Lanzz

I am 4 months from lease end and starting to look. Ideally, I would like an E450 wagon. It looks like there is a $3,500 discount on the wagon through my corporate discount, and then a $3,000 discount from Mercedes. Dealer says these cannot be combined - not sure that is true, but hard to verify otherwise.

Based on what all of you are seeing, do I have any shot of a 10% discount on an E450? Dealer has three in stock - one is an untitled executive car with 7,200 miles (which is not tempting to me, because I am guessing they won't discount it enough to cover the miles) and another one is a 0 miles luxury series with the 19 inch wheels and driver assistance - that one is my target. Odd color combo, silver outside with beige inside, but I could live with it, given how nice it is overall. Sticker is $76,590.

Dealer is playing pretty good hardball, and wagons aren't everywhere, so I wonder if I am wasting my time... Other choice is a GLE350, but those are so new, hard to get much off anyway, so it works out to same / more than the wagon...

We really only have two dealers here in Charlotte, so not like NYC, where you could get 5 dealers working against each other... Any words of wisdom before I waste a bunch of time? Thanks, all.

rraisley

Charlotte, huh? I'm in Columbia SC. My dealer will give me 8% off for ordering a 2020 E450/350 (and it could be a wagon if I wanted). Plus whatever incentives there are when it comes in (November/December). I thought that Charlotte would have better deals (at least you have 2 dealers - I have 1), but other times I've gotten prices from Charlotte, they weren't that great. I certainly think you can get 10% off an existing car; not sure if that would be in addition to your two discounts mentioned.

It's true, wagons aren't everywhere, but it's also true: not everyone wants one. I would think you could still do well on one, especially if you at least acted like you'd might get something else.

Good luck!

JTK44

Just my $.02:

I have the silver beige combo which I special ordered and I love the it: the interior to my eye is, because of the beige color, open and airy.

I do live in the NYC area and when I special ordered my car I got just a little less than 12% off plus any end of year discount which was written into my contract. Others members of this forum received even better discounts, so you must shop around.

Wagons: I agree with you that there is a reason dealers do not stock wagons: most will opt for the GLE which has a substantially lower MSRP. So at some point, as those wagons sit there, the dealer will have to drop the price to move them.

Another option is to check dealers out of your area. The savings may be enough to justify a short plane ride to pick up the car. I buy from one dealer and have it serviced by another closer to my home and I am treated by my local service department as if I bought the car there, including loaners.

rraisley

That's easy to say (or maybe it isn't). But I can tell you from phone calls around me, like to Augusta, that even talking to the sales manager, you'll get something like "Well, we'll give you whatever Truecar says (6% on EXISTING cars), and really have no interest in ordering for you unless you come in and talk to us." I can't believe that cold cars across the country to dealers will bring much different results. Dealers around me are only interested in moving existing inventory. I swear, everyone on this forum has gotten half off their specially ordered MB, but it isn't working like that for me in real life. At least not for a factory order.

teksurv

Truecar is run by dealers. Have you considered ordering out of state, say NYC or LA? There is so much competition in these areas that dealers are willing to work with you. Then they truck the car to you.

JTK44

Not so:

For my last 2 BMW's and my last 2 MB, everything was done either by email or telephone calls.

Today dealers are equipped to handle inquires and sales via the internet.

Once you have decided on what you want, you contact the dealer.

Going to the dealer - for what reason other than to pick up the car is so old school - 20th century.

ua549

Some things can't be done without checking out a vehicle in person. That's how I found out that I couldn't reach the right side of the BMW 5 series touch panel without changing my driving position; thus eliminating it as a purchase contender.

I ordered a GLE Coupe before production started. When it arrived my wife couldn't enter/exit the vehicle without a step stool I declined the purchase.

KOPIER

I would call out of state dealers - I live in Southern California - I have close to 20 dealers all within a 40-50 mile radius - only 2 dealers had more than 2 wagons. I worked with 4 close by dealers to start - 2 dealers would work on discounts that were more than 10% the other would not even come close. I ended up getting about 18% on a new wagon from a dealer that had 2 in stock - call around and see if they will ship - even if they charge 500-1000 to ship could a lot less than what you locally. Good luck. The lease rates on the wagon are crazy low right now and $3000 dealer money from factory with decent residuals - they are leasing for about $175- $200 less per mont than normally.

rraisley

Sales Managers at dealers I've called so far weren't even interested on giving pricing on a car to be ordered (what I'm looking for), and for stock, simply said they'd meet what TruCar.com said. Must be calling the wrong ones (admittedly, not SoCal).

JTK44

Yes wrong dealers.

But I am really confused: your previously posted:

"My dealer will give me 8% off for ordering a 2020 E450/350 (and it could be a wagon if I wanted). Plus whatever incentives there are when it comes in (November/December). I thought that Charlotte would have better deals (at least you have 2 dealers - I have 1), but other times I've gotten prices from Charlotte, they weren't that great. I certainly think you can get 10% off an existing car; not sure if that would be in addition to your two discounts mentioned."

Every dealer here in New York/Long Island have internet sales departments so you never have to go to the dealer until you actually pickup the car - unless you want to. I have better things to do then visit car dealers.

My car was special ordered, I received almost 12% off of MSRP and everything was done either by email or telephone. The only time I went into dealer was to pick up the car.

2012 merc amg

Maybe just offer them 10 percent off and see what happens. I think it was 12 percent off I got on my wagon as I remember back last October.

threeMBs

Yes you did as have I. But if you remember, they got their money "back" from both of us by lowballing on trades (I know they sold my trade for $10K more than they gave me, or exactly what they discounted the new E). I'm confident we would not have gotten anywhere close to 12% off without trades (they have to make their money one way or an other, after all they're running dealerships not charities).

2012 merc amg

Yep you are right. With no trade maybe 6 percent off is a more realistic number.

Lanzz

Yeah - no trade for me. I have a nice lease return, in perfect condition, way under miles, but not the same as a trade... As many of you have suggested, I am going to do some emailing and see if anything comes of it. Worst case, I wait till later in fall and try and make a deal on a GLE350... Would prefer the wagon, but would be very happy with a GLE once the newness of it wears off.

rraisley

Maybe to save time, we should just list the dealer and salesman who is willing to give the biggest discount, and I and others can just go buy from him. I tried using MBUSA's get quote form, and it wouldn't even work and send anything, giving an error, despite me having to lie to it about what I want (won't list 2020 E-class for example).

JTK44

I will PM the name of the dealer and salesmen

Lanzz

OK - you guys were right. I got 11% off a 2019 Wagon - I am very happy. They covered last 4 payments on my E300, and I am rolling in a new E450 wagon. Thanks for your insight, it helped a lot.

JTK44

Good for you - and that is what we are here for - to help follow forum members!

rraisley

Stop gloating! I got an answer today from the manager at a MB dealership I've been working with (on ordering a 2020 E450): 4.75% off MSRP (NOT your salesman, JTK44). When I responded that it was not nearly good enough, they wished me good luck.

I hate the South. Where you can spout off about something that really bothers you to a salesperson, and they simply respond with "Well, have a nice day, y'all".

Lanzz

I agree, rr. The dealer I bought the previous E300 sedan from wanted no part of dealing on a wagon - they smiled and said " have a great day." Hendrick in Charlotte treated me very well today - I would recommend them.

Lanzz

Not the best picture - but thanks again for all of your help...

Ed

2012 merc amg

Excellent, great news, probably a good time to be buying a 2019 as they are making room for the 2020's soon. What kinda equipment you have for options and what was the msrp? Mine was 78k msrp. Looking back on it I wish mine had the multi-contour seats, does have the digital dash. I just got back my 2019 E450 Cab from the shop after a couple weeks and I really like those multi-contour in it better than the standard seats in my Wagon. Right after I bought my wagon I came across one with the multi's but it was too late. Oh, well, I'll probably trade it in a couple years and then get a new 2022 Wagon fully loaded next time. God knows what they will have for a engine or what they will be like at that point if they are still even making wagons still at that point. Congrats again, wise choice, looks a lot like mine other the wheels. Which tires does yours have? I'm hoping not the goodyear eagles, that's what mine came with and they were way too stiff for me and I changed them out for the Micheline Primacy's. I'll put the eagles back on when I trade in the car, lol.

Lanzz

2012, the sticker was 77,240. It has the Night / Acoustic Comfort / Lighting / Premium / Driver Assist / Park Assist packages, plus the panorama roof and digital dash. The MB tex is going to take some getting used to, since my 2017 E300 was leather with ventilated seats. Getting a wagon with the driver assistance package plus leather would have put me into the 82K range, which is just more than I was willing to spend. The prior car had the 19 inch wheels, this one has 18 inch, which I am happy about. As you correctly point out, the Goodyears are like riding on rocks, so at least I have a little more sidewall this time - even with another set of Goodyears, the ride is better. I had the multi contour seats in the last car and they didn't matter much to me, so I wasn't looking for them this time. I agree, not sure what the future holds for internal combustion, but I am really enjoying the extra power of the V6 over the 4cyl in the last car.

2012 merc amg

Once you break it in wait till you try sport plus mode, feels like a sports car, but break it in for 1000 miles first. Congrats again. I'm going to look at a Selinite gray one now with multi contour seats. If I can work a deal for my wagon plus 10K I might do it. I'm up to 15.5K miles on mine already and a white int. with the multi's would be nice. The one they have is an exec car with 1800 miles on it. I'll keep you all posted. I'm kinda tired of brown interiors and the wood in mine is kinda dark too, something lighter and brighter would be nice. I was planning on keeping my car long term as I'm not crazy about hybrids but If I can pull this off at least I'll have exactly what I want, well almost, it does not have the digital dash like mine, oh well, not a deal breaker.

martinlarose

Enjoy your new ride. I’m on my second wagon and for me it is a great vehicle. Lots of room for 4 guys and golf clubs and gear but still drives as a car. Looking forward to see some more pics. Congrats.