BigBoeing

Peef,

Looks like you might be able to see the Grand Legacy steam north under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (US50/301) whenever she gets underway again headed for the Port of Baltimore.

Select the "Bay Bridge at Gantry N12" live camera from this site: http://www.baybridge.maryland.gov/Tr...sBayBridge.cfm

Merry Christmas,
Jim

balticgreen

I can't promise anything but if I get a chance around lunch time, I'll slip over and scope out the situation.

Right?!? People are waiting! Chop chop!

BigBoeing

Wow. Thanks Chris. The plot thickens!

"Aspiring New MB Owners Micromanage Delivery Process -- And Perhaps Know More Than MB."

LOL,
Jim

balticgreen

Oh by the way, it's fun to joke about the drama but be glad the ship didn't sink. There's a guy in the ML forum whose new ML was on a train from Alabama to California and the train derailed. Several cars were totaled in the accident and his was one of them.

balticgreen

Hahaha, I'll look for that article in the Baltimore Sun.

Peef

She's moving north again - can I get an Alleluia!

balticgreen

I did get to the port at lunch time. There was only one ship there, the Miraculous Ace, which appeared to be loading Jeeps. There is room for other ships so I don't know what the hold up was for your ship.

This was as far as I could go and still stay on public property that didn't have "NO TRESPASSING" signs.



You can see the Miraculous Ace on the Chrysler side (to the right of the view in the picture). The Mercedes-Benz side is on the left with the actual VPC to the left and quite a bit behind where I was sitting. I did a U-turn and drove back by VPC. There were not nearly as many cars there as the last time I drove by.

There was a stream of cars driving in and turning to the left at that stop sign. Many of the drivers didn't seem to know where they were going and there was a security guard directing them. I thought about tagging along to see what was going on but the guard was already giving me eyeballs and the last thing I need the week of Christmas is to start some sort of incident.

BigBoeing

Chris,

Wow...that was WAY beyond the call of duty and thanks very much for your efforts! Peef reports the Grand Legacy is underway again steaming north towards the Port of Baltimore. I missed the opportunity to watch her steam under the US50-Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but there's always the traffic cam on the I-695 bridge further north. Great photo of the RO-RO facility.

Again, much appreciated and Merry Christmas!

Jim

BigBoeing

At this link first select "Baltimore," then select "I695 S/ of FSK Bridge." Great view of the channel!

http://www.chart.state.md.us/travinfo/trafficcams.php#

Jim

balticgreen

You're welcome. RORO business in Baltimore is huge and that picture is just one part of it. That's the Fairfield Terminal on the south side of the harbor. The Dundalk Terminal is on the north side of the harbor and is where Toyotas, Subarus, Nissans, Jaguars, Land Rovers, Volvos, and some other brands arrive.

Why is nobody this excited about Baltimore and our ports and traffic cameras when they AREN'T expecting a new car? I'm kidding. I know why.

BigBoeing

Chris,

Well...she's at least closer to port now and appears to be anchored about a mile off the terminal awaiting who-knows-what. Maybe there's a shortage of longshoremen over the holidays. I can't imagine passing-up that overtime!

I'm working and will be out of town over Christmas and much of the week after, so I guess I'll get my GLK250...well...when I get my GLK250. Hopefully before New Year's Eve. Fingers crossed on the AdBlue and CEL issue. I'm very pleased to hear you're NOT having the problem with yours. I hope that's an omen with the more recent build dates. And I'm sure MB will get the problem resolved soon for the others.

I had no idea Baltimore was such a big transshipment point for vehicles. 85-million new cars were manufactured world-wide this year. And almost all were shipped somewhere. Absolutely nothing against Baltimore on this end. We just prefer the arctic cold up here. Thanks again for your sleuthing at the terminal today! It was greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas,
Jim

BigBoeing

I received an e-mail from our dealer yesterday. Our GLK250 has apparently disappeared in to a black hole after being offloaded from the Grand Legacy in Baltimore on 24 DEC. It may be on a truck heading north. The saga continues.

Peef...have you heard anything regarding your GLK250 that was aboard the same vessel?

Happy New Year,
Jim

Peef

Spoke with the dealer Thursday morning - he had it still out at sea. However, I did a track-n'-trace with WW last night, and it showed my car clearing customs just yesterday afternoon.

Methinks it's getting processed in the VPC (or shipped) as I write this.

balticgreen

The dealer has access to the ground transportation info. Once it's scheduled on a truck, they know it and they know when that truck will arrive.

Peef

Spoke with my dealer again this morning - he had the info wrt clearing customs as well.

He fully expects to get confirmation later today about ground transportation, as M-B will do anything they can to log the sale this year.

BigBoeing

Our MB salesman just sent an e-mail indicating our GLK250 had been released by the VPC to the car carrier on Saturday, 28 DEC. He's anticipating arrival at the dealer later today and is going to push to get the mud flaps installed immediately upon arrival, for a delivery some time tomorrow.

Happy New Year,
Jim

107123210

They probably only need about 3 hours for the total prep incl the flaps. It's been a long wait - hope you do get your car tomorrow.

Happy motoring in New Year in your new GLK!

BigBoeing

The salesman just called. Our GLK hans't arrived yet, however, he wanted to review the numbers to ensure we were still on the same sheet of music so we didn't have any issues when we arrive for delivery tomorrow. We were on the same sheet, and smart move on his part avoiding any last minute hiccups.

He said he was watching for the truck and would call to let me know if/when it arrives. I'm guessing they're anxious to get this sale recorded on their 2013 sheet.

Jim

balticgreen

For sure. Hopefully it comes in on schedule and you get it tomorrow. Exciting!

Peef

I'm in the same boat - figuratively this time...

It's on a truck with no known ETA - with any luck we'll get it tomorrow.

BigBoeing

Our salesman just called and said our GLK arrived late yesterday (after hours) along with several other MB's, many of which had been previously ordered. They're busting their a** to get them all prepped for delivery today. The mud flaps are going on our car this afternoon. We have a 4 PM delivery appointment.

I guess we'll get a chance to check-out the GLK250's heating system and heated seats as it's supposed to get down to single digits here again this evening.

Happy New Year,
Jim

Phil.mount

Congratulations, amazing how long a day or two can take when you are waiting for something exciting. Picked up our ordered ML day after Christmas and love it, came close to GLK diesel but I guess that will be next one. Hope our deliveries help them beat BMW again! Enjoy your new ride.

107123210

Glad to hear you will get your new GLK tonight!

I haven't been driving ours much. Just hate those salted roads. It snowed all day today.

Happy New Year.

PS: I heard on business news that Mercedes expect a record year: "The German automaker will close off the year producing 1.49-million vehicles and sales will top 1.4 million worldwide"

BigBoeing

We took delivery of our new GLK250 this afternoon. The MB folks were SUPERB. Our salesman went to great lengths to ensure we understood ALL the features in our GLK250. The service folks all introduced themselves. All in all, it was a VERY impressive delivery process. It's quite evident these folks are very proud of the cars they sell.

Although I only drove it for a short distance home, it sure seems to be a beautiful vehicle. I plan on spending tomorrow studying the Command system. And putting a coat of Nu-Finish wax on the car while it's sitting in our garage. At least it's above freezing in there!

Happy New Year,
Jim

Peef

Congrats! What color is that?