blueeagle75

Ordered an E320 due for delivery end of the month but changed to E500 after computing that the price difference is only ~$4400 with CD changer, E2 & Sport Package. E320 Sport Package cost $3800 but on E500 only $1375. Leather & metallic paint are also no additional charge for E500.

Dealer called to say the price of the Sport Package for the E320 includes leather interior. Is this true 'cuz the MB web site does not say so? Is this a way of discounting $1440 for the E320? Are the E320 not selling as well as expected?

Kassav

That is absolutely correct. That is what I got and I mentioned that on the forum 3 weeks ago when I got my car. So you may as well add the US$1440 for the leather to the US$4400 and you will get the correct price difference.

Kassav

E3 SPORT OPT PKG - inc: Bi- Xenon headlamps, headlamp washers, black Bird's Eye maple trim, blue tinted glass, LED brake lights, semi- active suspension, sculpted side skirts/ front bumper/ rear apron, 17 sport wheels, P245/ 45R17 tires, leather upholstered seats, semi- active suspension Code: 772

rrubino

Kassav, what was the MSRP of your E? When I use the car configurator on MBUSA, if I select leather and sport package it charges for both. If I don't select leather and select sport package, it charges me just for the sport package. Your MSRP should put the whole thing to rest.

Thanks

Rob

potxoli

Also keep in mind the E500 has a $1000 gas guzler tax. So your $4400 difference is not $4400 + $1440 (leather) + $1000 = $6840

Kassav

On the sticker it quotes the the leather seats and says N/C and the E3 sports package, it quotes US$3800.

blueeagle75

I guess if the E320 sticker says N/C for leather when you order the Sports Package then the MB "build your E320" web site is wrong since it is charging $1440 for leather. This error will cause buyers to shift more to the E500 because of the percieved small difference in price. I did.

bmms8

and its well worth it too

Kassav

You are absolutely correct. I wonder why it is taking them a long time to correct their web page despite the fact that they had informed all the dealers on the very first day when the cars where launched?

rrubino

I just got back from a local dealer and they had an E320 on the lot w/sport package. I took a closer look at the sticker and it showed a charge for the leather! The description on the sticker of the sport package made no mention of leather or airmatic dc. So is this dealer ripping people off or what? Is it me or is the introduction of the 2003 E-class full of misinformation, half-truths, and rumors?

Rob

E4fUn

I went to the dealer the other day. They don't have a w211 with sports package available for me to check the sticker. But, the sales man show me the 'big E book said E3 package "requires optional Airmatic suspension and premium leather upholstery on E320". The number he show me for the E320 E3 will cost me: $3800 + $1575 + $1440 = $6815). That make a fully loaded E320 envn more expensive than the E500. Does that make sense?

rrubino, Did the sticker also showed a charge for the airmatic dc as well?





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rrubino

No, the sticker didn't mention airmatic at all. Not even in the description for the sport package. This is very strange. I don't know who to believe anymore.

Rob

abhansali

Based on this, if you are going to get the sport package, it is almost a "no brainer" to go for an E500 instead of E320.

For example:
E320 + metallic paint + sport package + 4 zone climate + E4:
E320 = $46950
metallic paint = $655
sport package = $3800 + $1440 (leather) + $1575 (ADC) = $6815
4 zone climate = $550
E4 = $100 (right now as promo)
Total = $55070

E500 + metallic paint + sport package + 4 zone climate + E4:
E500 = $54850
metallic paint = N/C
sport package = $1375 (leather and ADC included in base price)
4 zone climate = N/C
E4 = N/C
Total = $56225

The difference is only $1155 for the V8 engine!! (and you also get better wheels). Keep in mind you will have $1K gas guzzler tax on the E500, but if you take delivery of the vehicle after 1/1/03, I believe that also goes away.

Apurva

Beltfed

Gas guzzler tax stays, luxury tax is going the way of the Dodo bird on Jan 1, 2003.

Kassav

Per your configuration/calculation and correcting your numbers, the difference is: $1155 + $1440 (leather) + $1575 (ADC) + $1000 gas guzler tax = $5170

Reasons: Full leather and ADC are part of the sports package for the E320 that comes at $3800. Please also note that wheels on the sports package for E320 and E500 are the same.

jhb

I don't understand where all the figures are coming from. Here are the figures per the MB website and, from my seeing the msrp stickers on cars at the dealers, this seems right (E4 is left off both as it is the same, if available) rounded to the nearest dollar:

E320 Base MSRP: $47,615
Metallic Paint: 655
Full Leather: 1,440
4 Zone A/C: 550
E3 Sport Package: 3,800
Luxury Tax: 443
Gas Guzzler Tax: 0
Total: $54,503

E500 Base MSRP: $55,515
E3 Sport Package: 1,375
Luxury Tax: 528
Gas Guzzler Tax: 1,000
Total: $58,418

Thus, the difference, all in (the metallic paint, full leather and 4 zone a/c are included in the base msrp on the E500) except sales tax is $3,915. Now, that does not take into account any value one may ascribe to the larger (albeit same style) wheels. All a matter of taste, of course, but I think well worth the difference.

I see that Abhansali added an additional charge of $1575 for the Airmatic. I believe that is included in the $3800 package price for the Sport Package.

rrubino

The E3 Sport package comes with 17" wheels on both the E320 and the E500. They are the exact same wheels. Without the sport package, then the E320 has 16s and the E500 has 17s.

This all goes back to the original question, what exactly does the E3 sport package include on the E320? Kassav says it includes leather and airmatic. The cars on my local dealer's lot say otherwise. Does anyone else have *concrete* information of what exactly is included with the $3800 charge? Clearly the mbusa website is screwed up and we can't use that as a reliable source.

jwc

When you get the E320 Sport Package, the leather interior is upgraded as is the airmatic suspension. That is why it is 3800 dollars vs 1300 for E500's sport package. The only things you get for the E500 are the wheels and body kit. I am positive about this because I have been researching like crazy. That dealer that is quoting you for leather and airmatic is not a dealer you want to work with. He is probably upping the price so he can look like he is giving you a deal when he charges you the regular 3800.

Kassav

You are very very correct. I have the car and I am telling the forum what I got. To those who have ears let them listen otherwise some dealers out there will take them for a ride with the old stickers that were in error. Replacements were sent out for all the old stickers - however, some dealers may use the old stickers and offer you a $500 discount and one may think they are getting a good deal, when they have just been cheated by almost a thousand dollars.

jhb

Kassav, Are you indicating that the Sport Package for $3800 on the E320, includes for no additional charge the Airmatic (normally $1575), the full leather (normally $1440), the Bi-Xenon headlights and washers (normally the E1 package at $1150) as well as the other Sport Package items, ie, wheels, trim, blue tint and LED tail lights? If so, that is the best bargain around. The total of the Airmatic, full leather and E1 package alone is $4165 without the wheels, etc. Hard to believe that MB is that magnanimous.

When you use the "Build Your Own" function on the MBUSA site, it includes the airmatic and bi-xenons with washers at no additional charge, but not the full leather. Thus, the total included at no additional charge would be $2725 and you would have to pay separately for the full leather. The MBUSA web site description of the Sport Package for the E320 includes mention of the airmatic, but not of the full leather.

That is consistent with the official options form from MBUSA available on Autospies at:

http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e...e000091043.cfm

which seems to indicate that the Sport Package, E3, order number 772, includes the airmatic but requires that the customer order full leather separately.

The "Big Brochure" for the E class sedans indicates that to add the sport package to the E320, "requires" full leather and airmatic. This is misleading if one or both are included.

Anyway you look at it, MB needs to clarify.

Kassav

Very true.

rrubino

Okay, I finally got the answer straight from the horse's mouth. I called 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES and asked them about the E3 sport package on the E320. Here are her EXACT words:

"The E3 package on the E320 REQUIRES premium leather upholstery and semi-active suspesion. BOTH OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE"

TADA!!! Now that this is straightened out I need to decide if I just want to save the $1400 or add the active ventilated seats!

Rob

E4fUn

You the man, Rob!

I'll add another $35 and use that $1440 on the parktronic and cd changer;-)

rrubino

The CD changer was always part of the plan! I think you're right about the parktronic though. The uncle of a guy that works with me is a sales guy at a local MB dealer. I wonder if he'll be able to work out an awesome lease for me .


Rob

Kassav

Wow....at last. I am glad people will start believing me now. Way to go Rob. So now, everyone can get the real price difference.