BigBoeing

BillyBobBodidly,

Thanks for your post. Glad to hear you're enjoying your new GLK. So you've not had any issues with the infamous "ADBlue" and "Engine Control" caution lights?

Boy, don't know what to say regarding mud flaps on an AMG. I'd sure be talking to my local MB parts department to see if there's a possible substitution. They might have a suggestion.

Best Regards,
Jim

mike-nc

I was told the the mudflaps for the standard body for 2013/2014 were not available until after Aug. 1, 2013. My selling dealer installed the first generation flaps in July, but had to change them out because they did not fit properly.

Since the parts for the standard body were slow about getting to the dealer, you may have some luck getting them later. I don't know how to find out IF MB plans on making the flaps available for the AMG body.

I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt that MB will engineer flaps for the AMG body due to the potential tiny market size for a niche product for an already niche vehicle.

Alex Bel

My records for Mercedes GLK sales (reported by Mercedes) for the 9 months of 2013 for USA shows the following Volumes:

MAKE MODEL SERIES SUB_SERIES FUEL VOLUME
MEB GLK 250 BLU Diesel 480
MEB GLK 350 Gasoline 22,336

mike-nc

Alex,

Is there any way to determine, of those, which have the AMG body kit? The engine shouldn't really matter for the mud flaps to fit, only the body modifications due to the AMG body.

I was thinking that of the total volume of GLKs sold with the AMG option, how many would be interested in buying mudflaps? Thus, the niche product for an already niche vehicle. Again, I hope I'm wrong and I hope that MB will have them available soon for the AMG body. Since the mudflaps aren't very attractive, I don't think that many owners that opt for the AMG option would want to have the mudflaps installed to compromise the look of the AMG body.

Alex Bel

I am not sure how to determine AMG style from the VIN.

BigBoeing

Gents,

I had an e-mail exchange with my MB salesman this afternoon and clarified the Decade Build date for my GLK250. It is the 3rd Decade Build of November (i.e., the last 10 days of November) vice a November 3rd Build Decade as I first understood my salesman to say (or rather misunderstood him to say). My apologies.

Alex...very interesting to see the USA sales figures on the GLK. By my calculations only 2.1% of the GLK's sold in the USA were BlueTEC diesels. That's far less than I would have guessed. Any idea what the Canadian statistics are for the same reporting period?

Thanks,
Jim

Alex Bel

Keep in mind that the sales data are from Jan-13 - Sep-13 for both GLK250 and GLK350, but GLK250 sales started in US inApril/May 2013. I can take a look by month... I do not have direct access to Canadian data.

BigBoeing

Alex,

Thank you and good call on the GLK BlueTEC's relatively late entry to the 2013 market data. It was my understanding that MB's goal was to sell 15% BlueTEC diesels over the next year in the USA market. It'll be interesting to see if they meet or exceed that figure.

Between VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes, it's clear that the German common-rail clean diesels are here to stay. I've always been astounded at the number of hi-end clean diesels I've seen during my many European visits, yet couldn't buy in the USA as they weren't imported. It's nice to see that's changing. I believe when consumers in the USA see the mileage and longevity benefits of owning diesels, their buying habits will change. Yes, it'll take a while, but I think they'll finally "get it."

FWIW...diesel is currently selling for $3.65/US Gallon here in New Hampshire. By comparison, Premium gasoline is currently selling for $3.49/US Gallon. I'd be curious to hear what others in the US and Canada are paying for their diesel fuel.

Best Regards,
Jim

Phil.mount

Here in Mn diesel is $3.89 and premium gas is $3.49. Prices just dropped big time on gas in last week, with winter blend now here it will stay high.

Jealous of you guys and your new Blietecs, my Ml Bluetec won't be built until decade 1 of Dec.

Bob338

Yep, and mine was among the first 'sold' in April for delivery after introduction in June. They didn't start delivery till after that. I had a contract since February, and no price until a week before it was produced!

balticgreen

$3.59 for diesel.
$3.67 for premium.

Since I started actually paying attention to diesel prices, diesel has been consistently between the price of mid-grade gas and premium gas.

That's only about three weeks away. This will sound cliché, but it will be here before you know it. It doesn't seem like very long ago that I ordered mine and now the ship it's on will dock in Baltimore later tonight. It was supposed to get there this morning but there must have been a small delay. I refreshed the web page all day: out of range, out of range, out of range... finally, in range!

BigBoeing

Chris,

Congratulations!

Please keep us informed of the delivery process. Fingers crossed...I hope they got the ADBlue/CEL issue resolved for you. Any additional info you have on that would be much appreciated.

My wife and I just saw a brand new white GLK350 with the AMG package on the interstate. It really is a nice looking car. We're looking forward to taking delivery on ours!

Best Regards,
Jim

balticgreen

This is the hardest part of the whole delivery process. Knowing that the car is right here in Baltimore. It's so close. My office is five miles from the port. Can you imagine how badly I wanted to drive over there today?!? To do what, I don't know, because obviously I can't pick up the car, but I still wanted to go. My meeting schedule looks calmer tomorrow so I might take a lunchtime drive.

balticgreen

So I drove over to VPC. My GLK is somewhere in there...



It's like the Sea of a Million Benzes. That was as close as I could get and even then the guy in the white pickup truck started walking over to the fence like he wasn't happy that I stopped and took a picture.

BigBoeing

And their security team is driving Chevy trucks? You'd think MB might at least spring for Sprinters!

Jim

balticgreen

Haha, that would be funny. That's not Mercedes-Benz Security. The logo on the side of the truck (hard to see in the picture) is for Ceres, which is the company that operates the terminal.

By the way, I found an article from the Baltimore Sun last year about automobile processing at the Baltimore port, mostly about Mercedes-Benz. It's interesting if you aren't sure what happens at VPC or if you like numbers, like they can process 13,000 vehicles in a month. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201...administration

BigBoeing

Balticgreen,

I'm betting you're going to take delivery any day now. Please post photos when you get a chance. I'll be curious to hear what the Interior Ambient Lighting package actually includes on the GLK250. Please keep us posted!

Jim

balticgreen

I'm picking it up this afternoon. The transport truck delivered it this morning and they're getting it ready for me right now. I mentioned the AdBlue problem and making sure the software is up to date. He said they do diagnostics and any software updates as a matter of pre-delivery inspection anyway but he would specifically ask the service department to look into that. I'll ask again when I'm there.

BigBoeing

Chris,

Congratulations! That's exciting news. I'm jealous! So how many days from build date to actual delivery for you?

Thanks very much for asking questions regarding software updates and for inquiring about the ADBlue and CEL caution lights that were causing problems with the new 2014's. I'll be VERY curious to hear what your dealer tells you on that issue. In any event I hope they've got it resolved so you never have to deal with it.

Have fun this afternoon with your new car!

Best Regards,
Jim

balticgreen

Thanks. It was 24 days from production to delivery and that included the ship arriving in Baltimore nearly 24 hours late. I don't know what the cause of that delay was.

Breakdown, as best as I can tell you:

* 6 days for production, ship assignment, loading, and travel from Germany to UK.
* 13 days across the Atlantic from UK to Baltimore.
* 5 days for unloading, customs, VPC, and ground transportation to dealership.
= 24 days total.

Keep in mind that I'm very close to the port. Transportation to New England or other areas may add some time. Although Alex Bel had his GLK get from the port to Michigan in one day. Moral of the story: anything is possible! Haha

BigBoeing

Thanks Chris. Interesting that the RO-RO stopped in the UK en route Baltimore. I guess I just assumed they were all express, non-stop voyages. Still, not bad given the distance!

We'll be awaiting your report!

Best Regards,
Jim

Alex Bel

Yes, "my" vessel stopped in the UK as well.

The1450 miles on the odometer so far, no issues, but a bit afraid before this week 1400 miles trip to Florida with these possible issues...

BigBoeing

Thanks Alex. Glad to hear you've had no issues as well. That's excellent news. Have a safe drive south to Florida. I'll be curious to hear what sort of highway mileage you get on your trip.

Best Regards,
Jim

107123210

Apparently our GLK250 arrived in Halifax late last week. Probably get it before end of month.

What I think we need, is a way of circumventing the Adblue system. At least until they figure out how to make it work.

Just drove my 85 300D. No problem there

balticgreen

My sales guy talked to the service department and they have a "memo" (that was his word) about the AdBlue problem on the 2014 GLK250s. The dealership is applying the software fix to cars that come in with the problem but VPC is applying the fix for all newly arriving cars. Anything that went through VPC after late October will have the fix. The dealership checked mine anyway because they normally check the software and it was up to date with the late October fix.

First crappy picture (taken in the dealer's delivery bay)



I drove home in the dark and right now I think the automatic high beams are my favorite feature. There was a discussion in some thread here about how they don't work but just from my one drive tonight, I think they work amazingly well.