Today was the last estimated option day for my E55. I just happen to drive by my dealership and drop in to find that out. Whew, that was close!

Anyways, here are the options i've finally decided on.

Bi-xenons (can't believe not standard)
6 disc changer
pano roof
distronic (really debated this, but i guess after reading a couple of articles about it in different news stories, this may be a real popular option in the future)
keyless go (i believe it comes in the key now)
and power trunk

i was thinking of rather getting the parktronic than the distronic, but i couldn't stand the holes cut in the bumper. It messes up the curves and lines of the car IMO.

otherwise, the car is brilliant silver with charcol interior. i was thinking about the blue insert seats, but i think that after a few years, i might get sick of it. i decided on getting brilliant sliver, because although the different colors look very appealing (thinking obsidian or tectite), i feel as though their popularity will eventually fade. IMO, the brilliant silver and black are the two timeless colors of mercedes, and black will be very hard to maintain flawless in michigan weather.

i am still upset that the computers did not show any signs of comand. While i was finializing the order on netstar with my salesman, a couple of other sales people were watching around talking about the car, and one commented that he's heard through internal sources that the first e55's (april/may) cars should be able to retrofit the nav into them and he had given a verbal guarantee on it, although they were told by MB not to legally promise anything due to their large problem with deposits from the previous e-classes. i'm sure most of the e55 owners will demand navigation in their cars, and if MB has not at least addessed the issue in the e55's to be at least prewired for comand, then they will have a lot of upset customers wondering why their 76000 car doesn't have xenons standard, as well as any possible navigation unit. I guess we'll see.

One strange thing. There were a couple of e500's at the dealership that looked as though they were kneeling down. The rear height was fine, while the front looked as though the tires were almost touching the wheel well. Perhaps some early troubles w/ the airmatic suspension? or is this perhaps normal and will rise to normal height upon startup. Going in tomorrow to testdrive a e500 sport.

Looks like the car will be rite on time (late may). Summer will be very enjoyable

 

And your salesman didn't bother to call and let you know?

 

i have already optioned the car a couple months ago, but i decided to make some last minute changes, and dropped in with good timing. i wasen't planning on doing any changes up until a couple of days ago, but decided on the distronic last minute. Trust me, if he contacted me now about optioning the thing, i would have option the car to not be under my name
.

 

Could you share your build month and decade? I'm wondering how many days before build you can change options (hoping that MB will sort out the problems and, for a last decade of June build, I will be able to add the Nav). Thanks.

 

I just orderd an E500 Sport yesterday and we were right under the wire for a build date to start in 10 days to option out the car if that helps. It will be delivered third week in april.

 

Can you share the base MSRP and the cost of each of the options? Thanks.

 

I'm not sure how the options were priced but I can tell you the deal I got and the options. I will note one thing. The wood wheel option on the MBUSA site says that it is $700+ but the price they had at the dealership was $500. Odd.

E500 Tectite/Charcoal
Sport Package
E2 option group
Ventilated Seats
Keyless Go
CD Changer

Base price before options and gas guzzler was 55,570 (includes destination charge).

MSRP with options and gas guzzler was $62,610 and I got it ordered for $59,249 which I believe to be $500 over invoice.

 

Getting a 211 as outlined for ~$59,000 is a good deal at this point in time. But keep in mind that "$500 over invoice" means that the dealer made a profit of at least $2200 when you factor in the dealer holdback. They still make a good profit "at invoice", though there wouldn't be much extra to pay for upscale showrooms, free car washes, etc.

I recently read that 46% of dealership profits (all makes, not just MB) now come from the service department, 26% from new car sales.
Skilled service department managers earn well over $100,000 at better dealerships, a few as much as $150,000 with benefits.
Maintenance technicians can command $60,000 right out of school working for luxury marques, and can make $100,000 per year with significant experience.

Makes that MBA or JD degree look flimsy at first blush.

 

Well, you are right on all fronts and I guess I will have to take all this up with my therapist. At 62,000 MSRP the dealer gets a little over 1800 in hold back and then you add the 500 over invoice plus their little $195 "Adminstrative" fee and they are making about $2500 on the deal. And of course when you order one, as I did, they should have no floor plan expense associated with that car.
As for the JD and it's comparison to a service person that too will have to be taken up with my therapist! If they make the sort of dough you say and do it working 8 to 5 with an hour lunch break they probably make more than I do per hour practicing law. Oh well, the grass is always greener on the other side.

 

hauhauha...i agree with that terms "the grass is always greener on the other side".... :-)

$500 over MSRP, how much did you bargain at your dealer..
My dealer didn't give me any discount when I paid for my CLK 430 (02)....
The salesman also added, there is absolutely no discount for car that is not at the dealer (in the production process)....

Well...I guess I just have to be smarter next time....
:-)

 

My comment, counselor, was not meant to be a swipe at those who spend the time and money to obtain advanced degrees (speaking from the perspective of one with 13 years of college and post-grad education).
Technicians and service managers have limited potential for marked income growth once they reach those initial levels, whereas professionals have the freedom and flexibility to parlay their status into much more lucrative positions if they choose. Over the long haul, the additional education usually pays off in several ways.
In addition, there is an unquantifiable satisfaction quotient which goes along with the additional independence accorded by certain professional degrees.
But for someone who loves cars and doesn't want to spend years and years in college, the auto tech business is a hidden gem.

 

OK! What do I owe you? I feel a lot better. I have cancelled my appointment with my therapist and I am really looking foward to going to work tomorrow and chewing on someone's face in a deposition.

OK, I'm really only looking foward to the ride to work in my old worn out '98 E430 Sport and thinking about the fact that in 6 weeks or so I will be riding in style!

 

How is a 98 car considered worn out?...

 

Easy. In order to feed your obsessive compulsive drive to get a new E Class you just convice yourself that it is on it's last legs and there's just no way on God's Green Earth that the damn thing is going to get you from point A to point B without some major problems.

After you have conviced yourself of this you share it with your therapist and he agrees and offers to take it off your hands for a song so as not to cause you any more undue stress in your life.

Then you share the whole thing in private with man's best friend (my dog) and he just gives you one of those looks!

 

lol look at his ***** LOL LOL