New member
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,632
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
New member
First and foremost, as a new member I want to thank all participants for their comments, suggestions, contributions, assistance and remedies. This is my first Benz and in as much as it is truly outstanding in comfort and safety I wish to keep it this way and a forum such as this does just that. That said, some background as it pertains to me and the issues discussed on this forum:
Purchase:
I purchased in February 2003 @ $1100 below invoice. Sent an email to every MB dealer nation wide, presented the lowest email quote (respect warrants non disclosure) to local dealers and the last dealer matched it. First dealer (Costco member) claimed the quote was ridiculously low – need I say more? The second verbally promised to match the offer however when I returned with my wife to finalize the deal they backed down. The owner (family owned) claimed that the new E class was just too hot to sell below MSRP – right! Thanks for the latte but I gotta go! Took a ride over to third and last dealer where I was immediately greeted by the sales manager because all his salesmen were busy with prospects. He handled the sale. Long story short, he did his thing and I did my thing. Thirty minutes into our each “working the room” there was still a $500 divide. I signaled to my wife (who by now has sat in every vehicle in the showroom) and moved my checkbook back into my research binder. Noticing this, he asks me to wait for a minute or two while he talks to the general manager. Gimmick or not, he returns literally with sweat on his brow and tells me we have a deal matching the quote presented.
Service concerns @ 5500 miles:
(1) Harmon-Kardon radio malfunction
(2) Factory in dash 6-disc CD changer skips during CD mix function
(3) Driver’s door wind noise @ 50 mph plus
(4) Rattle inside rear passenger door when closed
(5) Slight steering wheel shimmy @ 50 mph plus
(6) Drifts right
(7) Engine ticking noise at idle
(8) Lack of engine power
(9) Tele-aid intermittent malfunction
(10) Noisy brake pump
(11) Loud cooling fan
All of which have already been discussed. All of which are currently being addressed by the dealer as we speak thanks to the information obtained from members.
MB blanket:
Sent an email to customer service questioning blanket availability and included a list of alternate items that I would prefer in its place. Their reply stated that the blanket promotion was time limited to selected customers. However, I should be receiving my blanket shortly. They made no mention of the alternate items.
Purchase:
I purchased in February 2003 @ $1100 below invoice. Sent an email to every MB dealer nation wide, presented the lowest email quote (respect warrants non disclosure) to local dealers and the last dealer matched it. First dealer (Costco member) claimed the quote was ridiculously low – need I say more? The second verbally promised to match the offer however when I returned with my wife to finalize the deal they backed down. The owner (family owned) claimed that the new E class was just too hot to sell below MSRP – right! Thanks for the latte but I gotta go! Took a ride over to third and last dealer where I was immediately greeted by the sales manager because all his salesmen were busy with prospects. He handled the sale. Long story short, he did his thing and I did my thing. Thirty minutes into our each “working the room” there was still a $500 divide. I signaled to my wife (who by now has sat in every vehicle in the showroom) and moved my checkbook back into my research binder. Noticing this, he asks me to wait for a minute or two while he talks to the general manager. Gimmick or not, he returns literally with sweat on his brow and tells me we have a deal matching the quote presented.
Service concerns @ 5500 miles:
(1) Harmon-Kardon radio malfunction
(2) Factory in dash 6-disc CD changer skips during CD mix function
(3) Driver’s door wind noise @ 50 mph plus
(4) Rattle inside rear passenger door when closed
(5) Slight steering wheel shimmy @ 50 mph plus
(6) Drifts right
(7) Engine ticking noise at idle
(8) Lack of engine power
(9) Tele-aid intermittent malfunction
(10) Noisy brake pump
(11) Loud cooling fan
All of which have already been discussed. All of which are currently being addressed by the dealer as we speak thanks to the information obtained from members.
MB blanket:
Sent an email to customer service questioning blanket availability and included a list of alternate items that I would prefer in its place. Their reply stated that the blanket promotion was time limited to selected customers. However, I should be receiving my blanket shortly. They made no mention of the alternate items.
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh
530
(5) Slight steering wheel shimmy @ 50 mph plus
if a rebalance doesn't do the trick..insist on checking the rim. i was in a shop with the foreman looking at the 'balanced' wheel/tire. it took a screw driver just touching the rim inside and spin the wheel manually to prove that the rim was out of round. this was the cause of a shimmy around 50mph. they are replacing the rim now.
if a rebalance doesn't do the trick..insist on checking the rim. i was in a shop with the foreman looking at the 'balanced' wheel/tire. it took a screw driver just touching the rim inside and spin the wheel manually to prove that the rim was out of round. this was the cause of a shimmy around 50mph. they are replacing the rim now.
