I went into a Mercedes-Benz showroom to check out the new models and was disgusted with the interior quality on all the models there. Poke any part of the dashboard and the panel would move around a little and make very slight grinding sounds. It was the worst fit and finish I have ever seen on a new car without and hesitation. And it was on all the new models!
Also very few of the cars had matching spare wheels. If the car has alloy wheels it should have a alloy spare NOT a steel one. And they should be the same size as well.
I own a old model Mercedes and have no doubts about its durability, but its doubtful as to any of the new models lasting as well as the older ones have.

 

wow that dealership must either be reeling and dealing, poorly managed, recieving bad cars, or a combonation of the above...

what i would do is walk in and ask to speek to the person in charge, and tell him you are (assuming this is true, as your a member of the forum) a mercedes fan/owner...

tell him(or her, don't know what the work situation is in Australia) exactly what your saying here, doing this without the intention of pissing the dealership off...

and ask what the problem is, If it is a good dealership, they will tell you that they got some bad cars, and then you can ask what the problem is...

if they arent a good dealership, they will ask you ,A. tell you to **** off, B. escort you off the dealership (make sure your driving a mercedes,) or C. become offencive and ask you why you care so much about it (to the extent of saying 'its just a car') or a combonation of them

if theyre a bad dealership, i wouldnt hesitate to badmouth them to anyone who may be intereasted in a mercedes

thats what i say to do, but you gotta do what feels right to do to you,
Nate

 

I went into two different dealerships and all the display models had poor quality fittings. I didnt bring this up with the salesman, both of whom appeared to be taking me seriously when I told them I was interesting in trading in my old model for a brand new one.
Next time I pass a showroom and have time, I will pop in and bring the matter up with them. But I'm already convinced that the new models suck. I've never seen such awful workmanship on new cars on any brand and that includes hyundai! That thought may explain why Mercedes now sits below average on various reliability rankings I've seen recently.
Also the all the boots on the wagons closed with more of a rattle than a thud and several of the normal doors did that too.

I did however query the crappy spare wheels they supply and was told they sell matching spare wheels. This is pretty poor for a expensive car brand, much much cheaper brands supply matching spare wheels for free, as it is a essential part of a car. it should not be extra! I will point out however half the new BMW models dont have spare wheels at all!