JTK44

After a great many telephone calls, but only one trip to a dealer, today I placed my order for a 2019 E450 Sedan:

Here are the details:

· 2019 E450 4matic: $59,950
· Iridium Silver Metallic (775): $720
· Macchiato Beige/Expresso Brown MB-Tex (145)
· Premium Package (PO1): $1,750
· Luxury Line (167)
· Exterior Lighting Package (319): $800
· Parking Assistance Package (319): $1,290
· Driver Assistance Package (997): $2,250
· Burl Walnut wood (731)
· Center Console in Burl Walnut wood (777)
· 18” Twin 5-spoke wheels (R54): $500
· Heated Steering wheel (443): $250
· 12.3” Digital Instrument Cluster (464): $850
· Burmester Surround Sound System (810): $850
· Destination & Delivery $995

MSRP $70,205

Plus, two year/20,000 maintenance $890 for total of $71,095

Selling price: $62,042.43. This is a discount of $9,054 off of MSRP or 12.73%

Money Factor: .00194 (4.66%)
Residual is 59%
36 months
10,000 miles per year

Lease payment $899 per month. All taxes, bank fee and NY State Sales tax (tax rate is 8.625%) included in the monthly payment. At lease inception all I pay is $1,200 which includes first month’s payment, motor vehicle fees, inspection and documentation fees

Anticipated delivery is December, 2018.

The deal is structured to include $1,000 for the Winter Sale event. In the event that the dealer incentives and/or rebates to the buyer are $1,000 or less than the lease payment remains at $899. If the dealer incentives and/or rebates to the buyer are over $1,000 than the amount over $1,000 belongs to me.

The lease on my 2016 E350 ends in December. This 2019 E450 is a replacement.

jhpmbusa

Congratz!!!

Seriously amazing how MB made the v6 engine an available option at such a premium cost. Quick calculations, i think an E300 with the same MSRP as yours would have been running $250ish cheaper.

fleuger99

It's not the MSRP that is the cause of that difference, its the residual and money factor. That is a very high money factor compared to non MB leases I've had but I guess that is how MB operates their leases. For example, I have a BMW X5 with options the MSRP was $70710. My money factor percentage was only 1.9% and the residual was 60%. I paid sales taxes and fees up front (6.5% sales tax) and my monthly payment is $800.65 for 36 months and 15K miles per year. Obviously BMW is subsidizing both the money factor and definitely the residual.

jhpmbusa

yep, that's what it says. that an e300 with the same msrp would have been cheaper.

fleuger99

You mentioned something about the V6 being offered at a premium. My point was it isn't the the residual and money factor, nothing to do with the engine.

jhpmbusa

yep its the V6 models which have different programs (residual/MF) than the e300. Its basically considered a different vehicle.

JTK44

Maybe this is helpful:

The money factor on the E300 is slightly lower but the residual on the E450 is higher. It is basically a "wash" - no inherent advantage leasing the E300 vs. E450. I was able to get a substantial discount on the E450. I have no reason not to believe that I would not have gotten a similar discount on the E300, so the lease payments on an E300 would have been subastantially less.

I also shopped the 540i with similar equipment. The MSRP was $68,000, $2,000 less.than the E450. The 540i included leather seats and a spare tire. The E450 has MB Tex plus the digital dashboard. The money factor was lower and the residual was higher on the 540i.. The monthly payment, all in - includes bank fee and NY State sales tax, was $835 vs. $899 on the E450.

Clearly the 540i is a "better" value than the E450.

While I love the exterior styling of the 540i (I am so so on the E450 - I have a hard time differentiating between the C Class and E Class) I found the interior of the E450 light years ahead of the 540i. As my time spent in the car is inside the car, the interior of the E450 is what sold me.

Just my $.02.

rbrylaw

Congrats on your order. You don't need to justify to anyone why you chose what you did. And you're right, the E and C do look a lot alike. But you'll be inside looking out, so who cares. There's just nothing like sitting in and driving an E Class car!

jhpmbusa

Seems like overall the program is not as attractive, hope it drops for you in December which I am quite positive it will with winter/year end sales when you pick up! Also, you priced out the my19 model practically the same month it came out so a bit of premium there i would think.

In comparison I have a my18 e300 +65k$ p2,night package,pano, spoiler and probably a few smaller little things. Picked up in December 2018, 1200 out of pocket +6000 MSDS 12k/36 at 515 a month. A fantastic deal in my book.

fleuger99

No one was questioning his decision, he was offering information based on the discussion of residuals and money factors.

fleuger99

Great insight, thanks for the information. Do you happen to know if the E450 programs are the same for the wagons as sedans? I'm looking at a E450 wagon in Feb/Mar time frame. Thanks.

rbrylaw

I wasn't accusing other's of questioning his deal. From his responses, it seemed he felt he needed to justify the deal he's getting. And he truly needn't.

allfortheunion

JTK44

Your deal seems to good to be true! My deal is for 10K/36 months, $899 per month.

When you back out the MSD, and reduce the mileage to 10K, your payments would still be less than $575 a month.

That is an incredible price for $65,000 car - unless you take possession in December 2018 which makes the car one year old.

JTK44

Sorry, do not have information about either MF or residuals for the wagon.

allfortheunion

JTK44

Wow! (sorry)

The wagon lists out for more than the sedan, the residuals are lower (57% vs. 59%) and the money factor higher (.00225 vs. .00194)

Expect the wagon to lease out for quite a bit more than the sedan.

fleuger99

I misunderstood then so my apologies.

rbrylaw

No worries. Thanks

fleuger99

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I need the wagon as I have two retired racing Greyhounds so need the space. Probably less favorable compared the the sedan because wagons are not the 'in car' so less demand for them.

fleuger99

Thanks, great info. Looks like I'll be looking at close to a grand a month on a $70K car with those residuals and money factors. How much do the MSDS help? Thanks.

JTK44

When I shopped my E450, using the maximum MSD (10 payments) the reduction in the monthly payment was about 10.41%.

I live in NY where MSD are not allowed. I went to a recommended MB dealer in New Jersey where the monthly payment went from $941 to $843 with MSD of $9,500 saving so of $10.4%. The savings of $98 per month, $1176 represented a return of 12.38% on my MSD of $9,500.

However, I already had a quote of $899 so my savings would have been $58 per month, $696, a return of 7.3% on my deposit of $9,500.

Wasn't enough for me to go to New Jersey.

I posted this on a prior thread: "MSD"

fleuger99

Thanks, I'll search the MSD thread. I'll need to find out if MSD's are allowed in Texas but assume they will be.

JTK44

When I spoke to MF Financial they told me that MSD are in all states/jurisdictions except for NY and Washington, DC.

I started my search with my Costco dealer. That was the best deal I had until I was contacted by the dealer with whom I am presently leasing my 2016 E350. My local dealer and the Costco dealer were not able to come close to the $899. The dealer is only 15 miles from me, but in New York that is 40 minutes - each way!

Good Luck on your journey!

JTK44

Update:


Just received email from my dealer that: "the vehicle is at the port, it is built, not shipped to the Vehicle Processing Center as yet"

I placed the order on September 26: that is 5 1/2 weeks.