GregW / Oregon

Well, my ML350 was scheduled to be completed by May 10, and as of today it has not been started, and I can't even find out when it might be built. This is getting really frustrating!

It seems like special order customers deserve at least the courtesy of information when what they're purchasing is delayed far beyond the promised date. Even your average internet company does that. I had a driving vacation scheduled for mid-June that I've postponed and have no idea when I can reschedule it for. I've advertised my current ML for sale in the MBCA newsletter based on a predicted delivery date.

This is all my dealer has been able to find out:
"We called Distribution and they realize that they have a problem.. no kidding... There are cars in B4 status that they still can not give us a production date. They said that they will meet this Friday to formulate a plan to get these units built."

Now this is great customer service on MBUSA's part! If I ever get my car, they better extend a healthy discount for the aggravation and inconvenience.

Sparky

Help me understand the issue... When I ordered my ML500 approximately 2 months ago, I was told my build date was the first 10 days of June. Now, my salesperson tells me it's always been the end of June. I asked him about production delays due to some sort of recall, and he doesn't even acknowledge it. He acts as if he has always told me the car would be built at the end of June. He's very conveniently vague.

Does anyone have any info on the real story and the issue behind the delays?
Thanks!

Curious George

Gee Sparky are you hoarding them? Your sig says you drive a 2006 ML 500 and you ordered another one?
When you get your new vehicle you will forget all about this little delay. We'll all be dead soon enough anyway, don't try to fast forward through life.

Sparky

I need to change that. When I first signed it, I interpreted that to mean the Mercedes that we either are or would be driving. Anyway, I currently drive a BMW 3 series. Why are you so testy?

GregW / Oregon

It's not the dealers' fault--they don't have a clue because they aren't being given any information to pass on to their customers. The best tactic in a situation like this would be for MBUSA to be totally upfront about the delays and reason for them and give updates on progress. Instead, they seem to be trying to hide the whole issue, which makes the dealers look bad and angers customers.

The problem is probably just getting the line up to full production due to supplier and other issues, combined with the delay while they figured out the stupid power steering hose clamp.

sosh

Just returned from my dealer's with another of my Vehicles. While waiting I went to see my salesman and he noted slow and unpredictable deliveries of ML's. MB has officially given no reason. This dealership is now totally out of them. They said that some are stuck at the railhead and not being released by MB. He also said that they expect the problem to be resolved in the next week or so.

Sparky

FYI... I just hung up the phone with a CSR at MBUSA, and they acknowledge nothing. In fact, she flat out told me there is no problem at all. Who knows? I do agree it's frustrating. I guess we'll all have to be patient. I just hope the problem isn't more serious than the current hypothesis. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

sosh

MB does not tell these people anything that is in the form of bad news. If they do not know they can't pass it on and can't comment

beemaze

Maybe it's because they're having problems with the newer engine. See thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w163/109192-any-ml350-oil-burners-out-there.html

Cozz

Hey guys, Just letting you know that there are no building issues with the ML as of right now. The fact is that it is on full capacity all month. There were 1633 units produced last week. Normally 270 to 275 units per day. It's the fastest they can make them.

Curious George

Do you want it fast, or do you want it good?

GregW / Oregon

What is the source of your information? Even if production is ramped up now, the issue exists that there is a backlog of unfilled orders, as some of us are nearly a moth overdue. Production of the W163 was over 300/day, according to the MBUSI website, so with plant and production improvements, I would expect the W164 to eventually reach around 350.

Factory Output

per year: 80,000 plus
per day: 300 plus
per hour: 18 plus
1 M-Class approx. every 3.3 minutes

It takes under 22 hours to build the M-Class

3.3 hours in the Body Shop
11 hours in the paint shop
1.5 hours to travel from Paint Shop to the Assembly Line
4.4 hours at the Assembly Line
Approx. 1.5 hours at the Shipping Line

GregW / Oregon

Well, my truck went "B4" (Production Started) today! That means it will probably finish Monday, just about 4 weeks behind schedule. A couple days after that it is "released to the dealer" and shipped. My dealer says they should receive it here in Portland 14-17 days after release. Finally!

Cozz

They have only produced 15,308 YTD at the time I'm writing this vs. 36,301 at the same time last year. They produced 4,707 unit's in May with 22 days of work. That's about 214 units built per day. They were even slower in the beginning of the year but are starting to move in a faster pace. I don't think that the new system was meant to hold 350 units per day (not this year anyway). Quality comes first now. Plus, the G-class and R-class are under the same roof.

GregW / Oregon

You sound like you know what you're talking about, but why didn't you answer my question about the source of your information? Are you employed by MBUSI or MBUSA?

Wolfgang

In the last full year of production, in 2004, MBUSI made 73.500 MLs.

MBUSI was also the Mercedes-Benz plant producing the highest quality that year.

allenjdmb

as MB US has told dealers such a combination of non-answers and well, let's not say the other word. My impression is that a lot of these trucks are indeed built, but are not being shipped, in an effort to make sure QC issues are dealt with. That's a good idea--not being honest and forthcoming to your business partners and customers is not. In addition, in a lot of markets, they are not exactly jumping off the lot either.
Welcome to the new DC/MBUSA. Typical.

Paul Le Corre

I hope that all those problems won't affect the european deliveries. Mine is scheduled for the end of November.

Cozz

I'm sorry, I missed that. Yes, inside source directly from MBUSA in NJ. You will see that the info is 100% when MB publishes it every quarter of the year. There was a website that also showed a list of cars that were being produced and how many were done YTD. I don't know that website.

Cozz

They have plans to open a second plant in Europe. I don't know the deal with that because the doller vs. euro is on Benz's favor.

Paul Le Corre

Our dealer told us that our ML will be produced in the USA.

abk

I ordered a ML500 two months ago...my dealer at the time told me that "titanium rain" production was delayed or scheduled for June...yesterday I got a call from my salesman who said that production was halted and would be delayed until August due to changes or problems related to production and that MBZ did not wanted to make sure everything was right and corrected before they started up production again. My wife was upset, but my reaction was that I would rather wait to make sure they got it right.

AutoSaurus

abk- production on the "titanium rain" (which is really Alpine Rain) is delayed? or do you mean all ML production. You're unclear in your statement.

abk

Clarification: When I placed the order 2 months ago, I was told that Titanium Rain was scheduled for production in June or July; Yesterday, I was told that all production was being delayed and this would further delay the production on my titanium rain from June or July to August or September.

sosh

Is this a paint color you are refering to?? If it is do you mean Alpine Rain?? I have an ML500 on order with this color with a delivery date of Aug 24. My dealer says its still on schedule.