I just priced an ML 350BlueTEC from a dealer in Atlanta. I was told that I would have to sign a No Export Agreement. No problem.

I was further advised that for all cash deals on SUV's, MB places a Lien on the Title for 1 year to prevent it from being exported. I guess they really do not want to sell me a car.

 

I don't think it's MB's doing. Fairly sure that government must be requiring it, no?

 

Correct they did that to me too.

 

No!

 

The Title Lien is an individual dealer option. I've found one who does not require it.

 

Then that 2nd dealer is not too smart...so people deserve each other..

 

Kind of like some people on the forums.

 

Funny, but a friend of mine just brought a German Spec ML350 BT into the USA and had to sign an agreement with DMV that he would take it with him when he leaves in 3 years and wouldn't sell it HERE!

 

Last yr, my selling dealer dropped a hint as to driving it for a year, then selling to an exporter so as to be able to order another one exactly how I want it.

 

We did not have to sign any agreement and received title to our ML 7 days after purchase.

 

If I know I can resell an ML350BT for a profit quickly... I may have to look into that

 

According to my dealer...Unauthorized export will result in dealer being fined by MB and future dealer allocation problems.

If you are buying cash and if you are not clearly white american, some dealers get nervous.

 

The issue as I understand it, is market protection. Apparently MB can get 2x the price in Saudi Arabia and other areas, making it lucrative for domestic (US) buyers to become unauthorized resellers.

MB Corp fines US dealers that are caught participating (or being conduits) in such schemes.

I bough an ML 3504W today and had to sign a promise not to resell within 1 year (international only) at the penalty of being charged upto 7500 should the dealer be dinged by MB corporate. No title lien as a cash buyer though.

 

My dealer says the fine is US$10,000 and the loss of three future vehicle allocations; and they especially want the not ordinary 1 yr Title Lien on cash sales, since they would already have a lien on financed vehicles.

 

Re-exported vehicles - by/and/large need clean title at originating US port - since "cash" purchase puts title in the buyer's hands quickly - that is the reason "cash" purchase in one major "trigger" signalling higher risk of re-export potential.

The "title lien" on financed vehicles is removed when paid - so I am told roguhyl 35% of the current model year vehicles re-exported last year were originally financed - then paid off quickly - that means 65% were originally "cash" purchase.

Most re-exports are by/and/large special "orders" for specific model (tight in availability) - in specific colors - with specific options - where intl buyer is willing to pay a bit above and beyond "retail" in his destination country - and common in his country to pay cash - because that model there is hot/hard-to-get any - so more a availability issue.

"Dealer 1yr lien" is somewhat different legal process - determined by state in specific l;egal verbage for that state - which puts a "timed" lien, sortoff o countdown clock - that automatically expires in 1yr.

Yes - penalty is a Mercedes dealer charge-back - happens two ways - one a direct dollar charge back for the specific vehicle - then the chargeback/re-export counts as a potential black mark dealer goals with MB to qualifying for hold-back/hold-back-bonus each quarter and annual.

The "small" dealer stands the most to loose - since some "accidental" re-export can be excused based on higher large dealer volume.

Last October/November some larger dealers were surprised when they had 10-15 re-exports for a month - bordering on major hold-back loss - where a "small" dealer one re-export could risk $35K profit loss.

This current calendar year - small dealers can be "forgiven" for one/two accidental re-export occurrences if buyer was within their market territory - a bit more forgiving in that sense.

Title in hand you can choose to eBay or Craiglist in a West/East Coast metro market.

If you are in that business and make $5K moving a car out of the US - the question becomes how many cars you can move a month for total money - not the windfall on a single car.

Kindoff amazing actually - on new/new this continues to be a issue for wold-market scarce models - however, rent model 1-2 yrs old - with ultra- low mileage - and after US depreciation hit for even the best features models - even at "value" of those key vehicles - the re-export market for those becomes zero...