Production delay for new E Class

[Carac]

E63S said:

Nice spec. I went with Lister, as they offered me 11.6% off list through Carwow. It means a trip to the frozen wastelands of the north to collect it, but no dealer around here could get even remotely near their price. At least I’ll get a good lump of the running in done on the way home.

Saloon
Selenite grey metallic
Premium package
Night package
Remote parking package
20” black forged wheels
Black nappa
Black open pore ash trim
Black open pore ash centre console
Heated screen
Heated rear seats
Wireless phone charging
HUD
Performance exhaust

I have an almost identical spec, I went with the non-black forged rims, and carbon brakes. Mine originally had a build date the first week of January, then a string of delays throughout Jan, into Feb. I'm being told it "should" leave the factory on the 8th, but who knows at this point. I have a VIN and have been told they started production on my car but that it's sitting incomplete, waiting on a pair of the screens. Apparently they are waiting on a large batch from a supplier and rather than let the whole line shutdown they are building cars up to a point and are letting them sit until the screen shows up, at which point they ship out. Amazing that we're 5 months out from the initial beginning of the screen shortage and the supply chain still hasn't caught up. Hope to I hear "it left the factory" on Wednesday.

Edited by Carac on Tuesday 6th March 21:17

[E63S]

Carac said:

I have an almost identical spec, I went with the non-black forged rims, and carbon brakes. Mine originally had a build date the first week of January, then a string of delays throughout Jan, into Feb. I'm being told it "should" leave the factory on the 8th, but who knows at this point. I have a VIN and have been told they started production on my car but that it's sitting incomplete, waiting on a pair of the screens. Apparently they are waiting on a large batch from a supplier and rather than let the whole line shutdown they are building cars up to a point and are letting them sit until the screen shows up, at which point they ship out. Amazing that we're 5 months out from the initial beginning of the screen shortage and the supply chain still hasn't caught up. Hope to I hear "it left the factory" on Wednesday.

Edited by Carac on Tuesday 6th March 21:17

Your post gives me visions of unfinished cars scattered all around the factory.

Any updates from anyone today?

[E63S]

So... following on from my message yesterday, I’ve just taken a call from Mercedes AMG UK. He’s been in touch with the factory, and they have confirmed all parts are available, and it will be built on 16/03. Unfortunately, the factory have also placed additional QC checks on these vehicles, which means delivery could be delayed by up to 8 weeks (although usually way shorter) while these checks are completed.

He was very apologetic for all the delays, and said that MB UK would arrange some sort of compensation once I had taken delivery.

Edited by E63S on Wednesday 7th March 14:24

[Andy M]

I've just received news that my car has also been delayed, by an additional 2 weeks. It's now due to be delivered in the first week of April.

I'm pretty unimpressed and will cancel the order should it be delayed any further.

E63S said:

He was very apologetic for all the delays, and said that MB UK would arrange some sort of compensation once I had taken delivery.

Please keep us updated on this. Are you able to provide the name of who it was you spoke to, and did they mention what form the compensation would take?

[E63S]

Andy M said:

Please keep us updated on this. Are you able to provide the name of who it was you spoke to, and did they mention what form the compensation would take?

Wow that really sucks, particularly as you had been told the build had started. I’ll message you the details of the AMG chap. I’m not going to post his name or contact details on a public forum for obvious reasons.

[AdamT]

No real update from me, I just heard from my salesman that we are still scheduled for 22nd/23rd of March construction....fingers crossed

[Carac]

At the end of the day yesterday it still said March 8th in the system, making it the first time the date hasn’t changed prior to the date in the system so maybe it finally got finished. I’ll find out in a couple days. I’m told with the parts shortage they only built 6 Wagons last week and have active queue at the factory for 100 US-spec WAGONS...where during the entire run of the previous generation they only sold ~200 something W212 wagons. I can’t imagine how backed up they are with production of worldwide orders.

[AdamT]

Thats crazy

they have really dropped the ball on this - once the dust has settled I would love to get the full picture of what happened

[E63S]

Carac said:

At the end of the day yesterday it still said March 8th in the system, making it the first time the date hasn’t changed prior to the date in the system so maybe it finally got finished. I’ll find out in a couple days. I’m told with the parts shortage they only built 6 Wagons last week and have active queue at the factory for 100 US-spec WAGONS...where during the entire run of the previous generation they only sold ~200 something W212 wagons. I can’t imagine how backed up they are with production of worldwide orders.

I’d take that sort of info with a pinch of salt, given how the MB factories provide dealerships worldwide with zero info, other than that the build date has slipped, and the occasional advisory (the last one being the QC advisory, back in November 2017). Even when I spoke to someone from AMG a few days ago, he couldn’t give me a specific reason for the ongoing delays, other than the ongoing QC issues. No mention of parts shortages.

[E63S]

My build date has today slipped another week. It’s now the 23rd March. I’m so unbelievably pissed off.

Maybe they’ll give us massive discounts, as at this rate they’ll have started taking orders for the W214 E63S before we get ours...

[AdamT]

E63S said:

My build date has today slipped another week. It’s now the 23rd March. I’m so unbelievably pissed off.

Maybe they’ll give us massive discounts, as at this rate they’ll have started taking orders for the W214 E63S before we get ours...

Thats the exact date we were given - which is worrying as I think they are just bulking up the delayed cars and assigning them the same dates...

I was at Vmax on Saturday with my C63S (was a lot of fun, even in the wet) and there was an E63S there, I had a few passenger rides and it is an incredible piece of kit. And did some nice runs against the C63 -where the extra 100bhp was clear.

Certainly worth the wait chaps....to a point!

[E63S]

AdamT said:

Thats the exact date we were given - which is worrying as I think they are just bulking up the delayed cars and assigning them the same dates...

I was at Vmax on Saturday with my C63S (was a lot of fun, even in the wet) and there was an E63S there, I had a few passenger rides and it is an incredible piece of kit. And did some nice runs against the C63 -where the extra 100bhp was clear.

Certainly worth the wait chaps....to a point!

I’m starting to question whether it’s worth the wait to be honest. It’s a great car, but the degree of arrogance shown towards the dealerships and customers by Mercedes Germany is staggering. The fact that each car is delayed by 7 days, every 7 days, indicates that the production line is at a standstill. There doesn’t seem to be ANY being built. There hasn’t been a “look at my new E63S” thread on any forum for ages (other than US ones, which were likely built late last year and then take months to arrive).

The compensation is going to have to be something special, but they’re refusing to tell me what it might be until it has been delivered.

[snipez999]

I'm still hopeful that the fact I've been assigned (currently anyway) a Monday build date - everyone else seems to have a Friday - they will actually keep to it ;-)
Anyway I've asked my dealer for an update.

[Carac]

Waiting to hear back if I've been delayed again or if mine finally went through. The AMG Private Lounge has a delivery or two in the past month, which considering how few AMG owners actually go there isn't that bad. The whole situation is beyond ridiculous. It's a little grating to get a "one more week" update every week.

Edited by Carac on Tuesday 13th March 02:30

[Carac]

I'm told the "extended quality checks" are no longer in effect and that direct word from factory reps is that a shortage of the screens is the sole culprit for the holdups. I'm guessing it will only get worse with the CLS, G-Wagen, AMG GT 4-door, etc. all using the same part. I'm told the March 8th production date has not changed on mine in the system. We'll see if and how long that holds.

[snipez999]

My dealer checked Daimler system again today and no build hold up showing. Not counting any chickens at moment mind you! I’ll feel better when Carac has an update as his should be on a boat shortly (my projected Production finished date is 2 days after the production date)

[E63S]

When Mercedes launched their new “The best or nothing” slogan. I stupidly thought the emphasis would be on the “best” bit. How wrong could someone be?

[Andy M]

I've contacted my dealer in writing to state:

"Given the conflicting information we are receiving, I believe the time has arrived for definitive clarity to come from Mercedes Germany, otherwise I will have to regrettably cancel my order and request my deposit be returned."

It's 5 months to the day since I ordered my car. On ordering I stipulated delivery must take place on 1st March 2018.

A delay is acceptable if we're kept reliably informed (which IMO we haven't) and if there's light at the end of the tunnel (there isn't), so I am starting to lose patience.

All this for the privilege of buying a car which will depreciate horrifically

[Carac]

No additional delays so far. I'm told it is safe to assume it began production last week and should be leaving the factory shortly. Which would mean a 10 week delay from the original build date to the actual date.

[Sheepshanks]

Andy M said:

On ordering I stipulated delivery must take place on 1st March 2018.

Did the dealer accept that?

I tried to do include "timely delivery is the essence of the contract" once and the dealer wouldn't entertain it.