In the Atlanta area they are always adding or modifying roads so it’s good that Mercedes-Benz has just released updated navigation disks. You can order these disks from your local Mercedes-Benz parts department. They should cost $249. You can also order them directly from Mercedes at www.navigation.com/mbupdate (this site’s search isn’t working at the time I’m writing this) or by calling (888)628-4483.

There are several reasons to update your navigation disk:
- Every year thousands of miles of new roads are added.
- Hundreds of Points of Interest are added or deleted.
- Improved routing efficiency can save you time and fuel.

I had been very curious about the fuel filler flap release button on the ML450 HYBRID that the local Mercedes-Benz technical specialist has been driving. I finally got an answer!

In order to comply with the PZEV emissions standards – zero evaporative emissions – this button triggers the fuel tank to depressurize before the cap is removed so that vapors don’t escape. The ML 450′s increased fuel efficency means that the fuel tank isn’t opened as often as it would be in a non-hybrid so increased pressure could build up and therefore needs this extra step!

Just a little Mercedes minutiae…that I enjoy!

Jesse –

What a fantastic experience we had with the European Delivery Program! Everything went very smoothly. We took the TGV from Paris to Stuttgart, which is a great town. The hotel is literally right across from the train station – very nice and very conveniently located. We used our taxi vouchers for the ride to the plant the next morning. Everyone at the delivery center was very nice, and it was so exciting to see them pull my car out onto the delivery floor! We had an amazing tour of the factory and a very nice lunch after that.

We really enjoyed having a car in Europe. It made it possible to see a lot of things we would never have seen otherwise, and we could go at our own pace. Driving in Europe was not too confusing or difficult.

When we got back to Paris to drop off the car, TT Auto was very easy to find. There are signs directing people right to their location inside the airport.

I’m attaching a few pictures. The first one shows them pulling my car onto the delivery floor. The second one shows me (very happily!) signing the papers. The third one shows what a great job the Mercedes employees do of teaching you about your new car. The next one shows us leaving a French chateau during the trip, and the last one is us dropping the car off at the airport.

Before the end of the trip, we were already talking about “next time.” We are so glad we did this!

Margot Ireson
Houston, TX

Mercedes-Benz has announced a partnership with Wynn Las Vegas that will garner our new owners one or two free nights at the world-renowned 5 Star, 5 Diamond Wynn Las Vegas in Nevada!

One night for C-Class, E-Class, CLK-Class, SLK-Class, ML-Class, R-Class, GL450 or GLK-Class.

Two nights for S-Class, SL-Class, CL-Class, CLS-Class, G-Class, GL550, Maybach, SLR or AMG.

Vehicle must be a 2009 or 2010 Model Year purchased between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.

To take adavatge of this offer you can e-mail or fax your purchase or lease agreement to Mercedes-Benz at wynn@mbusa.com or (201)476-2858. They will give you a special reservation code that you can use to claim your free nights. There are restrictions on minimum stay and the free nights cannot be on a Friday or Saturday. Mercedes will provide you with the details when you get your reservation code.

The 2010 S400 HYBRID has met the Federal Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit Program requirements as a hybrid motor vehicle. As a result, all purchase customers qualify for the $1150 tax credit. This is regardless of income and tax situation, claimed on your Income Tax Return, and applies only to purchased (not leased) vehicles.

Tax credit amount : 2010 S400 HYBRID $1,150

I also just finished some training on the S400 HYBRID and it is very impressive. With a base price nearly $20,000 lower than the only other competitor, the Lexus LS Hybrid, and this tax credit that the Lexus can’t use, the S400 is a fantastic value. The technology for the new Lithium Ion batteries is groudbreaking and allows us to have a normal sized trunk as opposed to toting around a trunk full of batteries. Also, at 19 MPG in the city the S400 offeres a 26% increase in fuel economy over the S550.

I have two S400 HYBRIDs in stock here at Atlanta Classic Cars and would be happy to demonstrate the benefits of a luxurious, efficient and affordable S-Class.

(Don’t forget…Mercedes-Benz diesels also qualify for tax credits.)

So…Dieter Zetsche wasn’t actually there, but MBUSA President and CEO Ernst Lieb was one of the judges for my presentation!

This week I had the honor of representing the Southern Region and Atlanta Classic Cars in the 2010 E-Class Walk-Around National Finals in Denver. Two years ago I won the C-Class Walk-Around Competition for the Southern Region but they didn’t have a national competition. This time I had to compete against every salesperson in the whole country. I won at the dealership, market, and regional levels on my way to the finals in Denver. My 15 minute presentation was tailored to a hypothetical client and highlighted many of the amazing innovations found in the 2010 E-Class Sedan. My 3 competitors and I were judged by the MBUSA Executive Management team and I was declared the National Champion!

I’ll post some pictures and the video once I get them from the training department. Thank you to everyone who helped me prepare!

The competition was part of the National Dealer Meeting, so I was able to see (no cameras allowed) the new E-Class Cabriolet scheduled for release this spring and the SLS AMG! Both were spectacular and will be very successful!

If you want to learn all about the 2010 E-Class from the most knowledgeable salesperson in the whole United States please stop by Atlanta Classic Cars and pay me a visit.

If your going to be in Germany for a European delivery or just vacation between now and October 16th be sure to check out the SLS AMG on the roof of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Untertuerkheim. I visited the museum during my Master Guild trip last year and I highly recommend it.

If you ask most people which car company was the first to use seat belts, airbags, and electronic stability systems in their cars they would probably credit another European automaker that is always hyping thier safety. Since a Mercedes-Benz is so much more than just the safest car on the road, their rich history of pioneering safety innovations is often overlooked. We invented airbags, crash testing, stability control and now Attention Assist all with the goal of first, preventing the accident, and then keeping you safe from injury if it can’t be prevented.

Mercedes-Benz Financial has just introduced their own iPhone application. It’s available at the iTunes App Store for free to any Mercedes-Benz Financial customer who has an active account on MercedesBenzFinancial.com. With this app you’ll be able to make your payment, request a current payoff, and view your account details. Users with and without a current Mercedes-Benz Financial account will be able to take advantage of the dealer locator and the ability to browse current lease and finance sepecials.