PSims

Has anyone heard from a reliable source that new E-Class order deliveries are delayed due to factory and port issues?

L1Wolf

I have not, but I wouldn't know unless my sales rep told me. He has not. Curious what you are hearing and from who?

estark

My car was built 3/13/24, sat 2 weeks at the port before Mercedes released it. Once on the ship it was headed for Baltimore. To my surprise they had a location near the Baltimore port for the ship to unload. Location was 14 miles from VPC. That maybe added a day to 2 for the car to get to the VPC. Took about a week for it to get to the dealer in NY. Picked up the car on Monday of this week.

L1Wolf

You took delivery two months from the start of production which aligns to what I've been told to expect.

streborx

I would expect that bridge collapse in Baltimore has caused some delay and re-routing.

Robert Falcone

My E450 was produced on 4/9 but sat in Bremerhaven for about 1 month until left on Donington on 5/3. Just arrived in Baltimore (Sparrows Point) this morning but appears that it will unload non-Mercedes cars at the VW VPC. Based on its future route, it will then leave for the Mercedes VPC which is past the Key Bridge since a deeper channel is open for cargo ships of this size. Let's see how long it sits at the Mercedes VPC before leaving for my NJ dealer.

PSims

So it seems patience is the key. Eventually the car I ordered will arrive and I’ll take whatever information provided when my dealership has something solid to give me. Lastly, MB could help USA buyers by offering us the same capability to track our orders as they offer European customers.

Robert Falcone

Totally agree! I own 2 Porsches and a BMW where you can track your vehicle. Mercedes needs to step up to and utilize the present technology available.

L1Wolf

I think you need to contact the dealership you ordered your car through. You should have gotten a VIN when the car went into production. Your dealership can track progress and give you updates. Then you can track the shipping once it gets loaded on a ship. I recall you said your production date was April 2nd. If so, the car should be on a ship heading to the USA at least by now and ideally, you should have it by around June 2nd. The estimate is 2 months from the production date. I'm sure it can fluctuate by a couple of weeks plus or minus.

Keep in mind, this is all based on what I have been told by my sales rep and what I have read online. I'm still waiting for my production date of 7/1 and will expect a VIN on that day or when my actual production date actually is. Apparently even that is an estimate.

Robert Falcone

The issue is that there is limited tracking available by Mercedes. I know the various stages of my Mercedes's production but it has to be tracked through my salesperson. I also know the ship and can track when it lands in Baltimore. But Porsche and BMW have sites where you can track your car rather than work through your sales rep.

L1Wolf

That is an issue and I wish MB was much better in this regard but, @PSims should still have a VIN by now and know what ship the vehicle is on. The fact that he doesn't is another problem entirely.

ua549

IIRC When I ordered my '18 E300 in February 2017, my sales rep gave me a link and login to an MB portal on the dealer's system. I had access to the same info as my salesman had. In retrospect following the MB build wasn't that great. It wasn't nearly as interesting or informative as following my BMW build.

L1Wolf

Do you know if that is still available? I asked my sales rep and he said only they can track it and he can give me updates. Maybe something changed and they don't allow customers to access it any longer. Another possibility is that it's at the dealership's discretion or policy to allow customer access.

ua549

*** deleted ***

PSims

My sales rep seems frustrated as well. During our meeting he was logged into Netstar and telling me what he saw. I didn’t press the VIN issue because I trusted he was telling me what was in the system.

cruise2024

Just put in an order for 2025 E-450 with a build date of 7/31. My dealership informed me that currently there is some sort of delay at MB in releasing supposedly built W214 models. Even though some of the 2024 models ordered by my dealership supposedly have been assembled/built at the factory (definitely past their build dates), MB is not releasing these vehicles for shipment. No specific reasons were given by MB, and my dealership speculated that it could be due to either shipping delay (related to Baltimore port logjam?) or MB may be missing certain parts that have yet to be installed on such vehicles.

PSims

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully the manufacturer will provide dealers something concrete about supply issues or port problems. I’d rather they not accept orders than to have dealerships giving buyers their best guess on what’s going on and what to expect.

L1Wolf

Good to know. It could be both actually. Hopefully the issues, whatever the cause, are cleard up soon. My build/production date is estimated to be 7/1 for a 2025 MY E450.

I think you should still have a VIN by now PSims. I don't see how the delays would impact that. Your car may be still at the factory but I was under the impression that the VIN is issued at the start of the build.

PSims

The lack of a VIN at this stage is puzzling based on where my dealer rep communicated where I’m at in the process. Buyers from other brands shared their vehicles came “unexpectedly” so maybe I’ll get a call telling me to be ready to pick up the E450 next week!

Robert Falcone

I don't think that there are any delays based on my E450. It arrived at the Baltimore VPC on 5/17 and was released today so should be at my NJ dealer tomorrow or Wednesday.

L1Wolf

What options did you include in your order?

Robert Falcone

L1Wolf

Nice! I have a nearly identical build spec. The only difference is I went with the Tonka Brown/Black Nappa Leather. Would love to see pictures when you get it. I'm curious what your build date was and when you submitted your order? I have a 7/1 build date which is nearly 2 1/2 months after I ordered it.

Robert Falcone

Thanks. Be glad to post pics once I take delivery. I submitted the order on 1/13/24 and build date was 4/9.

estark

While I was waiting for my car to arrive, anytime I wanted an update the dealer would look into the system, not see enough information to give an update so he would call the VPC in Baltimore and they would provide the exact status. Picked the car up last monday. Significantly improved car over the W213 that I had.