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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans

18990929495140

Comments

  • tclawtclaw Member Posts: 23
    I've just received my expected letter from my dealer's service manager urging me to praise my most recent service experience when I hear from MB, including the alternate transportation provided. As I noted in a previous posting, the alternate transportation was an incredibly noisy Ford Escort with 20,000 plus miles, through an on-site Enterprise franchise. Although I would like to say that, even though I may not be justified in expecting a loaner Mercedes, I would not be unreasonable to expect something better than an Escort. However, it may be that cheap compacts are standard in the industry, so before I respond I'd like some feedback from the rest of you on what your dealers offer, especially American Service Center in Arlington, VA. Thanks.
  • 12341234 Member Posts: 28
    I have a c320 and would like to upgrade the stock 16" wheels to the 17" AMG wheels. I have some questions if anyone could answer.
    1. Would this effect the warranty in any way?
    2. I was thinking about purchasing the wheels/tires at tirerack, which come mounted and balanced. If I go with the recommended tire size, is there any other work involved besides just replacing the wheels? I would like to go with the same wheel/tire combination provided in the sport package for this vehicle, yet I did not pursue that option because I disliked the interior.

    Thanks
  • 404c404c Member Posts: 146
    I would recommend that you fill out the survey as you want to - you were obviously not satisfied with the loaner car and you should say so. You might also mention that your dealer has "urged you" to praise them. This is an illegitimate suggestion and it undermines the purpose of the survey. I assume that the survey is confidential (at least the dealer does not see it). If it is not, call MBUSA to complain. Only confidential surveys (in which the respondent is not identifiable) tend to generate honest answers.

    Let's put it this way: if it were me, I would not only fill out the form as it should be, but also tell the serivce manager in person that I don't like his loaner cars. If somehow that would poison the dealer's relationship with you as a customer, then the dealer should be stripped of his franchise forthwith.

    Whether crap loaner cars "are the norm" or not is a secondary issue. The bar will never be raised if everyone looks only at averages or norms.

    Good luck,

    Mike
  • fuzzofuzzo Member Posts: 88
    I got a 2001 jetta for a loaner car.I didn't mind that at all.. except it smelt like crayons. When i told the dealer this at returning, he said that the jetta was one of the better cars they give out.

    he also said that they used to give out slk's at their dealership but it came back trashed that they stopped that. so now they don't give MB's out anymore.

    my dealer is in baltimore... i may start using american in arlington from now on because it's closer to my place.
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    > You might also mention that your dealer >has "urged you" to praise them. This is an >illegitimate suggestion and it undermines the >purpose of the survey. I assume that the survey >is confidential (at least the dealer does not >see it).

    Mike -- the dealer does get a copy of the satisfaction of purchase and delivery survey. Both my salesperson and the dealership owners put out a lot of effort to make sure that I filled out the survey, and I recd a follow-up letter and phone call to make sure I sent it back to MB. My salesperson gave me a sample survey with the ratings highlighted that I should use when the survey was recd and returned to MB. I did not mind, because I thought she deserved the best. I gave everything high ratings (for political reasons :), but I did make note on the survey that there were some problems with the car yet to be resolved. My dealer clearly indicated how important this survey was to the dealership and how important it was to get a good "report card" from MB. My dealership is the top-selling one in the country and was established in the thirties, but still wanted those high marks. As a customer, our one last bastion of control is the knowledge of how important the survey is to the dealer and that MB think highly of them.

    Methinks there is also a separate survey for service -- no one dared show me that one!

    Re the loaners -- I have mentioned this before. I will not take their awful cars. I just tell them to shuttle me on home and I will make do without a car for the two days. Being without my car for a few days is something with which I can deal. This upsets them for some reason and they bring me a decent car on the second day. They tell me they are afraid there might be an emergency, and they would feel better knowing I had a car.

    It appears poor quality loaners is a universal problem.

    miki
  • weberamgweberamg Member Posts: 43
    1234- I agree with you about the interior that comes with the sport package. But, I decided to order it anyway. However, the wheels that come with the sport package are 16 inch and NOT 17 inch. The stock wheels are 7.0 x 16 and with the sport package the wheels are 7.5 x 16. I noticed the optional wheel package for the C coupe are 7.5 x 17.

    John W.
  • johnwayne25johnwayne25 Member Posts: 2
    I got rid of my Benz because of poor service and crappy attitude of service dept. Now If I need service, I bring my Lexus in and they have a shiny new RX300 waiting for me. But I've only needed to bring it in for oil changes-it never breaks.
  • rcessrcess Member Posts: 5
    johnwayne25:

    I wish I had purchased A Lexus instead of my Benz from hell. You are indead a wise man. "Crappy attitude of service department" sums it up very nicely.

    Bob
  • eoseos Member Posts: 27
    Euro Motor cars in Bethesda MD (a possible alternative American Service Center) says it is in the process of switching to all MB loaners. So far, I've only had my 2000 C280 in once for service there, prior to the switch. At that time, they ran out of Mercedes one customer ahead of me, and I got a 2000 Camry, not a Benz. It was in good mechanical shape and clean, but obviously, not a MB.
  • gdtobmegdtobme Member Posts: 17
    For the two MBs I've gotten from two different dealers here in L.A., both told me how to fill out the initial survey. One even volunteered to give it to them, in exchange for a full tank of gas, so they can fill it out. I filled it out myself in both instances. I gave good ratings anyway so I don't think I was blacklisted by the dealer/service center.

    With one of the two dealers, I had a very irritating experience with the service department right before I received the service survey. I filled it out very honestly and was quite frank with my displeasure. A few week later, the service manager contacted me and pleaded that I revise my comments. I stood firm. Maybe that's the reason why the 1994 C280 I had then was nothing but problems.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    ...from Tire Rack can generally be counted on to fit, period. If you follow the directions on their website and start with your make and model as the base, they won't recommend anything that doesn't fit. That said, I too would beware of anything for this car with rim width over 7.5-8.0 inches, regardless of diameter.

    On surveys: you don't get "blacklisted" for filling out surveys honestly. You do risk letting poor dealerships get away with it when you fail to tell MBUSA that things are not well with a particular dealership. Their ability to deal with these guys goes down exponentially when you know you're not being treated well, but the surveys keep coming back saying everything is wonderful. A good dealer doesn't have to lie about your experience to get good CSI scores.
  • benz747benz747 Member Posts: 91
    Guys, yesterday I had to use 1-800-for-mercedes to open my car remotely; I called them they asked password and they ask me to hold trunk pressing the handle shaft for 16 seconds and then SOS light started flashing and CAR opened. immediately a friendly voice came through inbuilt speakers to ask if I need assitance, this point I am little confised because the SOS was got activated through remote trunk opening and the person who attented that thought that I pressed SOS for assiatnce, anyway I was delighted with this feature, as on my old CAR I had to call AAA !!

    My question is CAN I SERVICE MY CAR FROM OTHER DEALER? OR I HAVE TO STICK TO SAME SERVICE CENTRE FROM WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR? SAME WAY CAN I COMPLAIN ANY CAR PROBLEMS TO OTHER DELAERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT

    thanks
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    Any dealer can service your car, and the smart ones are always happy to work on any car, wherever it came from. The service and sales depts are different profit centers at most dealerships, and the connection is minimal, and most importantly, IT'S ALL MONEY. Whether it is you paying or MBUSA paying [warranty], every service dollar should look the same to a good dealer.

    Now where you may find a difference comes to competition for loaner cars...if you use your selling dealer for service, it is not unusual for them to give preference to their sales customers in getting the cream of the loaner crop. Same with service appointments, if for some reason they are crowded routinely...but these issues notwithstanding, service should be shopped the same way you shop for the car: look for a place where you are treated well and the work is competent. If that is not the selling dealer, then cheerfully look elsewhere.
  • hoppyenghoppyeng Member Posts: 25
    Use Euromotor in Bethesda, MD on my C320. The loaners I got so far in 3 occasions were a Camry, ML320 and E320. Loaners are administered by Budget Rental Car at Euromotor. Need to get there early so you can get a MB for a loaner.
  • fedssocrfedssocr Member Posts: 90
    When I bought my car at American Service Center in Arlington the salesman also sent me a copy of the survey with the "appropriate responses highlighted for [my] convenience." He had stressed at delivery how important this survey was to them...had something to do with allocations and I assumed with his commission or a bonus of some sort. I was incensed that they were so heavy-handed with this thing. I don't like being told what to do, especially when my dealings with them at the end (delivery and business office) were so negative. If they had given me excellent service I would have been happy to give them good marks. When my MBUSA survey arrived I was brutally honest. I had also sent a very long and detailed letter to the GM of the dealership and a copy of the letter to MBUSA. The owner of the dealership responded with a pseudo apology and a nice MB watch. MBUSA sent a letter saying they're not responsible for the conduct of their dealers, but that the regional manager was being told about my letter. I have not been back to the dealership at all since then. Unfortunately the dealership is literally around the corner from my home, so I figure when I need service that I will likely end up taking it there...at least the first time. They do use Enterprise for their loaners, and my past experiences with Enterprise have also been less than good so I would be wary of accepting a loaner from them. Luckily I don't really need a car every day, so if mine was in the shop I could survive without one.

    On another note, my front passenger side window does not "express up". I think all the rest of the windows do. Has anyone else experienced this?
  • diwc240diwc240 Member Posts: 172
    Glenn, it was my Driver's side that stopped working in Express Up mode (1 touch). Was not too concerned and said it could wait until the FSS A @ 10K. Then last week I "accidentally" raised the window push button for a second and the Driver side express up worked ! It has continued to work....So those computer- electronic gremlins had had their field day and are gone for now. Ian.
  • ahostahost Member Posts: 36
    That's interesting. My wife is also 5'2, but when using easy entry/exit the seat always stops maybe 2 inches short, and she has to press the button to move it all the way to the driving position she has programmed. With my key it worked (old key, with new keys it doesn't work at all), and I'm taller. MB claimed it was a safety feature, but obviously not. The service rep seems to have realized that the info they got from MB in this case is completely nonsense. The sevice rep is investigating further, and I'm waiting to try another car to check how it's supposed to work.
  • scaredmbscaredmb Member Posts: 11
    My express-up feature (as well as the regular up) on my driver's window quit about three weeks ago. Unable to fix the problem the only dealer has kept returning the car to me without having the problem fixed. The car is now at the dealer for the third time - it has been there five days now. Supposedly they are replacing the "control module" in the driver's door. They are also working on the passenger side mirror that drifts too far upward after reversing - third time in on that problem as well. On the second visit the dealer damaged the passenger interior door panel such that something was forcing bubble shaped protrusions on the panel. They also removed the rubber strip that runs along the top of the door panel against the glass. This along with no telling what else they screwed up has created a terrible whistling wind noise at highway speed. I have insisted and they are replacing the entire passenger inside door panel now. Day after day they keep putting off giving my car back.... I am sure they will have messed up the power seats or stereo or something when I get it back this time.
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    >My wife is also 5'2, but when using easy >entry/exit the seat always stops maybe 2 inches >short, and she has to press the button to move >it all the way to the driving position she has >
    >programmed

    Just to clarify -- I have to press the button for exact position only if I change a position on the 1-2-3 from what it was the last time the car was driven. If I drove it last on position 2 and get in the car and put it in position 1, I need to use the button. As long as I keep it in position 1, I don't need to use the button.

    Miki
  • mathtypemathtype Member Posts: 33
    I am in the final stages of a buying decision on a CLK 320 coupe. I've got to say that I'm getting a little nervous about this purchase after reading recent postings on this board, especially concerning dealer service. Can anyone tell me of his or her experiences (good or bad) with dealers in the Pasadena CA area? Thanks.
  • dvancaodvancao Member Posts: 13
    If the window does not express up or down, then pull up on the window button and hold it there for about 2 seconds when the window is all the way up. This will resynchronize the express up/down feature. It's in the owner's manual.

    Dat.
  • ghaysghays Member Posts: 8
    Remember that the easy entry/exit feature returns the seat/wheel to the last position they were in when the key was removed. It has nothing directly to do with the memory positions, unless the seat/wheel happened to be at one of those memory positions when the key was removed.

    It's in the manual.
  • diwc240diwc240 Member Posts: 172
    (Not sure of the exact date this was written - August 2001 ?)
    2001 Grand Prix: C-Class

    The most significant new European car of 2001
    By european car staff. Photos by Les Bidrawn - click on photos & graphs for larger image...
    (167 HP X.746=125 KW; 215 HP X.746=160 KW)

    Mercedes-Benz's C-Class sedan is the winner of european car's Grand Prix trophy for 2001, but we could very well have cited the German car maker's entire lineup as recipient of the award.....


    http://www.europeancarweb.com/archives/features/0801_feature01.shtml
  • sddlwsddlw Member Posts: 361
    The quality of the service department and loaner cars must vary by location. At Hohen MB in north county San Diego they have upgraded nearly all their loaners to at least C-class level, and at Lexus Carlsbad you can get an ES or RX most of the time. I've never been treated poorly at either dealer, but I do have my wallet out more often at the the MB dealer. ... well, I've got to admit, the cost at the MB dealer was such that I finally started taking non-warranty work to an independent. No loaner, but much lower overall cost and you get the benefit of talking directly to the person who services your car.
  • benz747benz747 Member Posts: 91
    guys - thanks for the information about SERVICE, as I purchased my CAR from a dealer located little far than one near to me only because the availability of CAR, since as said in above posts Service and sales are different I might go to dealer near to me for FUTURE services (its 2002 so I think no need for me to take out my wallet) what about CAR wash - can I get it done from dealer near to me? or this is only offered to CUSTOMERS ?

    the back plate of my CAR hold the dealer name I can easily remove that any thoughts !!!!

    thanks in advance guys

    BTW I have been scheduled on next Tuesday to fix my TRUNK problem as they have got the new plates which they will put in my 4 months old CAR - I will update you guys on this when done
  • rcessrcess Member Posts: 5
    My five-month old C240 just went back to the dealer for the sixth time. Three times I waited for it, while the other three times I obtained the following respective loaners: MB E320, Toyota Camry, and a 2001 Toyota Corolla that looks like it has hail-storm damage except there have been no local hail storms in years.

    From the reliability standpoint, the C240 has been an electronic disaster. I purchased my first new car in 1960, and the C240 has produced more problems in the past five months than all other new cars I have owned over the past 40 years.
  • benz747benz747 Member Posts: 91
    I agree with you - this electronic disaster makes look C down, I don't know about competitors though but I certainly not pay $36K for frequent service visits - to my understanding this was very common problem with 2001 so I waited for 2002 in view of MB can get rid of frequent problems associated with C 240 since its birth, and unfortunately this is not happening - on the other hand dealer don't entertain you below MSRP so as a buyer with Full MSRP we too expect quality !!
  • bobbyrabbobbyrab Member Posts: 14
    I have my 2002 C320 with Sports Package for 2 weeks now and it is virtually flawless so far except for a rather annoying rattle in the dashboard and a slightly loose driver's seat. I called up my salesperson on Monday and explained the problems; without hesitation, she told me to bring in the car today, Wed., at 9AM and to see her directly. She personally brought me to the service dept. and got a service "write-up" guy to drive around with me to hopefully, discover the source of the rattles. I left the car with him and my salesperson personally made sure that I got a demo-loaner from their sister Volkswagen dealer, a 2001 Passat. I could not be happier with the personal attention and hope that the problem is satisfactorily resolved. The dealership is located in Bayside, Queens, NY
  • rainersrainers Member Posts: 50
    I have had my C since February and everything worked fine. In August I noticed that the passenger mirror would not go down when I put the car in reverse. I decided it was not that important and lived with it. In September my key would not lock/unlock the doors. I retrained the key several times and it would work on and off. That was the only problem. My wife's key worked perfectly. Every time my wife(5'0) or I (5'11) would use our remotes in the ignition, the seat would adjust to the last position that the seat was in with that particular remote. We would not have to push any memory buttons unless we used each other’s keys. In October the dealership replaced the remotes and the mirror started to work normally and my remote would lock/unlock the door. Now that we have the new remotes the seats do not adjust to our personal settings. I have to push the memory button to adjust the seats and then after releasing the memory button press it again and the mirrors then adjust. The dealer is stumped, he thought that the keys should not adjust the seats, but to use the memory buttons instead. I explained the latter and showed him that a new 2002 is key dependent. Tomorrow I am supposed to get a call from a regional guru who is visiting another dealer in town. He is supposed to know this thing inside and out. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?
  • ahostahost Member Posts: 36
    My problem is very similar. With my old keys, the seat would move to the previous position with my key, but not with my wife's key. However, even with my key it didn't work quite. From time to time the position would be incorrect, I would have to push the button to move the seat and mirrors to the correct position, and then as you, I had to press several times to make also the mirrors move.

    Then we got new keys, and now it does not work at all. It does not remember the last position at all. Even the memorized positions in the buttons are not key dependent. First the dealer and MB claimed that's the way it is, but now they admit that's not so. Unfortunately my service rep is ill at the moment, so I'm still waiting for the next step.
    I also got my new key in October. Maybe there is a problem with keys made lately?
  • edarteedarte Member Posts: 41
    Way back in April 2001 I started looking for a replacement for my 1996 Lexus ES300. This was a fantastic car even though I bought it used. Plus Lexus service was always flawless even though I was only there once for other than routine maint (Moonroof wind noise - fixed). As the '96 still handled like new the 2001 ES's I drove didn't seem much different.

    The GS wasn't bad but the BMW 3 series handled better but I didn't like the interior. I was surprised and disappointed that the 5 series was only really about 1.5 inchs larger inside and did not feel as nimble as the 3.

    Then I thought I would give the MB E320 another shot since I hadn't tried it since '96. It handled better but the interior was dull, dull.

    It was then I saw the C and thought I found the perfect car. It handled well, looked fantastic, had a great interior and was in my price range.

    So I put $2000 down on a C320 with all options but sport. Then I waited, and waited and waited. I always had to call the dealer (Mark Motors in IL) to find out anything and I would have to leave multiple messages before I would get a response. Finally after waiting until August!! I was told it would probably be October.

    This news came after following this board for months, learning about problems, fixes, Brazil, lousy service, new or crappy loaner cars, service denials, etc. , etc., etc.

    I had had enough. Wrote a letter to the dealer and MB execs explaining my frustration with the whole situation. I got my full deposit back but no word at all expressing regret or explanation from MB. It appears they don't care about losing customers.

    When the 2002 Lexus ES came out I went for another testdrive. Again Lexus has a hit. Maybe it does not feel quite as sporty as the C but, knowing Lexus, I know it will be be exceptionally well made.

    But I didn't buy one. Because they had one last, new, 2001 LS430 on the lot that I bought for almost the same amount($49,900) as the C320 ($47,700) was going to cost me!!!

    And this car is IMPRESSIVE. Again it ain't no sport car. But it is an 8 cyl 4.3L beast. The handling is surprizing tight. As quiet as all the ads claim. Perfectly engineered and finished. Plus the rear seat room is enormous, a concern I had with the C.

    Now I admit the exterior styling is not as smooth as the C, but it does grow on one. A big plus is that I will continue to get the quality Lexus service that I have become accustomed to. Plus Lexus gives Lexus loaners (or they will pick up and drop off your car for service)

    I fear this is starting to sound too much like a gloat but that is not what I intend. I learned many interesting things on this board and at the time I really felt the C was a perfect fit.

    I will await the new E and if MB can get its act together re. quality control and customer service I will definitely give it a chance. In the meantime happy motoring.
    Ed
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Good God, your price on a C320 is within $1,000 of what I could have gotten a 2001 E430 for when MB had a $2,000 incentive in June. What's worse, it's only $4,800 less than the price of the 2002 C32 I have on order (which I probably won't take for some of the same reasons you mentioned).

    I can't blame you for going for the Lexus, if you were seriously considering spending $47,700 for a C320 without a sport package. Just out of curiosity, did you consider a 540i 6-speed which you could get for about $50k through European Delivery and if so, what are your thoughts?
  • kenyeekenyee Member Posts: 738
    Unfortunately, a good dealer is a requirement in satisfaction w/ a car. If you have a crappy service department, you'd hate your car. Ditto w/ sales.
    Sounds like your local MB dealer could use some competition.
    Best of luck w/ your LS430. Some Lexus dealers don't give out loaners too. I was surprised at this (found out on the RX300 forum). Goes to show you that you should research dealers and satisfaction closely before purchase of any car...
  • rs64rs64 Member Posts: 64
    It seems as though my car forgot how to adjust the mirror when I put it in reverse. So far, the key dependent settings have worked fine for the seat/steering column. Purchased the C240 May/01 and have 10,000 miles on it. Anyone else having trouble?
  • rainersrainers Member Posts: 50
    That was what happened to me. The rest is history. Check my post above (#4580). Try using the other remote in the ignition and see if the mirror begins working.
  • edarteedarte Member Posts: 41
    Actually that price was very good at the time I ordered. That included a discount of $1380 from MRSP back in April. At that time I don't recall anyone better than $1000 off MRSP. Remember this included all the options: Full Leather, Metallic Paint, Xenon, Moonroof, Heated Seats, Command(Voice-CD--Nav-Phone), Multi-contour seat. (working from memory here so I may have missed something. As I said ALL the options except sport) Plus taxes. Not sure what the discounts are now.

    In fact I suspect, for that time, it was a deal too good to be true. The dealership requested a high ($2000) deposit and I later learned that most were only putting $500 - $1000 down. While I cannot prove this, some posters have suggested that my car probably arrived much sooner and was sold to a customer who would not wait as long as I. The dealership had my money and me on the hook. Certainly sounds plausible. So either MB has a poor production system or a poor dealer - either way I lose. There was also the hoof & mouth delay on the leather and the salesman used this excuse. However I later learned of several others who had ordered then same type of configuration after me and received their car sooner.

    So, in future, if I have to wait for a car on order I hope to build something in the contract that puts it more in the dealer's interest to deliver ASAP. (maybe an incentive (e.g., $500) if the car shows up by some date?? Anyone have any ideas?

    By the way I got this big discount by first faxing all the dealers in the four bordering states. I negotiated fairly with all and never tried to play one off against the other. Just two go rounds asking for their best price on a specific car. I settled on Mark Motors because of the low price. My wife and I are systems consultants that move to the client so I had no strong expectation that I would still be in the same area half a year later - so no real affinity to the local dealer (who also sells Lexus and from whom I eventually bought). I think this may have also contributed to the lack of commitment from the dealer even though I was quite open about my tactics.
  • ahostahost Member Posts: 36
    I also experienced that. You can actually program the reverse setting of the mirror (something like pressing the M button while pressing the mirror adjustment at the same time, I don't remember exactly). It is somewhere in the manual.
  • edarteedarte Member Posts: 41
    Sorry I forgot to respond to the second part of your post re the 540. Yes, I did consider it. I started out assuming the 530 series was the car I would get. I had always like the exterior styling and had heard so much about the superior handling. However, as I said, I found the interior too bland. This probably offends the serious enthuisats but, for me, while driving, I spend all of my time inside of the car and only a small portion of that time taking S curves at 80+ MPH.
    My wife talked me into trying the 330 series. I had just assumed that the 5 would be better all round. IMO I was wrong. The 3 was more nimble and the newer interior was an improvement but still did not do it for me. What really surprised me was the minimal difference in interior space between the 3 and the 5. I can't understand why anyone would get a 5 series unless they just had to have the 8 cyls of the 540. So by that point having the extra power of the 540 did not make enough of a difference.
    I knew the new 7 was coming and did not want to buy the last model year. Plus I expected the new 7 to be more than I wanted to spend.
  • acco20acco20 Member Posts: 211
    Please, MB lovers... do not jump all over me,but..... comparing a Lexus LS430 to a MB C model is just not fair. That model Lexus is in another league. Edarte able to acquire a new 2001 within a few thousand dollars of what he was going to spend for the C is fortunate. Good luck with the new LS 430.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    ...I have observed more than once in this forum that some of the elevated MSRPs that have occasionally been mentioned here for heavily optioned C320s struck me as food for thought. Specifically, thinking about some of the alternatives out there that can be had for this kind of money, or perhaps a bit more. I regard the C240 as a reasonable value, a basic C320 as OK, a C230 Coupe as the sleeper bargain of the year...but a loaded C320 is really questionable in light of what this kind of $$ can fund. To each their own, of course....
  • edarteedarte Member Posts: 41
    First I want to set the record straight. I went back and checked my C purchase contract and it was actually $44,280, after discount & before taxes. This included all options I mentioned plus split seat. The LS price before taxes was $49,900. So I did pay about 5K more. Sorry for the error.

    However while Acco20 contends it is not fair to compare I respectfully disagree, as I think jrct9454 does as well. Yes, one is the top of the line Lexus and the other is closer to the bottom of the MB Line (no offense - still has potential to be a great car) the actual price difference for me seemed minor compared to the quality and feature improvement. Granted I was buying a 2001 but it is really brand new with full warranty. If you are considering the C (or especially the current E) especially with a lot of options you really should check out the Lexus line. I suspect this is obvious but for the odd person who had ruled Lexus out because it does not (yet) have the prestige that MB has you could be making a big mistake.

    Thanks to the other posters who wished me well in my Lexus I wish the same to all of you in your C's.

    Regards.
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    >Yes, one is the top of the line Lexus and the >other is closer to the bottom of the MB Line

    OH! How can you be so cruel! My second 2001 C320 cost $50K out-the-door -- a cash purchase, not a lease. What to do now with my one-million dollar new home! I am happy with the house, but it is also closer to the bottom in a neighborhood where there are two-million dollar homes :).

    Enjoy your Lexus and drive safe. I went for the Lexus top-of-the line but found the seats too low for me in all but their entry level. Then I went to Mercedes for a CLK and found it and the E Class seats also not high enough for me. Gave it some thought and concluded it would be easier driving a car out of which I could see. The 320 was perfect for me. Whether it be near the bottom or not, I have not regretted my decision. I love looking at the car and driving it. It seems value cannot always be put into dollars -- value is what works for you.

    Miki
  • mejitamejita Member Posts: 6
    I had the same problem with my mirror - it turned out that the toggle that switches the power mirror adjustor from the driver to the passenger side has to be set for the passenger side. In other words, the button on the right has to be pressed in.
  • rs64rs64 Member Posts: 64
    Thanks for the info. I will give it a try.

    Randy
  • dbbarrondbbarron Member Posts: 9
    I have decided on a C320 and wish to take delivery after the last snow, say April 1, '02. I prefer to have it built to order, so we need to factor in an order date of at least Feb 1 or earlier. Any guidance on negotiating a price. Am I apt to get a better price ordering/negotiating now, for a large lead time, or closer in. e.g., Would the end of Dec. be best to boost the dealers end of year ##s, or is that irrelevant since delivery and full payment would not be til '02.

    Moreover, anyone have experience with negotiating a price on a trade a few months prior to delivery. I imagine this agreement would presume, e.g., no more than x additional miles and substantially the same condition.

    Further, given the long lead time, any other possibilities/options to consider.

    Thanks in advance for any insight.
  • mejitamejita Member Posts: 6
    I have been watching the board for months now and have enjoyed everyone's insight. I have a 2001 240 that I took delivery of 6/01. The car now has 4500 miles on it.

    Overall, I love the car - I just have a couple of annoying issues I'm hoping someone can help me with.

    1. The car has never been in alignment - it pulls to the right, at first slightly, then severely. The dealership (Park Place - Dallas) supposedly aligned it last Saturday, although I cannot tell any difference in the way it drives. And yes, I am driving on flat, non-crowned surfaces. Any suggestions?

    2. My driver seat has forgotten the easy entry/exit feature. The steering wheel still moves up, but the seat won't budge. I have tried both keys, turning the feature on and off via steering wheel controls, etc. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, what was the solution?

    Thanks in advance for your help!
  • sddlwsddlw Member Posts: 361
    Why is comparing $ for $ not a valid comparison? I think it is the only way to compare becuase that is usually the first factor I use in selecting cars to evaluate for purchase. When a car gets to the $45-50K range, there are a lot of alternatives. Heck, even at the basic C240 level, there are a lot of very nice alternatives. I'm not meaning to bash MBs. My wife and I have owned 3 over the years. And there is not another brand that compares in the "feel" that an MB gives you while driving ...well even when it is parked. There is something about that 3-point star. ..... It works like Prozac and may be a lot cheaper than therapy. ....But, even so MB has got to be more competative $ wise and more reliable if they want to continue to dominate the near lux and lux market.
  • cbrown32cbrown32 Member Posts: 6
    Mejita, I can't help you with your issues, sorry, but maybe you can help me. I have a C 320 on order from Park Place that I should take delivery of in the next few weeks. What has your experience been with Park Place's Service Department? I hate the Service Department for my current car (Classic BMW) and am hoping that Park Place is an improvement. Also, did you get a good deal on your purchase or did you pay MSRP, which is what my sales guy tells me is standard. Thanks for any help you can give and good luck with your C!
  • rainersrainers Member Posts: 50
    I just got a call from the MB dealership and was told that MB has a total of 8 remote key memory slots for the C Class. The original remotes were for memory slots 1&2. They replaced them with 3&4 and this is why the seats do not adjust to the key that is inserted. They have re-ordered for new 1&2 remotes and will call me when they come in. Once these remotes are programmed to the car everything should be fine and the seats will adjust to the individual remote seat settings as they did before. I will let everyone know next week my outcome.
  • lenscaplenscap Member Posts: 854
    I'm not bashing Mercedes, and I think they're fine cars, but in response to your comments...

    "...MB has got to be more competative $ wise and more reliable if they want to continue to dominate the near lux and lux market."

    MB does not come close to dominating the near-lux and lux market even now. They are simply a major player like Lexus and BMW. Lexus outsold MB last year as a whole. The LS consistently outsells the S-Class, cars like the Acura TL and 3-Series outsell the C-Class and the M-Class has been no match for the RX 300. Only the E-Class is at the top of its category. That is not domination by any stretch.

    "And there is not another brand that compares in the "feel" that an MB gives you while driving ...well even when it is parked. There is something about that 3-point star."

    Maybe this is true for you, and I'm glad if it is. By I'm in my early 30s, and not me nor any of my friends would care to have a Benz at this stage in our lives. I don't know how old you are, but for my age group Lexus and BMW seem to provide the feeling you're describing. The 3-pointed star means nothing to me.

    Again, I'm not bashing MB, just separating your opinion from some facts and my own opinion.
This discussion has been closed.