2013 and earlier-Mercedes-Benz M-Class Lease Questions

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Comments

  • hpwsdhpwsd Member Posts: 7
    Whitey9:

    I appreciate the warning. I looked up the reliability history in Consumer Reports and saw what you were saying. However it also showed that MB turned it around after '06. I then looked up the Edmunds reliability rating and it seemed a little more critical, but I looked up the MDX as reference. After averaging the scores I was surprised to find the 2009 ML beating the 2009 MDX in IQR-Mechanical (3.5 vs 3.25).

    I hope the reliability ratings are themselves reliable!
  • storm10storm10 Member Posts: 267
    Since 1998 ML-Class went through 3 generations - so you need to wake up...Japanese SUV's are not bad... except that they are made from a cheap steel substitution, and they rollover if you make sharp turn...otherwise they are reliable...
  • inder22inder22 Member Posts: 6
    I everyone I just leased a 2010 ML350, Black on Cashmere, Premium 1, rear entertainment pre wiring, Heated Seats

    MSRP 51425

    Lease 3yr/ 30k
    Total Drive off: $0 -- no tax, acquisition, cap cost reduction etc.
    Monthly Payment: $605 inclusive of all taxes

    Residual 53%

    I hope this sounds like a reasonable deal. Let me know. I hope this helps give some of you an idea of what deals are going for in Los Angeles
  • mmgoodkittymmgoodkitty Member Posts: 6
    Tried negotiating with TWO different dealers on an ML 350. I currently lease an ML350 so I'm a "loyal" customer!
    Went for a 2010 2WD with P1 package. With the 2K MB incentive, all I got was 2K UNDER invoice. The money factor was NOT what was posted here, The first offer was $879 per month!!! With 3K drive off. 50% residual, 36month lease at 12K miles per year, After almost throwing up, it got lowered to $769 (inc tax) once I removed the P1 package. Still 3K drive off.
    Once I got up to leave, it magically reduced itself to $679... but still the 3K drive off.
    What the hell am I doing wrong here? I'm sharing all the info I gather on these forums, and they don't match the money factor nor do they go anywhere near 6-10K BELOW invoice.
    HELP! I'm in Northern California.

    2nd deal I tried was with leaseoutlet.com in Southern Cal...
    2010 ML 4WD P1 package
    4K below invoice (46300)
    644.74 plus tax=697.93 total monthly payment
    2261 drive off, which he lowered to 1200 after I told him no way.

    HELP!!!!
    I posted this in the buying and leasing experience thread too..sorry if you're reading my drama twice.
  • redmustang1redmustang1 Member Posts: 4
    I also can't understand the mixed info on this site. I can't get a local MB dealer to even give me a quote unless I come into the showroom.

    The MB website has the ML350 4matic w/premium package 1, heated front seats & destination charge for $519 (MSRP $53,765). It requires cash up front of $5,094 for $3,750 cap cost reduction, $795 acquisition fee, and first month $519. To through the cap cost red and acq fee in the monthly payments should be around $80 more. This would bring you up to about $600. The ML350 w/o AWD was $499/mo.
  • storm10storm10 Member Posts: 267
    If Dealer will not give you a quote unless you come to showroom - than request a quote from another Dealer. Or make a proposal to any Dealer based on the info you find in this forum within last month, because programs did not change since Nov. 1st, and see if they accept.
  • redmustang1redmustang1 Member Posts: 4
    I started looking as I thought I might get a great deal with the economy in a slump and cars sales still very low. Just got turned off. I think that I am going to stick with my 2006 Acura MDX Touring with 26k miles. No real reason to change, especially since my Acura dealer is very customer oriented.
  • mmgoodkittymmgoodkitty Member Posts: 6
    The WC dealership calls me 10x this morning and keeps working the deal... but still won't go lower than 625 a month with 2500 drive off.
    He is telling me the So Cal gal on this thread didn't get the car at the 605 tax included price for a P1 AWD. He is telling me that there is NO way. So, So Cal gal... let me know what dealership in So Cal and who you dealt with, and I'll get it down there ;) Thanks!
  • dhkhandhkhan Member Posts: 30
    My experience was similar to wha tstorm10 is saying - of the three dealers in Denver one wouldn't talk over the phone, the other only started negotiating by phone/e-mail after a visit, but the third (who I bought from) offered a starght 10% off sticker in the first phone call and then came down to 12% of sticker after personal negotiation.

    I got 600/mo (+tax) 36/12K lease on a 57+K sticker with no money down/cap cost reduction and only the first month payment as drive off (see my post #494 above).

    For what my 2 cents are worth, the whole auto industry sales business model sucks big time. There should be just one price and one deal from the manufacturer and the only difference should be what you would pay for financing based on your credit score.

    Right now, from what I read on these forums, is that the whole thing is a game that the manufacturers support, to see how much the dealers can scam the customers. I guess it wasn't enough that we had to pass a law to stop dealers from crooking customers and put full disclosure window stickers on new cars!! (1958, Monroney's law).

    I was happy with my deal because I got a great price after making an informed decsion based on the great information from these forums. Ok, so maybe I got lucky with the dealer also, but I'm just glad it worked out the way it did for me.

    Wish all future buyers good luck with getting a great deal, and that they feel happy with their purchase and enjoy the ride.
  • storm10storm10 Member Posts: 267
    "There should be just one price and one deal from the manufacturer and the only difference should be what you would pay for financing based on your credit score."

    It's not that simple as it sounds, because there is already one price from factory - MSRP. But if all Dealers had to sell at the same price - there would not be any competition between them. As a result: there would be fewer Dealerships, higher prices, less sale and almost no special deals, because Dealers would care less about your budget. There would be a lot less employment opportunities. Right now, the auto industry is #1 overall employer in USA.
    In Europe - they have fixed price. As a result: there is no competition. If you go to Dealership: there is no car in stock - you have to order and wait months. You can't test drive! Salespeople are minimum-wage order takers etc.... The whole system sucks.
    Mercedes-Benz does not own any Dealerships in the United States - unlike GM, Chrysler and Ford, where majority of stores are partially owned by factories. I think they own only 1 store MB of Manhattan. Everything else is the private enterprise. So they can't force them how to do their business. They can only suggest pricing.
    Believe me - you don't want to change the system. All you need is once in the while do some negotiating.
    Hope it helps.
  • rocky725rocky725 Member Posts: 30
    The person who posted the deal at $605 per month with tax included is not AWD. The MSRP of around $51K would just be P1 and probably the DVD pre-wiring. What is the MSRP of the car you are attempting to negotiate?
  • brentkhackbrentkhack Member Posts: 23
    What Denver dealership did you buy from? Also, in CO do you pay lease sales tax on the whole price of the car or just the portion you use? I am in Houston and TX charges tax on the whole cost of car. I am looking to buy in FL and ship here. But if I can get the same type of deal at your dealership, I would consider going there. Thx.
  • locksmith3locksmith3 Member Posts: 7
    Count me in looking for a ML350 lease in the NY Metro area as well.

    samb71@gmail.com
  • christina271christina271 Member Posts: 65
    anyone looking for this truck in the NY/NJ area... email me at xoprincess271@aim.com

    I just picked up my car yesterday..
    sticker was 56425
    payment is 649 including tax for 10/36
    This deal included the full $2000 lease cash which many dealers around me were not willing to go for.
  • rocky725rocky725 Member Posts: 30
    How much did you pay up front?
  • christina271christina271 Member Posts: 65
    just fees 1st month, bank fee, dmv, doc fee and theres a luxury tax in NJ if the car is over a certain msrp.
  • storm10storm10 Member Posts: 267
    Buy and lease are 2 different things. It's a lot easier to buy out of state than lease. By law, you pay fees (taxes, reg. etc..) based on where you live - NOT where you buy. For example: if you live in the county with 10% sales tax, but purchase from the dealership which is located at the county with 8% sales tax - they must charge you 10% sales tax etc...Unless... you can show a different residence...
    But for example, if you show FL residence to take advantage of their pricing - but will drive your car in TX, than you'll have out of state plates. Lease will give you a lot of troubles.
    Purchase is straight forward. You can drive with the out of state plate and replace with local when they expire.
  • brentkhackbrentkhack Member Posts: 23
    Well we do have a home in FL and my wife has a FL drivers license. It will be her car, so I should (fingers crossed) be okay with the whole lease+taxes+driving thing that you mentioned.
  • audi_manaudi_man Member Posts: 64
    how much taxes you will be saving by driving your new ML from FL to TX ? Would not be easier to get this delivered by the dealer to your door? You will spend more by driving the car then saving on taxes. no?
  • brentkhackbrentkhack Member Posts: 23
    Oh yea, trust me. I will not be driving this from FL. I'm to lazy. But I did ask one FL dealership if I found a local ML here. Could I buy that one through them and then have the FL dealership allocate one of there vehicles to the TX dealership that I got my ML from. He said it gets tricky. That would be ideal, so I wouldn't have to ship it :-) We shall see.
  • dhkhandhkhan Member Posts: 30
    I bought from Murray Motors. In CO slaes tax is based on the monthly lease payment and paid monthly.

    Talk to the Sales manager and reference the Palladium/Black sale on Nov. 18 to Khan.
  • brentkhackbrentkhack Member Posts: 23
    Thank you so much for the info. I will contact them tomorrow.
  • hpwsdhpwsd Member Posts: 7
    Hi everyone,

    I signed a lease last weekend for a 2WD, black, with P1 in SoCal and wanted to share the numbers in case it helps anyone:

    MSRP: $50,525
    Cap Cost: $44,352
    Residual: 52% (3yr/36k miles)
    MF: .00054

    It's sitting in the garage for a few more days until I return my old lease, a beloved Lexus IS 250 which I'm sad to let go of :cry: .

    Good luck out there!
  • brentkhackbrentkhack Member Posts: 23
    Is there still the $2000 lease cash for December? Also, I see that the hybrid ML is $659 or $549 depending on terms. But I don't see how they get these #'s. What is the cap cost reduction, if any?
  • birdman17birdman17 Member Posts: 10
    Hello,

    I am looking to get some success stories from leasing a 2010 ML 350 AWD in Pennsylvania. My wife really loves the car and I want to hear some figures so I am ready with ammo when I begin the negotiation process.

    This is my third time negotiating with car dealerships and I've used this forum in the past and I found great results. Looking to do the same again...

    Thanks.
  • christina271christina271 Member Posts: 65
    hello!!! i may be able to help you because I just leased my truck in the ny area. email me at xoprincess271@aim.com for the details!!!!
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Trying to get the advertised deal here in Tulsa, Oklahoma: ML350 4matic, $519/month, $5,064 at signing, Premium Pkge 1, front heated seats.
    No luck finding such a car.
    I was looking for a capri blue one/ cashmere interior or white/cashmere.
    I'm told that no such car exist. Why advertise it then?
    Anyone actually able to lease a car that fit the "mercedes winter event" deal?
    Also, if similar car is found in another state, am I supposed to pay for the shipping fee?
    Thanks for emailing really fast.
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    Look nationwide. Find what you want and ask your local dealer to get it for you. If he isn't glad to do it -- leave. Negotiate the lease on the phone -- buy a cheap one way flight and go get it. Or you can have it shipped -- figure 700-900. They make the ml in alabama-- can't see why you can't have what you want. Went online at cars.com and found one --in St. Charles Illinois. Found that combo on the 3rd click. Over 50 other capri blue ml's - didn't check on the interior color -- your job. :)
  • vchadvchad Member Posts: 97
    This person is a DEALER advertising on here. people dont fall for this fraudulent posts. Its a stupid leasing broker. and also offering terrible deals. DO NOT EMAIL this person.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    I want to take advantage of the"loyalty accelerator program" where Mercedes will pay for the last 5 payments of my previous lease (R350). Next month payment is due on the 14th so if I want to take advantage of the "winter event" I have to do it right on the 14th since the dealer said I won't be reimbursed if I pay for next month and then return the lease any other day than the exact day of the month it's due.
    I have contacted through email 2 dealers (in Tulsa and OK City) and they both said no capri blue with such low options built in were available.
    Since the lease I'm looking at is only for 10,000 miles I can't realistically go pick it up anywhere else, without putting too many extra miles on it right away.
    I have a question about the advertised deal here, wondering if everyone else has a better deal than the one I found on the MB usa web site.
    I finally got one of the 2 dealer say that he found a white one (I much prefer blue though),with no other options other than premium pkge1 and heated front seat, but I have to pay an extra $600 to deliver at his dealership.
    Then the deal offered is: $519/month,
    3750 down payment
    795 acquisition fee
    519.66 1st months payment
    5064.66 total
    Plus
    Tax title tag doc fee and shipping (here's where I find the extra $600 shipping fee) totaling $2755.16 for a grand total of $7819.16.
    When I read the forum, I notice that no one else is paying a down payment, although even on the advertised deal on MB usa, it does mention the $3750 down payment.
    So, is the advertised deal a good lease deal or should I just forget it and give up on leasing the car for now (we were only exchanging the R350 for an ML because the R350 isn't 4matic, and because we thought the ad was a good deal).
    Please help me decide fast as the dealer is pressuring me to tell him right away yes or no to ship the white car he found.
    Your help will be very appreciated.
    PS: love my R350.
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    If you want the blue with the tan interior they exist. I saw the picture of one at a dealer site. there are more. Bottom line is if you want one you can have that color combo. Otherwise get what the dealer says you should have. Same truck. People roll the fees into the payment. There are legitimate auto lease brokers who will get you the blue truck and have it delivered to your house. Do some research and find one. I found one only 237 miles from tulsa. Park place motor cars in benton texas. Tell your dealer to get it for you or drive 5 hours and save 600 bucks.
  • christina271christina271 Member Posts: 65
    i am absolutely NOT a dealer, however I DID buy my car through a leasing broker, and got a much better deal then I was given from 4 dealers I was in contact with in NJ. read through my posts and you will see.

    I was a part of the mass email group that formed about 2 weeks ago for people in NY looking for this truck. I shared my experiences with the dealers with these people, and then shared with them the details of where I ended up getting my car.

    Don't write fraudulent things about me. I know what the truth is, and anyone I passed information along to knows as well. At the end of the day it doesn't matter where you get your car , as long as you get it and a good deal.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Because I'm also turning my R350 lease taking advantage of the loyalty accelerated program (my lease is expiring in May, so they pay for the last 5 payments) I can only consider dealing with a MB dealer, no other lease broker.
    Also, They told me that the capri blue/cashmere car exist, however they said that all the capri blue ones in the US right now have way more options and wouldn't qualify for the advertised deal (only including premium pkge 1 and heated front seats).
    I really don't want to pay more than the $519/month and don't particularly care about any other options (although I love the parktronic on my R350 and would love to have that thrown in, like they did last time when I got the exact advertised lease deal, plus parktronic, ipod cable, and metallic paint for free).
    How did you find the one in Benton, I can't see their inventory.
    Also, do you know how equipped it is, since I really want only the minimum.
    Thanks again for your prompt response.
    BTW, is the advertised lease a good deal you think?
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    I think its a decent deal. Roll everthing into the payment and keep your cash in the bank, use it to supplement your higher payment.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    You think it would be better?
    I guess it would make sense if I were to trade lease early again at the end.
    Do you know how much the monthly payments would be then (or tell me how to calculate it)?
    I'm really disappointed this deal is only for base paint though and they refuse to apply it to metallic paint, unlike what I got last time.
    Also, I've always loved this car in capri blue, and compromising on color really leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
    But if you tell me that it's a good deal (BTW, it's a 36 month lease,10,000 miles/year for that $519/month price), then I don't feel as bad.
    Thanks again.
    PS: 26 months ago, when I leased my R350, the forum was really dead and it took 2 weeks to get any reply, so this time it's nice to get answers within an hour!
    The R350 isn't as popular obviously, although it's a fabulous car and I needed the room for a full size cello, a 3/4 bass and 5 people, it was perfect.
    Plus it's gorgeous!
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    To evaluate better post the msrp then the price you are paying. Add the moneyfactor and the residual %. Can figure closer with that info.
    Ml 350 15k miles 36 mos -- rv 50% mf .00054

    ml 4matic 15k miles 36 mos--rv 50% mf .00035

    That was for november -- may still be in effect. Since you are only getting 10k miles per year than the rv should be 1-2 points higher.
  • vchadvchad Member Posts: 97
    roxanne,

    that advertised mb deal is NOT good. Let my tell you why, you should stay with your R-class. putting 5k down and paying 519 a month is a ripoff.

    The deal states the the purchase price of the car advertised is $49,990. meaning There is onl a 4k reduction from msrp. But you have to keep in mind, there is 2k lease cash available. So that means your ONLY getting 2k off on a 54k car?!! come on, that dealer your working with, is clearly trying to take advantage of you. Who would only settle for 2k discount from msrp on a 54k car, that is 5yrs into prodcution?

    keep your R, unless you can manage around 8k off msrp, which others have quite easily around the country, dont bother getting it. Just keep your R. Its now a GREAT time to lease an ML, because of the low low mf of .00035, but if your not getting a solid discount from msrp, dont even think about it. On that advertised model, you should be aiming for low 5's with less than 1k due. The dealer is trying to take advantage of you, because he knows you want a blue one, and in a time-crunch to not pay another lease payment. If i were you, id go on autotrader, look up new models. Find those dealers, call them. Tell them you want 8k off, knowing there is 2k lease cash. I'll bet you, you'll find a taker, just keep at it. Majority will laugh saying, its not possible, blah blah blah, f**k them. keep searching, your not far from dallas. there are aggressive dealers there, drive your R, turn it in, drive the ML home.

    The dealer who wants you to pay 600 to bring the car in, on top of the horrid deal he wants you to accept, is seriously trying to rip you off. please DO NOT do that deal.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Unfortunately I don't have these infos, since I just asked them for the advertised deal (Winter event). The MSRP is $53,765. The ad says:" gross capitalized cost of $49,990. Excludes title,taxes, registration...Total monthly payments equal $18,684. Cash due at signing includes $3,750 capitalized cost reduction, $795 acquistion fee and 1st month's lease payment of $519. No security deposit required. Total payments equal $23,229". Of course this dealer wants to add $600 shipping fee to ship the car to him.So they told me the total down payment (w/taxes...) is $7,819.16
    Can you figure out the monthly payments if the down payment was rolled in?
    Thanks again
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Thanks for the advice.
    I think I may take you up on it.
    Only thing is do you think there will be another good time to lease the ML 4matic before May 14th?
    I would try to call around, especially Dallas to get a good deal right now but I don't think there's enough time until my payment is due, the 14th. And the dealer said that if I pay for the upcoming month on my R350, then return it on, let's say the 16th, they can't reimburse me or apply that towards my 1st month payment for the ML.
    So he told me it had to be done on the 14th and by January 14th he said the "winter event" would be over and I would get a worse lease.
    BTW, the car he's willing to get me isn't the blue one but the white one, they won't budge on the metallic paint, he said the advertised deal is only for the black or the white.
    Before calling this dealer in OK City, I called another dealer in Tulsa since I live one mile away from him, and he said the same, deal is only for the black or white one. Plus they said they have no car with such low options, only loaded ones and not willing to get one here for me.
    I just wish my R350 was AWD since I realised I really need it whenever it snows here (we live in a super steep subdivision).
    On the plus side, I'm still completely in love with my R350 and really only want the blue ML, not the white one so I think I'll email the dealer that i'm not interested anymore.
    Just let me know your thoughts when there will be another good time to get an ML.
    This whole thing has disgusted me a bit from leases.
    I thought it would be great to always get a nice new car every few years, but now I'm reconsidering since every time it involves lots of stress dealing with sales guys.
    Thanks a lot.
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    vchad is right -- keep your r. In march you can order the ml you want- color etc and equipment. Then you get the vehicle you WANT. They build them in Alabama.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Yes, I really think it makes more sense to keep the R350 since it works like a charm anyway.
    Only thing is, can you negotiate a deal if you order a car, aren't you stuck with awful deals then?
    I'll probably have to come back here for help with that when the time comes.
    My lease will be over in May, how long does it take to order a car? Just want to make sure I would get it on time.
    Thanks
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    One more question just for my curiosity, am I supposed to pay for the shipping fee? Shouldn't the dealer absorb that fee sine he's still making huge profit on the car?
    Just want to know for next time.
    Also, are you supposed to bring the car you are turning in to the same dealer you got it from or can you bring it to any MB dealer?
    Finally, in the spring should I try to negotiate with dealers or those lease brokers like leasebytel or some other names?
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    Any mb dealer will take your R. Ask the dealer re ordering. When it arrives you lease for whatever mb terms are current. You can negotiate the delivered price of the ordered car just like one on the lot. People do it all the time. Is it better or worse - don't know but you can the exact car you want -- worth a little extra I suppose.
  • vchadvchad Member Posts: 97
    Hi roxanne,

    I would be lying/misleading you if i told you leasing was going to get better or worst, cause quite frankly, NONE of us know, not even the dealers. It changes on a monthly basis, but i honestly can't imagine the MF can't getting any better tho, because .00035 is dirt cheap. What could happen is, MF could go up, but the rebate may increase. So its always a gamble, but with ML really being one of there volume cars, there will always be a deal to had, if you negioate hard enough.

    you can return your R class to ANY mb dealer, dont let them tell you otherwise.

    As for the 14th deadline, you know, if you can wrap something up by the 14th great, but so what, pay another month, your going to get yourself another month. The winter event goes till the 4th of january. So if you paid another month, your out 10days worth of leasing, in the big picture, thats nothing at all. dont let these dealers stupid tactics get to you. The ML is a volume car, and you should be working from INVOICE, not msrp. The best way I can tell you to approach other dealers is, do an email blast all over texas and sorrounding areas. Be very brief and adamant on the amount you want off, the moment they sense your vulnerable, they will take advantage of you.

    As for waiting till may, it gives you plenty of time to search, MB has that lease accelerator everyyy month the last 4months, so dont sweat it. If its any indication to you, Last july/august, the ML gas version had a 6k rebate, and diesel had a 8k. As the summer starts to roll around, new model year coming, these cars rebates go up. winter demand for suv's go away....its buyers market.

    It seems your really doing your homework and asking for hlep, come back to these forums, were all here to help. dont sign anything unless your comfortable and see what others are paying.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Thanks so much.
    I certainly will come back for help and will keep the January 4th deadline in mind, as you are right that 10 days extra on the R350 wouldn't be a big deal if I get a great deal on an ML.
    And thanks for wisely mentioning about the demand for 4WD being lower in the spring.
    I'll "cast a wide net" over Dallas, ask for 8K under msrp and low monthly payment and go from there.
    So glad I found such a helpful place.
    I was really stressed out today, feeling that I was being taken for a ride, but the dealer acted really outraged when I told him so, so now I feel vindicated.
    Great big thanks to all.
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    Car-man can you give me the exact December money factor and residual percentage for the ML 350 4matic for 36 months and 10k/year?
    What do you think would be a good deal for the monthly payments and the down payment required? Just FYI, I'm looking for the capri blue, premium package 1, heated front seats, parktronic, so MSRP of 54,535.
    Can I/should I roll the title, taxes...in the monthly payment?
    Finally, when is the good time to get a good deal? would it be better to wait 'till Dec. 20th to start looking around Dallas (and still take advantage of the "winter event".
    BTW, if anyone can recommend a great sales guy for this deal it would be helpful.
    I'm just hoping to email them what I hear here is a good deal and they would offer me the same. Negotiation will have to be done through email only, as I live in Tulsa, not Dallas, do you think that can happen?
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    In preparation to try and get a better lease deal than the one offered to me on Friday (read previous post) I looked up again on Edmunds.com for the latest incentive and can't find any on the ML350 4matic, other than the loan financing one.
    I was told here to try and get $8k off from MSRP, however when I look at the price with options on Edmunds, it shows that what other people are paying for it right now is only $1k less than MSRP? I tried to change the zip code from Tulsa to Dallas to see if it would change but it didn't, still showing TMV at only $1K less than invoice.
    So suddenly the $4k less than MSRP I was offered, the advertised lease on MB USA web site (with $5,064 down) doesn't seem so bad (other than the dealer charging me $600 to ship the car, plus the fact that it's not the color I want).
    What am I missing?
    All I want is to not get fooled, and get a fair lease, I'm not after ripping off the dealer.
    Help me please so I can know exactly what to ask for in my mass email to dealers in Dallas.
    I really hope to find a capri blue 4matic, P1, heated front seats and possible appearance package, no other options really but would accept running boards, 36 months and 10k miles/year.
    Finally, if need be, if I ask the dealer to get a car for me, am I supposed to pay for the shipping fee? I kind of thought that the acquisition fee was there for that.
    I never seem to be good at negotiation even whenever I show all the informations I found to the dealer, they tell me it's all wrong (and even sometimes that I'm just an idiot!) so I want very secure informations to make my case.
    Thanks for the help
  • audi_manaudi_man Member Posts: 64
    I was told by VCHAD that it is possible to get almost 10K off of MSRP. He provided me with dealers info who can sell me ML350 at such discount.
    I spoke to Chuck who was recommended by VHCAD. He took my information and said that he will get back to me with my numbers and I never heard form him again. He does not answer on my phone calls either. Did anyone had the same story here?
  • storm10storm10 Member Posts: 267
    Generally - you should be able to get a better than advertised deal anywhere. The problem is: there are only 2 Mercedes-Benz Dealerships in the entire State of Oklahoma. Not a lot of dealers to compete to earn your business! So basically they really don't need to negotiate with you a lot, because you don't really have a lot of choice. The only leverage you can use against them is to tell them that you compare Mercedes to another brand (like Lexus or Infiniti etc...) - this way they may realize, that they can loose you as a customer.
    In your case, because you are looking for a certain color and equipment, the first thing you should focus on - is to find the car you like (before any negotiating takes place). Negotiating itself is a second step. This approach will save you time and stress.
    You can contact any nearest or furthest Mercedes-Benz Dealers and ask if they have this particular car in stock here: Contact Any Mercedes-Benz Dealership in USA
  • roxanne1010roxanne1010 Member Posts: 63
    I know it's quite a bad situation.
    I did check on Autotrader.com for the Dallas dealers and it looks like there's only one blue one, and it's equipped way more than I want.
    I guess I'll have to settle for a white one anyway, like the one the dealer in OK city was going to bring (but for $600 on my part).
    But the white one is also in short supply so I'm not sure I'll get it for much MSRP discount. As I said, when I entered the Dallas Zip code on Edmunds, in the "TMV: what others are paying" it showed that everyone is only getting 1K down from the MSRP.
    So perhaps the deal that I let go, which was the advertized one, almost $4k down from MSRP, but with $5,064 down payment (plus shipping fee, $600, plus taxes, title...another 2k) wasn't too bad.
    Anyway, I was really tired of the sales guy so I'm not to sad I let it go.
    But I'm not so sure I'll get anything better in Dallas anymore, after seeing this Edmund.com price stuff.
    I wish someone had just gotten a great lease in Dallas and would let me know about it and the name of the sales person! ;)
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