2003 E Class Comand/Nav Debacle

Let's have a chat where we can share ideas about what we are being offered. and hopefully banding together to get the best offer possible.
Personally I don't think a discounted, end of model year 2003 car is good enough? Do you agree? I am pushing for a 2004. Anybody else trying? Has anyone gotten a 2004?
Personally I don't think a discounted, end of model year 2003 car is good enough? Do you agree? I am pushing for a 2004. Anybody else trying? Has anyone gotten a 2004?
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Have they made you an offer yet? I have not received ANY correspondence yet from my dealer or direct from Mercedes.
I am going to push HARD for a 2004. Giving me a end of model year, discounted, re-wired 2003 is not sufficient. Shouldn't cost them any more to give me an '04. It will make me a happy customer more likely to be a repeat buyer. Also it helps at resale time since the car will be worth a few grand more. Seems like a valid request for the hassle they have put me through. My car is almost 7 months old and I want my NAV system.
Anybody think I'm off base here? Post your thoughts here.
One CLK 430 had the system replaced 7 times (at $5,400 a copy) in just over a year. And at trial, MB won, because the jury couldn't feel sorry for a guy with a $70,000 car.
It's a tough go for the client (car owner) and the attorney. You taken 8 people (in NEw Jersey, for instance) away from their $8 an hour jobs; they're losing two day's pay and have to sit in court for a MB owner....MB owners simply don't get the same justice as someone who owns a Chevy Cavalier or Ford Focus.
Regardless of how the law reads, it's based on what the jury feels.
We could use fewer lawyers in Amercia.
Those COMAND systems control a lot more than just the NAV system, and even if it were just a NAV system, if there was a problem, it would still be considered a product "defect".
I have yet to receive ANY correspondence regarding this issue from either Mercedes or the dealer. I have confirmed I am on the list for replacement, but no contact from anybody yet.
I asked him if he had any advice for bargaining for a 2004 instead of a 2003.
His advice... Plain, simple and right on target:
Insist you get a 2004. Tell them that's the only thing that will satisfy you.
I'm going with that advice.
Mislead about the availability of a Nav system on the E320,2003 even tho' my car is "pre-wired" for Command system. Dealer blames MB, "who has essentially told us new product adapters to jump in the lake.
World class service?-No way! It's the is the worst I've seen and reminds me of the old Chrysler. And the service center is "not required" to tell me who the "PROPER PEOPLE" to whom they are forwarding my complaint are.
Dealer David Michael (NJ)is unwilling to do anything about this. It's the "not my problem" phenomenon. ""IT'S MB'S fault"
By the way MB 2003 is SLOOOW from 0-30mph.
Said one MB salesperson, "it's not a performance car" I'll say!
Real attitude. Makes me want to get the new car... put it right up for sale and get a different car. I'm getting sour on MB.
The E has been in the shop at least 5 times for the same problem, i.e., the tele aid SOS malfunction comes on for no reason and the audio system (cd changer, radio and casette deck) go bonkers. Often, instead of hearing music, I just hear a crackling noise that sounds like static. I don't have the COMMAND/NAV system by the way. Just the premium sound system and I subscribe to teleaid.
Is anyone else experiencing this?
Thanks!
http://www.cmcpower.com/media/other/asx220206.pdf
MB released a fix on CD ROM 3 weeks ago that was supposed to fix this problem since it has shown up on cars all over the country. However, it was not successful on my car. So, this time around they are having a "corporate" technician come to the dealer and if he can't fix it, they are going to buy the car back. To tell the truth, I really wish they could just fix this problem because the car is fine otherwise.
Please, keep me posted on your progress.
If I am to expect that this is going to be an ongoing and continual problem- I too would pursue a buy back.
PVH- how you get the concession of a buy back---? because of the audio?
Anyway, when I told the service manager that I was still having the problem w/the sound system and the teleaid, he said that if they couldn't fix it this time they would have no choice but to buy the car back.
Oh, one other thing, a corporate rep called me today from the dealer and said that the fix they applied to fix the errant "tele aid SOS visit workship" problem was the WRONG ONE!!! There is no fix for that yet! Sheesh again.
BMW/Lexus/Infinity/Jaguar here I come. Yes, I know you can have problems w/any car but this is my second experience w/a high-end MB and as you said, it is very, very disconcerting.
I just discovered this board two days ago...I see a lot of others are having pretty much the same problems I am with the new E. When I first got the E500 delivered (without nav at dealers advice) within the first week it sounded like cans were being dragged off the back of the car. Faulty parking brake. The audio also shuts on and off randomly, am/fm doesnt come in clear (tested on other cars in my area and its fine), the speaker just randomly blew out this weekend, air suspension just stopped working this weekend as well, the voice controls for the phone dont work properly, and others Ive tried to block out of my memory. The nav fiasco is angering me as well, I was told it could be retrofitted and now it cant. Mercedes is going to have a lot of 2003 e-class cars because it looks like they are going to have to buy back a lot of these. What geniuses thought of not putting the nav in this car, especially when low end cars can have them. I just called up the regional manager and left message, wondering what the best approach is to dealing with corporate Benz? Does anyone also know the threshold for the number of problems where they just buy it back? Thanks
A
I am so down on MB right now that I will probably just trade my EClass (w/disclosure, of course) to some dealer that has a car that he's desperate to deal on. After all, car sales are slow right about now.
In the universe of big problems, having a luxury car that isn't quite right does not qualify as a major problem. But it sure is a disappointment. I will be letting MB know exactly how I feel, as if that would help.
Recently I heard from my sales person that the NAV cannot be retrofitted but not to worry. MB will make it attractive to get a 2004 simply for the price difference and some incentive discount. Cars will be available around November. I received a 2004 configurator and it contains a lot of new and/or bundled features to bring the price up while the base price remains the same.
I really like my E500 and do want to have the new NAV system. I just hope the "deal" will not make me feel bad about it all.
MB has allegedly decided to buy back the car for those who prepaid, and provide a coupon for $3250 to those who had wanted the retrofit but failed to prepay.
I wonder how long it will take my "dealer," David Michael, to alert me to the solution, since their previous "go fish" reponse in June.
I only wish the coupon was towards purchase of the Audi A8. There's a car that performs, rather than the 320, which is dead on it's wheels as far as I'm concerned.
MB, not for me-only a fool makes the same mistake twice.
I don't think it's likely that we'll be able to retrofit a future 42 volt system in a buggy 03 Mercedes, nor would it help a flakey electrical system designed for 12 volts get well.