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Mercedes Benz E-Class Prices Paid and Buying Experience

1987 messages,  Last post on Jun 19, 2013 at 7:46 AM

You are in the Prices Paid - Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 131 of 199

#1301 of 1987 E350 Lease by mbz_e350

Dec 18, 2011 (1:31 pm)

I'm 18 years old and I really don't have knowledge about financing and stuff like that. But I thought I'd explain my situation on my new E350 Lease and see if anyone has any comments about it?
 
In 2010, I leased a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300 with Navi. We put nothing down except the drive off fees (about 2.5k) and our monthly payment is $600. It's been exactly 1.5 years with that lease and my mileage is at 30,000, but the total allowed for 3 years is 36,000. So we decided to get out of that lease for a 2012 E350. They offered to take our C300 back and offered us the E350 with P1 for $5,000 down and a monthly payment of about $780. Any insight? I'm not really sure what I'm looking for..just sharing my experience.

#1302 of 1987 Re: MBCA discount [arturob] by abacomike

Dec 18, 2011 (1:36 pm)

Replying to: arturob (Dec 18, 2011 10:28 am)
USAA is 500 over invoice less 2000, or a net of 1500 under invoice. The conquest discount is 2000, but that is 2000 under the agreed price. You probably do better with USAA, but each deal is different. Try both ways to see which is better for you.
 
The MB Financial incentive can be combined with the USAA pricing. Remember MB Financial is a loyalty incentive available only to current MB Financial customers who have a current lease or loan with them.
 
There is also a loyalty incentive for current Mercedes owners, but that one cannot be combined with USAA.

#1303 of 1987 GL question by sengopalcricke

Dec 18, 2011 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Dec 18, 2011 1:36 pm)
Hi Mike,
I posted this question earlier, but actually I was addressing this to you. Also it is for GL450. There is not much traffic in GL section and there is no one to give advice like you. I really appreciate all the info and advice that you are providing to the forum members.
I am actually looking for a E350 as well as a GL 450. I have a ML 350 currently leased with MBFS.
For the GL I was told there is a promotion of $4000 Winter event discount. Is there an additional loyaltyl incentive - either cash or reduction in the MF in addition to the 4000?
Thanks once again for all the help.

#1304 of 1987 Re: Conquest Incentive [kyfdx] by bevbran

Dec 18, 2011 (8:33 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Dec 15, 2011 10:45 am)
Thanks for your input on the stacking---I had a feeling the MBCA wouldn't fly but I still feel great about the USAA deal and MB Financial. Can't wait to get behind the wheel. . In my state we can't deduct state sales tax....but I'm still anxious to get the car by 12/31/11!

#1305 of 1987 Re: GL question [sengopalcricke] by abacomike

Dec 19, 2011 (7:35 am)

Replying to: sengopalcricke (Dec 18, 2011 4:12 pm)
First of all, you can only get ONE USAA pricing per calendar year. I have only been able to use USAA pricing for PURCHASE only. I don't know if they have lease pricing. You need to check that out for yourself by going to the site. I have never seen lease pricing on USAA.
 
Secondly, if you are going to purchase both cars, you can purchase one before the end of this month, and then another on Jan. 2, 2012. Another possibility, if you are married, is to have your wife (who can qualify since you are a member of USAA) purchase the second car with her name first on the title and your name second on the title. This way, the dealer can RDR (report the sale) to Mercedes as one in your name, and another in your wife's name. If you call USAA, they will explain how this can work for you. You just need to add her as a member with her own membership number. Remember, USAA is for veterans AND their immediate families.
 
As for "bundling" discounts and incentives, the only one that can be bundled with the USAA and/or the Conquest or special Loyalty would be the Mercedes Benz Financial loyalty which is $2000 this month. So, you should be able to purchase the vehicle for invoice, + 500 less $2000 for USAA, and another $2000 for MB Financial Loyalty. You cannot combine any other incentives with USAA or with the $4000 Winter Event money - only the MB Financial loyalty money. Remember, the dealer is under no obligation to sell you the vehicle for invoice, only the USAA obligates a starting price for the vehicle, which is $500 over invoice less $1500.
 
Since you asked the question about MF, remember, I do not know about leasing since I purchase my cars. YOu need to check this out with USAA and your dealer. The interest rate on purchase is 1.9% less up to 1% since they have a mark-up of 1% on that rate. Not all dealers are willing to give up that 1% or so. I was able to et 1.6%, but on an $18000 loan, it doesn't amount to much.
 
Good LUck

#1306 of 1987 Re: Conquest Incentive [bevbran] by abacomike

Dec 19, 2011 (7:22 am)

Replying to: bevbran (Dec 18, 2011 8:33 pm)
You're going to love this new E350!

#1307 of 1987 Re: E350 Lease [mbz_e350] by abacomike

Dec 19, 2011 (7:32 am)

Replying to: mbz_e350 (Dec 18, 2011 1:31 pm)
First of all, it seems that you are driving way too much for leasing. Leasing is very expensive if you drive more than 15000 miles per year, at least that seems to be the break point. Once you get to 18,000 miles per year, the costs sky-rocket due to depreciation.
 
Secondly, you are paying about $200 per month over their advertised lease rate of $599.00 + about $4500 total out of pocket for a new E350 P1 lease, which I believe you might be able to negotiate down just a bit with a motivated dealer. Take that $200 per month and multiply it by 36 months, and you come up with $7200, which is what you are really paying to get out of your C300 lease early.
 
Thirdly, unless you are getting 20,000 miles per year on your lease, which is minimally what you need, if not more, based upon your driving history, you will be in the same mess as you are now as you approach the middle of your lease.
 
I would recommend that compare what you would owe Mercedes at the end of your C300 lease for overmiles with an outright purchase of the car for 66 months at 1.9% interest (which is free money in my booik) with $5000 down.
 
You are really between a rock and a hard place because of the miles you drive. Just make sure leasing is right for you. Right now, leasing is the last thing I would do when driving 20,000 miles a year.
 
Good LUck

#1308 of 1987 SteveM by stevemc3

Dec 19, 2011 (9:20 am)

Purchased a 2012 E 350 Luxury 4Matic this weekend at $1,750 under invoice. Was going to get rear wheel drive but manager convinced me to go 4Matic for better resale value. Thanks for all the good advice from this board. Looking forward to my first Mercedes!

#1309 of 1987 Interesting forum, but a few things to add by fabbrisd

Dec 19, 2011 (7:45 pm)

1) To the post regarding a 2012 E350 4matic: Please check any "facts" the salesman at that dealership is telling you before you decide he is "trustworthy". The single largest determinant of trade-in/resale will be color combo and condition. The 4matic $2500 retail feature for a 2/3/4 yr old E350 best case will only bring equal trade-in or resale value compared to same E350 in non-4matic. The luxury version does not have staggered tires, so with tire rotation with factory OE tires will be approx 25K-20K (tire manufacturers use a softer tread on factory tire versus what you can get same tire retail) and on Sport tire life is 12K-15K without rotation. 2nd set of tires properly selected with "harder tread" will extend 2nd set tire life up to 40K on luxury and 30K-35K on Sport - if you know tire ratings. Luxury option with 17" wheels is not any lower than Sport with 18" wheels, so Luxury realistically will not increase trade-in/retail down the road either. Sport gets you a very nice wheel, best in Luxury to get the wood/leather wheel. Forget invoice in December - on E350 in-stock, $5K+ discount should be commonly available, some dealers may go down up to $1K/$1.5K more depending on the volume of that dealership.
 
2) On the lease question - like other Mercedes Financial incentives - these are all seaprate issues from price negotiation. That said, your cost includes the finance cost.. A EZ-out 18 months on a 36mo lease is going to cost you something extra, this month if you are carrying a MBFS lease converted to a new MBFS lease on a E, then you qualify for a MBFS credit of 8 months additional payments against that lease - you need to figure that out, 18 months into the lease with credits gets you into 26 months of 36, and mileage excess would be also calculated against 26/36 instead of 18/36. On a early lease return it is your right to clearly understand what the early termination is, and how it is calculated, so that you clearly understand how much from that fee is being rolled over into the cap cost of the new car. If you were rolling over into a 2012 C-Class or 2012 ML this month, MBFS would also make your first two payments up to a $1300/$1500 cap respectively. Thhis 2-payment bonus on the new contract does NOT apply to a new lease on the E this month.
 
3) The only way a dealer can afford to discount the 1.9% financing is if they are a bit-more-tha on the front end than might be possible for you to neogiate. . I call "negotiating 1.6%" on a 1.9% finance program of frigging time - better to get free floor mats plus a rear spoiler, for instance, from the front end guys rather than d*ck around with F&L on the lowest finance rate MB has ever offered.
 
The right focus on options in the car will have the greatest amount of impact on your driving enjoyment - anyone who buys a E350 withpout lane racking package (or better) has not studied the E350, buying a E350 without 60/40 split rear seat is questionable - buy the E350 that has the options that will benift your ownership.driving experience - THEN you can focus on insuring a good deal.
 
If I was looking to buy a new E350 - with gas prices all forecasted to continue their increase over the new 2-3-4 yrs - I would seriously revisit gas vrs BlueTech; unless you need snowchains on your car I would avoid 4matic (I like 4matic at lot but today for a E350 4matic it is the same as paying $.30 more a gallon at the pump, as we go forward it will be like paying $.40-$.50-$.60 more as gas prices per gallon go up): and I would seriously look at options like lane assit pacakge, since 2-3 yrs from now this feature will be standard on more cars.
 
Sorry to be long - but you guys seem to be good people, and you need to understand more than just USAA, blah, blah, blah.. the E350 is a awesome car, and it is better to focus on the car you need and will enjoy, than to waste energy with too much focus on back end purchase.
 
It really blows my mind that many salespeople do not konw, or choose not to tell, the reality of 4matic, or the reality of Sport v Luxury - instead they don't know, or don't want to say - the truth !

#1310 of 1987 Re: Interesting forum, but a few things to add [fabbrisd] by abacomike

Dec 20, 2011 (10:16 am)

Replying to: fabbrisd (Dec 19, 2011 7:45 pm)
The purpose of this forum is to provide as much "up-front" information to prospective buyers of the E class vehicle as possible so that a buyer can go into a showroom with ammunition to deal with these salespeople, or even a sales manager, which is usually what happens in most dealerships when a salesperson is asked a myriad of questions by a knowledgable customer. That is the reason I try to answer as many questions as possible to forum visitors - to ensure they have sufficient information to deal!
 
*As for your comment about 4-matics, I agree. Unless you live north of the so-called Mason-Dixon line, a 4-matic is not worth the extra dollars you will pay for the car and/or the extra gasoline you will burn. BUT there are many folks out there who can afford the extra bucks and who feel safer with an all-wheel-drive vehicle. Even here in South Florida, with all the rain we get, I know many people who buy all-wheel-drive vehicles. So, the final comment of 4-matics should be, "...get it if you feel more secure and don't mind spending some extra bucks on something you might not need!"
 
*As for your comment on 1.9%, in 2010 MB Financial offered a .9% rate up to 66 months, which was advertised. So, 1.9% is not the lowest rate MB has ever offered. Secondly, if an individual is going to borrow $45,000 on an E class vehicle, and can save 1% over 66 months, then over the term of the loan, which might be 66 months, he/she could save $450 the first year, $400 the seond year, etc. So, the savings could be significant if you could save 1% on a financed vehicle. I do not consider providing that information a waste of time or effort.
 
*USAA provides a great service to veterans and their families. If an individual can qualify for a USAA purchase, then why not let them know who might be eligible and where the pricing is. Last year, it was $4000 under dealer invoice, which was significant. This year, it isn't as significant, but still, $500 over invoice less $2000 is not peanuts. And if it can be bundled with an MB Financial incentive of $2000, that means you can buy that car for $3500 under dealer invoice. We all understand that there is a 2% holdback on dealer invoice, but isn't it ok for a dealer to make $1500 or so on a sale, which would be all back-end money for the dealer? And, depending upon where you buy your car, not all dealers are willing to sell a car at cost to them. Down here in Florida, there are 12 Mercedes Benz Dealerships within 50 miles (Palm Beach to South Miami). But in many parts of the country, there is only 1 dealership within 200 or 300 miles, and that dealership is in no big hurry to give away cars.
 
*As for you comment on lane tracking, I do not feel people who do not consider or purchase that option "...have not studied the E350!" What kind of comment is that? And it certainly is not questionable if a person decided against getting the folding rear seats. I've had folding rear seats in my Mercedes Benz vehicles for years, and have never, ever used them. So, since I ordered this one (first one I ever ordered from the factory), I decided not to get the $450 option, but rather got the $450 ventilated seats, since this is going to be MY CAR WITH THE OPTIONS I WANT! It is quite possible lane tracking will eventually become standard on cars, but when I drove one with lane-tracking for a week last year, I found it distracting, so I turned it off. As you can see, NOT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME NEEDS OR THOUGHTS YOU HAVE! I buy what I want, not what others think I want!
 
*Finally, of course people need to focus on more than just what they pay for a car, as you mentioned in your next to last paragraph. But USAA, MB Financial Incentives, Conquest Incentives, Loyalty Incentives, dealer costs, factory cost, etc., is more than blah, blah, blah! As I am sure you know, there is a shortage of E350 sedans. Instead of a dealer having an inventory of 15-30 of them, which is usual for most of the dealers down here in South Florida, there a now a total of 36 among all the dealers. 36 of them between 12 dealers, or an average of 3 vehicles per dealer So, the more a prospective customer knows, the better chance he/she can get a little better deal.
 
THIS FORUM IS FOR E CLASS PRICING AND BUYING EXPERIENCES and that is why lots of people ask questions and seek answers to pricing. It's because they want to get the best deal possible on the car they want. Sure, people should also know that often you can get a much better price on a car that the dealer has in stock because he makes the sale immediately, etc. If he has to dealer trade the car, there is a $250 to $1000 additional cost for transporting that car to his dealership, not to mention sending the dealer he got the car from a replacement vehicle - and the cost involved in that.
 
Why not give as much information as possible. You have provided your input as well as plenty of feedback. That's good. But you don't have to be facetious or condescending about those of us who spend their time trying to help others or those who seek help.
 
Thanks

Messages Page 131 of 199

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