My cars an Import should I worry ?

[Ken555]

Recently purchased a May 2003 CLK 320, from a MB Dealer in England

Booked it into the local MB dealership for some warranty work, and the car shows up as an 2002 Import. Wasn't told this by the 1st dealer, is it a problem ?

Double checked on the Russian vin checker and it shows the car was ordered by the Dortmund branch (214) and delivered on 02.12.02

 

[Rory]

Not sure on MB's stance but I know BMW got very upset about dealers selling imports without telling the customer and made the dealers refund the customer.

Was the price you paid cheaper than you would have expected? Try calling another dealer and asking for an idea of the p/x price on yours, then tell them it's an import and see how they react.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,

I've imported cars from Europe and it fine as long as UK spec and you have saved, at the time I was buying new. The warranty on new cars is usually less (with a BM I got 2 years rather than 3 although could increase this after the two yrs)

Now I save at the front end so when I come to sell I can sell it less than a UK car, my cars also had far more options as all cheaper so I've had no problem selling them.

HOWever.....

If you have bought at Full UK price having no account for the fact its an import then thats bad !!. I would also check that your car is infact FULL UK spec. I 'think' I also had to inform my insurace company although as full UK spec don't think this was any difference.

Does make me smile as every Merc / BM is in a way an import BUT they are worth less if imported this way....?

If you paid Full UK book price with no account for it being an import then I would be back to the stealers as when you sell it it WILL have a knock on affect.

 

[verytalldave]

If nothing else - you thought you bought a 2003 year car - when in fact it turns out to be a 2002.
That has to count for something.

 

[A210AMG]

That also True,

Its only worth a bit more but still money ! I would wait and always get say a Jan 1st 2008 rather than Dec 07 it just 'seems' that much newer.

So all in all the stealer has been pretty bad, check the price of a 2002 model, and factor in the import 'discount'

I would be back at their door speaking to manager, or at least trading standards to see what your rights are.

good luck

 

[Kamisuma]

If nothing else - you thought you bought a 2003 year car - when in fact it turns out to be a 2002.
That has to count for something.

If it was sold as 2003 car (not just 2003 model) then it is a misrepresentation and leaves room for lots of things to happen!!!

 

[Diesel Benz]

If it was sold as 2003 car (not just 2003 model) then it is a misrepresentation and leaves room for lots of things to happen!!!

The date on the data card is the factory build date. Perhaps this car was first registered on January 2003? If it wasn't they may have talked about MY 2003 car which would be correct, but misleading.

 

[jeremytaylor]

I would be asking very pointed questions of the MB dealer who sold you this import pronto! - they WILL have known the history, they always do VIN checks. If you try to trade-in an import they will say it is worth less. If you paid less for this car, fair enough. But somehow I doubt it. Is it still within the 30-day reject period (assuming it is an Approved Used)?

It may have been built in 02, but it is first registration that counts as to what 'year' the car is for description purposes.

 

[CiaranMcKeown]

If it is an import make sure that the headlights are focused in the correct direction i.e. away from oncoming traffic. I know of a c class that had this problem and it failed MOT because of it.

If this is the case i think (dont quote me on this) you can get things that are called beam deflectors and stick them on the headlights. You would need these if you were travelling to europe in your own car to do the opposite job.

Your not going to get stopped by the police or fined or anything but it will be obvious during an mot test and will fail. Better safe than sorry and get someone to check it out. Hope this helps.

 

[74merc]

Does the Russian VIN checker show that it has the updates for the 2003 model year?

 

[karlefr]

Sometimes dealer order cars for fellow dealers to keep the margins low.
I would not worry at all. If the first reg date is May 2003 then everything is ok. The model year usually starts in September of the year before. All mercs are imports to the UK anyway, because they are not build there. Unless off course your steering wheel is on the left hand side, then you should worry!

 

[A210AMG]

Karlefr

quote "All mercs are imports to the UK anyway, because they are not build there."


I mentioned this is my post above however if an import rather than bought from a UK dealer it IS WORTH less, the spec will have to be checked to make sure FULL uk spec.

Some items are standard on a UK spec car that are options on the 'basic' car if imported.

The problem in my mind is that if the OP has paid in good faith for a 2003 UK car, that is NOT what they now own.

 

[jaymanek]

Not an issue as it was imported around the build time... it was probably built for UK use anyway... A lot of cars i come across show up as being imported from new..

 

[gbjeppm]

On the VIN checker does it have option code 833, if so I believe it means that it is a UK spec car.

I presume the MB dealer provided you with a Tier 1 warranty for a year at the time of purchase, if you have these two things, I would not worry.

 

[Ken555]

Does the Russian VIN checker show that it has the updates for the 2003 model year?

Tyres Primary​

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​

MICHELIN​

Order​

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0 2 214 07246​

Delivery date​

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02.12.02​

Dealer​

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Dortmund branch (214)
Interior leather anthracite+dark alpaca grey CLK (828)
Paint 744 brilliant silver metallic (с 1991)​

Options

M32​

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capacity 3,2 liter (с 02.10.1995)​

053​

​

​

aej. 02/2 (с 22.09.1997)​

205​

​

​

owner's manual and maintenance booklet2) (с 01.11.1971)reference plate, coolant2)​

220​

​

​

parking aid (с 01.10.1993)​

241​

​

​

left front seat electrically adjustable with memory feature. only applicable to w 210 when installed in conjunction with code 275. (с 01.03.1983)​

249​

​

​

automatically dipping inside rear view mirror (с 01.06.1990)​

275​

​

​

front seat positioned lower memory package (driver's seat, steering column, mirror) (с 01.10.1993)​

309​

​

​

cupholder (с 01.06.1995)​

423​

​

​

5 speed automatic transmission / nag (с 01.03.1994)​

461​

​

​

instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)​

486​

​

​

sports chassis (с 01.04.1997)​

500​

​

​

outside rear view mirror left and right, folding (с 01.10.1993)​

524​

​

​

paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)​

551​

​

​

anti-theft/anti-break-in warning system with anti-towing system (с 01.04.1998)​

573​

​

​

front seats, left and right, with seat height adjustment​

581​

​

​

automatic climate control (с 01.01.1977)​

600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)​

609​

​

​

Unknown code​

613​

​

​

lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)​

668
673​

​

​

high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)​

803​

​

​

Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year​

819​

​

​

CD changer - alpine - in trunk (с 31.07.1992)​

873​

​

​

seat heater for left and right front seats (с 01.02.1984)​

875​

​

​

heated screen wash system (с 01.02.1988) windshield washer heated (W201)​

882​

​

​

passenger compartment protection/towingoff protection (with anti-theft warning system only) (с 01.07.1993)​

926​

​

​

emission control eu4-measure 30.11.1991 (с 09.09.1997)​

954​

​

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equipment package for avantgarde vehicles (с 01.06.1993)​

984​

​

​

elimination of ownership certificate but with coc papers (с 01.06.1993)​

989​

​

​

identification label​

 

[Ken555]

Not sure what book price on a 01/05/2003 43000 mile CLK 320 import should be.

Anyone ?

My other car is a Jap import so know the insurance and service/part problems there.

Haven't received the warranty and check list from the dealers yet, but still have original email info they sent to me. Nothing about it being an import.

 

[gbjeppm]

What does the V5 say.

Does it say "Declared new at first registration" or "Declared new by independent importer" or anything else?

This thread might be of interest, my Dad had a similar issue, although we did not notice for 3 years!!!! Too late to worry then.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40440

 

[grober]

You should only start to worry if you develop a stiff right arm, a penchant for wearing brown uniforms and watching old Leni Riefenstahl movies of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
This condition can easily be cured by watching movies such as "The Great Escape, Sink the Bismarck,Reach for the Sky or in fact any film starring Kenneth More. a doctor "writes"

 

[Ken555]

You should only start to worry if you develop a stiff right arm, a penchant for wearing brown uniforms and watching old Leni Riefenstahl movies of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
This condition can easily be cured by watching movies such as "The Great Escape, Sink the Bismarck,Reach for the Sky or in fact any film starring Kenneth More. a doctor "writes"

erwähnen Sie nicht den Krieg
Fawlty Towers episode #6

 

[l5foye]

There was a case here sometime ago where a buyer took a garage to court for failing to declare the car was an import. Buyer was awarded difference between value of import and non import plus damages.