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Mercedes-Benz CLK (2005 and earlier)
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Comments
Best Regards,
Shipo
HH - and now, for something completely different... did you end up joining the MBCA? If so, are you going to the tech event at Globe on Saturday? I'm going - should be interesting to see if we get real answers or fluff out of the MB techs.
The most loaded up I could get the car on price this car with options was around $12.5k in options. If you took the entire list of options and tried to get both the CD changer w/Telephone and the CD changer w/telephone w/voice activation, and then also got both the leather and sunroof by themselves and a second sunroof and more leather as part of the premium package. Then I could see it...
Are there other options that aren't listed, or did the reviewer just get slightly lazy?
As for the car, I like it but I don't know if I want to swing the extra money above my other options. I can buy it, or I can buy a GTI 1.8T w/leather and pay off the rest of my student loans for the same money.
-Brian
I've gotten higher. There are a few hidden costs. For example, there's a $1150 extra surcharge if you order a nonstandard interior/exterior colors combination, and this is in addition to whatever optional costs for metallic paint and leather interior.
If you go to MB's website and their Build-your-own page, you can see the numbers. Playing around, I was able to get up to a MSRP of $40,479.20 by choosing all of the expensive colors/options on Step 1 & 2 (including taking the value package instead of the individuals), plus on Step 3, just the 6CD changer, although this might be double-dipping with the telephone package (should be doublechecked).
So if I would have added the $399 Illuminated Front Door Sill Panels, I still would have been above $15K in options. I would easily believe that with the additional costs for cargo mats, roof racks and the like that another $1K could be added, if you really wanted to, so I don't think that a claim of $17K is completely out of sight.
-hh
PS: HH - and now, for something completely different... did you end up joining the MBCA? If so, are you going to the tech event at Globe on Saturday? I'm going - should be interesting to see if we get real answers or fluff out of the MB techs.
No, I haven't gotten around to that yet. We'll have to talk some more.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Best Regards,
Shipo
A week ago a car gang came through my neighbourhood. They jacked up my neighbour's SLK 320 and took the tires right off of it without setting off the alarm. They had started on my car, they had most of the lugnuts out of the tires, when something must have spooked them. All in all, we heard that 3 other Mercedes in our area all had the tires stolen off of them.
The moral of the story: your C-Coupe does not come with Wheel locks standard, so you better get some! You may think I'm a bonehead for not knowing this ahead of time, but you can bet I've learned my lesson!
I just hope I can put off backing into something for a while as I'm having trouble adjusting to the wavy plastic insert. I want to tint the windows and install XM satellite. Does a hole have to be cut through the ashtray bottom to install it there?
If anyone tinted the windows, did you do the back and what color and percent did you use?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The general fix is to open one, not both, of the side windows a bit.
-hh
I, like others, have noticed buffeting around 40-50MPH. I can't speak for my passengers (haven't had any in the back with roof open) but, the buffeting hasn't caused me physical pain.
I can't imagine the dealer coming up with a fix in this case. They'll probably tell you what Huntzinger said: It's a sunroof- wind comes in and resonates. Close the roof or open a window.
And now back to the subject of the Mercedes-Benz C230. Happy motoring!
Revka
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Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
Best Regards,
Shipo
I don't remember if you could control how far the sunroof opens when I drove the C230. You might try not opening the roof all the way and see if it helps. I loved the C230 sunroof when I drove the car, I think there will be some buffeting with just about any car with a sunroof open at some point.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Regards,
Daniel
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
Also, don't discount the rain sensing wiper aspect of the package - it's a great feature all on its own. Not worth the cost of thd C2 package by itself, but it's a nice throw-in in its own right.
Revka, glad that you were able to remove the offender.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Thanks for the input everyone!
Thanks,
Pablo
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Good luck
After the test drive and the decision to buy, my dealer went to her printouts to see what was coming in. Her 2003 list (which starts in June) did NOT include C230s. Instead, C190s noted as "(new engine)" were on the list. She said that MBUSA had apparently changed the engine to keep costs in line.
I was able to order one of the few C230s to be produced in May, but almost waited too long.
Has anyone else heard this? If it is true, and you have been waiting, don't wait too long.
http://mbspy.bacosys.be/index2.html
Look for the M271 Engine Series article - Misc near the bottom of the index page.
With supercharging, direct injection, balance shafts, and [I think] ULEV certification, these engines should be less thirsty and about the same in power for each of the older engines that they replace in the lineup.
Since the Coupe is the only MB currently sold here with a 4 cyl, and since there will no doubt be only the one engine choice for us, all of the verbiage about the rest of what the new family of 4 cyls will offer is beside the point.
Power and torque will be VERY slightly less than the current 2.3, but fuel consumption, smoothness, quiet, and emissions all favor the new engine. [Long story, but this should have happened about 5 years ago, however MB botched an earlier attempt to replace all of the old-gen 4s in the lineup...they are ready now to get on with it.]
I was very impressed with the dealer, with the Mercedes mystic, their leading-edge safety and service reputation, and with my road testing of the car. Although I was in the market for a BMW 3 series at the time, I was shying away from BMW after reading of all the problems owners were suffering from their electrical and mechanical problems during the last year. I especially felt that BMW in general, and the dealers specifically, were less than concerned with their customers problems then they should have been. Although the 3 Series drives/performs the best of all coupes in this category, I personally felt that the C230 with the 6 speed was close behind in fun to drive and road feel; and at $5k-10k less in price than the 3-Series, was the best choice. And I much preferred it to the WRX and RSX-Type S in ride, quality and comfort too. Just my two cents.
I am waiting for delivery on a black C230. I am wondering if the MB mud flap option will help in keeping the car clean. Has anyone bought them? Are there any pictures that show them?
CP
One poster recently mentioned that an MB dealership quoted that only 1.9L engines are coming this way for 2003 (although MBSPY only mentioned 1.8L and 2.0L engines). That could have been just a gimmick to get the buyer to sign on the dotted line
My take on this is that MB "might" introduce 2 engines for the C-Coupe -- a 1.8L/2.0L that generates 129hp/163hp and the 2.3L that generates 192 to 197 hp. Please note that the 1.8L is a non-supercharged engine. This is to further lower the price of admission and get the C-Coupe in Acura RSX price territory.
But, putting off buying a C230 Kompressor right now for new engines might not be the wisest as the new engines may have its share of teething pains. Also, the current engine is awesome as it is.
As for me, I just don't want to pay MSRP and am waiting for prices to fall since I'm a cheap [non-permissible content removed] (Plus, that G35 is so tempting).
Installation is a breeze. If you can change a tire yourself, you can install the mudflaps yourself.
I just found out that MB will discontinue the 4 year extended warranty after April 30, and increase prices of the shorter plans. I saw it on the E-class bulletin board, and just called my dealer who confirmed it. So, it's time to buy the extended warranty before it's too late. I'm in the process of buying now.
Also what sound system it goes with? and is there a sub in there? ( RSX-S got 7-speaker Bose sound system with a 4' sub in the spare-tire. and 6-disc in-dash changer with cassette player.) Thanks for help!!!
ps: just base on the car itself not the price please thanks!!!
I saw the pics and the mud flaps look great. I am definately going to have the dealer install them.
Since the topic is on the table as to whether or not the new engine family represents a real breakthrough, this Brit auto publication certainly thinks so. See their review of the MB 200 CGI. This engine is the one that gets the new gasoline direct injection system, which we probably won't see in our market for awhile, but reading between the lines tells me the new engines will indeed be a step forward.
See, the source of the noise and general roughness of the current 4 cyl [yes, yes, I know it's been improved in the last 2 years, but still is not state-of-the-art] is NOT just the supercharger per se, but rather a whole host of design details that are all addressed with the new engines. The balance shafts in particular have got to help, but there are literally dozens of small things MB has done in the new engine to make it a real breakthrough. For our market, where the supercharged engine will be the focus for now, it is important that the blower itself is now mechanically driven...the drive system was a source of some of the complaints about courseness in the current-gen iron block 4.
My drive earlier this year of a C230 Coupe indicated to me that I would have had no trouble living with this car for a long time - I can understand that current owners who are satisfied are skeptical that the new engines will really make much difference. Maybe not, but the early reviews are certainly positive...
CP
I am a former BMW owner and thought that was a great car too (don't shoot) but wanted a change. I test drove a few others including the IS300 and the RSX-S. The Merc drove the best, and although 0-60 might be 0.9 slower, I like feel of the low end torque that was absent from the RSX (plus I don't want to drive a car at a sustained 4.5K RPM so that I can get power as needed).
A stereo upgrade will probably be in the works, but I found out that if you didn't get the CD player or want a digital MP3 player, the Panasonic Cassette adapter works well. Unlike the Sony adapter, the Panasonic cable is flexible enough to be able to close the face plate without jamming it, and the passenger side net holds a CD player well.
Anyone chip the car or otherwise tweak the supercharger?
Never though of putting a portable CD player in the passenger side net. That's a great idea! Looks like I may not need to get an in-dash CD player after all.
- Paul