Alright boys and girls, it's time to 'fess up to what we have achieved with our respective dealers. I know portions of this info are in various threads but I hope to unite all missing links in one cohesive thread.

So, having said that, I will state my pleasant experience with my Evil (TM) dealership (I love it when I say that):

Mercedes Benz of Alexandria, claiming to be the newest MB dealership in America has proffered me nothing over and above the MBUSA offer. I had to twist arms to get my interior changed from Ash to Charcoal. And all the while I have been reminded of what a great favor THAT was. I tried to get keyless go (at my own expense, of course), that didn't work. I tried to change the exterior color, that request was denied, I tried to get a wooden wheel, that was denied, hell I tried to get an '04, they denied that too! Hmmm...imagine that!

So what's your experience been like?

I've responded in other threads, but briefly:

1. Offered any color/interior change I wanted
2. Offered to add any options at full cost + tax
3. Offered to delete any option with no refund or credit to me
4. Only valid on 2003 model
5. Verdict still out on dealer accessories (3 yr. extended warranty & LoJack), but expect they will eventually be added at no charge.

August delivery with no money changing hands, assuming normal wear and tear (not yet defined).

Thanks for your reply. It is amazing how different our two experiences have been. I would be most interested in etenn's dealer, who has (at least verbally) offered him an '04.

My experience with the Nav swap:

I called MBUSA and complained about the differing treatments people have obtained in the swap. Rep said she doesn't know anything about this and implied people were probably lying. She wasn't too polite either -- it's no wonder Mercedes is not high on the JD Powers survey.

I currently have the Stone interior and was changing it to Ash due to high maintenance to keep it clean. Then I read about people changing from Ash to Charcoal for same reason, so I was wondering if I should do the same. Someone had told me that black would not wear well. I would appreciate any opinion/advice on this. Thanks!

Thanks for your post. The MB rep implied people were lying? That is such a freaking insult.

As for your question about Ash. I have Ash and am switching to Charcoal. It has nothing to do with maintainence, but more to do with the fact that I want a darker interior to contrast with my Brilliant Silver exterior. I find it to be too bright with my pano roof. I like bright, but just wanted a change.

Personally, it has not been hard to keep it clean EXCEPT the carpet on the sides next to the door sills. When you go in and out, your shoes tend to mess up that area rather quickly. It shows pretty badly. Aside from that minor complaint I find the interior to be quite classy.

Originally the dealer held their ground saying "nothing can be changed on the order, only addition will be Nav."

I went back with a print out of a thread from this forum. The regional manager/director was called (they got ahold of him luckily). The salesperson said to him "I have a customer here who is reading on the internet that people are changing colors/equipment." The regional manager confirmed that to be the case and that a briefing was sent to the dealership earlier that day in regard to the change in policy (my salesperson was not notified of that letter).

So the offer extended to us was.......

1. You change exterior color/interior
2. You can add equipment to be paid for at retail
3. If you deduct equipment, you get no credit for it.

jdhoang, If it makes you feel better....I'm going from Charcoal to Ash.

monakh, thanks for your reply concerning interior color. I am switching from sunroof to the panorama roof. Since I like it bright it as well, I'll probably stick with Ash. I totally agree with you about the cloth around the door, as I have to constantly clean it.

belftfed, thanks as well for your assurance.

My experience has been similiar to ctouhey's *same dealer*. I added Keyless Go and rear side sunblinds, and changed color from Platinum Blue (LOVE the color, but wifey wants Obs Black) and Ash to Charcoal.

I too am paying retail on the options beyond what's on my current ride.

I'll need to ask them about the "tire/wheel" warranty I bought.. didn't think of that at the time.

Peter

PS: I find ASH to be a very nice classy color.... but with a 2 year old KICKING the seat constantly.. and a newborn hopefully by year end... charcoal would be a better choice. =)

Hate to throw cold water on our excitement on getting new cars with NAV, but was wondering the other day as my phone/radio/Teleaid malfunction all appeared what'll it be like when NAV is thrown into the mix. I can see it now, the NAV lady will start speaking a different language, get me lost etc. the other day my wife got in the car and immediately turned on the radio as I started the car and started dialing a phone number. I've learned that it's best to wait a few seconds before doing "stuff". It cuts down on the lock ups. I started yelling at her, and she looked at me like I was crazy. "You have to wait", I said, "the car gets confused if you ask it to do too many things at once". Her response :o was, suffice to say "entertaining".

When did you get your letter? I haven't recieved mine yet!

Hi,

my experience was with HBL of tysons. The first person I spoke to was very unhelpful, but then someone called me that was much better. The net is

They allowed me to change to Platinum Blue/Ash
They let me add wooden steering wheel for $500 and cd changer for $400 so regular price when ordering a car.
Should have my car end of july, early august.

I have however zero paperwork about this transaction, so I need to call them up to see if I can get an order number or something.

come to think of it, I never received my letter either.

I never got letter. Called dealer, they called zone rep. I was able to change colors and add anything @ dealer's cost. I added the pano roof and changed from charcoal to ash. I want it brighter. Exterior remains silver.

Anyone whose dealer is refusing to allow changes is being shortchanged by an ignorant and/or inflexible dealer. You must escalate it. If 1-800 customer service agent is no help ask for a manager. Find out who the zone manager is and call them. Call Montvale, NJ headquarters. There's no way MB is going to let some dealers do one thing and others another.

Belongs to the Axis of Evil (TM) that consists of the other two members: ASC Arlington and ASC Alexandria

my dealer told me that i can change colors and add options (at my cost of course). no options are free (didn't ask). car will be a 2003.

i'm not sure if the additional options are at MSRP or dealer invoice price.

i am trying to remove one option, add like 4 more options...the net cost would be an additional ~$800 for me to pay so i'm hoping they will do it. but i don't know yet.

i didn't receive the letter yet but expect to receive it this week (dealer said he sent it on monday).

Rock.

I am not so sure why it is that you are trying to remove options?! Everything I have read from customer experience thus far points to the fact that you gain no credit if you drop an option but still have to pay if you add it. I don't think you can trade options per se. If you are not getting any credit for it, why not just keep the option? Unless, it is a package thing, and one package supersedes another with a better option.

i want to try to remove an option, get credit for it, and add the other 4 options. the net will result in about $800 more that I need to pay.

if they don't allow me credit for the removed option, then it will cost about $2200 for me to pay...and no, i will not remove the option if they don't give me credit for it.

we'll see if they let me do this. i can understand that they do not want people to remove options because it makes things complicated (like they would have to issue a credit to give you cash back, etc.)...but i'm hoping that maybe since i'm adding more options, it more than makes up for the credit from the removed option.

anyway, i hope to hear back today or tomorrow regarding this request.

Rock.

Rock72,

If I may ask, where in SCal did you get your car. I bought mine at MBZ of SD and my dealer has not responded to me yet.

If anyone has news on stuff like Lojack or Extended Warranties, please post on how that was dealt with by your dealer...thanks...

i have a 7 year/100,000 mile warranty, and LoJack. my dealer said most likely, i will get those, but he isnt fully sure, i think i should if i did pay for it..

I just ordered mine replacement last week. My saleman is really nice man, he even asked me if I want to change color or add anything else on the new car before I mentioned it. I didn't add or change anything though. He even put down on the ordered sheet for free wood wheel and changed to Michelin tires. Everything will be the same on the new car at no additional cost. I had front and back protective films(autobahnd-factory installed), 7 year/100K miles will be cover on the new car.

E320 brilliant silver/ash, E2, E3, 4 zones, parktronics, rear shaded, Nav, autobahnd, 7 years/100K miles, Teflon.

Now that's some service--And to think this salesman really didn't even do that much! Man, our expectation of service has really gone down over the years...

My dealer wasn't sure about the extended warranty so I called MB and was told it would start over on the replacement car. I called my dealer to tell him and he said okay but I suspect I may still have to deal with that issue when the new car arrives.

I never got a letter either. I did call MB to complain about the way my dealer was handling the Nav issue and was told the deal is what was spelled out in the letter, no more no less. They said if I can get something extra from my dealer great but MB will not make them do something that is not in the letter. So I don't think MB will be much help IMO

House of Imports.

Rock.