I recently leased an EQE loaner in NoCal from a reputable dealer. The car was delivered to me at night and I docusigned online + physical signature at time of delivery.
I have a couple of issues and I am just hoping to get some insight. My contact at the dealer has not been responsive, by text, or by email. I have sent the damage concerns the day after delivery, and the remaining questions I have followed up within the week.
There is damage on the inner rear passenger door. Will I be liable for this on return of the vehicle? Is this within wear?
There is a small ding on the fender above the rear passenger wheel. Same question about liability/wear.
I have not been provided a copy of my registration. It has been over a week now.
I have not heard back about whether my charging wall box was ordered. Again, it has been over a week.
I’ve spoken to another manager at the dealership who said he would touch base with my manager. No response for the last few days. At this point I’m wondering what my best options are.
Do I just hound the dealer on the dealer phone line?
Do I hound the sales manager who dealt with me?
Do I just accept it and hope for the best when returning the vehicle?
I’m trying to be cordial, but I’m getting quite concerned.
Item #1 will definitely be charged against you if you cannot document the damage occurred before you received the car.
Item #2 falls below the threshold that Mercedes claims will be charged against you… but it wouldn’t hurt to get a better photo of the damage and document it.
So I have texts to the sales manager the next day with pictures, and a formal email a few days later. This is also a loaner vehicle. Would that help my case at all? Or is this something I should look into repairing prior to return?
Should I just go into the dealer physically and try to find the guy?
Basic visual inspection at time of delivery. Exterior ding is very very hard to see unless looking at a specific angle. I did not think to inspect the interior. It was delivered at 8:30pm so it was fairly dark.
Not a great experience, and now I know better.
I docusigned papers before the car left their lot, and I physically signed the same papers before they gave me the keys.
It won’t hurt, but I don’t know how much it would help. I think the only “slam dunk” would’ve been refusing delivery of the car b/c of the damage. I doubt I would’ve noticed the damage, either, in the evening.
You have temp tags and that little sticker/paper on the windshield, yes? That is it until your plates and registration are mailed to you by the dmv. That could take several weeks, depending on when the deal is funded, paperwork sent to dmv, doc turnaround time, mailing time, etc.
If you have the temp plate and docs, I wouldn’t worry about it.
You need to get the dealer to fix #1 now. You will get charged at lease end for that.
The fact that it’s a loaner doesn’t matter, and just getting documentation that the ding was there when you leased it will be worthless at lease end inspection time.
Whether a loaner or brand new, I’m surprised a MB dealer let it off the lot with that level of interior damage. Continue to pester your sales manager or whoever at the dealer until they respond. If they don’t respond then go above them to their managers.
I can’t even see #2 in your pic so would be much less worried about that.
I’m not saying this to be harsh, but you chose to save some money and lease a used car – without looking at it first.
And then you accepted delivery.
I also would have accepted delivery, even if I had noticed these two relatively minor flaws, unless the dealer had intentionally misrepresented the condition. I’m assuming that isn’t the case here.
The ding, which I cannot see in your photo, won’t even be chargeable.
You could have paid for a private party inspection before it shipped, but that would have been overkill.
