Ordered E53 Wagon - first post
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2011 Mercedes E350 Bluetec. 2026 E53 AMG Wagon. 2023 Nissan Z.
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From: Austin, TX / Munich, DE
E 53 Wagon
Congrats! I take delivery of mine on Friday in Stuttgart, and I am beyond excited! I will be shipping it back to the US later in August. I've heard MB will release 2026 MSRP details next week, and it's likely the cars that have arrived will be released in late August or by mid-September. I'm curious if mine or yours will be in our US driveway first!
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Congrats! I take delivery of mine on Friday in Stuttgart, and I am beyond excited! I will be shipping it back to the US later in August. I've heard MB will release 2026 MSRP details next week, and it's likely the cars that have arrived will be released in late August or by mid-September. I'm curious if mine or yours will be in our US driveway first!
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Curious what that is all about...ordered a US spec car from a European dealer, taking delivery and paying VAT...then shipping to the US and paying the tariff?
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From: Austin, TX / Munich, DE
E 53 Wagon
No, it is an EU market car. I live part-time in the US, and ship my cars back and forth, as needed. There's no tariff for importing the car for personal, temporary use. (Up to 1 year is permitted; I average about 6 months.)
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I love my 2011 E350 bluetec. I have had so few maintenance issues over the past 140,000 miles. She goes like the day I bought her. After she was retrofitted with the revised diesel emissions system they extended the warranty for another 48,000 miles/4 years. Completely crazy. LOL.
Last edited by Alan Smithee; Jul 30, 2025 at 06:15 PM.
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Your M5 comparision was great...just noticed the E63 in your sig...by chance have you posted a comparison of the E63 and E53 somewhere?
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Joined: Apr 2018
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From: Austin, TX / Munich, DE
E 53 Wagon
Not yet, but if there's any interest, I can. I owned both the S213 and S213 mopf. I remember both very well and miss each equally. However, I do not miss some of the quality gremlins.
I'd like some more seat time in my E 53 before I do a comparison. The cars I have experience driving had different options than the ones I ultimately ordered. What I can say is that the 214 feels better inside and the 213/213mopf looks better outside.
I'd like some more seat time in my E 53 before I do a comparison. The cars I have experience driving had different options than the ones I ultimately ordered. What I can say is that the 214 feels better inside and the 213/213mopf looks better outside.
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
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X214
An experience posted on the GLE thread, about the PHEV GLE450e:
I too have a 2024 GLE 450e. 18,500 miles over 22 months with no problems and great EV mileage of 62 miles per charge. BUT THEN ... the EV battery died: on a full charge, the battery's predictive mileage is reflective of what is happening outside the car. Then as the battery discharges to about 50% and shows 32 miles left -- the battery collapses and I get only 7 miles on that last half of the charge. Repeatedly, for me and for the dealer's service techs. So, at 19,000 miles and 22 months, they are replacing the EV battery. Now, this car is assembled in Alabama and I live next door in Florida. But the battery has to come from Germany and it will take "weeks", per the dealer. I wrote a review for this forum after I had the car for 2 months and gave it all-thumbs-up but for some minor quibbles like the fake exhaust ports. Now, however, the failure of the EV battery and the totally ridiculous supply chain for its replacement cause me to question whether PHEV technology, as Mercedes conceives it, is up to the demands of the real world. I do recognize two factors: MB has used basically the same PHEV setup on some European vehicles for years, so they should have a pretty good grip on the technology. Second, the fact that my replacement battery has to come from Germany MIGHT mean that the failure of my battery might be anomalous -- if, say, 1 out of 5 batteries were failing, they probably would have a supply to. deploy from the US factory. ANYWAY, my EV range for now (and for the upcoming "weeks" ) is about 35 miles, which would be great for a cheaper PHEV, but obviously is not what I paid for. I leased this car because I did not fully trust the long-term value of this hi-tech vehicle and, at least for now, I'm glad I did not buy it outright. I'll repost once this is all resolved.
I too have a 2024 GLE 450e. 18,500 miles over 22 months with no problems and great EV mileage of 62 miles per charge. BUT THEN ... the EV battery died: on a full charge, the battery's predictive mileage is reflective of what is happening outside the car. Then as the battery discharges to about 50% and shows 32 miles left -- the battery collapses and I get only 7 miles on that last half of the charge. Repeatedly, for me and for the dealer's service techs. So, at 19,000 miles and 22 months, they are replacing the EV battery. Now, this car is assembled in Alabama and I live next door in Florida. But the battery has to come from Germany and it will take "weeks", per the dealer. I wrote a review for this forum after I had the car for 2 months and gave it all-thumbs-up but for some minor quibbles like the fake exhaust ports. Now, however, the failure of the EV battery and the totally ridiculous supply chain for its replacement cause me to question whether PHEV technology, as Mercedes conceives it, is up to the demands of the real world. I do recognize two factors: MB has used basically the same PHEV setup on some European vehicles for years, so they should have a pretty good grip on the technology. Second, the fact that my replacement battery has to come from Germany MIGHT mean that the failure of my battery might be anomalous -- if, say, 1 out of 5 batteries were failing, they probably would have a supply to. deploy from the US factory. ANYWAY, my EV range for now (and for the upcoming "weeks" ) is about 35 miles, which would be great for a cheaper PHEV, but obviously is not what I paid for. I leased this car because I did not fully trust the long-term value of this hi-tech vehicle and, at least for now, I'm glad I did not buy it outright. I'll repost once this is all resolved.
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
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From: Santa Fe, NM
2026 E450 AT (on order)
The new car manager at the dealer I am working with a few weeks ago said the rumor mill was saying a 6% rise when they were talking about 25% tariffs. With the lower tariff agreed to, the MSRP might still be 6% or so higher. Just my $0.02.
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Assume a MSRP of $75,000. The cost that is subject to tariffs may only be $60,000. 15% is $9000. If Mercedes absorbs half and passes on half that is $4,500, which is 6% not a 15% increase.
Just my $.02.
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Moderately related: wouldn’t the tariff’s also cause an increase in the value of used cars? If so, some of the increase could be absorbed there too for those doing a trade….?
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X214
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From: Ontario,Canada
...24 GLE53
Shareholders may have something to say about that when they vote wit their feet and sell the stock. MB should post the tariff just like all the options. German premium cars compete with other German premium car builders. There is no need to absorb the tariff since they are all paying the same tariff. Secondly US built cars are facing huge input increases on aluminum and steel and many parts. This will all be paid by the American consumer as it should. American voted for tariffs. Trump never made a secret of his policy on imposing tariffs. He only lied on who was going to pay for them.
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.
Actually the importer pays tariffs and any other import taxes/fees. The consumer has a choice to make a purchase or not. IMO customers are more likely to vote with their feet than shareholders. As a MB shareholder I don't care if MB pays the tariffs as long as the value of owning the stock exceeds my requirements. Many shareholders like me "buy and hold" and are not traders or affected by price fluctuations. Price only counts when one buys or sells. Unfortunately MB dividends have dropped by about 20% over 2024 ( $0.808 vs. $1.003 ). IMO MB financials are good with almost 25 billion in cash flow. The MBGYY fiscal year closed yesterday.
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Joined: May 2018
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
If the new car goes down in price, then the used car will also fall in price: see Tesla where the 2025 Model Y cost less than the 2022. Used Tesla's have taken a beating.
But keep in mind if the new car goes up in price by 5%, for example from $75,000 to $78,750 ($3,750) a used 5 year old E450 worth $32,000 if it goes up 5%, that is $1600 so you are out the difference on trade of $2,150.
Any way you look at it, raising prices due to tariffs will cost you more than if there had not been any tariffs - and you the consumer, not the exporting country, will be paying the increase..
Hope this clarifies.
