What do you want to know?

[JBD]

I got caught out in the same way. I ordered a Burmester sound system as an option but was informed 2 weeks later that it was now part of a £2700 package so MB lost out on its profit margin as I went without.

Not sure why they have gone down this path. Maybe their view is that there is more money to be made by selling options that are not wanted with options that are wanted when it is packaged. All I know is that they have upset a first time MB buyer even before the car has been delivered.

If the new BMW 3 series was already on sale where options can be bought separately MB might well have lost my business.

It's to enhance residual values. It's very difficult for people to find a used Merc with all the options they want at the moment. These packs aim to change that

 

[Deleted member 6183]

How could a car that's sold out and has awesome reviews be a PR disaster?

It's the forum whinging whiner disaster effect.

 

[JDL60]

It's the forum whinging whiner disaster effect.

correct!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

This model is looking like it may be a bit of a PR disaster for MB unfortunately!

Why is it a PR disaster?

 

[JDL60]

I explained my view on the thread 5000 plug in grant news - sorry to lazy to retype!!

 

[Deadlyhifi]

Apologies if this has been asked (if so feel free to ignore me) but is CarPlay going to come this year and will it work with existing systems - specifically the new c class I pick up tomorrow

 

[gIzzE]

Why is it a PR disaster?

I think the problem with the C350e is if you want to add any nice options you have to have the package, in that package you get 18" wheels, which then pushes it out if the decent BIK tax rate and will now loose you the £5000 government grant too.

But if it has sold out, who cares?

 

[Bonecho]

I assume if I want to take out a service plan on my yet to be delivered C Class I would go through the salesman?

Not sure you can answer this but I guess A and B services are alternate as opposed to 2 A services followed by a B service?

At £30 per month are savings to be made by starting the service plan just before 12 months are up to get the reduced price, paying cash for the first A service and then the £30 will cover the next B service, then an A service and then another B service as I will keep the car more than 4 years. Sounds better than 2 A services and 2 B services but I could well be wrong if the cash price for the 1st A service is way over £360 (12x£30).

As a side note, and I don't need an answer to this observation. I am still struggling to see what that £360 gets me apart from an oil and filter change and a quick inspection, which I would think takes less than an hour.

Thanks, as always you are a mind of information.

 

[SG94]

Apologies if this has been asked (if so feel free to ignore me) but is CarPlay going to come this year and will it work with existing systems - specifically the new c class I pick up tomorrow

Have heard 2017 for CarPlay :-( this is for Audi and MB.
:-/

 

[Deadlyhifi]

Have heard 2017 for CarPlay :-( this is for Audi and MB.
:-/

Wow! Serious delay!

 

[st13phil]

It's to enhance residual values. It's very difficult for people to find a used Merc with all the options they want at the moment. These packs aim to change that

That's an interesting spin on it

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I wonder how long JBD will hang around for?

He starts a thread offering to pass on some of his insider knowledge and receives quite a lot of negativity in response, most would have thrown their toys out by now.

 

[JDL60]

I wonder how long JBD will hang around for?

He starts a thread offering to pass on some of his insider knowledge and receives quite a lot of negativity in response, most would have thrown their toys out by now.

well I for one hope he does, he has helped a lot of folks on here already as far as I can see, seems a genuine decent bloke (I say bloke?)
You are right, many would have given up and some of the ways the 'questions' are put are quite demanding!

 

[Deane x]

I wonder how long JBD will hang around for?

He starts a thread offering to pass on some of his insider knowledge and receives quite a lot of negativity in response, most would have thrown their toys out by now.

I think he is a asset to the forum and takes the criticism on the chin may be a bit biased ( only a little bit ) being a Mercedes sales man but nevertheless a good helpful chap

 

[Shmern]

I think he is a asset to the forum and takes the criticism on the chin may be a bit biased ( only a little bit ) being a Mercedes sales man but nevertheless a good helpful chap

100% agree it's great having JBD on the forum and to get answers like he provides..... please stay JBD

no issues should be directed at JBD directly, hes been nothing but helpful in all of this and quite rightly protects the MB position when needed (like the £5000 grant thread), we all need to remember if he didn't give that information we all wouldn't be any wiser !

While it is disappointing the C Class with 18s may end up £5000 dearer (VERY expensive Alloys ! ) because the Government moved the goalposts, It was always likely to happen, and I'd like to think ECO mode could be tweaked to eek out another mile to make the car compliant or even (harder tho ?) try to lower the g/km to below 50 on 18s.

It is possible, I drive a V40 R Design now and in 2012 it was 94g/km, the 2013 model release lowered the suspension 10mm and tweaked the ECU and lowered it to 88g/km so it is possible......

Not that it matters to me I've ordered with 17s to be sure ..... but I am still waiting on a date from NHS Fleet .... sigh

 

[JBD]

I wonder how long JBD will hang around for?

He starts a thread offering to pass on some of his insider knowledge and receives quite a lot of negativity in response, most would have thrown their toys out by now.

I'm in Jamaica at the moment, so feeling very chilled. Nothing could stress me out

 

[JBD]

Thanks for the positive feedback guys! I am a bloke btw.

I know how difficult buying a car is and how a lot of salesmen are, so I hope I'm filling in the gaps where's the you're struggling to get answers.

On thing I'll say though, which applies to life as a whole is that it pays to be nice to people. If customers are difficult with me, the last thing I want to do is sell them a car and have to see them again. If you get a salesman on your side, it's much easier. It works both ways. I've noticed it on holiday, the people who are nice to staff get much better service and little perks. I get free stuff from greggs opposite work because I get on with the ladies there

 

[SG94]

Thank you for your time JBD.
Hope you stick around.

 

[RobertoMercini]

Hi JBD hope you're enjoying Jamaica! I've looked on several places on this forum but hopefully you'll have a definitive - are there any stoppers from MB point of view with having a car tuned/chipped that's on a pcp? I'd go through the approved method, if indeed there is one? Thanks in advance!

 

[JBD]

I'm sure it counts as a modification. As long as you put the car back to normal when you got rid of it, I'm sure nobody would notice