ownersite

I just brought my 2006 E55 in for its first service at the local MB dealer. The car is CPO with 30k miles.

The loaner they gave me is a crappy Ford Taurus with 40k miles that smells like hamster droppings. They told me that they only provide the new C-Class loaners to customers that bought their vehicles from that dealership.

I am coming of ownership of a 2006 BMW M3 Convertible and always got a new BMW loaner, regardless of where it was serviced.

Is this typical of MB dealers? I was hoping that AMG ownership would come with a higher level of respect. "M" ownership certainly did with BMW dealers, from what I could tell.

Just curious...

jdeastbay

Par for the course. I usually upgrade to something nicer and never get charged for it.

motorkas

I normally don't take it to a dealership but when I did - I got the C class as a loaner and I didn't buy it from that dealership. If I pull up (usually to research parts prices), the attention from the staff is almost immediate. I don't know if that's because its an amg or not but almost always somebody makes a reference to it. Just curious, where are you located?

ownersite

I am in the Atlanta area.

Yuille36

If that dealership, doesn't treat you with the respect you deserve, then find yourself another dealership that will. I know that are allot of MB Dealerships in the Atlanta Area. My dealership in Northern Virginia has limited C Class loaners, you have to request one, when you make your appointment, so that one can be scheduled for you. If not, then you get a Yugo or something....LOL

itsmeek

Yes- in Alexandria they do the same thing. Worse service dealership EVER. I will never ever go there again.

novae500

i've taken my car to MB of Arlington. Each time, i get a crap american car..all the C class are taken right away...

cahiil55k

If the stealerships were smart, they'd give you the next class up like say... a CL65 or S65. That would be marketing that pays for itself and more. Maybe they gave you a Ford so you'd remember how good German engineering is.

ownersite

Funny you mention that, cahiil55k. At the BMW dealership where I had most of the work done, their policy was to reserve the nicer loaners for "M" owners. I was almost always in a 5-Series or X5, though most of the fleet was 3-Series. I was even in an M Coupe a couple of times.

I can understand if they are out of MB's, no problem there. But when their specific policy is to put non-buyers into non-MB's, that's disappointing.

motorkas

Same thing with my parents when their Lexus is being serviced - they always give them something better in an effort to plant the seeds for their next buy - smart business move if you ask me.

Hammer Down

I also heard that seems to be the going trend, no loaner car unless you bought that car from the dealership, it also depends on the relationship that you have with your SA. Don't quote me on this and I could be wrong but I believe that the cost for the rental is covered by the SA and it comes out of the amount of commission that they would make off you bringing your car in for service. So if you didn't buy the car from the dealership they usually wont give you a loaner because of the cost of the rental that they would have to cover.

LSonDubz

with my s4, they put me into a crappy hertz rental

bigben320e

I am not sure what dealer you went to, if it is RBM, here's why:

RBM used to loan out higher end MB's to allow their customers to "try out" other models to entice "this is what this MB can do" blah, blah. Now when a few S Classes came back with the front pushed in, or some others with their Bluetooth pucks stolen, etc, the owners decided to whack that. Now, the loan out C Class 300's which are limited in stock. After that, you get a damn Ford Tarus...ugghh. If not RBM, not sure why they gave you a Ford. I would go to another dealer if this does not fit.

I go real early to make sure I get into a MB, just a hint!

BTW- I did not buy any of my cars from a MB dealer.

ownersite

It was RBM in Sandy Springs. Plenty of C-classes available when I dropped the car off at 9am, but I was told of the specific policy of Ford Tauruses for non-buyers. I checked out their McFarland location a couple of days earlier and their service manager told me that the C-classes are given out if available (which makes more sense to me) and if they are not, they have some GMC vehicles. Guess I will give them a shot next time. I don't really care about having an S550 as a loaner, but something that doesn't smell like sweaty gym socks would be preferable. Not to sound snooty, but I would have hoped owning an AMG would have some status with MB dealers, guess not based on many of the replies.

bigben320e

That SA at SS was being a jerk. My SA always put me in a C Class if it was available, he told me to come early to make sure I got one. I figured you went to RBM in Sandy Springs, they are going to loose business if they keep that mess up.

Mercedes South has a rep of being jerks, a lot of customers ran from there like the building was on fire. Speaking from experience.

Marcus Frost

ownersite,

This is not an MB thing. Two BMW dealerships here have the same policy, and actually did not even give loaners to people who didn't not buy their cars from them.

-m

backdoc7

Took my ladies brand new C 300 in for service and got a Toyota Camry. It was pretty new and all but still I thought we'd at least get another C-Class to drive. Surprised me a bit. We had bought the car only a month or so earlier at that dealership in Anaheim Hills. Guess it's par for the course for MB.

emilner

That is pretty lame! I dropped of my new E550 last week and they actually hooked me up with a GLK350. To say the least I was impressed with the dynamics of the truck considering it is an entry level suv. Also happy not to be in another C class, yes I know- same chassis...

FraKctured

At mine (Betten, Grand Rapids Michigan) I usually get a Passat or a new C-class. I did get an SLK once.

pearlpower

I can only comment that every time I visited a Lexus dealer-regardless of the service, I always left in a Lexus, whether a GS, RX, ES, or IS. I would expect the same from Mercedes as well. As someone else stated, good advertising. I realize they do not have to offer a loaner, but a Taurus? Gheesh. That would tick me off as I am not a Ford person. Agree with others, find another dealer.

AMGTTV8

itsmeek

Incorrect- as I purchased my '05 e500 4matic from there and whether I have taken that car in, my e55, or my gl- it's always the same issue. They are rude and there is an enterprise right in there- there is no choice of getting a mercedes loaner. At least in MB of Alexandria.

bigben320e

Thing is, it varies from dealer to dealer. I prefer to got to dealers that will treat you with some respect and also will loan out MB's while you wait.

On loaning out AMG's...that is way overboard come on....

prodigymb

I always get a C-class loaner, even though I have Chrysler warrantee and I did not buy my car at that dealer. My tech and service adviser are awesome.

Infiniti

MB dealerships/service suck thats my opinion from the two i have went to here in Orlando.