The gassers aren't selling as well as the diesels, but for the most part, it's still pretty healthy here in AZ.
AZ.Benz
fyi:
MERCEDES-BENZ USA
Sales -- March 2008
Model March '08 March '07 Monthly % YTD 2008 YTD 2007 Yearly %
GL-CLASS 1,908 2,221 -14.1% 5,681 5,972 -4.9%
R-CLASS 874 1,225 -28.7% 2,807 2,938 -4.5%
M-CLASS 3,189 2,619 21.8% 9,507 7,401 28.5%
G-CLASS 73 174 -58.0% 277 353 -21.5%
__________________
S.
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport mars red/black
2007 Lexus IS350 Sport granite metallic/gray
2004 Porsche 986S seal gray metallic/black/black
2002 Jeep KJ Sport white/gray
Mercedes-Benz holds on to U.S. sales targets despite U.S. weakness
May 16, 2008
NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Daimler AG.'s luxury passenger car Mercedes-Benz is holding on to its U.S. sales growth targets this year despite weakness in the U.S. car market, Mercedes-Benz U.S. head Ernst Lieb told reporters.
He said Mercedes-Benz this year will exceed the previous year's 235,400 unit sales.
Between January and end of April this year, U.S. unit sales of Mercedes-Benz were up 1.4 percent year-on-year.
Lieb said the strong euro continues to be a burden and although Mercedes-Benz has the advantage of having its own production in the United States, the plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is producing at its capacity limits.
'We cannot really produce more over there,' he said.
The Tuscaloosa plant makes more than 200,000 cars annually.
Lieb denied speculation that Mercedes-Benz will launch in the United States a smaller model series of the A-Class or the B-Class. 'We do not think that would make sense,' he said.
Approved for B5 (5% biodiesel.) In Europe, they make biodiesel from rapeseed instead of soy (like they do here in the US) so I believe they are approved for B100 in Europe, anyone from across the pond want to confirm that?
The issue I see with 'approval' is quality of fuel and availability. If you live in an area where you can buy B100 from a commercial producer I would not hesitate to use it. If you brew your own, you better make sure its water-free before trying it in a new MB.
Good quality B100 will make your diesel run better and last longer. Of course the oil companies don't want you to accept that so they will exert their political influence wherever they can including the vehicle manufacturers.
The issue I see with 'approval' is quality of fuel and availability. If you live in an area where you can buy B100 from a commercial producer I would not hesitate to use it. If you brew your own, you better make sure its water-free before trying it in a new MB.
Good quality B100 will make your diesel run better and last longer. Of course the oil companies don't want you to accept that so they will exert their political influence wherever they can including the vehicle manufacturers.
Well...I tend to agree with that, however, after the fuel switchover from diesel #2 to ULSD in 2006, diesels that had been running bio started to have problems with leaking injection pumps. The VW TDI crowd was particulary hard-hit by this. Bio caused the seals in the pump to swell, which was fine, and #2 didn't really affect them, but ULSD caused those swollen seals to shrink, become brittle, and crack. The pumps had to be rebuilt with synthetic vitton seals at a cost of about $1,000. VW, was smart to only approve B5, therefore avoiding a slew of warranty repair work.
Now, back when I got into biodiesel, in 2001, it was about $1.35 per gallon. I was very dissapointed in watching biodiesel prices mimic the diesel market, especially after they were given a tax credit from the Federal Government in the form of $1.00 per gallon in 2004. Biodiesel was supposed to be immune from speculation, and curtailed supply due to refinery re-tooling. A good growing year should have yeilded reductions in price, but nope, the producers saw opportunities for abnormal profits, and away they went, knowing there wasn't an alternative (aside from making it yourself.) It was, and still is, IMHO, price gouging.
Please don't make your own and run it in a common-rail Benz, that's really asking for trouble (unless you send samples of each batch to a lab for ASTM certification.)
Greetings AZ.Benz, I am very serious about purchasing a new ML320CDI, but at this time of year the 2009's are not yet available and won't be until October I understand. Could I get a good answer, not biased toward "buy now", as to:
1. Is the 2009 benefit of bluetec diesel going to be offset considerably by increased maintenance costs for adblue, and other increased maintenance of the bluetec system?
2. Is there a big increase of cost for "apples to apples" between 2008 and 2009 ML320CDI ?
3. Knowing what you know, with access to mechanics in the know, would you personally buy the ML320CDI now or do you think that as a consumer, it would be wiser to wait and order the 2009 bluetec?
4. Does the bluetec give any better fuel mileage that would offset any additional maintenance costs?
Thankyou very much for your help. I really need some good advice.
1. Is the 2009 benefit of bluetec diesel going to be offset considerably by increased maintenance costs for adblue, and other increased maintenance of the bluetec system?
Bluetec will be more environmentally favorable, but there will be an added cost per mile. Plus, run-flats, and no spare kind of turns me off.
Quote:
2. Is there a big increase of cost for "apples to apples" between 2008 and 2009 ML320CDI ?
They just announced some good financing on the '08s to clear them out. $4,000 off sticker from Mercedes plus 3.9% financing up to 66 months
Quote:
3. Knowing what you know, with access to mechanics in the know, would you personally buy the ML320CDI now or do you think that as a consumer, it would be wiser to wait and order the 2009 bluetec?
I'd pocket the $4,000 and take advantage of the special financing.
Quote:
4. Does the bluetec give any better fuel mileage that would offset any additional maintenance costs?
The run-flats alone will hamper mileage on the '09, so the '08 should do a little better.
Quote:
Thankyou very much for your help. I really need some good advice.
Anytime! Good luck, come pick one up from me, if yuou like!
Vehicle: 08 ML320CDI, 05 E500, 04 CLK 500 (traded), 06 MB R350 (turned in) , 04 FORD SuperDuty King Ranch
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 94
Currently working a deal on an '08 ML320CDI 4-matic w/ P2... Down to Invoice -$3000... Wondering if they'll budge on "IRG Participation" for $600.00...? I'm aware that it's advertising and asked them if they'll eat it... This is an employee deal ( wife) ...
Currently working a deal on an '08 ML320CDI 4-matic w/ P2... Down to Invoice -$3000... Wondering if they'll budge on "IRG Participation" for $600.00...? I'm aware that it's advertising and asked them if they'll eat it... This is an employee deal ( wife) ...
Everyone got 10 Employee deals to pass out among friends/family, or even customers. You had better jump at that deal, ours were gone in two days. If you push for another $600 they may let you go.
MONTVALE, N.J. – Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported sales of 19,576 new vehicles for June 2008, bringing the year-to-date total to 119,279 units, marking the best sales for the first half of any year in the company’s history.
Highlights for the month include a 25.1 percent increase (5,977 vs. 4,776 units) in sales for the company’s volume-leading C-Class. The E-Class also recorded gains with an 18.3 percent increase over last June’s sales (4,360 vs. 3,686 units). Sales of the legendary and newly redesigned SL-Class roadster also jumped by 12.3 percent from 594 units in June 2007 to 667 units in June 2008. In the SUV category, the popularity of the ML-Class was evidenced by an increase of 2 percent (2,601 vs. 2,551 units) for the month.
* SMD 
Linear Mode
