Courthaven

I was thinking about joining but curious if anyone found it beneficial It looks like a while ago they did offer a tour of the Baltimore VPC which would have been cool.

Cambridgehank

I have joined the DC section. They had a great outing at a vineyard this summer. I did not attend, but they have had meetups at detailers and auto storage facilities.
Not sure it was worth the cost of membership but what is these days?

s123s213

I've been a member for some time now and took advantage of the $500 discount off our new S213 last Feb (after negotiating the best deal, you then tell them about the MBCA discount). Love The Star also, been reading it since I was a kid.

Courthaven

Thanks a lot for the feedback I think I might try it out for a year and see how I like it.

gfmohn

As my Signature says, I too got the $500 discount on my current C300. As s123s213 points out, you pull out this discount AFTER you have negotiated your best price. No, the dealer cannot assume that you will be presenting this request. Not many MB owners are members of the MBCA (in this area, at least), and I am sure that the dealers are reimbursed for their cost of the discount. The cost of MBCA membership is:1 year - $55 (US), 2 years - $107 (US). and 3 years - $157 (US). So, if you expect to ever purchase new MB, you can't afford NOT to be in the MBCA! (To receive the discount, you must have been a member of the MBCA for 12 consecutive months or longer without lapse and be a current member.)

At the very first MBCA event I attended, I received a valuable tip: there are inexpensive shields that can be installed on the front wheels to reduce the buildup of the infamous Mercedes brake dust. As s123s213 also points out, the MBCA magazine, The Star, is a fabulous magazine. It is worth the price of membership in the MBCA all by itself. I mean it. Even if I ever exchange my Mercedes for another make, I will continue my MBCA membership, just for The Star's articles on MB history. After all, the history of MB is the history of automobiles. The Star is so well produced that I enjoy drooling over the ADS!

Cambridgehank

Are you receiving a print copy? I have not. But, I can read it on line.

gfmohn

Yes, I am receiving a print copy.

s123s213

Yes, you should be receiving a print copy but they are only published 6 times/year. Give the MBCA office a call.
Regarding the $500 discount, the first dealership I went to, MB of Buckhead here in Atlanta, wouldn't give me 'full credit' for the voucher on top of my discount. They claimed they aren't fully reimbursed by MB/MBCA for the $500. For that reason, as well as other shady negotiation tactics, I walked. Wound up finding a better match at RBM of Atlanta and they accepted the $500 voucher after negotiations and welcomed it, no questions asked.

Cambridgehank

I contacted MBCA about not getting a print copy and not being able to open the pdf version. They replied and said I was not a paid member. I had a member number but according to them had not sent a check or card number. I did not remember and did not want to argue, so I renewed and now everything works.