Production delay for new E Class

[AdamT]

Wondering if anyone has heard any news regarding the production delays Mercedes are having with the E-class, specifically due to the wide screen dash display. Our car (E63S) was due to be delivered early January but is still delayed with no new delivery date. The dealer doesn't have any new info and just says that it is a nightmare - any new E Class orders are now scheduled for delivery in 2019 due to this...

Does anyone have any insight?

Many thanks!

[playalistic]

No insights I'm afraid but damn - Mercedes' logistics/supply chain are woefully inept. Hearing a lot of similar stories regarding other models and options. I hope it's good news for you soon enough.

[gizlaroc]

Customer of mine said the same thing to me.

I asked James from Norwich who posts on the MBClub.co.uk forum but he said "Definite Lies".

When did you get told this? Maybe it is just not common knowledge yet, maybe it is lies?

[AdamT]

Thanks chaps

I was told about 2 weeks ago...and just really getting frustrated that the dealer isnt able to give more information. It doesnt seem beyond the realms of possibility - those screens are appearing in everything (including the A class!) so I expect demand is high.

The wait is really painful

[AdamT]

Just heard from my dealer - delivery will be 3rd of March! None the wiser as to why delayed so long will try to find out and let you guys know.

[Andy M]

AdamT said:

Just heard from my dealer - delivery will be 3rd of March! None the wiser as to why delayed so long will try to find out and let you guys know.

When did you place the order?

I removed the head-up display from my E63s order due to the delays. My car has been pushed back by 2 weeks, but am still expecting delivery mi-March (from an October order).

[LStitch]

Was talking to a dealer the other day, that one location has over 20 E63s on order (They sell about 5/6 C63's in a good year) and anyone ordering one now is "well in to 2019". Some UK locations have 200/300 on order (He slowed me a picture of 8 on a truck being delivered to a slowroom saying this is every fortnight at some London locations). The dealer is blaming a lot of the things, he said there are supply issues but also demand is 10 times what Mercedes thought it would be. He blamed the lack of a E63 coupe being an issue, saying they could of had so much extra capacity if the coupe was an option. Also blamed Mercedes for not hyping a new C63/43, saying it's no competition if you can afford it and that half of the customers that walk in wanting a C43/63 end up ordering an E63.

[AdamT]

Andy M said:

When did you place the order?

I removed the head-up display from my E63s order due to the delays. My car has been pushed back by 2 weeks, but am still expecting delivery mi-March (from an October order).

Ordered in September

Received a tentative delivery date of the w/e of the 10th of March- we shall see!

[Andy M]

LStitch said:

Was talking to a dealer the other day, that one location has over 20 E63s on order (They sell about 5/6 C63's in a good year) and anyone ordering one now is "well in to 2019". Some UK locations have 200/300 on order (He slowed me a picture of 8 on a truck being delivered to a slowroom saying this is every fortnight at some London locations). The dealer is blaming a lot of the things, he said there are supply issues but also demand is 10 times what Mercedes thought it would be. He blamed the lack of a E63 coupe being an issue, saying they could of had so much extra capacity if the coupe was an option. Also blamed Mercedes for not hyping a new C63/43, saying it's no competition if you can afford it and that half of the customers that walk in wanting a C43/63 end up ordering an E63.

If this were the case, Mercedes surely wouldn't be offering 10%+ discounts?

[LStitch]

Andy M said:

If this were the case, Mercedes surely wouldn't be offering 10%+ discounts?

Mercedes aren't, dealers are.

Other cars aren't selling near as well. There's a reason you can pick a C63 up at some dealers for 20/25% off list.

[Andy M]

Earlier this afternoon I was sent this by a friend of mine and have requested an update from my dealer:



I'd not be impressed with a further 3 month delay.

Have you received any update Adam?

[AdamT]

Hi Andy,

Many thanks for your PM and headsup

I actually messaged my dealer this morning for an update and further confirmation that it will be built on the 2/3/2018 and ready for delivery on the following weekend (the 10th).

Im not holding my breath and my dealer is as exasperated as me from my conversations with him!

Will keep you guys updated

Adam

[Andy M]

AdamT said:

Hi Andy,

Many thanks for your PM and headsup

I actually messaged my dealer this morning for an update and further confirmation that it will be built on the 2/3/2018 and ready for delivery on the following weekend (the 10th).

Im not holding my breath and my dealer is as exasperated as me from my conversations with him!

Will keep you guys updated

Adam

No problem. Fingers crossed for you.

Mine is due to be built the day before yours, with delivery date at port on 7th March and 'Expected Delivery Date 2' on 14th March.

[snipez999]

Hi guys. I have had my E63S on order since last July, and had also heard of the LED screen issue; so it's 'nice' to know that that wasn't just some dealer BS. I also have (now) a production date of 2 March (was meant to be 15 Feb then 23 Feb, now 2 March). Anyway, thanks for the additional info. Hopefully some/all of us will be getting our cars this month/year! :-)

[E63S]

This is an absolute joke. The dealerships (and Mercedes) could save themselves a lot of hassle if they distributed such info to customers as and when it arrived. It would keep us in the loop, manage expectations, and would give us the opportunity to look elsewhere, rather than wait for a car that may or may not arrive before its replacement is launched. I have been told several times that on the “star” system, there was no indication of a shortage of parts or any QC delays. Obviously the above release has been floating around for quite some time, otherwise it wouldn’t state a delay up to 12 weeks, but normal service will be resumed on 03/03.

I ordered mine in August, and was originally told to expect an allocation in October, with a mid-January delivery date. October came and went, and so did November. Finally I got an allocation in December, with a build date of 14/02. That subsequently slipped to 23/02, and in likelihood when I call the dealer tomorrow it will be sometime in March.

The release above indicates that they think they will be back on track from 03/03. Hmm. What about the backlog of orders?

[Andy M]

Did you order with head-up display?

If my order goes beyond March I will cancel and look elsewhere. My dealer has been excellent throughout and is even lending me an S63 for a few days until my E63 arrives.

If they didn’t depreciate so horrifically, I’d have been tempted by a new S63.

[E63S]

Andy M said:

Did you order with head-up display?

If my order goes beyond March I will cancel and look elsewhere. My dealer has been excellent throughout and is even lending me an S63 for a few days until my E63 arrives.

If they didn’t depreciate so horrifically, I’d have been tempted by a new S63.

That’s nice of them. Think I might ask the same, although might be tricky as they’re at the other end of the country (one of the downsides to buying through Carwow).

Mine will (eventually) have HUD. It’s one of the few options I wouldn’t cancel, even if it meant it would arrive quicker.

[Andy M]

E63S said:

Mine will (eventually) have HUD. It’s one of the few options I wouldn’t cancel, even if it meant it would arrive quicker.

I have it on my M5. It’s nice to have, and the system is supposedly clearer (more defined) than the Mercedes HUD, but it’s of relatively limited use. I think future systems will be a must-have, but for now I’m happy to do without.

[E63S]

Andy M said:

I have it on my M5. It’s nice to have, and the system is supposedly clearer (more defined) than the Mercedes HUD, but it’s of relatively limited use. I think future systems will be a must-have, but for now I’m happy to do without.

One of my pals had it on his 2006 M5. It beggars belief that MB are having so many issues with such established technology. There’s nothing cutting edge about it, so it should be as simple to get right as putting the steering wheel on the correct way around.

I have no issues with my current dealer, as they’ve been really good. It’s the staggering arrogance of MB back in Germany that really winds me up.

[E63S]

Just spoke to my very helpful dealer chap, and asked about the above advisory from MB. He said that it was sent to dealers back in November, and that there are no other problems or delays since, but that MB are still catching up (and seem to be nearly caught up).

My build date hasn’t changed from today, and the delivery date is still 15/03. However, it hasn’t been assigned a VIN yet, which is a little unusual. He said he would call me on Monday with an update. Hopefully it gets built over the weekend, but after all the delays these cars have incurred, I won’t be holding my breath!