Dealer Profit on European Delivery
I’m looking to order an E320 CDI for November European delivery. Before I begin to negotiate with the dealer, does anyone know what the originating dealer is paid by MBUSA for their services? I know that these vehicles are not charged against the dealer’s allocation.
I’ve read here that some dealers will throw in the Rally hotel package. Has anyone received any other concessions?
BTW, feel free to PM me if you know of a dealer who will work with the customer on this pricing.
Also, any thoughts on Ash or Stone with Platinum Blue? I’ve yet to see one with Stone but a friend of mine’s Jag is medium blue with a cream interior and it looks great.
Thanks for the help.
I have never done an MB European delivery but, for whatever it's worth, I know from personal experience that for Porsche a European delivery counts against a dealer allocation and that some Porsche dealers will negotiate on the Euro delivery. I used my credit union buying service and got a great deal on my US delivery E500. AAA also has a buying service as do others so you might want to look into that.
Hi all:
I’m looking to order an E320 CDI for November European delivery. Before I begin to negotiate with the dealer, does anyone know what the originating dealer is paid by MBUSA for their services? I know that these vehicles are not charged against the dealer’s allocation.
Base MSRP for USA delivery - $55,000
Base MSRP for Euro Delivery - $51,150
Dealer Wholesale for USA delivery - $50,210
Dealer Wholesale for Euro Delivery - $46,545
As you can see, dealers do have something to work with on Euro Deliveries. It looks like they have 10% of Base MSRP to play with. In the BMW example, if the dealer gave you an extra $1K off the Euro price, he'd still make a nice profit.
I I once had to leave my wife as a hostage before they'd let me go to the bathroom by myself...seriously!
Seriously, I did mine all by phone and fax. Part of their agreement with the credit union is "no hassle."
I don't know about Mercedes markups for Euro Delivery but here is what BMW does according to an Internet site:
Base MSRP for USA delivery - $55,000
Base MSRP for Euro Delivery - $51,150
Dealer Wholesale for USA delivery - $50,210
Dealer Wholesale for Euro Delivery - $46,545
As you can see, dealers do have something to work with on Euro Deliveries. It looks like they have 10% of Base MSRP to play with. In the BMW example, if the dealer gave you an extra $1K off the Euro price, he'd still make a nice profit.
As to getting the best deal, what I recommend is to get on the mbusa.com site, use the "Build Your Own" option to configure the car exactly the way you want, and print it out. Then, use the site to find a half dozen dealers, call and speak to a salesman at each and tell him that all he has to do is give you a fax number and a quote. Since you have done all the work, all he has to do to get a sale is give you the best price after you fax him the configuration. I did this once and never even met the dealer (who was 200 miles away) since it was Euro delivery and I picked the car up at the port when it was delivered to the US.
Let's start with...MB has a MUCH better ED than BMW. BMW has a discount on the base car only. It is around $3k on a 530. No discount on options.
MB has an across the board 7% discount. It includes all options. Its on the order as a 7% discount (I am looking at mine, came in the mail today via dealer). Additionally, MB does not charge destination fee, $720, or about another 1-2% (about 1-1.4% on an E-Class).
Now I don't know exactly what dealers pay, however a early post said they get an additional 7% or 10%. Many dealers won't negotiate ED (it is already less expensive than US invoice). Others will. $700-1000 off seemed easy to get (within 3 calls). It is possible, but not easy, to get more.
Now AMG models and some other scarce models (e.g. SLK350s) are not available on ED. And there are other trade-offs. You save car rentals, however you are driving your NEW car on narrow, unfamilar roads with signs in a foreign language. You have to pay for the car a month before you pick it up and you don't receive it for 4-6 weeks after you you drop it off. That is 2-2 1/2 months. On a lease that could be $2000-2500. On a trade-in it means either no car for 2.5 months or not getting the sales tax credit on a trade. And your trip starts in Stuttgart (not exactly everyone's vacation hotspot) and the turn in is limited to 7 or so cities. Vienna, Berlin, and numerous others are not on the list.
Hope this helps,
David
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MB has an across the board 7% discount. It includes all options. Its on the order as a 7% discount (I am looking at mine, came in the mail today via dealer). Additionally, MB does not charge destination fee, $720, or about another 1-2% (about 1-1.4% on an E-Class).
Now I don't know exactly what dealers pay, however a early post said they get an additional 7% or 10%. Many dealers won't negotiate ED (it is already less expensive than US invoice). Others will. $700-1000 off seemed easy to get (within 3 calls). It is possible, but not easy, to get more.
David
The MBUSA site shows Euro Delivery options at the same price as USA delivery. I believe that the 7% discount comes off only the base MSRP price.
A local dealer will throw in either the $1,200 Alps Package or give you the equivelant in a discount. He's still got a few thousand to work with.
BMW offers pretty much what Mercedes offers. However, BMW give you 30 days insurance instead of 15 but I don't think they give you taxi chits or a free nights lodging. Their touring packages are far more expensive than the Alps Package.
Picking the car up in Sindelfingen isn't so bad since there are about 11 drop off points in Europe (14 for BMW).
You do pay for the car as much as four months before you receive it. Since I pay cash for my cars and have no trade in, it doesn't matter to me.
It seems that if you are not leasing, have the time and don't mind a long plane ride, you would be silly not to do a Euro Delivery. You can do like one of our well know posters does and simply fly over, take delivery of the car, turn it in and fly home.
Or you could negotiate the Alps Package and take a nice vacation in the process. You can drop off your car at the hotel in Munich and spend a few extra days there before flying home.
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If you add the items on the ED configurator, you will find it is adding them at the discounted price.
David
If you add the items on the ED configurator, you will find it is adding them at the discounted price.
David
A local dealer will throw in either the $1,200 Alps Package or give you the equivelant in a discount. He's still got a few thousand to work with..
And $1200 for 4 nights is not cheap. You could easily get hotels on that route for $100-150 night. On a budget you could be uner $100/night.
And wouldn't you rather stay a night or two in Swangau or Fussen and see the castles?
The hotels or B&Bs you could schedule yourself may not be 5 star, however they may be more appropriate for a driving tour.
David








