Along with the troubled big three increasing their advertising campaigns three fold I've also noticed Daimler AG adds getting more desperate and grasping at sections of the market that it wouldn't normally. I'm seeing R class and B class ads on bus stop shelters and in local TV programming.

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

All of them are right now, too many cars that no one is buying.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

they do have to be happy (and better off) without chrysler - tho didn't they inject billions into that whole mess?

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

Daimler AG is in massively better shape than most car companies.....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Everyone is in trouble.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I agree that Daimler is better off than many other companies - dumping Chrysler after just 9 years was a timely move - but at the same time, the only reason any company advertises is because they need the business.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

Companies always need business or they fail, thats GM's problem.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I should have said "new business."

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

Part of the reason is the current state of the car industry but also the costs to develop the new chassis were high. I could of gone to mercedes elite training this year but mb canceled it for the year, le sigh.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

I think Daimler needs to get their service costs in check to compete with BMW's ultimate service, but that's my only complaint. The BMW ultimate service program is absolutely incredible. At my old X5's service visit, they changed the oil, inspected it, and installed new wiper blades for free. The same thing was $300 with MB, installing the wiper blades myself.

The fact that you don't have to spend a dime on the car other than gas for the first 4 years and 50,000 is a huge advantage for BMW salesmen. Since both brands bread and butter is the entry level model, it factors in quite a bit IMO.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

If it's $300.00 for:
Oil Change and Inspection

They're (MBNA and/or The Stealer) CRAZY!

OIL Change 30mins labor @ $100. per hr. = $50.00
Oil + Filter = $50.00
So, the "Inspection" is the "Killer" Cost = $200.00 Two(2) Hours Labor to
"Inspect" a Mercedes????????????????????????????????????????????????????

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Don't forget the wiper blades. They wanted $100 for a pair of those. Service visit itself was $200 and change with the E500, and I bought the blades with my MBCA discount. Figured the first set lasted a long time, so might as well pony up for the nice ones again.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Whoa ! "Service Visit Itself was $200.00"
WTF is that all about?

'Can they tag you for $100.00 just for driving by the Franchise on the Street???

Is this the Franchise in Question?
'Can they somehow charge me for Driving my Mercedes into Alabama???

Attached Thumbnails

 

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

No, I mean the oil change and inspection was around $200.00. The wiper blades were another $100.00. I think they wanted to charge $25.00 for the 5 minutes it takes to install new wiper blades.

Absolutely ridiculous, IMO, but I imagine the service department is helping to keep the stealership alive considerably.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

When the Ex's ML was at the dealer, it cost basically $495.00 for an oil change. They did tell us that her car needed new brakes ($700) new battery (180) new plug on transmission ($200) and a transmission service(300). To their credit they did inspect it and were 100% correct in all their claims for service, although they did not get the job.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual