Omission of certain extras/equipment in recent car builds??

[ApplesBananas4eva]

Hi guys,

I couldn't find this information via Mercedes, and their chat is absolutely awful when it comes to trim/extras knowledge.

I've ordered my very first MB car and I chose the GLE coupe prem+. I ordered back in May 2021, and told it will be ready later this month. (Although I asked for it to be ready/delivered on 1st March)

Something I've noticed is, when I try to configure a new GLE via the online configurator, the options and extra seem different than the ones that were present at the time of order. One option I've definitely noticed is the AIR BALANCE option that was previously available, but I no longer see this under the options in the configurator. There could be others but I can't remember what else was there at the time.

Have Mercedes made changes to the spec level without notifying customers? Will I receive the order based on what was available at the time of order or do I get what's currently standard?

Anyone with any experience or knowledge in this, please let me know.

Thanks.

Edited by ApplesBananas4eva on Tuesday 4th January 11:39

[geezerbutler]

I have heard something similar - only anecdotal and I don't know the details. My brother's boss ordered a new E-class which was delayed several times. When it did arrive at the dealer it was missing several of the options he had ordered. He rejected the car and bought a used one instead.

As a side issue his company also ordered 6 new Citroen vans and ended up having to take 2 Citroens and 4 Peugeots (basically the same van) as they were told that some of the Citroen parts (mostly plastics and trim) were not available at the factory.

Edited by geezerbutler on Thursday 6th January 09:03

[boardinscotland]

Pretty much everything is in short supply. Rare earth minerals that are needed for the chips and therefore the knock on effect to new cars and then the extras that you want.

Plastics need oil but not really drilling for oil etc at the moment.

[James B]

I got my Premium Plus EQC about a month ago having ordered it in Aug. At the time of ordering the spec included the Burmester speakers and the open pore black ash trim. When it arrived neither of those were present (and it was not mentioned at all) and i was also advised by the dealers that the Augmented Nav, Energising Comfort and Wireless Charging pad for phone were not fitted and only the Augmented Nav could later be retrofitted. I'm not terribly bothered about the Energising Comfort thing and the Wireless Charging isn't a disaster but I am really annoyed about the speakers and trim as I really dislike the carbon look stuff and the standard speakers are fairly poor. I am still awaiting a response from MB on the those two items but the jist of it appears to be that they changed the spec of the Premium Plus pack shortly after I ordered my car.

I guess I should just be glad i got a car at all!

Other than that i'm loving it.

[ApplesBananas4eva]

James B said:

I got my Premium Plus EQC about a month ago having ordered it in Aug. At the time of ordering the spec included the Burmester speakers and the open pore black ash trim. When it arrived neither of those were present (and it was not mentioned at all) and i was also advised by the dealers that the Augmented Nav, Energising Comfort and Wireless Charging pad for phone were not fitted and only the Augmented Nav could later be retrofitted. I'm not terribly bothered about the Energising Comfort thing and the Wireless Charging isn't a disaster but I am really annoyed about the speakers and trim as I really dislike the carbon look stuff and the standard speakers are fairly poor. I am still awaiting a response from MB on the those two items but the jist of it appears to be that they changed the spec of the Premium Plus pack shortly after I ordered my car.

I guess I should just be glad i got a car at all!

Other than that i'm loving it.

Wow, that's shocking! This sounds like a bit of a kick to the you know where. Personally, I would not accept the car without the Burmester speakers, seems like quite a big omission if this is the case. Did they offer any alternatives or money off etc? Also, are they willing to retrofit the ANav at their own expense?

I understand there are shortages in certain components, but what I despise is the lack of communication and willingness to compensate elsewhere.

[NMNeil]

Mercedes are having problems with the supply chain, and despite the possibility of a fire they can't issue a recall because they don't have the parts to fix the issue.
I know it's a tentative link but could that be part of the reason?
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/04/daimler-warns-car-...

[Tall_Blk]

I thought Mercedes’ tend to make minor adjustments to the model yearly. My 2020 E-class is slightly different to the 2019 version even though it’s the same package.

[ApplesBananas4eva]

Tall_Blk said:

I thought Mercedes’ tend to make minor adjustments to the model yearly. My 2020 E-class is slightly different to the 2019 version even though it’s the same package.

Well there's making minor adjustments, then there's removin quite substantial extras, such as a premium sound system, trim, and certain driver aids etc. I've heard others had paid options removed and not even have the changes reflect in the price they pay. Surely, this should be illegal. I dont think I will be ordering a mb in future, just simply down to the uncertainty in the equipment that you will end up receiving from what was agreed. Poor form Mercedes.

[TarquinMX5]

ApplesBananas4eva said:

Tall_Blk said:

I thought Mercedes’ tend to make minor adjustments to the model yearly. My 2020 E-class is slightly different to the 2019 version even though it’s the same package.

Well there's making minor adjustments, then there's removin quite substantial extras, such as a premium sound system, trim, and certain driver aids etc. I've heard others had paid options removed and not even have the changes reflect in the price they pay. Surely, this should be illegal. I dont think I will be ordering a mb in future, just simply down to the uncertainty in the equipment that you will end up receiving from what was agreed. Poor form Mercedes.

It's the supply chain issue, primarily chips and isn't just MB. Clearly, the more kit the car has, the more chips, so the more of a problem it is. Not ideal, but the alternative is no car. I agree that there sought to be a financial adjustment but then they would probably counter by saying 'price rise'. What does the contract say?

[Teddy Lop]

TarquinMX5 said:

ApplesBananas4eva said:

Tall_Blk said:

I thought Mercedes’ tend to make minor adjustments to the model yearly. My 2020 E-class is slightly different to the 2019 version even though it’s the same package.

Well there's making minor adjustments, then there's removin quite substantial extras, such as a premium sound system, trim, and certain driver aids etc. I've heard others had paid options removed and not even have the changes reflect in the price they pay. Surely, this should be illegal. I dont think I will be ordering a mb in future, just simply down to the uncertainty in the equipment that you will end up receiving from what was agreed. Poor form Mercedes.

It's the supply chain issue, primarily chips and isn't just MB. Clearly, the more kit the car has, the more chips, so the more of a problem it is. Not ideal, but the alternative is no car. I agree that there sought to be a financial adjustment but then they would probably counter by saying 'price rise'. What does the contract say?

Industry wide issues is my understanding, doesn't excuse the lack of communication or explanation, although "take it or fkin leave it" has been standard Mercedes Benz fare for years...

[M1AGM]

I had my EQC Premium+ delivered this week. I ordered it sometime last summer. The supplying dealer told me that premium + has been dropped recently because of chip shortages (needed for options) but I havent checked this myself, and that some of the included Prem+ options on my car wouldn’t be supplied with the car. Tbh I cant work out what is missing as it seems to have everything on it incl the ash wood finish.

[ApplesBananas4eva]

M1AGM said:

I had my EQC Premium+ delivered this week. I ordered it sometime last summer. The supplying dealer told me that premium + has been dropped recently because of chip shortages (needed for options) but I havent checked this myself, and that some of the included Prem+ options on my car wouldn’t be supplied with the car. Tbh I cant work out what is missing as it seems to have everything on it incl the ash wood finish.

I have also noticed the prem + for eqc is no longer showing as an option. Did you receive the Burmester sound system on your build?

[M1AGM]

ApplesBananas4eva said:

M1AGM said:

I had my EQC Premium+ delivered this week. I ordered it sometime last summer. The supplying dealer told me that premium + has been dropped recently because of chip shortages (needed for options) but I havent checked this myself, and that some of the included Prem+ options on my car wouldn’t be supplied with the car. Tbh I cant work out what is missing as it seems to have everything on it incl the ash wood finish.

I have also noticed the prem + for eqc is no longer showing as an option. Did you receive the Burmester sound system on your build?

Just had it confirmed by the dealer that my car has not got the Burmester sound system, so now I know {sad face}.

[ApplesBananas4eva]

M1AGM said:

Just had it confirmed by the dealer that my car has not got the Burmester sound system, so now I know {sad face}.

Ive been told all prem + packages from 2022 (maybe late 2021) builds have had the Burmester surround sound removed. I'm no longer looking forward to picking up my new GLE next month, gutted!

[mk1coopers]

No wonder used prices are so high, I wouldn't be happy if what I ordered didn't come as spec'd, glad we got our prem + full spec last year, waiting to by a used E coupe but prices are above what I'm prepared to pay (at the moment) so I'll carry on with the current E class

[matrignano]

Are these spec changes ground for rejection, breach of contract?

[ApplesBananas4eva]

matrignano said:

Are these spec changes ground for rejection, breach of contract?

I believe you are able to cancel/reject. MB live by their usual "take it or leave it" mantra. When speaking to their cs I was told they could sell the car pretty quickly as they are not very common. Which is a bit of a kick in the nuts, considering the extraordinarily long wait time you've had to endure (10 months in my case). Had I have known at the time I probably would have gone for the X6/RR Sport.