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Mercedes Benz E-Class Prices Paid and Buying Experience

1933 messages,  Last post on May 16, 2013 at 2:46 PM

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

Messages Page 165 of 194

#1637 of 1933 Not All Mercedes Dealerships Are Friendly! by abacomike

Feb 25, 2012 (2:09 pm)

I had an opportunity to take a neighbor of mine over to a brand new Mercedes Dealership owned by the same company as the one I got my Mercedes at! My neighbor preferred purchasing his new car at the new dealership (only about 2 miles from where we live) because he did not want to drive the extra 15 miles to my dealership. Since he knows I have purchased many Mercedes Benz vehicles, so he wanted me to help him with negotiations.
 
The dealership is truly beautiful, but unfortunately the people who work inside are not - what I mean is they are assertive, overly aggressive and very unpleasant. When we pulled up in my car (my neighbor had just sold his car privately) we were met outside the front door (he didn't even let us get inside before starting his pitching). He asked why we were coming into his dealership since he noticed I was driving a new 2012 E350, and we told him my friend was interested in a new car. He then had the nerve to ask me why I didn't take him to my dealership (he saw the name of my dealership on my license plate frame) to get his car - "...were you unhappy with your salesperson?" I could not believe his nasty approach, but I held my tongue, as did my neighbor, and walked into the showroom. The salesperson followed us in and immediately started on my friend - "...are you going to buy or lease your new car today or are you just looking?" It took less than 10 seconds for my friend to ask for a different person to speak with. The salesperson went right for his manager and things got even worse! The manager came over and asked what the problem was, and after my neighbor explained his reason, the manager said if he didn't want to work with the salesperson who waited in him, he could take his business someplace else!
 
I personally have never had an experience like that in all the years I've been buying cars!
 
I wonder how long it will be before corporate changes the management of that new dealership?

#1638 of 1933 Re: Not All Mercedes Dealerships Are Friendly! [abacomike] by kevinc5

Feb 26, 2012 (2:15 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Feb 25, 2012 2:09 pm)
I've never run into that attitude at any dealership, much less a Mercedes dealer...but if you don't name the dealer your story isn't much help to anyone.

#1639 of 1933 Re: Not All Mercedes Dealerships Are Friendly! [kevinc5] by abacomike

Feb 26, 2012 (2:34 pm)

Replying to: kevinc5 (Feb 26, 2012 2:15 pm)
I've already taken steps regarding the manager! To mention the name of the dealership solves no problems! My direct contact with corporate will! And I'm quite sure that anyone who gets treated that way would do what we did on Thursday - buy a car someplace else!!!
 
This is the reason I buy my cars where I do! I'm treated like a member of the family, not like a member of a herd of livestock!

#1640 of 1933 Re: Not All Mercedes Dealerships Are Friendly! [abacomike] by ghstudio

Feb 27, 2012 (10:46 am)

Replying to: abacomike (Feb 26, 2012 2:34 pm)
Sounds like every Toyota dealer I've ever visited. If you aren't ready to buy right now, go away.
 
You really should post the dealer's name or location here. Part of the benefit of these forums is finding the outstanding dealers and knowing the "not so outstanding" ones.

#1641 of 1933 Which Sport Package do you mean? by lawcar

Feb 27, 2012 (4:39 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Feb 24, 2012 1:43 pm)
The Sport Package compared to the Luxury Package? Or another sport suspension package? I understand that 9 out of 10 2012 E350's are the sport package and very few dealers even have the Luxury Package.

#1642 of 1933 Re: Which Sport Package do you mean? [lawcar] by abacomike

Feb 27, 2012 (5:09 pm)

Replying to: lawcar (Feb 27, 2012 4:39 pm)
I was talking about the sport package you and I have. It is a little hard riding, just like the BMW 5 Series with sport package. Now the 5 series sport package requires run-flats which are even harsher in terms of ride.
 
I'm not as young and spry as I used to be, and my back suffers from hard riding cars. I think I have too much air in the tires even though I have them inflated exactly at the pressure recommended by Mercedes. I just think 36 front and 38 rear are a bit much. What I might do is drop it two pounds which might help. Also, the tires have nitro fill which tend to ride a little stiffer than air.
 
I tried the luxury model, but I hated the wheels and the style of the front grille and sides of the car. Luckily I don't drive in heavy traffic.

#1643 of 1933 Re: Which Sport Package do you mean? [abacomike] by lawcar

Feb 28, 2012 (12:50 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Feb 27, 2012 5:09 pm)
I didn't mind the styling of the luxury model, but the ride was too cushy and non-responsive for me (although others have their own legitimate opinions). I didn't like the idea of required run-flat tires on the BMW either.

#1644 of 1933 Re: Which Sport Package do you mean? [lawcar] by abacomike

Feb 28, 2012 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: lawcar (Feb 28, 2012 12:50 pm)
Remember, you went from a BMW 5 series to the Mercedes E350 Luxury. I would imagine the ride would be too soft and unresponsive for you. I found the same thing when I went from the 535i to the E350. Luxury ride was not only cushy, but cornering and handling were lacking in my opinion. That is why I bought the sport model.
 
I went up to my dealership this morning and he said my tires were overinflated by 4 pounds. Fronts had 38 and rears had 40. So he made them 32 and 34 COLD INFLATION so when I got on the road, the pressures were 25 and 37. Much easier on my back. He also took all the nitrogen out fo the tires and redid them 4 times. He said by reinflating them that many times with nitrogen, you reduce the amount of non-nitrogen gases in the tires. So, not only was there about 20% air in the tires, but that's why I was unhappy with the ride.
 
Now, it's like a different car. He also told me that with these low profile tires, if they get overinflated, they ride like rocks and have the potential for being more easily damaged. So, that's the story.
 
And as for run-flats, they are even worse. But, they do serve a purpose - no spare!

#1645 of 1933 Re: Which Sport Package do you mean? [abacomike] by ghstudio

Feb 28, 2012 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Feb 28, 2012 1:51 pm)
He said by reinflating them that many times with nitrogen, you reduce the amount of non-nitrogen gases in the tires. So, not only was there about 20% air in the tires, but that's why I was unhappy with the ride.
 
Nitrogen in tires has nothing at all to do with the ride. The air we breathe is 78% Nitrogen....so if your tire was just inflated with air, it would have about 20% non nitrogen gasses so I just love the 20% air statement. If your tires were inflated with 80% pure nitrogen and 20% air, then the total nitrogen in your tire would be 96%. Your dealer apparently is selling what he heard and misunderstood.
 
It sounds like your dealer was trying to justify why you paid for Nitrogen in the first place.
 
The only place nitrogen helps is that it expands/contracts slightly less than "air" so your pressure doesn't change quite as much when the tire heats up or the outside temperature changes. It's an extremely "high profit" item for dealers so they push it hard on buyers by extolling it's non existent virtues.

#1646 of 1933 Re: Which Sport Package do you mean? [ghstudio] by abacomike

Feb 28, 2012 (3:26 pm)

Replying to: ghstudio (Feb 28, 2012 3:11 pm)
I did not pay anything extra for nitro-fill. All his new and used cars have nitro-fill. When you pull into his service island to drop off your car, if you need air, all they have is nitro-fill.
 
As far as your comments, I am no expert in this, so I cannot take exception with any of your comments. All I do know is that nitro-fill adds nitrogen, not air (the hydrogen-oxygen-type). I know that the less oxygen in tires, less oxidation occurs with the rubber (synthetic of course). That's all I know about nitro-fill! And, my car is no longer riding as hard as it did.
 
Thanks for the info!

Messages Page 165 of 194

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