Ron.s

Here’s the definition I saw.

Acquisition Fee: ... Acquisition fees usually range between $250 and $1,000 (luxury vehicles are on the higher end). The acquisition fee can sometimes be negotiable, but it's rare. Often time the fee is added to the Capitalized Cost (price of the vehicle) so that it's rolled into the monthly lease payment.

AgWagon

An Acquisition Fee is indeed a fee present in all leases. The name stems from the fact that the leasing company becomes the actual owner of the vehicle and then leases it to you. Therefore, it charges you to process paperwork as it ACQUIRES the vehicle from the dealer.

It does vary from brand to brand, as the definition says. For instance, with Volvo, it is closer to $600. For Audi, closer to $700-800 iirc. It's not usually negotiable, the exception being if a dealer is padding the real fee to make it higher, they might reduce it. Often people aren't aware of it because it's rolled into other numbers such as a cap cost reduction (though it's an addition) and right into the payment, but it's always there. If you were to finance instead of lease, you'd pay a Bank Fee, which is exactly the same concept. On top of either of these is a Documentation Fee, which is usually charged by the dealer and is not the same.

chelentano99

I am getting 7% discount on custom build $83,000. This would be my second car from the same dealer at this discount.

GregW / Oregon

That’s a great deal this early in the game!

chelentano99

Yes. Two other dealers didn't even get back to me when I asked for this discount.

Puraj Patel

Which dealer?

zengshengliu

I am shopping around with a custom build of $89,010, and the dealer I talk to only offers $1,500 + 10% on extended warranty ($3,000, so $300 off)
I am a first time Mercedes buyer so not sure if this is good or not.

Ron.s

It may depend on your location and competition. I am a first time buyer and bought below invoice. There have been reports of 3% to 7.2% off. Shop around by sending your build to the Internet Sales Manager at a few other dealers. Another option is Costco if you are a member-they have a few Mercedes Dealers in the program. How much effort and are you willing to travel will be a factor. If you get a better deal your dealer might match it!

GregW / Oregon

That discount is not great, but supply/demand is not in your favor right now. Is the warranty quote for 6/100k? I know dealers only have a 15% margin on those.

zengshengliu

I am in Philadelphia area, and the dealer I visited is on located in Fort Washington.
I might send my configuration printout to other dealers. I did tried checking a few dealers nearby but I don't see any information related to internet sales manager?

The warranty is for the 6/100k option.

Ron.s

Most Dealers have a page on staff and from there you can get a name. My thinking is that you already know what you want so you don’t need a SA and might get a better deal. All dealers are different though. Try to Google “staff or employees at XYZ dealership” There should be a selection-“meet the staff”. Another way is to call and ask “who handles internet sales on new vehicles”.

fabbrisd1

FYI - the 6yr/100K Mile Extended New Car Warranty for the 2020 GLE350 is Mercedes MSRP $2,750 - the 6/100 on the GLE450 is MSRP $3000 - so you are spot on if you're discussing GLE450

On Prepaidf Maintenance - please know there are two levels of Ppd Maintenance now Premier (cheaper) and Star (best) - recommendation there is do do 1st/10K service out-of-pocket - then if you are planning to keep your GLE out to 4yrs/40K - buy Star 30K before checkin for 20K service - so you get 20K/B-30K/A-40K/B

zengshengliu

You are correct about the 6/100 for $3k for GLE 450.
That an interesting idea for the service plan. The dealer I visited never give me the prices of the service plan. I will have to ask him next when when I visit.

marchgroupinc

Anyone order one of the AMG GLE 53 yet? Any info. on pricing vs GLE450?

GregW / Oregon

53 is not due out in the US until next year.

skw

Just wanted to give a lil clarification here on the acquisition fee. First, you have to understand that Mercedes-Benz as the manufacturer is a separate entity from Mercedes Financial as the bank, which is also separate from your local franchised dealer. This fee is charged by Mercedes Financial (the bank) only on a lease. It is best compared to the origination fee on a new mortgage. It is their fee for writing the lease, just as a mortgage company has an origination fee when writing a loan. As with all official fees, it is a set amount set by the bank. For Mercedes Financial, the fee is $795. You can find this on the MBUSA website on the offer details page for any model. If you go to your local dealer's website and look at their lease specials, in the fine print, you will find the $795 dollar amount there also. Poster quoted above mentioned that his dealer marked this up to $1,095. You need to realize that the extra $300 is pure profit for the dealer. In the same sense as MBFS also has a base rate for the money factor but many times the dealer will mark this up as well. It is in your best interest to do research to know all of the moving parts of a deal and not focus solely on percentage off MSRP. Use these as tools in your negotiations. For example, sitting at the table, if the paperwork shows the fee as $1095, show them on their own website that it is listed as $795, BUT you'll let it slide in exchange for an additional discount on the selling price.

As mentioned previously, the doc fee is separate and originally was a charge for the dealer handling the paperwork (lease and purchases). This used to be negotiable, as in you would pay $200 but I was at the next table and talked them down to $100. That came to a head way back when a California Chevy dealer was sued when charging some customers but others (mostly those paying cash) weren't charged a doc fee at all. The court ruled in the customer's favor. This is even regulated in some states but not in others. Hence you have some Florida & Georgia dealers charging charging as much as $700, most MA dealers are at $400-500, California and Oregon (just 2 examples) by state law is only $80, and I think WA is $150. If you feel like looking for a more recent case, check out the one Hendrick Honda lost in South Carolina where they had it as a "closing fee" but charged in excess of what it actually costs to close the deal (added in overhead expenses). So in fear of not being sued, no dealer will discount or waive the doc fee. Up to you to try to make it up elsewhere or even buy from a dealer in another state.

skw

I also forgot to mention that if anyone has MileagePlus w/ United Airlines, there's another discount there as well. You have to get a control number from United. It is model specific as to the amount of the discount and the # of UA miles you get for your MB purchase/lease.

Chrisk03

Try MB of Wilmington (DE) (Piazza dealer) as they often get overshadowed by the bigger dealers in Philly and South NJ. I got my GLC43 from them in late 17 and was pretty easy. I put my numbers together and sent to their internet dept and their sales manager called me back within minutes. I was asking for almost 11% off and he did the deal with little to no hassle. Key is to tell them you will buy immediately and come in with a deposit, as well as, give them perfect scores on their CS survey.

Not saying you can get that much of a discount, but worth a shot to do it this way. Two major problems are a new model AND you are now into a new month/quarter. Best time is month/quarter end to make your offer. Put your numbers together and ask for 7.5% off thru internet dept and see what happens. Happy to PM you the sales managers name I dealt with, if you want. Good luck.

zengshengliu

Thanks. I know I miss the window last week but i was trying to reach out to different dealers around the area to see what they can offer. I got an offer from Cherry Hill one for 3.5% off, and I will definitely reach out to the Wilmington one.
Do you have a specific email that I can use for internet sales? Or should I just email their sales from the website link?

GregW / Oregon

I’ve mentioned this before, but if you’ve been an MBCA member for a year or more you can get a $500 discount. You can print a certificate on the website to take to the dealer when you finalize the sale.

skw

When we got our GLS40 in November '18, the UA discount on a '19 GLS was $1500 but no UA miles. I've been a member of BMWCCA for almost 12yrs now. However, I'm almost embarrassed to admit that although also owning 3 MB's over the past 6.5 years, I still haven't joined MBCA. So much cash left on the table.

Chrisk03

I'll shoot you a PM with the info...gotta find it.

PM Sent!

skw

What did they quote you for a selling price, cash at closing, and monthly?

GregW / Oregon

I don’t participate in MBCA events, but I like the Star magazine and the discount is nice. BMWCCA I do participate in events. This one when I first got my M4 was pretty sweet: https://greg-w.smugmug.com/Cars/Mary...-Rally/n-KRDL4

DaveD9

I got 5% but I ordered early on my GLE450 MSRP $78K. Also got 5% on my wifes E450 Cabriolet coming in next month MSRP $83K. Dropped the $500 club certificate on them AFTER all the numbers were quoted.