Underwhelmed

flint grey
black/sahara beige interior
P2
AMG kit

Just wanted to say, well, I'm excited.
Anticipated arrival is late August

jimm

You have reason to be excited. The wait is somewhat painful.

When dealers place an order, don’t they get a “build week?”

Did your dealer give you a “build week” and did he tell you
about anything new?

jimm

==========

On Order: 08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black,
Parktronic, Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut,
Split rear seat, Rear mud flaps

Underwhelmed

I haven't gotten a build week. I just received a GL450 which was built and delivered in about a week - of course that is built in Alabama. I assume that the e550's are assembled in Germany? I'll have to ask him.

Dealer said that as far as he knows nothing is changing for the '08's package-wise. The only new addition was the availability of the AMG body kit, wheels and steering wheel shifters as part of an AMG package.

He couldn't even tell me the exact price yet except to say that it will be within 1-1.5% of the current base price.

I hope to have more info soon.

cyclerider

That is correct.

iBenz

Actually, they are assembled in Austria.

blazinginder

About how much is that 08 E550 going to run you ? and what kind of "deal" did you get, amount off MSRP etc.

jimm

Exactly what is the “AMG Body Kit?”

Is that an option pkg that you can get on a regular 350? If so,
it might be interesting. I had heard - and hoped - the paddle
shifters on the steering wheel would become standard on all 350
Sports for 08.

If there really are NO changes for the 08 E’s, I’m simply
going get my deposit back and start negotiations all over
again - with various MB dealers - for an 07!

While I have admitted that “ego satisfaction” is a big reason why
I buy a new car, just having an 08 title locked up in my file
drawer does not turn me on. And, obviously I can get a better
deal on an 07.

(I’m hoping that public knowledge of any 08 changes will occur in
my lifetime.)

jimm

==========

On Order: 08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black,
Parktronic, Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut,
Split rear seat, Rear mud flaps

Barry45RPM

Too much vacillating! ...and besides, with your placed order you will be getting exactly what you want, not what someone has on hand left over. These cars are too expensive to not get exactly what you want. Now turn on the TV and relax.

BudC

I'm getting the exact same deal (Invoice) on a brand new 2008 as I would on a 2007 that's been sitting around on some dealer's lot getting dirty, being driven as a demo and with a screwed up battery. I've been that route and this time I want a fresh one. Hopefully, my car will be built next week and then I'll try to find out the VIN and ship and track that sucker all the way to LA.

I haven't second guessed my option choices at all. I wouldn't change a thing.

After 50 years of car buying, this will be the first model I've ever bought built in the first week of production. I'll tell you what, I sure won't do it when the W212's come out. I'll let somebody else suffer leading edge wind burn.

guru

So the 08 model year car will be built in July/August 07?

Do these model years mean anything anymore?

BudC

The first week of W211 '08 production is next week (I believe).

cyclerider

The E550s sold in the United States are made in Germany, not Austria.

BudC

Yup, Sindelfingen near Stuttgart.

DerekACS

Bud,
Love you sense of humour !
Looks like both our cars will be built during the same week. Fortunately for you, your car wil not have to endure a transcontinental train ride like mine will after it arrives in Halifax. So, you should be one of the very first members to recieve a new 2008 E Class !
Keep us posted on your car's ETA.

DerekACS

2008 Production for W211 starts tomorrow, June 1st !!

HRE_///M3

The New E Classes are so sick you won't be disappointed. The stainless pipes, the wheels and everything. Did you get AMG package? Even from the factory the car is perfect. Maybe smoke the lights and clear out the amber, nothing else needed. Congrats once again!

BudC

It'll probably be neck and neck since mine has to go through the Panama Canal, up to LA and then trucked to Phoenix.

BudC

If the question is for me, I spent a week trying to decide if I should take the Sport option and decided not to do it. It was the staggered wheels that killed it for me. I didn't even know about the AMG package.

So I got White/Cashmere leather, P2 and split rear seats. I'll add the M-B BT V3 Razr phone package when it gets here and possibly sheepskins. I canceled Voice Support when I found out it didn't support SAT radio or the Nav system. Wasn't there a Linguistic option that had Nav support?

DerekACS

Bud,
At least if you want to upgrade wheels/tires for your non-sport E 350, you have many non-staggered choices to consider. You will also get the more attractive burl walnut trim, neutral window tint, black-faced gauges and simpler fog light trims; all positives IMO.
For MY 2008 Canadian production, "Linguatronic Voice Control" has been deleted as an option for both E320 Bluetec and E 350 4Matic. This option is only available on E 550.
For Canadian customers who order an E 350 4Matic, only the Sport version is available. So, our choice comes down to either E 320 Bluetec (RWD and no sport package available) or E 350 4Matic Sport (AWD).
In any case, W211 sales up here have been enjoying record growth ( up approx 75% YTD compared to 2006); in contrast, BMW 5 Series sales have been very soft.
Look forward to seeing some pics of your future white E 350.

BudC

The car we ordered is a car my wife will drive most of the time so I asked her about things like the trunk closer. She said "huh!". I'm still trying to convince her that there might be a day or two where the heated seats would be useful in Arizona. Since we came from Minnesota, she isn't convinced.

Believe me, it's going to be fun trying to teach her all about Keyless Go, SAT radio, MP3 DVD's with folders, the Nav system, not to mention Bluetooth vs. docked phones. I got tired trying to teach her how to survive with MS Windows so I bought her an iMac.

I wonder if the Bluetooth puck will work with an iPhone

BudC

We also spent a lot of time trying to decide if we wanted a BlueTec or an E350. Although my wife drove a 190D for 17 years and has no problems with diesels, we decided to go with the E350. I'm still not convinced we are making the right decision but I wasn't sure if the 08's will all have Urea injection or not. That along with the smaller brakes and the extra $1,000 cost swung the vote for the E350.

Canada has always been our favorite vacation destination but with the weak US Dollar, the costs including fuel are getting pretty high. A diesel would have made it easier to keep coming up there. I guess if the cost of fuel in the U.S. keeps going up, it won't matter where we go.

Underwhelmed

My salesperson said the AMG kit would look similar to the Saks breast cancer edition of 2007. I can attach a pic if anyone is interested - you can also google it. The kit includes an air dam, side skirts, rear diffuser, wheels (18 inch) and the steering paddle-type shifter.

I'm not getting much of a deal - about 3% off MSRP. MSRP is estimated at about 69K (official pricing wont be out for a couple of weeks due to trying to clear '07 inventory. I would have gone with an '07 but it was too late to order what I wanted. The AMG kit was $2000.

I am looking forward to the 4.8 second 0-60 time, but not the concomitant gas bills. I wish I could have gone with a diesel. But I'm a slave to my right foot...

My build week is third in July.

jimm

Please do send the pic. Sure hope the 08 Sports have the
paddle shifters.

jimm

==========

On Order: 08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black,
Parktronic, Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut,
Split rear seat, Rear mud flaps

jimm

Ah yes! My favorite beer.

“Give me a cold Sindelfingen, please!”

jimm

BudC

Exactly!!