C350e anyone considering one?

[hybridlover]

Any further intelligence out there about lease cars and the status of Connect Me services?

I have asked NHS fleet solutions to look into it with my future lease company but have not heard back as yet.

Worse case scenario I can live without at the end of the day.

In terms of delivery of power for those who have had the experience what's it like? Torquey right through the range? Assume the electric motor element gives quite a boost with foot down from standstill?

 

[350e]

What I would like to know is why so many Mercedes cars are being used by NHS staff , is their a special campaign underway within the health service or what. VW GTe and Mercedes 350e cars must be cluttering up the car parking spaces

 

[Driver15]

What I would like to know is why so many Mercedes cars are being used by NHS staff , is their a special campaign underway within the health service or what. VW GTe and Mercedes 350e cars must be cluttering up the car parking spaces

its a salary sacrifice scheme which is offered to staff as a perk.
X amount comes out of wage = new car.

And no, i dont work for the NHS.

 

[350e]

its a salary sacrifice scheme which is offered to staff as a perk.
X amount comes out of wage = new car.

And no, i dont work for the NHS.

My apologies Driver15 I wrongly thought that you were with them. There was me thinking everybody but me was with them

 

[Hatchie]

Any further intelligence out there about lease cars and the status of Connect Me services?

I have asked NHS fleet solutions to look into it with my future lease company but have not heard back as yet.

Worse case scenario I can live without at the end of the day.

In terms of delivery of power for those who have had the experience what's it like? Torquey right through the range? Assume the electric motor element gives quite a boost with foot down from standstill?

Afraid so here is the email I received also spoken to Mercedes fleet and they confirmed it's not isolated


Yes as the vehicle that you have selected has the Connect Me In Car Connectivity which is part of the Premium Plus package.

Xxx xxxxlease have taken the decision to opt out of any connected technology which means that part of the In Control option will not be activated.

Please be advised that the SOS Breakdown and emergency call button will be activated as this is required by law.

The main reasons for this is:
- Data Protection - stores all data; travel, speed, locations visited. If vehicle is transferred all personal data goes with it.
- Services - if the connectivity was switched on and the driver used the functionality they could incur charges; breakdown, servicing. Our services encompass this in the product hence why we are opting out. The customer already gets the services as part of their contract with us.

You will still have all the COMAND online features it is just the Mercedes Connect Me and Remote Online Services which include the below that wont be activated:

Accident Recovery
Breakdown management
Telediagnostics
Maintenance management
Parking time assist
Trip information
Vehicle location
Vehicle Tracking
Maintenance (vehicle status)
Geo-Fencing
Remote door unlock/lock

Additional features specifically for plug-in hybrid/electric cars:
Re-entry Climate control
Charging profile
Route planner
Charge spots

Thanks`

On the plus side Mercedes are working on a fleet friendly version but no idea if and when it will be released

 

[wivenhoe]

From what I understand its 3months for vat exemption

We bought the wife a demo from Fiat - we did the deal but had to wait nearly a month as the car had to be with the dealer for 3 months. The salesman didn't say why other than it was verboten !

 

[Driver15]

Afraid so here is the email I received also spoken to Mercedes fleet and they confirmed it's not isolated


Yes as the vehicle that you have selected has the Connect Me In Car Connectivity which is part of the Premium Plus package.

Xxx xxxxlease have taken the decision to opt out of any connected technology which means that part of the In Control option will not be activated.

Please be advised that the SOS Breakdown and emergency call button will be activated as this is required by law.

The main reasons for this is:
- Data Protection - stores all data; travel, speed, locations visited. If vehicle is transferred all personal data goes with it.
- Services - if the connectivity was switched on and the driver used the functionality they could incur charges; breakdown, servicing. Our services encompass this in the product hence why we are opting out. The customer already gets the services as part of their contract with us.

You will still have all the COMAND online features it is just the Mercedes Connect Me and Remote Online Services which include the below that wont be activated:

Accident Recovery
Breakdown management
Telediagnostics
Maintenance management
Parking time assist
Trip information
Vehicle location
Vehicle Tracking
Maintenance (vehicle status)
Geo-Fencing
Remote door unlock/lock

Additional features specifically for plug-in hybrid/electric cars:
Re-entry Climate control
Charging profile
Route planner
Charge spots

Thanks`

On the plus side Mercedes are working on a fleet friendly version but no idea if and when it will be released

Looks like its going to be an industry standard this.

They need to sort out a lease version.

As disappointed as i was, on a positive at least the same message is been given which could force Merc to do something about it.. but then they have the cash in the bank from the sale so why would they.....

 

[famousgrouse]

That sucks big time! Lex Autolease I'm guessing...
Have to check regards mine.

So many cars have these functions now, seems ridiculous.
There must be easy ways to erase all the settings once the lessee has finished with the car, and de register them.

 

[Driver15]

Mercedes-Benz C350e Plug in Hybrid Brabus



Mercedes-Benz C350e Plug in Hybrid Brabus foto's » Autojunk.nl (150391)

Photos

This is an intresting one..

SOURCE - http://www.mercedesforum.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=70968&start=960

 

[hybridlover]

My apologies Driver15 I wrongly thought that you were with them. There was me thinking everybody but me was with them

Afraid so here is the email I received also spoken to Mercedes fleet and they confirmed it's not isolated


Yes as the vehicle that you have selected has the Connect Me In Car Connectivity which is part of the Premium Plus package.

Xxx xxxxlease have taken the decision to opt out of any connected technology which means that part of the In Control option will not be activated.

Please be advised that the SOS Breakdown and emergency call button will be activated as this is required by law.

The main reasons for this is:
- Data Protection - stores all data; travel, speed, locations visited. If vehicle is transferred all personal data goes with it.
- Services - if the connectivity was switched on and the driver used the functionality they could incur charges; breakdown, servicing. Our services encompass this in the product hence why we are opting out. The customer already gets the services as part of their contract with us.

You will still have all the COMAND online features it is just the Mercedes Connect Me and Remote Online Services which include the below that wont be activated:

Accident Recovery
Breakdown management
Telediagnostics
Maintenance management
Parking time assist
Trip information
Vehicle location
Vehicle Tracking
Maintenance (vehicle status)
Geo-Fencing
Remote door unlock/lock

Additional features specifically for plug-in hybrid/electric cars:
Re-entry Climate control
Charging profile
Route planner
Charge spots

Thanks`

On the plus side Mercedes are working on a fleet friendly version but no idea if and when it will be released

That's really useful many thanks. What a shame. Will be interesting to see how constistantly this is applied. I can see from an information governance perspective why there are concerns with lease companies in effect the data handler, but wonder if private sellers will have the same level of awareness should they sell their vehicle. Anyway grateful for the insight.

Fleet version would the address this quirk of good old data protection. Mind you I am always abit sceptical these days. I am sure my personal information has been sold, passed on and used for market analysis purposes many times over the years.

Reflecting on this the beautifully described "re-entry climate control" would have been the most useful one to me I think.

 

[hybridlover]

My apologies Driver15 I wrongly thought that you were with them. There was me thinking everybody but me was with them

Attention any Daily Mail ( ) readers my esteemed colleagues have mistakenly used the term "NHS" and the word "perk" in their recent posts

I can assure any readers of this highly quality paper that NHS staff have access to a scheme that actually saves the employer money and is non contributory. The employee sacrifices an amount of their salary in order to access the scheme.

Sorry just had to clarify that. Now to check my big fat public sector pension balance.

 

[Driver15]

Erm..

nice

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/133041385" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://vimeo.com/133041385#email

 

[Hatchie]

That's really useful many thanks. What a shame. Will be interesting to see how constistantly this is applied. I can see from an information governance perspective why there are concerns with lease companies in effect the data handler, but wonder if private sellers will have the same level of awareness should they sell their vehicle. Anyway grateful for the insight.

Fleet version would the address this quirk of good old data protection. Mind you I am always abit sceptical these days. I am sure my personal information has been sold, passed on and used for market analysis purposes many times over the years.

Reflecting on this the beautifully described "re-entry climate control" would have been the most useful one to me I think.

Re-entry was the biggie for me, I did ask if I could just have this enabled but got a flat no as its across the board which makes me wonder even if a fleet version is released would they allow it. I fully understand the reason but don't agree with the blanket approach.

Did ask for a discount for having functionality I am paying for disabled but you can guess their answer on that.

I will keep bending Mercedes fleet ear so will keep you posted if I hear anything.

 

[Dan121975]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on stealing a march on us
Now the obvious question which I am sure many would like to know is which dealer sold a demonstrator ?
We have been looking for one just to try,never mind take possession of.

There are currently 5 unsold cars on MB used website. I got mine from Cheltenham. I can tell you that Sytner seem to have nearly all demos but like I said earlier there are some around to test drive.

 

[Dan121975]

From what I understand its 3months for vat exemption

I been told it's 90 days as a demo and not a day earlier.

 

[Nath101]

With regards to the pre-entry climate control being disabled in lease cars.
This is very disappointing. I'm hoping that the timed entry climate control will still be an option. Looking through the online manual it appears to be independent of Control Online.

By the way, this forum is great! Been through every post. Really useful to get a picture of what's going on. Especially when my leasing company tend to be a little coy/unable to update in detail.

 

[Dan121975]

Luckily for me the car I wanted to buy has come back up for sale, so in Bath there is a premium pack demo available with ils and black leather and pano sunroof!

 

[350e]

With regards to the pre-entry climate control being disabled in lease cars.
This is very disappointing. I'm hoping that the timed entry climate control will still be an option. Looking through the online manual it appears to be independent of Control Online.

By the way, this forum is great! Been through every post. Really useful to get a picture of what's going on. Especially when my leasing company tend to be a little coy/unable to update in detail.

Welcome to the forum

Have you ordered a 350e. ? What colour etc do you favour?

 

[Nath101]

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum

Have you ordered a 350e. ? What colour etc do you favour?

Thanks!

I’ve ordered a C350e Saloon Premium Plus in Tenorite Grey with the intelligent LED headlight system.

Originally ordered an estate on March 5th.
But changed it a couple of weeks later once I’d clocked the BIK increase.

Estimated Stock Date is currently 21st October.

 

[B33fy]

What I would like to know is why so many Mercedes cars are being used by NHS staff , is their a special campaign underway within the health service or what. VW GTE and Mercedes 350e cars must be cluttering up the car parking spaces

There's no special campaign as such in the NHS. The cars are not subsidised by the NHS. NHS lease car solutions just manage it between the employee and the lease car company. Occasionally NHS Lease Cars negotiate a bit of an offer with manufacturers and provide a bit of a discount, Golf GTD, R or GTE with standard spec amongst others, limited choice of colours, with quick delivery.

The 350e isn't a deal as such, you can search and price up pretty much any car you want if you are prepared to pay for it. The 350e comes up on the websites search engine as a reasonable option when deciding what you want, works out a good price for a lot of car.

We have a few Golf GTD's knocking about and one R that I'm aware of. No Mercs as such, as I think they are usually considered to be out of people's price range. I worked through all the hybrid cars I could think of, until I came across the 350e and then played with the model and options then ordered accordingly.