Hello. I may be interested in ordering a C63 coupe and doing an ED. If we did a late October trip and wanted to hit Switzerland, how would I handle the cold, icy conditions? Chains, snow tires? Also, how accurate is their est delivery date since we already have our dates for vacation approved?

 

I think its a better question for tripadvisor than this forum lol. I dealt with a 1/4 of snow with summer tire in Chicago, I had trouble leaving my parking spot.

 

Friendly word of advice, do not plan a European Delivery if there is a chance of snow. Not only are there very strict laws regarding use of snow tires (they are a requirement), it's also very dangerous to drive with performance tires in cold weather.

My ED pickup and drop off date is 10/10/16 - 10/14/16. I honestly would not go much later than that because it's getting very close to winter.

For reference, my trip will be Stuttgart -> Lucerne -> Milan -> Nice/Monaco.

 

October in Switzerland - very rarely it snows at that time. In the worst case, you might not want to take the smaller alpine-pass roads which go to more than 3000 meters - there you might find some snow at that time. Main roads are snow-free, also nobody uses snow-chains in main roads, only secondary roads leading to alpine villages. So no problems, enjoy your delivery and alpine views.

 

Thanks for the info. Does anyone know if the C63 even qualifies for the 7 percent off and would they be able to finish the car by October 21st?

 

AMG models - 5 % instead of 7 %

 

I did an ED in October 2014 and drove fairly extensively through Switzerland on Michelin Pilot Super Sports. You need to be careful and watch the weather - if it's bad you can either rent a winter wheel/tire set or just avoid the snow.

As others have stated it's not something to take lightly and they will find you even if you leave the country. I had to pay multiple speeding tickets :

Germany
Winter tires are compulsory in Bavaria when driving in wintry conditions and a small fine will be levied for a first offence. If, however, the free flow of traffic has been affected due to a car not being equipped with Winter tires then the fine is doubled and the driver's license will incur a penalty point. In the event of a car fitted with Summer tires being responsible for a road accident then the fine will be further increased and 3 penalty points attributed to the license. The lack of Winter tires in such a situation will usually be judged as a significant factor in judging which driver is at fault in a traffic incident or road accident. The user of a vehicle without Winter tires may well find the motor insurance to be invalidated.

Austria
The use of winter tires is mandatory by law between November 1 and April 15. All-season tires comply if they carry the M+S mark and have at least 4 mm of tread. In addition, the use of snow chains may be made compulsory by the local police when heavy snow is falling or has fallen. Failure to comply with the law results in a fine up to 5,000 Euros and the vehicle's use suspended. Insurance is deemed void if a vehicle which is involved in an accident between November 1 and April 15 is not fitted with Winter tires.

France
The use of winter tires is not mandatory in France. Nevertheless in some situations special signs indicate that winter tires should be used. In mountainous areas signs warn drivers that snow chains are necessary. In France, drivers of automobiles that weigh up to 3.5 tonnes can use spikes from November until the end of March. Vehicles using spikes are restricted to a maximum speed of 90 km/h on out-of-town roads and 50 km/h in residential areas. In addition vehicles have to bare a badge indicating the use of spikes.

Switzerland
The Swiss regulations are similar to those used in France. There is no general obligation to use winter tires, although most motorist associations highly recommend the use of winter tires for insurance reasons. If an accident has been caused by the use of summer tires during the winter months this can lead to liability on the part of the driver, regardless of whether or not they have fully comprehensive insurance. Snow chains and spikes are generally optional, but their use can be enforced through road signs. Drivers using spikes are not generally allowed on motorways. Again, 50km/h and 80km/h speed limits are in place, in and out of town.

Italy
It is not compulsory to use winter tires in Italy although you are obliged to when the authorities request it. There are no regulations on the use of snow chains. Motorists using spikes have to comply with 90km/h and 50 km/h speed limits.

Here's some pics from Switzerland from late october:







Note: that's not a Mercedes-Benz