jonpom

Last week I negotiated the purchase of an untitled 2024 GLE53 Coupe and was to sign paperwork to pick up the car today, June 18. Dealer called me yesterday, June 17, to inform that car would not be ready on June 18 b/c an error code popped up indicating there was an airbag fault. Dealer said to come in anyway, sign paperwork and they would give me a loaner, as they didn’t know when said purchased car would be ready. After thinking about it, I told dealer unless I could drive the car off the lot, I’m not signing anything: “no car, no sign”. Call me when car ready.

Now I’m wondering if something more than error code occurred, like maybe it was damaged by them. How would I determine if something nefarious happened? Am I paranoid? Am I justified in not taking delivery? Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

W205C43PFL

Damages is not uncommon when it is en route to the dealership, like when on a ship or a truck but those damages are usually fixed at the VPC (vehicle preparation centre). These damages can include scratches or paint chip and the vehicle will then repainted. The owner will never know. However, there are times the job wasn't done properly and the owner knows about it during delivery or if there were damages that occurred and the VPC did not notice therefore didn't fix.

I can't fault you at all for being paranoid, after all, it is a new car. You don't want to be having an airbag error already before taking possession, makes you worried what might or might happen during ownership and if the car have other issues that haven't appeared yet (hopefully not) However, if we think positively, it could also be a software glitch that can be fixed with software and never comes back. This software glitch might had been known but an update wasn't installed yet and/or the software version in the car might be faulty (maybe it wasn't installed correctly?) which a patch will therefore fix.

jonpom

The car was already on the lot and I drove it, with no apparent problems. If it were software, it shouldn’t take several days should it?

W205C43PFL

Hmmm, mght be a bad airbag? Defects happens, I wonder if they are waiting for the replacement?

jonpom

I’d feel better if they told me that. I had the car in my possession for a good 30 minutes and noting popped up. All they said was they wanted to make sure my car was perfect.

Maybe I’ll just keep what I have now and leave more $$ for my kids…Nah…next to Porche dealer. 😊

W205C43PFL

I see.

wildta

They did invite you to the dealership to sign paperwork which means you could have asked to see the vehicle for actual damage.

W205C43PFL

Hmmm, that is a good point.

mikapen

Once The papers and the rear bumper has cleared the curb, it's yours. It's officially been delivered.

I think you did well by refusing delivery, but I think I'd wait for for corrective measures, complete detailed actions they took, what they found, and why they are confident that it's fixed.

chassis

I wouldn’t sign anything until the vehicle meets your physical inspection requirements.

They could be trying to sell the vehicle from under you to another higher bidder. If the episode they are putting you through now causes you to cancel, they achieve their goal, if that is their goal.

In any scenario I would not sign for a vehicle that I wasn’t driving home immediately after signing.

streborx

Sounds to me like the dealer wanted to book the sale for financial reasons -- get it off his inventory and start the clock ticking on your payment/lease schedule. You made the right decision -- never "sign then drive later maybe".

jonpom

I wonder. The regional sales manager was at dealer today instead of local sales mgr. Maybe too good a deal for me.

chassis

Rule #1: don't trust dealers
Rule #2: refer to Rule #1

jonpom

Dealer just informed me that airbag was defective and is going to be replaced.

Busstufjg

I agree with the majority of these comments, don't buy it until you drive it away. I would want full disclosure prior to delivery.... Your delaer sounds reputable and maybe they just wanted to book the sale or they thought you needed the car and that is why they offered a loaner...... always be conservative.

BlackBisonAMG

@jonpom I'm selling my 2016 GLE63s. It comes with a 5 year 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty with about 55,000 miles and 4.5 years left on the warranty also comes with a 5 year paint protection warranty. It has 39,672 miles on it with downpipes, tunes, BMC air filters, vent to atmosphere diverter valve, and brand new wheels and tires. Mod's were installed less that 3,000 miles ago. Wheels and tires less than 400 miles ago. Here's a link to the listing (https://mbworld.org/forums/market/893188). All of this for about half the price of the new GLE you were looking at.