MBUSA is going through some interesting changes. Hopefully, that means a better consumer and retail experience. Product Management still seems a bit like amateur hour. Hopefully for US customers some changes will happen there, as well.

I think a lot of high-performance wagon buyers in the US aren't true wagon enthusiasts; they're just experiencing FOMO or using them as fashion accessories or for social clout. The RS 6 is a great example - a car ruined by so many with awful wheels. The M5 Touring seems to be suffering a similar fate.

I originally ordered an E1 in Germany, where you could actually pick a few different exterior colors and not be forced into the AMG Performance Seats, in addition to a few other option choices. My first car was a final E1 production. The replacement is not, but MB did build it with the option code for the stripes. I'm happier without the Superscreen. And my Tonka brown, versus the Black with yellow accents. Too similar to my V60 Polestar. There are apparently only 48 coming to the US, so it will probably be marked up and sold to suckers who need to be first. I think the RS 6 GT is the better "limited edition" choice in that case.

 

Not sure if the new work at the dealer in Manhattan has anything to do with it with the Maybach area and the lounge area, but if that’s the case there are some nice steps with retail.

I play golf and was a fencer for a long time, so I have big sports equipment to carry and the wagon appealed because it can swallow everything. When I was competing in Europe I would take a couple teammates and rent a wagon. The most memorable was a 530d wagon a couple years ago with 3 guys and 3 fencing bags and luggage, and the car barely broke a sweat going down the autobahn (responsibly fast of course).

Interesting about your order and glad you got what you want. Any reason why you didn’t want the super screen?

 

It might. I recall someone mentioning to me that they were changing some of the retail guidelines for store appearance, etc. I will be in NY in a few weeks for work and will visit the store. It's one I've never been to before.

It is just personal preference. The wood trim is so beautiful in these cars. I wanted to see more of it. The screen didn't really offer much in terms of functionality, and I seldom have a front passenger.

 

I too deliberately avoided the super screen, since it serves no purpose whatsoever, for my use-case.

I got the brown wood with the aluminum lines, occupying that spot, and the wood ($1515) costs more than the super-screen. Ideally, I would have preferred to have the brown wood without the Aluminum lines, but that was still preferable to the super-screen.

 

I agree the wood is beautiful which is why I opted for the brown wood with aluminum lines for the center console. However, I prefer the more modern look and symmetry of the super screen over the other options. The screen doesn't get used often but I like the look of the functional compass along with the thematic changes in background light (red) when switching to the sport screen on the driver display. To me, it just looks more like intentional design rather than a tablet bolted to an existing dash in cars without the super screen. I'm glad they have the option of having or not having the super screen since we all have different tastes. It's nice to have options.

 

I go back and forth. I regretted not getting it when they updated the software to allow a custom background image. The new GLC EV is now all screen. The only option there is whether you can touch it or not.

 

GOOD NEWS! Wagons have launched!!! Deliveries should start ASAP!

 

details?

 

Ask your dealer? Launched means they are approved for retail sale. Wholesaling and truck pickups should start soon.

 

cool thanks. I was more curious how you heard and if there were other details.

 

Ah. Sorry. I was chatting with my friend at US corporate about something else when he said he got an internal alert. I then had my dealer contact check his E1, and the order status went from "Not Launched/Sep 2025" to green "Launched/Sep 2025".

 

Excellent!!! One step closer to hope everybody who has an order gets theirs soon!

 

My salesperson confirmed the “launch” was today - they are checking to see what truck will transport from Baltimore to NY

 

Oh wow ! The long wait is nearly over.

 

But the last leg is often the most difficult lol

 

In three months from now you will forget all about the wait since you will have the car for a while by then. It felt like forever to me, but it's been over a year since I took delivery. I wonder where the time went now.

 

So my dealer is getting an E1 "next week". I went to try to test drive an E53 sedan but they sold it yesterday so all I could look at was an Alpine Grey E450 All-Terrain in a fairly basic configuration. I went to another dealer who had a red E53 sedan that I did test drive. It's a really nice car and I liked it a lot, my wife is not impressed with its size (too big, she has an A6 Allroad) and price (too much) but I absolutely loved it.

So while the E1 seems to be a very rare car, I would absolutely not pay over MSRP for one. What does the E1 package include really?

The E1 that my dealer is getting has an MSRP of $120,450 and it doesn't even have the Driver Assist package and it's an "Exclusive Trim" not a "Pinnacle Trim" and forget about soft close doors or rear sunshades. This is a big let down in my book and the lack of Diver Assist is an absolute no-go for me.

Also, why would a dealer stock an E53 and have the battery sit at 0% on the lot? It's just absolute stupid to have a car like this not be charged to at least 50% so the customer could legit test out the different driving modes.

Anyhoo, I'll likely order one and wait for it to be allocated/built the way I'd like it for around $113k.

 

Based on what I have seen/read, the Edition 1 is almost entirely just cosmetic niceties, and includes things such as larger wheels, decal package, yellow seat belts and interior stitching, etc.

If those things are not important to you, you should definitely order one to your liking. Based on my experience and that of others here, you should not pay more than MARP and should try for something off of that. Good luck!

 

Yeah, I was kind of looking for a definite list of what it actually is or is not.

On the build sheet of the car it's listed as a `DV1 Edition 1` option with an MSRP of $25,850.

As for Options on the sheet with no pricing it has:
DA0 - MBUX Superscreen Package
DC4 - AMG Carbon Fiber Package
DE5 - AMG Performance Seat Package
DE6 - AMG Dynamic Plus Package
DF1 - AMG Night Package Plus
DX1 - Exclusive Trim

As for Individual Options that I think may not be standard on all US bound wagons:
401 Heated and Ventilated front seats
6U6 AMG Fuel Cap
732 Center Console in AMG Carbon
872 Heated Rear Seats
RWC 21" AMG Forged Twin 5-spoke Wheels, Black

I suspect these are the Edition 1 doo-dads:
861 Black Nappa Leather w/ Yellow Stitching
4U4 Black-painted brake calipers for AMG high-performance composite brakes
C52 Indoor Car Cover
P33 AMG Edition 1
U15 Edition Decals
U33 Special model badge, interior
U66 Floor mats with Edition lettering
Y06 Yellow Seat Belts

So If you just priced out a "regular" E53 with the same options sans E1 stuff, it would cost $23,250 in options, so the E1 stuff costs $2,550 plus the fact that you have to take it "as is" since they're all the same option pack.

Even if you're happy with the options, $2,550 for all that yellow stuff seems a bit expensive.

For the one I'm thinking about:
Delete
DA0 - MBUX Superscreen Package
DC4 - AMG Carbon Fiber Package
DE5 - AMG Performance Seat Package
DE6 - AMG Dynamic Plus Package
DX1 - Exclusive Trim
732 Center Console in AMG Carbon
RWC 21" AMG Forged Twin 5-spoke Wheels, Black

Add:
DX2 - Pinnacle Trim
DA2 - Driver Assistance Package
RVN - 20" AMG Multispoke Wheels, Black
Neva Grey/Black Nappa leather
Multicontour Seating Package
Black microfiber headliner
Manual rear-side window sunshades
Advanced USB Package
Soft-close doors
Energizing Air Control

It costs $8k less and while I give up some in the AMG I gain a lot in luxury, which is kind of the sweet spot I'm going for.

 

Has anybody’s Wagon been dispatched from Baltimore/VPC to dealer yet?

I have only bought on lot cars previously, so not sure how long to expect.

It’s true, this last wait is the toughest. A long journey but will be there soon.

 

Update! My car is scheduled for shipment from VPC to dealership. It should be here by the end of the week.

 

that’s great news! Won’t be long now! Can’t wait to see some pics!

 

That is super exciting! Congrats! Mine cleared customs yesterday (just beating the government shut down) and was dropped off at the importer this morning for a quick health check. She'll be in my driveway in a few days.

 

US Customs isn't shut down because it is exempt as a critical service even though some staff may be furloughed.

 

This is true. However, the notice I received said that "Due to lapses in appropriations, some CBP services may experience delays."