directly to ship it to you...

Rachit.patel

Thank you so much for the info because I had no idea about how long the SA plant had been closed for. With what you’re saying I can assume my car won’t be here until the earliest July. I’m fine with waiting because I’m not really in a rush to get it, and I would much rather have the one equipped exactly the way I want it.

Oh and yes I pretty much almost maxed out the options on the C300 😂😂. I might ask you to check for me in a couple of weeks as my dealer isn’t too open with me about the netstar info (probably because they don’t want me to know how long it’s been delayed). They have been very upfront with me about everything else though. Once again, thank you so much for the info and stay safe!