I must say that, for my needs, this topic is VERY useful, dare to say the most useful one !!
I joined this forum some years ago, always read it, but I am writing now, after having my first MB sold, a couple of weeks ago.
I live in Europe, but I am seriously thinking of visiting the United States (NY, I guess) sometime in the end of this month, in order to buy a preowned 2006-2007 low mileage ML350. Besides, my wife is a car dealer and I think the experience of importing a car from the US will be useful for her too.
So, after searching the web for a while, I realized that there is NO way I will find a 320(diesel) ML at an appropriate price.
I decided to go for the 350 (found some between 32.000 and 37.000 is what I am looking for) and so, those are the questions that arise:
1) Is it true that every ML350 2006-2007 comes with navigation unit as a standard, or it is very common option, like leather option, on the ML? You see, although I consider myself an shore of an "expert" in European MB models, I cannot figure out what is going on there in America. In Europe comand Aps and audio 20 are so different that you can instantly understand if a navi unit is installed. Do you happen to know the part number of comand? I am also aware that the European comand aps discs are fully compatible to the American units. Is it correct?
2) Mb-tx is something like an artificial leather, like artico we have in Europe?
3) It seems to me that airmatic is NOT an extra that America is looking for. Is it true? Here, you can easily find ML's with airmatic option. Is the suspension system different between American and European ML's, (because ADS is standard in Europe) ? I also realized that Sport package, parktronic and xenon, seem to be very rare extras. Why, do you think?
4) Is it possible to ask from the dealer who will sell me the car to retrofit partktronic, or rear view camera? At what cost? If it doest have parktronic, at least, a camera would be very useful for me.
5) As far as the export price is concerned. it is crucial for me to know if I have to pay state taxes, even if it is a used vehicle, even if it is destined for immediate export? If this is the case, is there a way I can claim the return of the tax? It sounds weird to me that there is a tax to be paid, since it is a used car and the state tax has already been paid from the first owner. At least, this is what is happening here in Europe.
6) What short of papers do I have to present to the dealer in order to buy the car?
7) What are the "margins" for the seller as far as the amount of the invoice is concerned? As you understand, since I have to pay import tax to EU, I have to search for a smaller possible invoice.
8) All the price I see on the internet are final? I mean, what short of extra charges are for car export?
9) Is there any way the MB guarantee is valid in Europe?
10) Is there something I should be careful at, when trying to find the ideal car in the US?
11) Do you know if American MB's concider to be better in terms of quality than the European ones??
Those are ONLY my questions.
As a return to your sharing wisdom, I am open to questions as far as the European cars are concerned.. MB's are my strong point and my.... weakness
Thank you for time and interest.
I must say that, for my needs, this topic is VERY useful, dare to say the most useful one !!
I joined this forum some years ago, always read it, but I am writing now, after having my first MB sold, a couple of weeks ago.
I live in Europe, but I am seriously thinking of visiting the United States (NY, I guess) sometime in the end of this month, in order to buy a preowned 2006-2007 low mileage ML350. Besides, my wife is a car dealer and I think the experience of importing a car from the US will be useful for her too.
So, after searching the web for a while, I realized that there is NO way I will find a 320(diesel) ML at an appropriate price.
I decided to go for the 350 (found some between 32.000 and 37.000 is what I am looking for) and so, those are the questions that arise:
1) Is it true that every ML350 2006-2007 comes with navigation unit as a standard, or it is very common option, like leather option, on the ML? You see, although I consider myself an shore of an "expert" in European MB models, I cannot figure out what is going on there in America. In Europe comand Aps and audio 20 are so different that you can instantly understand if a navi unit is installed. Do you happen to know the part number of comand? I am also aware that the European comand aps discs are fully compatible to the American units. Is it correct?
2) Mb-tx is something like an artificial leather, like artico we have in Europe?
3) It seems to me that airmatic is NOT an extra that America is looking for. Is it true? Here, you can easily find ML's with airmatic option. Is the suspension system different between American and European ML's, (because ADS is standard in Europe) ? I also realized that Sport package, parktronic and xenon, seem to be very rare extras. Why, do you think?
4) Is it possible to ask from the dealer who will sell me the car to retrofit partktronic, or rear view camera? At what cost? If it doest have parktronic, at least, a camera would be very useful for me.
5) As far as the export price is concerned. it is crucial for me to know if I have to pay state taxes, even if it is a used vehicle, even if it is destined for immediate export? If this is the case, is there a way I can claim the return of the tax? It sounds weird to me that there is a tax to be paid, since it is a used car and the state tax has already been paid from the first owner. At least, this is what is happening here in Europe.
6) What short of papers do I have to present to the dealer in order to buy the car?
7) What are the "margins" for the seller as far as the amount of the invoice is concerned? As you understand, since I have to pay import tax to EU, I have to search for a smaller possible invoice.
8) All the price I see on the internet are final? I mean, what short of extra charges are for car export?
9) Is there any way the MB guarantee is valid in Europe?
10) Is there something I should be careful at, when trying to find the ideal car in the US?
11) Do you know if American MB's concider to be better in terms of quality than the European ones??
Those are ONLY my questions.
As a return to your sharing wisdom, I am open to questions as far as the European cars are concerned.. MB's are my strong point and my.... weakness
Thank you for time and interest.
Regards
Zisis
You won't be able to purchase a new vehicle, only pre-owned if you plan on exporting it. At that point, it would be a grey-market vehicle without a warranty. Of course, you'll be paying a lot less for it in terms of Euros.
Retrofiting parktronic and backup cameras are expensive and probably not worth it, people have been reversing for years without them. MB-Tex is the same as artico, and most '08's ship with P01 which has Nav among other goodies. Check out: craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums in the city you plan to visit, and pick one up on the private market if you can. Since you won't get a warranty anyway, no need to pay extra for a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. Lastly, be sure to check with your local government about importing before you buy. At my dealership we don't offer any export shipping, that is totally up to the customer. Too much liability.
Oh, and armatic? JOKING: We don't sell many cars in Detroit where the streets are so bad they make boat cars to float over the pot-holes and make the rest of us suffer with poor steering. I've been to Europe, and after a few drives down cobblestone streets, I get airmatic, so does Detroit, but they don't buy imports. Ha ha.
Thank you for your immediate reply..
All this is info is pretty much interesting.
Just to make things clear: I am planning to buy a used, not a new ML and I am planning to make the shipping and exporting all by myself.
But, still, I have the abovementioned questions regarding
1) The taxation and the invoice issue. It is crucial to now what is going on and what the options are.
2) The navigation unit code
3) The documents I have to present in order to buy a car.
Once again, thank you for giving all these info.. Most appreciated...
Thank you for your immediate reply..
All this is info is pretty much interesting.
Just to make things clear: I am planning to buy a used, not a new ML and I am planning to make the shipping and exporting all by myself.
But, still, I have the abovementioned questions regarding
1) The taxation and the invoice issue. It is crucial to now what is going on and what the options are.
I'm not familliar with the laws of New York, but here in AZ, a car sold on the private market is non-taxed, however, any car sold by a dealer be it pre-owned or new, is taxable.
Quote:
2) The navigation unit code
That's so model/year specific, best to ask once you have a specific vehicle picked out. I certainly wouldn't want to mislead, or misinform you.
Quote:
3) The documents I have to present in order to buy a car.
You'll need a lot if you plan on financing it, and that can be tricky. I've had problems in the past working with Mercedes-Benz Financial with international clients, there's not really an inside line to the European credit guys. My advice would be to pre-qualify yourself with them and bring that documentation. On the other hand, if you're paying cash, you'll only need a passport, your international drivers license and proof of insurance for the time the vehicle is in the US. That's another trick, because the insurance co will need to know which vehicle to insure. A private owner won't require this of you.
Quote:
Once again, thank you for giving all these info.. Most appreciated...
Regards,
If anyone else has any ideas for this chap, please chime in.
Last edited by AZ.Benz : 05-07-2008 at 08:07 AM.
Reason: Cleanup
Why do you say that new vehicles cannot be exported.
This should be possible if the buyer pays cash and cares for the transport.
Still no news about when the 2009 ML will be available ?
Thank for your reply.
Gipsy
The dealer gets fined if a new car is exported. With the falling dollar recently, this has become a big problem for Mercedes-Benz becasue the same vehicle sells for twice the money in every other part of the world. Most of our customers have to sign an agreement not to export before they take delivery. I haven't heard anything about the '09 ML delivery date yet.
ah cool a saleman
well here is my position....currently running around in an x5 (the 2002 model)
In about 2 years or less, more likely late 2009...
im going to buy a new car...
im currently decided between:
ML, range rover or scrap the SAV and go for a (used) SL.
So what you think i should do? i prefer mercedes, but just dont know what direction to go (car or SUV)....also why should i get an ML over a range rover?
In Europe comand Aps and audio 20 are so different that you can instantly understand if a navi unit is installed. Do you happen to know the part number of comand? I am also aware that the European comand aps discs are fully compatible to the American units. Is it correct?
I've been to Europe, and after a few drives down cobblestone streets, I get airmatic, so does Detroit, but they don't buy imports. Ha ha.
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