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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
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Comments
I hear by the end of this year ('03 model possibly) that a C320 will be available with Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic All Wheel Drive. They'd better do something to drop the price of it to make it competitive with Audi's Quattro & BMW's DSC-X (AWD systems priced at $1750). I think $Matic is a $3000 option on the E-Class right now!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Another strategy, would be to shop around get the best price and present it in writing to MB of Manhattan on the westside and they will match it. This dealership is actually owned by MB and you can't do better than that, in having the factory looking after your car.
That is my only regret in negotiating for my car that I found out after the fact that the manufacturer would have matched it. But when my lease is up in three years that is excatly what I will do, as I live in Manhattan. Good luck!
I found Alan easy to work with and very helpful. He helped me get what I needed at the best possible price, compared to other NJ dealers at the time. I also appreciate that he convinced me to lease/own a new MB - a difficult decision for me at the time, but an excellent one. The MB experience is something I truly enjoy, to include participating in this message board, both sharing with and learning from others.
Alan can be reached at (732) 549-6600.
Could anybody tell me where is the button? And, has anyone's fuel flap been stuck?
JR
I am worried about the cars finish
It is such a cheap thing, I don't think MB spends time and energy to make that.
If you really like that "original" German windhsield washer fluid, Wurth makes it, you can get it from motorhead.net:
http://www.motorhead.net/cgi-bin/viewproduct.exe?1014908&pdetail.htm
The volume of the wiper fluid container must be whopping big though because I've never had to refill it. I think each time you take your car in for service they refill it for you. In fact, I put the vials in the garage somewhere safe where they wouldn't get lost and now 3 years later I can't find them anymore.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
pisanglee@yahoo.com
M
A C320 Sports Coupe (Read: Hatchback) would be a nice addition with 23 more horsepower & 21 more ft-lbs of torque than the current C230 Kompressor. It would also fill a price gap (Mid $30s - Low $40s LOADED) in the MB lineup between the C230 Kompressor and the CLK 320.
I've been very impressed from what I've seen in dealer lots. Most of the C230 Kompressors are stickering for $28-$31K with a few exceptions. If they could do the same thing with the C320 Coupes and have most of them sticker in the $34-$37K range (barring fully loaded models with Command Systems ect...) it would be a good move for them.
The MB C-Coupes could essentially compete with the BMW 3 Series Coupes (and the Audi A3s that are coming to our shores).
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
What are the things such as tariff, paperwork, fees, that might be involved?
pisanglee@yahoo.com
I realize some options/colors take longer, but I will be flexible.
What happens if for any reason e.g. layoff, you decide not to buy the car after paying the deposit? Do you lose it, or is there any other penalty?
Cheers!
If you do not renew your TeleAid subscription, two things will happen:
1. You will receive an error message (and a warning chime) each time you insert the key in the ignition. The Benz is reminding you that there is a malfunction (due to failed signal for TeleAid)
2. The SOS button lights very brightly. It reminds me of a "Terminator" eye shining right into your right retina.
For these two reasons, and because of the safety factors, I plan on renewing. I could not take the stress of the constant error message, coupled with the bright red light shining into my eye at night.
So... you may want to think twice about that $240 savings...
Also at mbworld.org, a contributor (who claims to be a dealer from SoCal) says that the 2003 C 4MATIC will be released in October.
I certainly would never pay for that "service", having read many times of owners' experiences with the less than helpful minimum-wagers on the other end of the TeleAid line.
The "negative option billing" that M-B USA seems to be employing in the TeleAid situation is illegal in some Canadian provinces. I can't believe that it's legal (notwithstanding the contract language to the contrary) in the USA.
It makes me glad that TeleAid is optional in Canada. I guess we don't have to put up with the evil red eye and error messages if we don't order this overpriced option and pay its ridiculously high maintenance fee forever!
I've also heard from a dealer in NJ that 2003 4 Matic C-Classes will be available around October/November '02. Its funny you heard that froma So Cal Dealer. Who in SoCal needs 4matic anyway?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I guess MB is operating upon the premise that having the tele-aid system is like having insurance, and you don't want to be without it. MB has done an outstanding job of bringing the C-class - a superbly engineered vehicle - within the economic reach of many (to include myself), but it is too bad that this one option does not mirror that approach.
Imho it would make much more sense to lower the yearly fee to something reasonable - say $25 per year, and make up the difference on higher per-call charges like $10. when you really need to use it. I wonder how many people use it now, as the yearly fee is exhorbitant *and* there are per minute charges to boot!
- Paul_P
I'm interested in a pre-owned C-Class or E-Class (1994 - 1998). Would love to hear your ownership impressions as well as dealership maintenance experiences (good and bad).
Are these cars overrated or are their elevated prices justified?
Currently driving a '99 Accord with 85K miles that was purchased new. Has been an excellent car. Looking for safety and long-term durability in 1 package. Any advice is appreciated!
I bought a 1995 C-Class new in 1995, and drove it for 40,000 *very* careful miles. During that time the following items needed repair:
- Hood repainted due to paint spots on delivery.
- Front grille replaced due to buffing scratches at delivery.
- Power antenna motor replaced - making strange noise.
- Radio replaced because station search buttons lost tension and wore out (my fault for pressing so much).
- Instrument cluster replaced - gas gauge and tachometer inoperative when cold.
- Air Conditioning condenser replaced - no A/C during the summer of 1998.
- Trunk repainted for rust spots above license plate bracket in 1999.
- Climate control aspirator sensor fan in overhead console replaced after warranty expired, $95.00. Had been causing climate control to vary in temperature for months, but I never could figure out what was wrong.
All in all, because the car was under warranty I did not experience any economic hardship for these repairs - and was somewhat indifferent to their occurrence. However, had the car not been under warranty, I would have been taken to the cleaners as the above problems would have cost thousands of dollars to fix.
One of the main reasons I traded for a y2K model C-class was because of the warranty. I did not want to drive my 1995 and pay for repairs when I could trade for the y2K which (with extended warranty I bought) is covered through 2008. Also, by that time my 1995 C needed new tires because the sidewalls were starting to crack, and it also needed to have 3 scratches repaired and 3 wheels (that I scraped on curbs) refinished. Those items would have been at least two to three thousand dollars to have done at the dealership, so spending the extra cash to get a new C-Class made sense to me. The new model also was a special edition Sport with a two-tone leather interior and all the options I wanted previously, but could not afford when I leased/bought my 1995 C220.
I've not had any problems with the 2000 C-Class to date - not really a fair comparison however, as I only have 4,750 on the odometer. My second car and daily driver is a '93 basic Toyota truck with 139,500 on it. Cheap to drive, cheap to fix. Water pump replacement at 122,000 miles that I did myself in 4 hours only cost $27.00 for the parts!
That's my experience - hope it helps you in your decision. For me it was just as cost-effective to buy/lease a new Mercedes than to acquire a pre-owned one, as I did not want to gamble with potential maintenance costs and the car being out of service periodically. I would expect you to find the mid-90's C and E MB models to be reliable vehicles, but not quite as reliable as those from Japanese manufacturers. This is why I make my Toyota my daily driver - that and to keep the dings and scratches off my y2K C's brilliant silver finish!
Best of luck to you in your decision.
- Paul_P
When the BMW dealer appraised the car, it informed me that the entire car had been repainted. I was stunned, but was convinced when they showed me the evidence (paint thickness is 2-3 times the standard factory paint thickness, rough edges along the forward trunk edge, tape lines along inner door frames, etc...). These are things I never checked for or knew to check for since I was buying a new car that I had ordered from an established dealer. Naturally, this makes my car very difficult to sell & reduces the resale value by $2000 - $3000. I talked briefly to the MB dealer who has denied that they did anything to the car.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can proceed to get justice on a fradulent act by my dealer? I'm not looking for a long, drawn-out process, but a simple way to establish that the dealer was responsible for this deception & compensation for the loss of value & my time & effort to clear this up. Specifically, I would love advice on what people I should deal with at the dealer, MBNA & what documents will help support my case.
Thanks in advance for any help that you may be able to provide.
- Breakdowns/flats/out of gas assistance
- Serious accident watchdog
- Remote unlocking
- Theft recovery
- Travel information
- Ability to report an emergency
If none of this interests you then why pay for it?
If you have never taken advantage of any of these features then you are fortunate.
invoice: N/A
MSRP: $640
TMV: N/A
I assume that there is no invoice cost for metallic paint, but my dealer is certian that there is an aprox. $500+ invoice cost (I can't remember his exact quote), which he derived as a percentage of the MSRP. Is there such a cost, and if not, where can I find documentation that will convince him otherwise (i.e., does MB publicly post invoice prices, or will they provide this info if I contact them directly)?
THANKS!
CTW
However to avoid future stuck-on dust you may want to try washing the wheels then waxing their surface. I do this on my C-Class and afterwards, the brake dust always washes right off with a hose and car wash soap.
You'll probably want to wait until the brakes cool down before you wash your front wheels though. This will keep from possibly warping your brake rotors, as I had happen with my last C-Class. I am much more careful now.
- Paul
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can proceed to get justice on a fraudulent act by my dealer? I'm not looking for a long, drawn-out process, but a simple way to establish that the dealer was responsible for this deception.....
Icheu,
I have had several problems, all of which have been resolved by going to the MB Operation Manager for Service and Parts. One of which had to do with a small paint defect on my C320 delivered in December 2000, and I was unbelievably rewarded by my efforts. However, there is no such thing as a process that is not long or drawn out. It took me three months of faxing, calling and copying to many people. It is best if you concentrate on the deception by MB, rather than the fact you are going for a BMW. It is entirely possible you could get a replacement car from MB or compensation.
Miki
Miki