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Dealers Website is Misleading!

Old Jan 1, 2015 | 04:33 PM
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Dealers Website is Misleading!

So I want to order a E350 wagon and hoped to find Designo E class models to look at. Wife and I went last weekend to NYC and the flagship Mercedes Store as there web site says 600+ cars "in stock" and like 300 E class vehicles. I thought it must be a huge place but after a 4 hour trip, we found out they had like 50 new cars, the other 500+ cars are in a warehouse in New Jersey . Salesman said Corporate can't "figure" out how to list cars on the website as "in stock, in transit, or as sold" or anything like that and apologized.
We did see one 2012 sedan with Designo Mystic Brown a color I had hoped to see. They had small leather samples, paint tiles and trim pieces, overall a lame example of the Designo trims. Its really surprising that the corporate store can't even have a simple example of a seat to even look at. Salesman also said they can only get Designo cars when they lie on the order to the factory and say its for a customer, wow!!!!!
How do I order a exterior color with no real life visual, the Designo seats are totally out as I don't want to order $3900 worth without putting my *ss in them first. Any advise? thanks bob
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Old Jan 1, 2015 | 07:09 PM
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Try doing a search for the colors and interior you may want using autotrader.com. You can also use mbusa.com web site to search for dealers and check their inventory online.
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Old Jan 2, 2015 | 01:41 AM
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Please take a look at this thread:

https://mbworld.org/forums/w212-amg/...al-photos.html

Unfortunately that's the best you'll be able to do unless you can track down a car that you can see in person. Dealers simply aren't set up to market designo properly. My local dealer doesn't even have the samples that the corporate store has let alone any other materials. Customers really don't know what all options are when ordering their car and it's a real pitty. But do take a look at those photos that I've compiled as I hope it'll give you a good idea of what the different options look like for the 212.

In terms of seat comfort it's the same as a regular E-Class seat but with smooth nappa leather. (Nappa leather is an regular option for the standard colors as well). So I'd suggest trying out a nappa leather optioned E-Class or E63 (standard with nappa leather) to see how you like it and then use the photos to gauge which color you'd like.
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Old Jan 2, 2015 | 08:29 AM
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This is not unusal today with so many dealerships owned by one person or group. They may have five Nissan dealerships and consider the cars at all five as in stock at any of them as they will move them at no charge.
Best advice is to call first, narrow down what you want to see and make sure it is sitting on the lot.
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Old Jan 2, 2015 | 09:46 AM
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Not unusual or surprising that designo options are not readily available. They're expensive and exclusive. A dealer cannot be expected to have every combination of every style available. The same is true for other makes. Last time I bought a BMW it had some "individual" components and I had to make do with paint chips and samples in books. At least you can order the variations. For some makes you have to take what they have, period.
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Old Jan 2, 2015 | 10:07 AM
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xxGenericSNxx thanks I had seen your photos before, you did a great job. I didn't know the Designo seats are Nappa leather they look so different than the standard seats. I'm alittle confused with MB, the web site has build your own yet none of these options are listed and as soon as I say I'd like to order a wagon the salesmen give me the dealer order guide that doesn't list options that the web has like the illuminated door sills? These Designo options are big money and I'd thought MB would push these more just for extra margin!
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Old Jan 2, 2015 | 11:31 AM
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Some things you should know:
1) MY15 production ends in Feburary, designo orders are no longer possible on MY15 (designo always ends a month before production changeover).
2) MY16 production starts in March, designo may not be available as it is the final year of S212 production and typically designo is not offered on the last year, or at least it is restricted.
3) It would be impossible for a dealer to have complete designo offerings for all models on display - both cost and space. Due to the cost of the options, they're rare and the margins are no better than standard options yet the risk is much higher.
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Old Jan 4, 2015 | 12:36 PM
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thanks YYZ-E55; several dealer trips and no one said any of this especially that the wagon would be done after the MY2016. NYC MB dealer said September would be when the 2016 came out after the shut down for vacation time in August. This changes things for me somewhat.
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Old Jan 4, 2015 | 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by f350bob9
thanks YYZ-E55; several dealer trips and no one said any of this especially that the wagon would be done after the MY2016. NYC MB dealer said September would be when the 2016 came out after the shut down for vacation time in August. This changes things for me somewhat.
To be very clear, the S212 is not discontinued. The designo bespoke program is done for MY15 (amendable MY15 W/S212 cannot have designo options added) and the designo program may not reappear for MY16.
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Old Jan 4, 2015 | 07:29 PM
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thanks again. bob
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