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The Car Thread ... !
- Thread starter D.T.
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Don't BMW, Audi and Porsche do tiered techs? I remember reading a few years back the master techs at BMW get paid north of 110K. With Porsche paying much more. Can't imagine those guys not being able to afford a high end car. I guess base level techs/mechanics might not.
Has anyone had a poor dealership experience when ordering a car? If so, how did you handle it?
We've now reached September, and I'm still waiting on delivery of a car I ordered back in February. Estimated delivery date was June 13th, but we found out towards the end of May that there would be factory delays that push that back "about two weeks". About a week into that, another delay.
Long story short, the car didn't arrive at the dealership until July 19th but it needed to go through its PDI and get registered. FOUR weeks later after chasing them up, I got a callback to say that there had been some kind of mixup and that the registration forms hadn't been completed. I wanted to register the car with a cherished number plate thats currently on the car I drive now. Apparently, this process can take up to six weeks. Wasn't warned about this at all, and they reassured me when ordering that this wouldn't be a big deal.
I have zero experience, this is the first car I've gone through the entire process for. But I'm fuming about the whole thing. The dealership doesn't seem to care about my experience at all.
We've now reached September, and I'm still waiting on delivery of a car I ordered back in February. Estimated delivery date was June 13th, but we found out towards the end of May that there would be factory delays that push that back "about two weeks". About a week into that, another delay.
Long story short, the car didn't arrive at the dealership until July 19th but it needed to go through its PDI and get registered. FOUR weeks later after chasing them up, I got a callback to say that there had been some kind of mixup and that the registration forms hadn't been completed. I wanted to register the car with a cherished number plate thats currently on the car I drive now. Apparently, this process can take up to six weeks. Wasn't warned about this at all, and they reassured me when ordering that this wouldn't be a big deal.
I have zero experience, this is the first car I've gone through the entire process for. But I'm fuming about the whole thing. The dealership doesn't seem to care about my experience at all.
Oh, I see. I never have had an issue like that with them. That's not at all common, but sometimes I do read about that. Often it's the dealer jerking you around. Have you tried getting in touch with Mercedes North America and venting your frustration with them?
I plan on ordering an E wagon a year after the performance versions hit, and the ideas of snags bother me, too. Though I've been a repeat customer from my current dealer for a long time. I would definitely get in touch with Mercedes Benz of North America. Speak with them and fax or email anything you have from the dealer including the names of the people you've been dealing with. Those kinds of delays may have made sense a year ago when the new E was coming out along with other models, but that isn't the case now. MBZ has been hammering out bugs and issues with their software, too, on the new cars.
I've heard of delays like this from GT3 owners who I've spoken to, but that's because the cars are built to avoid issues, and the buyers understand this when they put down the deposit.
It seems pretty terrible, but it there's at least some explanation on the build side, and the registration process has a decent amount of delay - I think your dealer is guilty at the very least, of really poor communication.
What was the reason behind in the initial delivery delay? i.e., the order in Feb, delivery in June, right up front, that seems a little long (that doesn't correspond to the typical model year change over).
On the bright side, it isn't an FCA car. It would have broken down as it was being driven into a container for transfer.
Some good labor day deals 
Ordering a matching set of Velossa intakes - gutting the factory grill, replacing the center section with race mesh, Coyote badge - probably won't be done for a month, but should look pretty slick.
Ordering a matching set of Velossa intakes - gutting the factory grill, replacing the center section with race mesh, Coyote badge - probably won't be done for a month, but should look pretty slick.
So when I got my tires mounted , I took my boxed wheels and tires to this local place, nice tire / service place, I've used them in the past. They did a really great job, very careful with the wheels, and the price was insanely low.
Recently I picked up a little vibration (basically hadn't had the car up to 70+ since mounting them), and while I still had my OEM wheels (the were sold last weekend), I remounted the fronts (seemed to be the source), and yep, it disappeared. So I kind of put it off, don't drive the car that much, but I finally got to doing my new rotors and figured I'd jackstand the front, pull both wheels, take them back to the shop.
I wound up dropping them off way later than I wanted to, and after school pickup I ran by, it had only been a couple of hours, they said they were slammed, but of course, they got to them, took some extra time, got them super dialed in. I said, "This was well over a month, let me cover your guys for some time", nope, they wouldn't have it, no charge.
It's rare to get this kind of +really+ good service.
Anyway, front it still on stands, out to finish the rotors
Recently I picked up a little vibration (basically hadn't had the car up to 70+ since mounting them), and while I still had my OEM wheels (the were sold last weekend), I remounted the fronts (seemed to be the source), and yep, it disappeared. So I kind of put it off, don't drive the car that much, but I finally got to doing my new rotors and figured I'd jackstand the front, pull both wheels, take them back to the shop.
I wound up dropping them off way later than I wanted to, and after school pickup I ran by, it had only been a couple of hours, they said they were slammed, but of course, they got to them, took some extra time, got them super dialed in. I said, "This was well over a month, let me cover your guys for some time", nope, they wouldn't have it, no charge.
It's rare to get this kind of +really+ good service.
Anyway, front it still on stands, out to finish the rotors
Had mine mounted a couple days ago. I've driven a badly balanced car. Scary stuff. Sounds like you had a fun Saturday morning. I spent most of this morning blowing ash snow off our property alongside the neighbors. Then power washed the roof. It was 81 when I began at 6 AM and around 95 at 11 when I finished up. Both hot and very humid.
No idea how your Floridians do it every summer.
Some of the silicone/rubber in the door sill of my car is looking dried out. Need to look into how to restore it or buy new ones from the dealer and install it myself. There's no cracking, but it looks gray and not black like it used to be. It's still very pliable.
No idea how your Floridians do it every summer.
Some of the silicone/rubber in the door sill of my car is looking dried out. Need to look into how to restore it or buy new ones from the dealer and install it myself. There's no cracking, but it looks gray and not black like it used to be. It's still very pliable.
Finished watching Stand by Me (*ahem*, Zeni, get on this now ...) and my front brakes. The Brembos were easier to remove, holy snot they are big - anyway, it looks terrific.
Stay in the water, lots of alcohol, AC running at arctic level of cold, the de-humidifier outlet tube looks like we sprung a leak in a water main
Stay in the water, lots of alcohol, AC running at arctic level of cold, the de-humidifier outlet tube looks like we sprung a leak in a water main
I figured that was the usual turn around for a new vehicle to be honest. The delay that pushed it back another month was factory related- apparently there was a shortage of parts related to the panoramic sunroof.
Poor communication- agreed. Though having the vehicle sit around for nearly a month before even starting the registration process seems to go beyond poor communication, it's incompetent.
I've gotten in touch with Mercedes Benz UK by email, let's see what happens.
At this point, maybe you can get a little more aggressive, tell them you're totally disappointed with the Mercedes experience, you've started shopping something else, you're going to pull your order (not sure what your existing contractual situation looks like). At this point, if it were me, and I was still OK with owning the vehicle, I'd be looking for some serious additional discount.
Hahaha, apologies for the slightly indulgent edit work, I was knocking around with the Mag-Lasso tool last night, decided to export the results for this post
New rotors, all 4 corners installed, the OEMs were mechanically fine, just looked like crap with rust, and the brakes are so visible with the new wheels.
New rotors, all 4 corners installed, the OEMs were mechanically fine, just looked like crap with rust, and the brakes are so visible with the new wheels.
Looking good.Hahaha, apologies for the slightly indulgent edit work, I was knocking around with the Mag-Lasso tool last night, decided to export the results for this post
New rotors, all 4 corners installed, the OEMs were mechanically fine, just looked like crap with rust, and the brakes are so visible with the new wheels.
View attachment 715692
Coming home last night from Top Golf, hit a shredded tire on 495 South.
Driver's side front parking sensor is missing. Passenger one is mangled. Grille has missing pieces, bumper is marred and missing some intake vents on the driver's side bumper. License plate is hanging on for dear life.
Driver's side front parking sensor is missing. Passenger one is mangled. Grille has missing pieces, bumper is marred and missing some intake vents on the driver's side bumper. License plate is hanging on for dear life.
At least 30% of that car isn't OEM anymore.
Not quite that high, but I'm also not done
The new front grill treatment will be slick, add some color, better "air management", clean up the center mesh (de-logo'ed).I've had other V8 powered performance vehicles, high winding I4s, massive HP inine turbo 6s, even some rotary power
And this mix of displacement, 32v/DOHC and RPM range creates a heck of a sound - my current exhaust really amplifies it, and I can't wait to get some LT headers.A 540 is a terrific vehicle, just not what I'd consider a "cross shop", that's for the day I want more refinement, "real" back seats (with the convenience of 4-doors). Hmm, or maybe a 3rd car
Coming home last night from Top Golf, hit a shredded tire on 495 South.
Driver's side front parking sensor is missing. Passenger one is mangled. Grille has missing pieces, bumper is marred and missing some intake vents on the driver's side bumper. License plate is hanging on for dear life.
Jeebus, that's a bummer, at least you kept the car on the road - but I hear you, 95 is like a minefield with tire shrapnel, stuff blowing off of trucks (garbage, sod)
I've had other V8 powered performance vehicles, high winding I4s, massive HP inine turbo 6s, even some rotary power
A 540 is a terrific vehicle, just not what I'd consider a "cross shop", that's for the day I want more refinement, "real" back seats (with the convenience of 4-doors). Hmm, or maybe a 3rd car
Especially in today's automotive landscape with all the regulations, when you hear that V8, it truly is something special, something that is becoming rare and something you have to appreciate especially if you're an automotive head.
As for the trade-ins, you're right it's not a cross shop but I think it echoes more of what BMW sees and what we car heads can disagree with, and it's people say they want a fun and raw car to drive but ultimately those same people will jump over to a BMW, Audi or Mercedes for something that is more luxury-focused and refined with a bit of fun. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit broken when I saw two of them get traded in for a luxury saloon.
Finally got a notice for the airbag recall on my 330i. Scheduled for tomorrow!
Also ordered the oil pan gasket and bolts. I'm ready to ditch this damn E90 with all the maintenance I've done this year.
Anyone good at diagnosing a (possible brake) squeak? Having trouble figuring out the cause. If you have a minute can you check my thread over at the BMW forum? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1418038
Also ordered the oil pan gasket and bolts. I'm ready to ditch this damn E90 with all the maintenance I've done this year.
Anyone good at diagnosing a (possible brake) squeak? Having trouble figuring out the cause. If you have a minute can you check my thread over at the BMW forum? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1418038