gnawmean

That's what she said

Yeah, I do like how the running boards look visually, but I did notice them hitting me right in the lower calf getting in and out. I guess it's just a matter of changing how I exit the car. Should be no big deal.

As far as the grill goes, I can always buy the aftermarket grill from China and see if that works. They're about $440 it seems. Going to try and get my dealer to install it for me as well just like someone else on this forum! Much like the 20" wheels, I think the grill makes a big difference visually

Vaboy

Stopping by in person for an update always seems to get quicker responses!
Never heard of Sonic Automotive, but the GM shouldn't put up with that foolishness.

SawyerB

Vaboy were you able to get your car repaired? I hope it works out perfect for you. I am just sitting here watching Meridian Ace crawl to Long Beach.

Vaboy

Keep us posted. Hopefully it will breeze right through the VPC if your ship ever comes in!

The ding repair looked pretty good. It was near a crease right where the quarterpanel meets the lift gate. The ding came out pretty good but left a little depression right at the crease. Sales Mgr said the PDR guy said if he tried to do any more it might crack the paint. That would be bad. So we called it good enough. You'd never notice if you didn't know it was there.

Only had time to drive it home tonight. We'll probably go out tomorrow and check a few things out. Just wish I could have driven around Europe for a few weeks like some folks here!! Lol

First impression.....it's awesome!

Vaboy

Wow! How about that timing! You'll see I just answered Tedjane above. Thanks for asking.

All I can say is, it's worth the wait!!

SawyerB

Glad to hear its home tonight and that there was no noticeable damage. Enjoy your new ride!

ted_jane

Glad the repair went well and the first impression is awesome. First impressions are important.

ted_jane

Hurray, My car is finally on U.S. soil, or soon will be. The ship docked in Long Beach at 5:42am today. And, according to the shipper (IFF) the car has already been released by customs. Actual the Freight Forwarder's web site shows it was released yesterday, while the ship was still at sea. The DHS paper work shows it marked for immediate deliver, so may be some cars get processed by customs without any visual inspection. The paper work also shows an estimated value of $52,045 and a Duty fee of $1301, which is less then MSRP, but more than I paid for the car. Does that mean if they accidentally drove the car off the pier I would make a profit on it?
Sorry if no one is interested in these details, but I find the process interesting.

SawyerB

Thanks Ted_Jane, I too find the process interesting. How did you find out it was released and where can you see the DHS paper work? Getting close now.

ted_jane

Because it is a European Delivery I dropped the car off at the MB authorized car shipper in Germany. The shipper's (BLG Logistics) web sight and their agents (International Freight Forwarders) provide tracking info, sort of like UPS and FedEx. The information is very detailed, including invoices and DHS/Custom docs.

I don't know if the same information is accessible for custom orders where MB manages the whole shipping process.

Vaboy

Glad to hear it finally showed up! Sounds like it's on a fast track to get to your dealer. And anyone who is just a little **** about things or a little OCD finds the details interesting. It's fun to track your car as it makes its way to you from Germany. Just sitting around waiting on the dealer to call to tell you "it's here" would be extremely boring!

I hope you're enjoying it soon.

Vaboy

I think your experience will be a little different than tedjane's since her's was a European Delivery car.

Just stay in touch with your dealer and stay on top of the current status that they can check in their Netstar system. Other than following it on the ship, once it docks the shipping codes below will give you the best idea of where it is in the system.


MB Production/shipping codes


A4 FINAL SUPPLIER ORDER/SCHEDULED NOT PRODUCED
B0 19 DAYS TO PRODUCTION
B1 13 DAYS TO PRODUCTION
B3 NO CHANGES POSSIBLE
B4 2 DAYS TO COMPLETION
B5 PRODUCTION COMPLETE
B7 AT PORT/READY TO BE SHIPPED
B8 ASSIGNED TO SHIP
C1 SHIP DEPARTED
C2 SHIP NOTIFICATION/ON WQTER
CS SUMITTED TO CUSTOMS
C3 CLEARED CUSTOMS
C4 AT PORT
D1 VPC RECEIVED
D2 SURVEYED AT VPC
D3 POTENTIAL DELAY
D4 READY TO DELIVER
D5 RELEASED TO CARRIER
D9 WHOLESALE/CONSIGNMENT PENDING
F1 WHOLESALED AND INVOICED
I1 RETAIL

I was not aware of any DHS stuff going on....maybe that's EDP specific?

I was able to tell it cleared Customs, then VPC Received, etc until it got Released to Carrier. Then it showed up at the dealer a few days later.

BTW, Netstar seems to add a "0" to the above codes, so D10 at the dealer is the same as D1 above.

ted_jane

Customs is a part of DHS, the documents have a heading that states:

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

BTW, with this post I move from a Junior Member on this board, to a full Member

Vaboy

I guess what I was getting at was I was not aware of any documents that are available to those of us with new cars coming in direct from the mfg.
I didn't want sawyerB looking for something he couldn't find.

I thought maybe you had additional DHS/Customs paperwork since you had mentioned earlier, your car was hitting the US as a "used car" since you took delivery in Europe.

Congrats on your promotion!

ted_jane

Okay, I misunderstood your post. I think you are correct that these docs are not available for new car orders.

It is the third party shipper, i.e. IFF, that makes the documents available on their web site for EDP cars.

mtberman

It's here in Denver. No call or follow up from the dealer, but I knew it had to have arrived by now despite their claims that it has not. So I more or less trespassed into their parking garage this morning and walked around until I found it.

Called and told them I'm coming to get it and to have everything ready. He didn't seem at all surprised and said OK.

Brilliant blue w/black MB-Tex and the new-for-2018 brown ash wood trim. I'm pretty stoked.

Vaboy

That's good to hear! I would have done the same thing. I KNOW you're stoked. It sounds beautiful.

Almost the same thing happened to me. I went by last Friday about 4:30 to see what I could find out. I hadn't been there 5 minutes and I see what looks like my car coming around the building. I asked my SA if that was my car. He said it might be, that was their detail guy that got out of it. Like you said......almost a state secret!

They had to fix a little ding so I didn't get it until Wednesday night. After leather for 24 years, so far I'm really impressed with the MB-Tex. Guess we'll fall off this thread now. I'm sure we'll have questions folks on the forum can help us with.

Guess I'll be sure tedjane gets hers. (I've been assuming all along she's the "Jane" of tedjane.) Don't know why. Lol

It's been fun!!

ted_jane

Actual I am not Ted or Jane, that is just a pseudonym I use on some boards. But I am closer to a Ted, than Jane because my real name is Jim .

I wrote the Dealer yesterday asking for the ETA. A new SA replied, I think my original SA left the dealership some time during my EDP trip. The new SA wrote that the car was in Long Beach, which I already knew. But it would be 2-3 weeks before it arrived here.

I suspect it will be here sooner, at least I hope so. I may make a trip to the dealer this weekend during a time when they are closed to look around. Unfortunately they are 10 miles away, otherwise I might check more often.

I do have the second key with me (forgot it at the hotel when I dropped the car off in Germany), but I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to just take it, or would it ?

mtberman

Finally. That's the optional front chrome trim in case you were wondering how it looks.

SawyerB

Congratulations. Looks great. Enjoy your new GLC!

ted_jane

Great looking car. You must be thrilled.

mtberman

I am, Thanks! There were the usual delays and I used that time to familiarize myself with it. During that time, other customers kept coming in to the indoor delivery bay thinking it was for sale. They were all over that brilliant blue w/the 19s. Two sales guys came in to say they had customers offer to buy it at sticker. I know this all sounds super braggy but I'm a first time MB buyer and let's just say I've had a lot of angst over this purchase, and those comments helped get rid of those feeling. That anxiety is gone. You guys will all be there soon, if you aren't already. The waiting time passes pretty fast.

Zero fuel in the tank. The low fuel light came on a couple miles down the road headed home LOL. A simple oversight I'm sure, and totally forgiveable, but still that's laughably Bad Form for a luxury brand dealer.

Vaboy

Nice job, mtberman! That is certainly an eyecatcher. I love the 19" wheels, but I chickened out and went with the 18" thinking it might be a softer ride for an older guy!

Had exactly the same feelings as you...first time MB for me too. And nope, not super braggy at all. You're just proud of your your new purchase.

First time I saw this waiting room I thought "Really?" But once it's ordered and the anticipation grows, I found it was fun to share the experience.

Gotta agree on sending you home with an empty tank. That's pretty lame.
My dealer fills new owners up again when they come in for a Q & A after 30 days. I'll take it I guess, but they don't use a top tier gas, so not happy about that.

Enjoy your weekend getting acquainted with your new baby!

ted_jane

You're lucky, I have read horror stories where the dealer sold a custom order out from under the customer.

Zero fuel, I guess that is what happens when you don't let the car sit on the dealer's lot for a few days before they call to tell you the car is ready.

My SA has already told me not to expect a full tank of gas because of the discount I received. Which is fine with me, I think I can afford a tank of gas.

SawyerB

I am really surprised and disappointed that you didn't get a full tank of gas upon pickup. I actually think it may be a survey question asking if your tank was fill upon receiving the car. It's really important for car sales people to score perfect on their surveys - worth as much as 200 dollars for them if scored the highest level - heck if I were the salesman I would fill it up myself. I look at a car purchase as such an exciting experience that only occurs a handful of times in a lifetime - the experience should be wonderful. This will our 4th MB and we loved them all. For me my MB lease is up the end of July and my salesman told me regardless if my car is here or not next week, return the car and they will put be in a loaner until mine arrives.