Standard Widescreen Digital Instrument Cluster (868) constrained; replaced with 10.25" screen in certain instances

 

My 2021 All Terrain should be arriving in the coming weeks. It'll be interesting to see whether any issues with respect to the screen occur. At this point I am not sure whether I'd reject the build if they slipped that in. I've been at this since February and don't know whether I'd wait longer. Is this something they have to be upfront about somewhere? My build has no notes next to the 868 code. Does the dealer have an obligation to warn you of any build discrepancies prior to delivery?

 

The semiconductor situation is very fluid and changes weekly. They can keep checking the build sheet to make sure everything is still there, but the best way is to usually ask them for an updated copy so you can check yourself.

 

Is there a way to check any build or order status online or does it have to go through the dealer?

 

You can track the ship once your dealer gives the name to you. That's about it.

 

You have to go through the dealer. There are also specific milestone codes in they system that are indicative of your build status. The first indicator you are entering the tunnel toward seeing your car is a VIN. If you have a VIN that means the production process has started. This does not mean your car is actively being built. It means it is in the system to be built. As a point of reference my 2021 e450 All Terrain build received a VIN on August 13th. It wasn't until September 17th that I received the next big mileston, which is "produced, not shipped." Getting that information was only possible through my sales rep.

After I achieved "produced not shipped" status on the 17th I was then placed in a queue for shipment. My car did not get assinged a ship until October 2nd and the ship was planned to arrive on the East Coast of the United States on October 10th. At this point I could track the ship based on its name. I did not bother becuase I knew that there were still going to be delays in store. And indeed there were.

On October 14th--4 days after the ship was moored in Baltimore--my car was offloaded. At this point the car then needed to clear a few more hurdles. First, it has to be released to a trucking company--for me this still had not occurred on the 20th of October. Then it has to actually get loaded onto a carrier and head to the dealership. And this is where I sit today.

In normal supply chain times the car should've worked through the system from the VIN issue on August 13th on about a 5-6 week lead time, putting my car at the dealer sometime in the late September timeframe. It is currenlty October 22nd and my car still isn't even on a truck to get delivered.

This is all a long way of saying that the global supply chain is a mess--from chip shortages, backlogs in ports, to driver shortages--so take whatever optimistic timelines your sales rep gives you and double them.

 

The dealer informed me this morning that i now have a VIN and a build date of November 10th!

 

Very interesting spec…looks fully loaded…are you aware of anything missing on it? I assume it is a 2022?

Despite still being on the newly updated 2022 on-line configurator, the dash cam, enhanced nav, and hands-free access were unavailable for me to order on a 2022.

 

There is little question about whether actual E450 All-Terrain 2022 configurations are in flux. I recently cancelled my order for what was first a 2021 All-Terrain and then, as production delays continued, its successor 2022 model. In early October, I was told by my dealer that, among other things, a 12.3" display for my primary dash (speedometer, odometer, etc.), augmented navigation, dash cam, heads-up display, etc. would not be incorporated in my 10-3 build. For a car that was so fully loaded it was priced at $95K+, that is ridiculous. I cancelled my order and got my substantial deposit back. My wife and I are very disappointed as the competitive alternatives fall short of what M-B was purportedly offering.

I hope that all who have gone ahead with their orders get vehicles that include everything that they were expecting.

 

My friend just got a 2021 E350. Checked out his car he has the 12.3" display. He turned in the lease on his 2018 which had the lighting package and the 2021 does not. He is paying about the same, but instead of 3 years it is a 4 year lease. He drives 15/18,000K per year, so not only will he need new tires, brakes, etc. but he will over the warranty after three years. Otherwise all things considered, not a terrible deal especially if you drive 12K miles per year.

 

Hi Going to order 2022 E450 sedan the 21 had soft close doors dealer tells me not available on 22 ?

 

I have had a chance to digest the differences between the final build sheet before production (11/10) and the original order sheet I signed.

• The "Rear Cross Traffic Alert" portion of the Premium package is missing. The new sheet calls this "Premium package Lite" (DP1 vs DP9) and there is a $150 credit
• The "Augmented Video for Navigation" has been dropped
• The "Active Massage" feature has been dropped
• The "Comfort Headrests/Front" have been dropped
• They have added the "Night Package" even though I specifically declined it. The dealer told me it was required because I had the 20" AMG wheels
• They have added the "LED Logo Projectors"

I am bummed about the augmented video and massaging seats and will check the dealer to make sure there is no oversight. Of course, everything I have signed so far has the disclaimer "M-B reserves the right to make changes without notification" so we'll just have to wait and see what they roll off the truck.

 

Rear Cross Traffic Alert: That is a safety feature. I have this feature on my 2019 E450. Losing it is a big step backward..

 

Thank you for the reply. Do you know if soft close doors are available.

 

I’m pretty sure the prem package lite doesn’t delete rear cross traffic, I though what it deleted was the kick to open trunk, aka hands free access. I may be wrong though.

 

My 2019 E450 has the option "kick to open/close trunk" as well!

 

Yes, on the 2017-2019 E Classes, the premium package included keyless entry and kick to open trunk. It was standard on the 2020 & 2021 E Classes (aside from a few early built 2021s with credit for missing standard kick to open trunk - they still had keyless entry) but for 2022 kick to open trunk is no longer standard, it’s included in the premium package. And the premium package lite is missing that feature.

 

Thanks for the clarification!

I use my E450 as my ski car: When I come back from the slopes, with my boot bag on one shoulder, skis on the other, poles in one hand that kick feature is pretty handy!

 

You are correct, at least that is what is stated on my build:

DF9 - PREMIUM PACKAGE LITE $2,300
P47 Parking Package
235 Active Parking Assist
501 Surround View Camera
536 Sirius XM Radio with Free Trial Period
810 Burmester Surround Sound System

Only thing missing is Hands-Free Access, with the package price discounted from $2,400.

 

Is the soft close doors available on the E450 sedans.

 

They are not.
On the wagon it's listed as code 883, for $550.
There is no indication it is delayed or unavailable on the wagon.

 

I actually got the soft close doors on the wagon. I would say it is a bit of a novelty. Most don't know they exist so they just close the door normally. If I had a do over I'd just take a pass on that feature.

In other news, got the car on Friday (10/29) and by Tuesday (11/2) the 48v system failed and it is now in the shop awaiting a new battery--looking at a 1 week cycle time for that fix. The tow company also scraped the bottom rear of the car, so I'm now working with MBUSA to get that resolved.

MBUSA and Mercedes Denver have been fantastic in terms of support. The situation has been frustrating, but at least the people I rely on for help are being truly helpful.

 

FWIW, after visiting dealers who want MSRP + $3,000 for a 2022 E450, I think I will just buy out my lease on my 2019 E450, only 22,000 miles and one year to go on the warranty. I thought by now that the problems with the 48 volt batter would have been solved, but clearly they continue. Knock on wood, I have had zero problems with my 2019 E450 which bodes well going forward.

I drive to Vermont in the winter for skiing. Can't imagine what it would be like up there in 10 degrees having the battery crap out and being towed to where? Boston 150 miles, NY 200 miles?

Sincerely hope they get the replacement battery in a week to 10 days and you are up and running again. Keep us posted on the progress getting the replacement battery.

 

Here's the latest production schedule from my dealer for my 2022 All Terrain:
Nov. 2 -- production commenced on schedule
Mid-December -- build complete
End of January -- ready for pickup at dealer

Also agree it is concerning that the later builds are continuing to have problems with the 48v battery.

 

My service advisor thinks they’ll have the battery mid next week. He says that he’s seend dozens of replacements—not exactly a good sign—and very few second replacements. So I am fingers-crossed hoping that the fix is quick and it works. There’s another thread on the 48v system that suggests I could be in for more shop time if the battery they put in isn’t the new one. We shall see.