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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
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Comments
Sculpted lower body AMG designed
· Aerodynamic enhancements (bumpers,
· sidesills, projector beam front fog lamps)
· Wheels:(F)7.5J x 17 (R)8.5Jx 17AMG
· AMG Ultrathin-Spoke Monoblock Alloy Wheels
· Perf. Tires: (F) 225/45 ZR 17
· (R) 245/40 ZR 17
So not all AMG cars will have modified AMG engine.
It's just another check mark on the option list.
It seems that in this age of unabashed marketing exploitation, the value of an AMG badge is quite high. Otherwise, why would anyone pay $4,220 for what is essentially an "appearance package" as described above. Compared to say, half that amount for a BMW 5-series "sport package" that actually has a sport suspension to go along with the aesthetic items.
Have you bought or shopped for a 3-Series BMW, C-Class Mercedes, Jaguar X-Type or other small sports sedan since Sept 11? If so, your comments are of great interest. Please get in touch with me via jfallon@edmunds.com.
You may also drop by the Smart Shopper discussion at this link to respond: prlady1 "Talk to the Press" Oct 8, 2001 1:48pmThanks as always,
Jonathan Welsh
The Wall Street Journal
I visited RBM and just wanted to get a feel for how low I could go. The saleperson was willing to drop the price by only $645.
So far I have just been browsing but by the end of this month I plan to make a serious bid for a desert silver C240 with bose premium, auto trans, C1, C2, and C3 packages. Will try to get 3% over invoice. Not an easy price to get but I will give it my best shot.
Atlanta Classic is the closest dealer to me but I am willing to shop around to get the best deal possible. To answer your question IMHO you did not get much of a deal. I was quoted $750 at RBM for a CD changer installed.
Good Luck,
John from NJ
I am curious as to anyone's thoughts/opinions on this topic and where they came out.
Another factor in this is that I believe the 320s to be more negotiable than the 240s; thus the bottom line price differential on an expensive 240 v. a 320 will be that much less.
Miki
my vibration at 40 mph has gone away too. i don't know what they did to fix that.
the only remaining problem i have is that my car keeps pulling to the right. i have had this problem since I had my car. the kicker is that my front right and back rim got slighty curbed one night when I got cut off by someone in a huge SUV ... so they say that's why it's causing the problem. They did rebalance the tires but that didn't fix the problem...
my question is.. is anyone else have problem with alignment?
thanks in advance....
dbbarron - I have a different take on a C240 with the sports package. I have ordered such a car, so my opinions MIGHT be a little biased.
The reason I went for the C240 was the 6 speed. If it were offered in the C320 I would have ordered it. But, it's only wishful thinking.
Several years ago, after owning several 5 speed Porsche models I bought a used Porsche 928 automatic. The press reviews said how great the automatic worked with the engine in the car. I liked it until I spent a day driving my friend's new Boxster with a 5 speed. I felt too much sport was lost in the automatic. I sold it and purchased one with a 5 speed. Also, during our family vacation to Germany this past summer we rented an E class with the 6 speed and absolutely loved it.
Of course I'm not in commute traffic 2 hours a day, either.
So IMHO, the C240 6 speed sport is more sportier (and 150 lbs lighter) than the C320 auto.
But as they say, your mileage may very.
John W.
Thank you for caring.
Miki
I was extremely impressed with the dealer I bought it from and specifically the salesman involved (Aaron Root, at The Automaster in Shelburne, Vermont). I would suggest anyone in the Northeast consider this dealership; I myself am from Boston but the drive was worth it.
Now on to the car itself. It is very stable and just feels incredibly solid. It also has the pleasing effect of making me smile every time I sit in it to take a drive. I do love the 6-speed, I find the first 3 speeds perfectly matched for driving in a city environment and then the last 3 speeds are good for suburbs/highways. I have had none of the problems people speak about on this thread, but the car only has 600 miles on it.
Here comes the "but" part. I am in my mid 20's and I have found that people view the car and perhaps Mercedes in general as a bit pretentious. You have to be prepared for the fact that people are going to look at you in a new way. Most people tell all there friends when they get a new car and show it to them and take them for a ride. I have not done this because it really feels like showing off; I just keep very humble about it and when we end up taking my car out to dinner or something they inevitably figure it out. I suppose this is just a personality thing, but like I said it made me marginally uncomfortable the first few days.
The good part is that you can get over it while you are riding around in a comfortable and beautiful car.
db
Just explain to them that some MBs are really inexpensive nowadays (some coworkers were surprised a C coupe is only $26K even w/ MB's ad campaign), and with the free 4/50 maintenance and all the leading edge safety features, it was a no-brainer...
My 2002 C 240 is in shop and expected today, my dealer gave me 95 E 300D as a loaner, the interior is beyond comparison with 2002 C, but ride is powerful, after all it is MB, with 3 liter diesel engine - I am enjoying my loaner too, will keep you guys posted on TRUNK issue
thanks
A reminder that it was the MB Service and Parts Operation manager that smoothed the way for all this -- even though the after-market chrome rims are not MB's responsibility.
The other chrome rims look as if they are not going to last, at least cosmetically. I see signs of peeling and they will be only a year old in December.
One rim at a time!
Miki
Anyway it didn't click what I was saying and the light turned green and off we went...Just to make sure I was not "losing it", after parking the car at work I checked the rear lights, and there she be: the Left Rear Fog Lamp burning brightly compared to the RHS....Another morning commute with a big grin on my face....What an incredible Automobile !! 7600 Beautiful Benz miles since Feb. 15th...Love those 2 stage heated seats & the Bose stereo...and the 6 speed !!!
Ian in Jersey.
I bought the car because it was solidly built, roomy for its size, with active safety features [handling and brakes] that were ahead of its time in our market. I don't recall anyone at the office assuming I had suddenly acquired either wealth or wisdom by this decision. Now, as noted above, the choice to buy one of these cars catapults you into some imaginary demographic stratosphere that exists mainly because MB and BMW say it does. Sometimes I'm bemused by this, and occasionally a bit annoyed, but mostly it's a phenomenon that is best ignored...in the end, it's a car, not a life, and most people will eventually get over it...Lexus has managed some of the same marketing magic, but they seem to be the only ones of the Japanese Big 3 who took on this challenge successfully.
Too bad becoming a teacher or a policeman or a social worker doesn't get you the same level of attention...
Just wondering.
John W.
1. They say the seat memory in the C-class is NOT key-dependent, only on the E-class. So, if you are two drivers, then every time you switch driver, you have to turn the knob to position 1 or 2 (even if you have different keys), and press the button. It will not move automatically to a key-dependent position.
2. In the easy exit/entry mode, the seat will not move all the way forward to the driving position, for safety reasons. So EVERY TIME you go into the car you have to press the memory button to make the seat move, even if it's the same person driving the car.
I wonder if anyone could confirm that this is the way it's supposed to work. The strange (and confusing) thing is that until now the seat memory has been partial key-dependent, but it never worked 100%. At least, when you pressed the memory button in the "1" position, the resulting seat position would be key-dependent. Now that doesn't even work. you have to switch between 1 and 2. So, please help, should I accept the dealers answer?
In Europe is is STRICTLY ILLEGAL to engage the rear fog light unless visibility is at 50 metres or less, on pain of a very hefty fine if you're caught with it on in inappropriate conditions.
The reason for this regulation is that the intensity of the rear fog lights is extremely distracting and irritating to following drivers in clearer conditions, possibly even being a safety hazard.
Good advice would be to follow the EU rule about fog, and further, to extinguish the light when in heavy, slow-moving traffic (e.g. stop-and-go) and when waiting at intersections with stationary cars behind.
I have noticed many Volvo and Audi drivers in Canada abusing their rear fog lights, using them in light mist (maybe 500 m visibility) or worse, in rain, where the reflections created are truly hazardous. On occasion I've winked my Peugeot 405's rear fog light at them as a hint to turn theirs off. They usually don't get it.
In my driving I follow the 50 m rule.
However, I hasten to add that when I lived in the very snowy British Columbia Interior I used to engage the rear fog lights (both L and R were connected at the time) when driving on a road that had lots of loose drifting powder snow. In these conditions an opaque cloud of powder snow followed the cars, making them nearly invisible. Why did I put the rear fog lights on? Because over a period of 10 minutes the taillight lenses would become totally obstructed by snow, even with the 5 W taillamps on. Only the 21 W power of the rear foggies generated enough heat in the plastic lens to keep the snow from sticking ... so the car remained visible through the blowing snow.
Now I only have a bulb in the LR foglight, because blowing powder snow is unknown on Vancouver Island ;-).
Mike
Miki
One time I used it in a really heavy rainstorm. Visibility was really poor (maybe 30ft?).
Are they really that useless in the rain? I figured it lessened my chance of getting rear-ended, so the more light the better.
Thanks in advance...
The problem with them in the rain is twofold - they reflect off everything (including the road, other cars and raindrops on following cars' windshields) and thus are quite distracting. Plus it's harder to see your actual brake lights go on when there's already a bright red aura around the rear of your car ;-)
I know it's so tempting to use it, but it's advisable to reserve it for the right conditions. My advice, for what it's worth.
Mike
(Was also driving behind a 2001 CLK55 AMG...beautiful automobile !!)
I was also curious about the laws in Europe for rain and whether rear fog lights really can be only used in fog :-)
Thanks for the help.
Mike
I was wondering if those who have acquired their cars in the last several weeks have noticed if their cars were assembled in Brazil? I've been told that only C Coupes and not the sedans are being assembled in Brazil. I've also been told the exact opposite.
Thanks in advance.
John W.
entry/exit, which I don't use). You must select 1-2-3 position and push the button. The 1-2-3 position indicator does react to the key....different keys can produce different seating and mirror positions while on the same number. From experience I suggest setting both keys to the same settings. Then one backs up the other in case of failure or someone reprogramming it wrong and also it won't make any difference which key you're using.
>>>>
That's a good question. In Europe, the sports package equipped Cs come with an "Avantegarde" emblem. A friend who works for Mercedes in Germany sent me a pair so, I have them on mine. If you want that look, you can purchase the sports emblems from the dealership and stick them on yourself since they have self adhesive backings. They cost $19 a piece at my dealership.
Miki - I am glad your rim problem has been resolved to your satisfaction.
I'm about to begin the purchase process of a 2002 C320 in Northern California. I have the invoice and MSRP prices of my desired options but was wondering a couple of things:
* At what price did you buy your vehicle (either amount over invoice or below MSRP)?
* What purchase methods have people used that they think are effective/not effective (internet, Costco, broker, fax, etc)?
Thanks!
Lilly
Get out your hair dryer, some dental floss, and some Goo Gone (really just a citrus adhesive cleaner). Heat up the emblem. Slide the dental floss under it. Goo Gone any remaining adhesive...
Just Goo Gone & floss? I can't believe it could be that easy (& never thought about using it for that). I use it all the time to remove stickers from things (nephews are little devils). I guess I thought there was some form of metal bonding or rivet or something similar holding them on.
What method do you recommend for heating? Hair dryer? I know I wouldn't want to spend that kind of $$$ and be responsible for wrecking the finish!
Thanks again
I'd suggest practicing on your old car or your neighbors' cars ;-)
Don't take off the center MB logo on the trunk though. That does use studs on the back of it to keep it in place. Only the lettering is glued on (and your dealership letters if they do that to cars...I asked mine not to put any free advertising on my ML :-)
I appreciate the sentiment of your post. I remember when my dad's '59 180 was considered an ugly little car but that was lost on him because he purchased it for all the same reasons that you used to purchase yours. One thing I can pretty much guarentee about that car was that it came from the factory with the steering wheel on straight.
Miki
Miki, I loved the line about the taste police! Don't be so sensitive! Glad that your issue was resolved.
Gary, Sorry about your bashed door. Hope they can fix it to "like new" condition.
Keys. I am on my 3rd key. The problem appears to be solved. You should be able to make the memory settings key dependent. Mine are!
There is a little trick to the "Easy Exit" feature. It does not engage if the seat travel will be less than 50%. (Whatever that means.) It works fine for my wife and she likes it because she does not hit her head on the mirror if the seat moves back. It does not move back for me but the steering wheel moves, which is fine.
Left center vent is fixed. (Not replaced, just put back together correctly by the tech.)
Trunk opening Deal. I had this problem also. All that we did was back off the 2 rubber stops on the bottom of the trunk lid. The fit was too tight and would not allow the latch to release.
I was following a CLK the other day and the idiot had his fog light on in bright sunlight. Veeeerrrrryyyyyy irritating!
Anybody heard from Drew lately????
14K miles and still loving it! I came out of the grocery store the other day and I had to clean a nose print off the window from a gawker!
About a month ago someone posted that in the LA area they were selling c -240 /c -320 $500.00 over dealer's cost. The cost factor is 6.99834%.
The c-240 MRSP is $30550.00 x 6.99834 = $28412.00.
use the same cost factor on the c-320.
Hope that helps.
John W.
My seat memory was very much a problem with my first C320 (Black) and I was told if I disabled "easy exit" everything would work. Being me, I wanted everything to work including "easy exit". The Black had a problem holding more than one memory position -- it held the same position in 1-2-3, My Obsidian (so far-knock-on-wood) works as advertised. I put the key in the ignition and the seat, steering wheel and headrest (if necessary) move into position. When I remove the key, the seat moves back as does the steering wheel for exit. If I changed the position number the last time I drove and revert back to another number position, I do sometimes need to press the round button to bring it exactly to where I want. This just has to be done when there has been a change in position number last time car was driven.
I do not do valet parking, but at the carwash, dealer and Lakers games I have to release the car to another driver (sigh) so I use the seat lever
to slide the seat back far enough so they do not have to play with MY settings. When I get the car back, I just press the round button again to get back to where I want to be. The mirrors drift, but very, very rarely. They drifted all the time on the Black.
I am 5'2 -- set the seat close and the steering wheel low.
Miki
You would have to know how the alarm operates in order to figure out what's triggering it. The tilt function is one aspect, but your disabling that function and still getting a false alarm would indicate that particular circuitry is not at fault. So the fault likely lies in the other aspect of the alarm circuit. I don't know whether it only senses aperture openings (doors, trunk, hood) or whether it includes an interior motion detector. In any event I would expect that one of the aperture sensors or motion sensors (if there are any) are at fault. Or maybe you have a mouse or rat living in your car ;-)
Seriously, let the service manager live with it at his house for a few days - I guarantee you that it'll be fixed promptly in that case.
they gave me 1995 E300D car as a loaner for two days