What does the European Delivery Program badge mean?

[jbach36]

My car has a badge on the grille, from memory, it says European Delivery Program". What was that all about, and why is it worthy of a badge?

jeff 1991 300d, 104k

I've never seen the badge but I assume the car was "picked up" in europe by a U.S. customer. As I recall, the deal was that you could fly to the factory and pick up your new car, then drive it around europe for some number of miles and fly home. The factory would than ship the car to the U.S. for you and you would save some money on the deal (I think they were somehow avoiding some import duties). Basically, you could save enough to pay for your vacation in europe. This was very fashionable in the 80s.

[TMAllison]

means the owner took delivery in Europe and had it shipped home themselves.

[POS]

Nowadays, MB has a program for that where they ship it, but back in 1991 that wasn't in place.

[Palangi]

The European delivery program has existed for years. At least as far back as the mid 70's.

Originally Posted by Palangi

The European delivery program has existed for years. At least as far back as the mid 70's.

Yup, it was very popular with both benz and BMW back then. My buddies and I (who couldn't afford a new benz anyway) all talked about doing it. Of course now that I could do it, I'd rather have the old ones anyway.

[iwrock]

My parents did that on their first MB... It was an old Mercedes 300D Turbo.


IIRC, they ordered it from the dealer, and they flew to Germany for final inspection, drove it through Europe as a toury thing, and then gave it to the Mercedes guys at the docks, where they loaded it up, and it was shipped to the US, I think they shipped it to San Francisco, where they lived and ordered the car. They then flew from Europe to home, waited for the call from the dealer, and picked that bad boy up!

[truckinik]

Originally Posted by Craig

I've never seen the badge but I assume the car was "picked up" in europe by a U.S. customer. As I recall, the deal was that you could fly to the factory and pick up your new car, then drive it around europe for some number of miles and fly home. The factory would than ship the car to the U.S. for you and you would save some money on the deal (I think they were somehow avoiding some import duties). Basically, you could save enough to pay for your vacation in europe. This was very fashionable in the 80s.

This was a popular movie when it came out, and was a part of a huge series of movies, based on European vacations. Harrison Ford,"Frantic", A whole bunch of others. It was a big deal at the time, to vacation in Europe, for Americans, and was solicited everywhere, including Hollywood, and through programs like that where auto Mfg's would promote tourism to their countries. I can remember, one set of grandparents, going to Italy, and my other set, going to Paris, within' a year of each other. My parental units did the Germany, Amsterdam, Russia, Eukrane, tour. During the "Cold War" and shortly after, it became very popular. My dad, had a lot of options, and diplomatic immunity as well, being an "International, Arms Dealer" So was able to take anyone anywhere. We as kids never went with them, but we wanted to stay home, and had school and stuff like that.
This was Mercedes, little contribution, to the cause I guess..

[pmari]

Now you can enjoy a 7 percent customer savings on C, E, CLK, SLK, CLS, and SL model European Delivery purchases.*

http://www.mbusa.com/edp/program/overview.do
The European Delivery price of your vehicle includes the following services:

· One night's lodging at your choice of selected hotels
· Fifteen days of zero-deductible comprehensive insurance
(additional insurance coverage can be purchased in one month increments
via MBUSA)
· Two taxi coupons for travel from Stuttgart Airport or Central
Railroad Station to your hotel in Stuttgart or the Sindelfingen Factory
· Breakfast or lunch at the Sindelfingen Factory restaurant.
· Sindelfingen Factory Tour
· Ground transportation of your vehicle from any of the
established drop-off points
· Ocean shipping and marine insurance
· Customs Duty and clearance
· European and U.S. wharf charges
· Destination charge for transportation of your vehicle from the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle-processing center to your selected
Mercedes-Benz Dealer.

[Mustang_man298]

I know my 82 was bought this way by the origional owner, however mine seems to have lost it's badge

[justinperkins]

Pretty much all German car companies do this, except VW

It's a great way to save money on a new car, if you were already planning a trip to Europe *and* buying a new car

Euro delivery is always going to be cheaper than MSRP at the dealer in the US.

European delivery
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European delivery programs are those arrangements that European automobile manufacturers make with their dealerships throughout the world, typically aimed at the North American market (the most profitable market for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Saab, Volvo and Porsche), to attract consumers who will combine the purchase of a European-made automobile with a trip to Europe.

[edit] Variations of the Program

The programs vary depending upon the manufacturer, but the programs tend to share certain commonalities such as reduced or free airfare for one or two persons to fly to Europe to tour the factory and take possession their car. Likewise, arrangements are typically made with the involvement of a dealership in the purchaser’s country of origin. Once a purchaser takes possession of their automobile, they can typically tour with the car in Europe legally for up to six months. Manufacturers cite to the program as a way to build customer loyalty as few customers ever forget the European delivery experience or experience buyer’s remorse. If combined with a vacation that was going to be had anyway, the European delivery program saves the traveler the cost of renting a car while in Europe. Japanese makers of luxury brands have yet to initiate a similar program for Japan.

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Purchasing

Mercedes-Benz automobiles are available at dealerships in over 130 countries and their work fleet (trucks and commercial vehicles) are available from a select group of dealers worldwide as well as the factory-direct. As with several European brand automobiles, Mercedes has offered a European delivery option for purchasing of a Mercedes Benz automobile. Mercedes’ European delivery program (begun by Mercedes in 1963) varies depending upon where the purchase is finalized. For example, if arranged for on the eastern seaboard of the United States, the program may offer two transatlantic coach tickets on Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Germany with ground transportation to the designated European delivery factory in Sindelfingen, Germany. If European delivery is arranged for on the west coast of the United States, the program will offer a free companion ticket with the purchase of a business class ticket on Lufthansa, arranged for by Mercedes Benz’s travel agent. Once in Germany, purchasers utilizing European delivery are given one night in a Sindelfingen hotel. Purchasers get a free, optional factory tour and lunch and then are given possession of their automobile. The automobile may stay within Germany for 6 months without registering within the European Union, but only includes 15 days worth of no-deductible insurance courtesy of Mercedes Benz. North American consumers can then drop off their Mercedes Benz in fourteen designated drop-off locations located in Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom at no extra charge. Drop-off locations in Italy are offered but for an additional fee.

Certain car types are not eligible for Mercedes’ European Delivery program and any car purchased through this program must be destined for export to the purchaser’s country of origin and must comply with the regulations of the destination country. Fortunately, taking possession of the car in Germany and utilizing the European Delivery does not expose the purchaser to the currency fluctuations of the euro since the purchase is really deemed finalized in the country of origin. Additionally, purchasers may experience savings as great as 7% of what they would have paid without European delivery (i.e.: a standard sale through their North American dealer).