JoeMa

With help from Mercedes and the dealership, we traded our 13 GL550 for a new 14 GL550. We experienced several issues related to the DISTRONIC system that the shop could not resolve after several attempts. So after several discussions with the factory the sales manager receive approval to trade our car for a new 14 model. Mercedes only charged us for the mileage on the 13 GL550, no depreciation.


That is how a company builds customer loyalty. They stepped up big time to make sure we were satisfied with our Mercedes GL550. Tonight we have fresh new GL550 and we couldn't be more pleased.


Thank you Tony, Steve, and Mercedes!

BlownV8

It's called Lemon laws. I assume they gave you money back for the difference in the GL550 price and GL450 price?

JoeMa

This issue did not yet qualify as a lemon law case because it did not yet meet the minimum requirements to file a case. It's not easy to file a lemon law case, I know because I looked into it. Mercedes was not under any legal obligation (yet) to make this trade. They simply decided to do the right thing. I believe in giving credit where it is due.

wamochi

congrats JoeMa! i know you had some issues so i'm glad to hear it was resolved to your satisfaction. did you end up with the same diamond white/tan interior?

i'm also curious what did they deduct for the mileage, if you don't mind me asking? also, i don't know about PA, but are you allowed sales tax deduction on trade-ins? in CA , i'd be out at least that if i traded it in, which is 8% of the sales price

BlownV8

My neighbor did it to their MB. It was rather easy. They traded them to a newer model with more options for no additional money. The alternative is to refund all of their money. It's much easier for them to trade the car in and sell the old one.

If you mention the word lemon and you have had the issues unresolved and it is documented on the service record, they will usually give you want you want because they don't want the car you are trading in viewed as a lemon. It kills the resale value and they have a stamped title.

I'm surprised they didn't move you back into a GL550. To me, stepping down to a 450 without a refund would not be a win. It's your car so I'm happy you are satisified because that's all that really matters in the end.

wamochi

The title says 550 to 550.

BlownV8

Doh!!!!! Reading too quickly, the 13 550 to 14 550. Read it as 450. It's very late. Going to bed now.

JoeMa

We were charged a flat fee for the mileage only. The cost to trade up to a new 14 GL550 was very minimal. We went with another GL550 that looks exactly like our first with just a few option changes (the 14 adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and a trailer hitch). We could have selected any new Mercedes we wanted. In fact we test drove a new 14 S550 and gave it serious thought but in the end we realized we need the utility of an SUV. But the S550 is really a special car. We were driving a new 13 S550 for a few days prior to making our decision and then test drove the 14 S550. I don't know how the engineers did it but the new S just feels smaller on the road, easier to drive. And we loved the new digital dash and NAV screens. What a car!

JimBarnhart

I think you had the same dealer in PA is BLITTLE, I continue to hear nothing but very positive things from them.

I agree credit is due here. I've seen the litanies people had to go through to get a GL lemon-lawed on the X164 forum, it is VERY difficult and prolonged.

Congrats, I hope this one is error free.

BlownV8

The new S class is in a league of its own. Glad everything worked out so well on your 550. They are stunning.

JoeMa

Thanks and yes, we purchased our GL550 from Mercedes-Benz of Lancaster (same as blittle). If you live nearby you should stop in to meet the sales manager (Tony) and salesman (Steve). They are not a large dealership but they excel at customer service.

EWT

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