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.

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..

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.

__________________
1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

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

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Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

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.

__________________
-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

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

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

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

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

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

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

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.

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!

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.