MashinA

iTrader: (20)

Isn't it possible to just buy a ML unit separatelyand exchange it?

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Not for any sane amount of money it's not, assuming you want the whole system...

That would be a change of amps, 14 different speakers, a change of the rear door panels, and a change of the rear deck... oh and of course the change of the changer/head unit parts.... (and possibly running some wiring since I doubt the wiring for the different speaker locations is pre-run in non-ML cars but you might get lucky on that one)

raptor22

i don't think that's how long she waited for the car though? i interpret 12/12/08 as the built date, not the date she placed the order with the dealership.

felixdang

Exactly if I would have special order it.. They won't build it till April and I won't get it till summer ..

If they had build it the time I ordered it I would have had the car by april

alk3997

I'm waiting as well. Same situation. Past history suggests that a car ordered in February will get here in late April or early May. However, I really wanted the IS350c configured in a certain way and if waiting three months is the penalty then I'm good with that.

And, while an aftermarket audio system would improve the audio over the stock system, those steering wheel buttons would no longer work and the nav system interface would be pretty much gone.

In terms of the ML swap, the number of speakers for the ML system is different than the stock (I think it is 5 more speakers with the ML). So, you'll be adding speakers to door panels as well.

raptor22

but i think from reading her other threads her total wait time (from the time she placed the order with the dealer) was about 3 months, which is the typical wait time quoted by dealers and the typical actual wait time. So the original time frame your dealer gave you was actually on the long side for whatever reason.

i have one on order right now, and my dealer told me the typical 90-day wait, give or take a few i suppose.

Boykster21

I agree with the group - if you want it, order it and get exactly what you want.

I was in a similar situation when I bought my '06 IS250 - I wanted a RWD, NAV, luxury combo in a specific color package (SGM / gray). There were almost no RWD / Luxury 250's that model year for some reason, so I had to factory order it. The first dealership I worked with pretty much flat out refused to place a factory order. They would place a preference order and wait for one to turn up in inventory, but nothing else. I took my business to a different dealership and they placed the order. I did put $500 down to secure it (full refundable - in writing - if I backed out) and they did try to convince me to take a car out of inventory, but I held to my guns and got the car I wanted.

Wait time was 3-4 months I think total from order placement to delivery. Was worth it - every penny and every day I waited.

Also, an aftermarket audio/video system is going to be tough to pull off.....

TimboIS

Orders go into the system on the 20th (or 22nd, I forget exactly) each month. If you (er, the dealer) gets it in on or before that date, you'll have the car in 3-4 months. The dealer was BSing you, because they just wanted to sell you something/anything at the time. Most dealers do NOT like to do orders, but they will if pressed. If they don't then call corp.