Tectite Discontinued???
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: New York
2003 E500
not to be picky, but color is vehicle-dependent.
for example, in the US there are different blues for SL than for E or CL
I doubt the color is gone - it's still on the website for E, and I saw a tectite CL being delivered a few weeks ago at my dealer.
for example, in the US there are different blues for SL than for E or CL
I doubt the color is gone - it's still on the website for E, and I saw a tectite CL being delivered a few weeks ago at my dealer.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2002
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Keep in mind that dealers will often lie to you for their benefit. For example, if they don't have any Tectite cars on hand, they will say it is no longer available. Or maybe they don't want you to order Tectite because they find it hard to sell and if you put down a refundable deposit, but later back out, they are stuck with sell the car that is hard for them.
In the past with Honda, I actually had called a couple of local dealers to ask if they had a color config in stock so I could see it, they said yes to get me to come in, and then they say...oh sorry we don't have it anymore...
In the past with Honda, I actually had called a couple of local dealers to ask if they had a color config in stock so I could see it, they said yes to get me to come in, and then they say...oh sorry we don't have it anymore...
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From: NJ
Originally posted by jposhea3
not to be picky, but color is vehicle-dependent.
for example, in the US there are different blues for SL than for E or CL
I doubt the color is gone - it's still on the website for E, and I saw a tectite CL being delivered a few weeks ago at my dealer.
not to be picky, but color is vehicle-dependent.
for example, in the US there are different blues for SL than for E or CL
I doubt the color is gone - it's still on the website for E, and I saw a tectite CL being delivered a few weeks ago at my dealer.
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From: New York
2003 E500
Personally I'm getting mine from MB of Greenwich - Jordan Leichter is their internet sales guy and he's handled my order - so far so good.
I'd heard that places like Prestige and Ray Catena (both in Jersey) do fair volume but tend not to discount much - full service at a full-service-price as it were.
I expect good service from MB Greenwich, since Greenwich is a town with 2 Rolls/Bentley dealers :-) so they're in a high-service-expectation market.
The Ray Catena guys were nice, but nowhere serious on price, like $850 off MSRP or something for an ordered car. I never got to meet anybody at Prestige - just use their website to see what's around. I wish more dealers did what Noble Mercedes (tiny dealer in Virgina) did - take a photo of each car and post it with the details. (noblemercedes.com, click on new inventory and click around, you'll see what I mean).
MB of Manhattan didn't even have cars to test drive back in September/October so that plus a few other things crossed them off my list.
But there are probably more than a dozen dealers within 40 miles of NYC, so you can shop around on the phone/internet at will in my opinion.
Internet reps or fleet manager sales types are the ones to call if you're serious (see my comments in another thread on negotiations)
I'd heard that places like Prestige and Ray Catena (both in Jersey) do fair volume but tend not to discount much - full service at a full-service-price as it were.
I expect good service from MB Greenwich, since Greenwich is a town with 2 Rolls/Bentley dealers :-) so they're in a high-service-expectation market.
The Ray Catena guys were nice, but nowhere serious on price, like $850 off MSRP or something for an ordered car. I never got to meet anybody at Prestige - just use their website to see what's around. I wish more dealers did what Noble Mercedes (tiny dealer in Virgina) did - take a photo of each car and post it with the details. (noblemercedes.com, click on new inventory and click around, you'll see what I mean).
MB of Manhattan didn't even have cars to test drive back in September/October so that plus a few other things crossed them off my list.
But there are probably more than a dozen dealers within 40 miles of NYC, so you can shop around on the phone/internet at will in my opinion.
Internet reps or fleet manager sales types are the ones to call if you're serious (see my comments in another thread on negotiations)
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From: New Jersey
My experience with Mercedes of Morristown and Ray Catena:
In NOv 2003, Mercedes of Morristown had the exact vehicle I wanted ON THE LOT and I was ready to take delivery immediately. The offerred $1200 off MSRP - I asked for $1800 and they would not give in. They actually let me walk away from the deal. From my experience four years ago when I bought my 1998 e class MB of Morristown will not negotiate - they prefer low voluem and mximum profit.
Ray Catena initialy took the same tact, offerring only $500 off MSRP. I initially had an order with them. But when I cancelled the order because I got a better deal at another dealer, they went into major fight mode - and progressively discounted in a bidding war that went to the very end, to my surprise and amazement. They are the 2nd largest volume delaership in the U.S. and by their own admission, will never allow themseleves to lose an order.
In NOv 2003, Mercedes of Morristown had the exact vehicle I wanted ON THE LOT and I was ready to take delivery immediately. The offerred $1200 off MSRP - I asked for $1800 and they would not give in. They actually let me walk away from the deal. From my experience four years ago when I bought my 1998 e class MB of Morristown will not negotiate - they prefer low voluem and mximum profit.
Ray Catena initialy took the same tact, offerring only $500 off MSRP. I initially had an order with them. But when I cancelled the order because I got a better deal at another dealer, they went into major fight mode - and progressively discounted in a bidding war that went to the very end, to my surprise and amazement. They are the 2nd largest volume delaership in the U.S. and by their own admission, will never allow themseleves to lose an order.
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From: New Jersey
2003 E320 Obs Black/Ash
Originally posted by JQP-MB
JPOSHEA3: Which dealer in the greater NYC area would you recommend? It looks like Prestige has a good inventory on hand.
JPOSHEA3: Which dealer in the greater NYC area would you recommend? It looks like Prestige has a good inventory on hand.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Washington State
E-500
Originally posted by ashahashah
I bought at MB Morristown (got $1600 off an E320 that was on the lot). I would just advise you to always buy at a dealer close to your work or home because most dealers will not give you a loaner car when servicing unless you bought the car from them (Ray Catena, Princeton & Bridgewater definitely do this). Plus at Ray Catena and Bridgewater, when my SRS warning light came on, they were only willing to give me an appointment after 12 weeks - simply because I did not buy the car from them. MB Morristown gives a loaner car to anyone who services there - but it will never be a MB (Camry or like car). Consider all these things when purchasing.
I bought at MB Morristown (got $1600 off an E320 that was on the lot). I would just advise you to always buy at a dealer close to your work or home because most dealers will not give you a loaner car when servicing unless you bought the car from them (Ray Catena, Princeton & Bridgewater definitely do this). Plus at Ray Catena and Bridgewater, when my SRS warning light came on, they were only willing to give me an appointment after 12 weeks - simply because I did not buy the car from them. MB Morristown gives a loaner car to anyone who services there - but it will never be a MB (Camry or like car). Consider all these things when purchasing.
If a dealership tells you that you can't have a loaner car "because you did not buy your car here" I would advise them immediately that you will take your service business to someone who will.
Think of the people who move to the area after buying a new MB in previous location.
They would only lose a service customer with this practice and certainly not get a new customer after this treatment.
Ed
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: New York
S500
My Service Dealer, Silver Star in Queens, New York, doesn't seem to care at all where you bought the car. As a dealership, it seems to thrive on a Service-led strategy. That makes sense, as they are only a five-minute subway ride away from Bloomingdale's. That means that Manhattan-located M-Bs (there are just a few!) can either be serviced at the company store at 40th & Ninth, an inconvenient location for most M-B owners, or Silver Star. And, as someone pointed out, there are about a dozen main dealers in the New York metro area. Therefore, Silver Star will service cars sourced all over the place. I personally have bought M-Bs in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut but I serviced them all at Silver Star.
In each case when I took cars back to the store where I bought them for service, I found it to be an inferior experience for a variety of reasons, especially when compared to the convenience of Silver Star.
One caveat: they farm out their body work so stick to innards.
Sorry for the non-Tectite digression.
In each case when I took cars back to the store where I bought them for service, I found it to be an inferior experience for a variety of reasons, especially when compared to the convenience of Silver Star.
One caveat: they farm out their body work so stick to innards.
Sorry for the non-Tectite digression.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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I was about to buy from my local dealer and at the last minute got significantly more off MSRP from an out-of-state dealer. When I told the local dealer salesperson, he gave the line about not getting the loaner car during service if we did not buy from them, etc. I got worried, so my wife called the service dept. of the local dealership and asked them if this was true? He said no, that they stopped loaning cars to anyone and instead had move to a courtesy van policy to drop off and pick up people and this was for everyone.
So basically the local dealer salesperson lied to me to try to scare me to keep the business with him. This is the kind of low tactics I have been subjected to by MB dealers. I would recommend that you call the service dept to independently verify what salespeople may tell you. In most cases, the sales and service portions of the dealership are disconnected and each responsible for their revenue so it does not benefit the service dept to give a different level of service to people who did not buy the car from the dealership.
So basically the local dealer salesperson lied to me to try to scare me to keep the business with him. This is the kind of low tactics I have been subjected to by MB dealers. I would recommend that you call the service dept to independently verify what salespeople may tell you. In most cases, the sales and service portions of the dealership are disconnected and each responsible for their revenue so it does not benefit the service dept to give a different level of service to people who did not buy the car from the dealership.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: New York
2003 E500
Originally posted by ashahashah
I bought at MB Morristown (got $1600 off an E320 that was on the lot). I would just advise you to always buy at a dealer close to your work or home because most dealers will not give you a loaner car when servicing unless you bought the car from them (Ray Catena, Princeton & Bridgewater definitely do this). Plus at Ray Catena and Bridgewater, when my SRS warning light came on, they were only willing to give me an appointment after 12 weeks - simply because I did not buy the car from them. MB Morristown gives a loaner car to anyone who services there - but it will never be a MB (Camry or like car). Consider all these things when purchasing.
I bought at MB Morristown (got $1600 off an E320 that was on the lot). I would just advise you to always buy at a dealer close to your work or home because most dealers will not give you a loaner car when servicing unless you bought the car from them (Ray Catena, Princeton & Bridgewater definitely do this). Plus at Ray Catena and Bridgewater, when my SRS warning light came on, they were only willing to give me an appointment after 12 weeks - simply because I did not buy the car from them. MB Morristown gives a loaner car to anyone who services there - but it will never be a MB (Camry or like car). Consider all these things when purchasing.
What would they say if you bought the car in California and then moved to New Jersey? Sorry, we're not gonna service you?
Get real. Tell them you need to speak to the manager of the dealership and you'll hold when you hear stuff like that.
Total crap.
And they'll only do it to you if you lie down and take it. Escalate to their management. Tune 'em up. Do a google search on Mercedes management contacts - there are email addresses, phone/fax/snailmail addresses.
Use them.
It all comes down to common sense. They're not gonna give you a loaner cuz you bought from someone else? Get bent. Nobody is *that* stupid as a businessman to turn away the subsidized warranty work.
Sorry folks, but that one doesn't even pass a common-sense test. Maintenance is where the money is. You only get a 5-7k hit for the initial sale. Think of how many multi-thousand dollar repairs you can do, year in and year out, on an expensive car as it ages.
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Totally agree with jposhea3...also, if they have a service policy I would likely bet it is the same policy for everyone regardless of where you bought the vehicle. Just to emphasize this point, how would service even know where you bought the car? For example with our Honda, you go to the dealer and they pull up your VIN# on the computer. But I don't think the information tells what dealer the car was purchased from? I maybe wrong here, but I think the only way they can know where you bought the car is to ask you.."Did you buy the car from us?", to which my reply would be "why?? does it matter??".
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Washington State
E-500
I made my first service appointment for tomorrow. It is not with the dealer where I bought the car. Come to think of it the service advisor did ask me if I bought the car from them. I told him no and asked if it made any difference (if it had I was just going to go to another dealer for service). He said no but if I had bought it there he would have all the customer and vehicle information on his computer. Made Sense. He then asked me if I was going to need a loaner car. Hopefully it is not a Plymouth Valient (sp?)
I will ask him in the morning if there are any differences in service between someone who purchased from them and someone who did not. I'll report what he tells me on this thread tomorrow.
I do know that most dealers are very active in trying to promote service business. I agree with jposhea...it would make no sense to do anything to discourage business. They sure would not get my new car purchase next time if they treated me badly in the service department.
If you feel you are being jacked around...talk to General Manager or the owner. They are usually not hard to contact and will respond willingly.
Ed
I will ask him in the morning if there are any differences in service between someone who purchased from them and someone who did not. I'll report what he tells me on this thread tomorrow.
I do know that most dealers are very active in trying to promote service business. I agree with jposhea...it would make no sense to do anything to discourage business. They sure would not get my new car purchase next time if they treated me badly in the service department.
If you feel you are being jacked around...talk to General Manager or the owner. They are usually not hard to contact and will respond willingly.
Ed
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From: California
E500
You can bring your car to any MB services in the entire USA. It stated so in the MBUSA owner site and also in the manual. I bought my E500 from one dealership and had it serviced in another. As a matter of fact, the dealership that I bought my car from has loaner car from Enterprise Rent A car. The dealership (the one that I did not buy my car from) that I brought my car in for the SRS problem, has Mercedes cars as loaner. They gave me a brand new 2003 ML350 as a loaner. After a week driving it, I did not like it so I called my service advisor to ask him to switch the loaner car, he then gave me a 2002 E420 as a loaner. The whole time, they treated me very nice. Since it took too long to fix my car, I complaint to MB and asked my service advisor to talk to MB and give me some sort of compensation. I got the wood leather steering wheel and a whole bunch of trunk accessories.
MB later sent me a letter of appology and also a free gift.
Don't let the salesmen scared you. Service deparment and sales department don't talk to each other. I knew this because I experienced it.
Good luck.
MB later sent me a letter of appology and also a free gift.
Don't let the salesmen scared you. Service deparment and sales department don't talk to each other. I knew this because I experienced it.
Good luck.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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wow, did you get the compensation from the dealership that you did NOT buy the car from, or did you talk to the dealership you did buy from about the problems (even though service was done elsewhere) and they compensated you with the wood wheel?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: New Jersey
2003 E320 Obs Black/Ash
Service and Loaner cars
I generated more discussion on this thread about service and loaner cars than I thought possible - sorry for that - did not intend to do so - maybe I should start another thread for this dicsussion. But, I am just relaying to you guys what I was told from the 3 local dealers here in NJ - Ray Catena in Edison, Princeton MB and Millenium MB in Bridgewater. I called the service dept directly (more than once) and each time they said that if I did not buy the car at that dealer they would not give me a loaner car and the next appointment would be after about 10-12 weeks. I agree that this policy is total bull***** - but that is what I am being told. I do plan to complain to MB and the next time I call these dealers I will talk to their management - we'll see what happens.
If anyone else has heard otherwise from the above 3 dealers, please post here.
If anyone else has heard otherwise from the above 3 dealers, please post here.
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From: California
E500
I got the compensation from the dealership that I did NOT buy the car from. They treat me extremely well. It was more than what I expected since I did not buy my car from them.
I wish this dealership's sales department was as good. The reason I did not buy my car at this one because their sales department disgusted me.
I wish this dealership's sales department was as good. The reason I did not buy my car at this one because their sales department disgusted me.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
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From: Washington State
E-500
Just returned from dropping my E500 off at dealer. Issues were the most common on this thread..pulling to right..ticking noise.. plus the "panic" on both keys did not work, and I asked them to check out the windows (all) they do not seat all the way down and the rear edge of the window sticks up about 1/2" when fully down. Find out later how they handled the concerns:p
I did not buy the car at this dealership and this is the first service on it, 1000 miles. They gave me a C240K as a loaner (from Enterprise Rental Car). The Enterprise guy told me that they had "some" MB's but most loaners would be other things.
I asked what, if anything, would be the difference in service or policy if a car was purchased from them or another dealer. He said that the only difference would be that there are some items like alignment that are only warranted for the first year. He advised that they generally take care of those items also for the people who bought the car there and have regular service with them. In other words good customers get some freebies. It kind of made sense and did not seem like non-customers were getting treated much different.
I agree that the shabby treatment for non-purchasers should be confronted head on. Call the General Manager..not the Service Manager and see if that really is the policy of the dealership.
Then contact MBUSA and ask about the delay in service. Be sure to make a big deal about the SRS warning and the 12 week wait for an appointment. The liability issue alone would scare MBUSA and should worry the dealership.
Ed
I did not buy the car at this dealership and this is the first service on it, 1000 miles. They gave me a C240K as a loaner (from Enterprise Rental Car). The Enterprise guy told me that they had "some" MB's but most loaners would be other things.
I asked what, if anything, would be the difference in service or policy if a car was purchased from them or another dealer. He said that the only difference would be that there are some items like alignment that are only warranted for the first year. He advised that they generally take care of those items also for the people who bought the car there and have regular service with them. In other words good customers get some freebies. It kind of made sense and did not seem like non-customers were getting treated much different.
I agree that the shabby treatment for non-purchasers should be confronted head on. Call the General Manager..not the Service Manager and see if that really is the policy of the dealership.
Then contact MBUSA and ask about the delay in service. Be sure to make a big deal about the SRS warning and the 12 week wait for an appointment. The liability issue alone would scare MBUSA and should worry the dealership.
Ed
