By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Dennett -- Thank you for putting me in my proper place
Enjoy your family over the weekend and drive safe.
Miki
1. Is the new-car four-year warranty O.K. for now?
2. Am I correct in that I have to buy an extended warranty before a year from date of purchase or delivery?
3. Are there several warranty plans and if so, which is considered the best choice?
4. I see info that they can be purchased at discount or elsewhere other than Mercedes? Is it better to purchase direct from Mercedes?
I visited Beverly Hills Motor Accessories today and saw all the beautiful AMG wheels Dennett mentioned -- works of art methinks.
Miki
1 and 2. YES, you have 1 year after the date of purchase to buy a ext. warranty from MB. If you plan to sell the car within the 4 year(50k miles) period, the I'd skip it. BUT if you plan to keep the car a while, then I'd strongly consider it. I am less concerned with engine, drive train and transmission issues, but the new C320/240s are loaded with electronics and future, out of warranty, problems could add up and cover the cost of an ext. warranty in no time!
3. There are 2 levels of plans from MB: standard and premium. Th premium is, IMHO, the only way to go, again, because of the extent of the coverage more than anything else.
4. I would definitely buy a MB extended warranty, not some other company's offer, primarily becuase it will be seamless to you in the event you need it. If you use a non-MB warranty, it is a more complex transaction when filing a claim.
5. Don't feel compelled to buy the warranty from your dealer. The premium version of the 48 month 50K mile Extended Warranty has a list price of $2,500. If you pay more than $1,800 to $2,000 for it, you are getting hosed by the dealer. My recommendation is to contact a participant of this board, sshowitt (email: modntractr@aol.com.) , and ask for the name and number of a couple of dealers who will seriously discount the warranties. (SSHOWITT has posted his offer of assistance many times on this Board so I am not out of place mentioning his offer now). I did this and I SAVED HUNDREDS of DOLLARS! Don't wave this in front of yoru dealer's face, just see if they are willing to negotiate. If not, then call the dealers who will. (P.S. Like you, I live in California and had not problem getting the warranty. I did it over the phone with a credit card. The paperwork is 100% MB).
Good luck and happy driving.
Thank you for the information, answers and guidance to my questions. It is a big help.
Actually, I did send an E-mail on 3/22 to SShowitt. I saw his message #2131 to jamrock in which he offerred discount info. I have not recd a reply yet.
I appreciate your taking the time to write such a
comprehensive post.
Miki
So, NOW I have the car payment, the car keys, the car operator's manual but....no car. Dropped it off in Munich on Monday at the hotel. EH Harms, MB's inland freight forwarder, told me that there is typically one boat per week headed to the U.S. Hope mine got up to Bremerhaven in time to make it here before the first payment is due!
Did everyone get the hardbound 370-page 'C-Class Operator's Manual' with the number '203' on the spine? I've read quite a few complaints here about the quality of the owner's manuals; however, I have found the one I got at the factory to be quite helpful. A degree in engineering would help as well....even the MB guy who explained my car to me at the plant got confused a couple of times. He was able to dig up an English manual for me on the spot - typically, they don't put them in the cars until they hit the U.S. I made sure that he showed me everything, including the memory seats. The one thing I noticed on Monday before I dropped it off was that the 'easy exit' feature for one of the keys was only moving the steering wheel when the key was removed. I'll have to check it out more thoroughly once my car arrives home (I'm fixing up a nice comfy part of the garage for the new baby...).
Tarik: We'll have to call it a draw on the question a few weeks back about the work schedule on the C-Class line. The answer is:
5 days per week on the final assembly line (2 shifts)
7 days per week on the stamping line (2 shifts)
This came straight from the dude giving the factory tour (very cool tour, by the way).
Miki
I'm happy to hear you enjoyed your trip, even though the weather in deutschland wasn't very inviting the last couple of weeks, I hear.
As to the work schedules, the lazyness of those Germans impresses me over and again ;->
When I left there 6 1/2 years ago, they were greedy and working hard. Appears that the latter is no longer part of the equation...
How did you get along driving in and around Germany? What impression did drivers make on you in terms of friendlyness, agressiveness (is this a proper English term?), and being alert? Did you even look at anything else but your baby's cockpit, LOL?
Tarik
Thank you -- I did receive your E-mail. It contained lots of good information for me and was well worth waiting a day, or two or more
Miki
A friend of mine met us at the train station in Stuttgart and drove us down to the Sindelfingen delivery center. I mentioned the stuff I have read about the new C's squealing brakes, and he said right away that alot of German cars have that same issue unless you hit the brakes hard every now and then, which of course happens several times each trip on the Autobahn.
Judging from what I saw at the MB Delivery Center, I would say that Desert Silver is THE color of choice these days. They said that about 500 cars per day are delivered through the center, with about 40 on the floor when I was there. It was a real sea of silver that day.
The guy at the MB factory told me to keep it under 4000 RPM for the first 1500km, which I did until the last day (I figured 1300km was close enough, and hey, when was I going get another chance, right?). Got it up to 115mph at around 4400 RPM. You haven't lived until you've dropped it into 6th gear at 80mph as you blow by the Polizei.....
Tarik: I found a good Web site on driving in Germany, and got along pretty well (and even used 'eine Umleitung' off the A5). I found the Germans a bit crazy, although for the most part fairly safe - I did see a few deliberate right-hand passes.
I have found the seat memory often has its own agenda. When your car is in its new home, you will know better what is happening. You might have moved a seat position for an adjustment after you started and did not lock it in by pressing both memory buttons. If exit enabled is important to you, be sure to check out if the memory holds three different positions on each key with exit enabled. Or, the program/convenience features might have been set differently or changed when using the functions from the steering wheel.
It must have been difficult leaving your car in someone else's hands after you bonded. I hope it has a safe journey across the C to you.
Miki
I feel that a properly maintained benz doesn't show its age or mileage and have experience with my dad's w-126, one of the most beautiful benz sedans made, I think. What are the most common trouble spots for the 1996-1999 C-Class (both C280 and C230)?
Also, if anybody could indulge me with typical annual running costs of their C230 or C280 wrt to routine maintenace at the dealer and insurance costs, that would be fantastic :-)
Thank you in advance.
Can only speak for myself.. my 99 230k has been flawless from day one and i've put about 40,000 miles on it now. Goes like a bat out of h*ll, it's just so hard not to because you don't realize how fast you're going till you look at the speedo. The scheduled maintenance A & B services are a bit pricey, but quite comprehensive. My dealers service rates are $80 Cdn ($50 US) per hour..and to my surprise thats $10 bucks cheaper than the Ford dealer across the street who charges $90, albeit he's the most expensive Ford dealer service dept. in town to quote them.
Im not happy with the body style of the Lexus ES300 vs the MB C 320.
I'd appreciate any help and/or opinions.
Thank you
Now I have one more question. My car has rain sensor on the windshield. Will it still work if I decide to replace the windshield?
I waited for my C for 3 months. It seems like the demand of floor mats isn't any lower than the car. But I do get 20% off for the mats. Ha!
My other option is to wait and see what the new Jaguar X-type is like. It will have all wheel drive and in theory should be a best winter car.
David, who lives on a small mountain in Maryland
I also, finally, used the touch paint I ordered to fix a couple of chips. The paint is a perfect match! The chips are still visible along the edges, but only to me, and I really have to look closely to find them now! They were all along the front spoiler, and quite low, so they're fixed as far as I'm concerned. If any of you have similar chips get the touch up paint, I paid $12, and fix them. It's well worth the time!
I have read a number of posts from Canadians stating that the E320 with the ESP,but without 4-wheel drive is not sufficient for daily driving in their conditions.
The dealer told me that Merc has moved to accept only
sticker for all of their cars like Saturn's one price policy.
Is this true? Is there a way to deal on the price?????
Please help before I spent my money....
"to help ensure this power is properly and optimally harnessed - especially in compromised conditions - a traction control system (TCS) is standard on all Saab 9-5 models. Constantly monitoring signals from the anti - lock braking system sensors, tcs is designed to detect wheelspin and step in by applying the brakes, and if necessary, reducing engine power, to restore traction. An obvious benefit in slippery conditions, TCS is also utilized when cornering, reducing the risk of wheel spin and helping promote reliable stability and control."
Sounds like they've got it covered, too.
The dealer told me that Merc has moved to accept only
sticker for all of their cars like Saturn's one price policy.
Is this true? Is there a way to deal on the price?????
Please help before I spent my money....
Anthony
I believe the quote from the Saab manual is a perfect description of ASC, or Acceleration Slip Control, in Mercedes-Benz terminology. That is, an electronic control system for limiting wheelspin upon acceleration.
Do not confuse this with ESP, which is wholly more sophisticated. For example, it senses yaw and steering input and prevents the loss of vehicle control in most situations (such as oversteer or understeer), which is definitely not a feature of ASC alone.
Mercedes goes to great pains to mention that ESP includes ASC. ESP and ASC are not the same thing.
About the debate over vehicle handling in snow, having driven FWD cars in snowy Canada (when I lived in the Interior of BC) for a long time and also having driven many RWD cars in winter, I fail to find many arguments in favour of FWD. It is generally true that FWD will give better traction on acceleration. But unless the FWD car is inherently oversteering in nature (such as my Peugeot 405), terminal understeer will be on the cards, which makes rapid, calm and safe progress in snow very unlikely. Most FWD cars are terrible "understeerers".
I would consider a RWD car with 4 snow tires and ASC/ESP to be more than a match for nearly every FWD car available. Few FWD cars have Limited Slip Differentials (or the electronic replacement for LSD, ASC) because of the unfortunate steering side-effects that they can induce. When added to torque steer, FWD cars can be a real handful in snow or the wet. Especially very powerful (say > 150 HP) ones.
The tires are the key - anyone into serious winter driving (FWD or RWD) needs four high-quality snow tires.
All season tires are crap, being fully competent in neither dry nor slippery conditions. Plus they are the reason why BMW and Mercedes-Benz put speed limiters on their North American cars -lousy HR tires. Grrr.
Mike
Dennett -- I am glad the procedure was a success and the car survived.
Miki
On another note, has any one used the remote vehicle unlock service yet?
Please please please God give me a functioning key, trunk, and no brake squeal. At least.
Haggling about rim upgrades...the dealer doesn't want to budge. Considering the "Twin 5-Spoke" as I'm not too fond of the stock rims, and I would just put good snow tires on those.
Curious about the "Premium Extended Warranty," as I will probably have the car beyond 5 years. How much does it cost?
Can't wait...15 years in two Nissan Sentras...I've paid my dues. :-)
Love the car. Yes, the brake squeal appeared after 185 miles, not lound, but is there. My distinct problem is Climate Control. It heat and heats and heats. It won't cut off. We're going to see the dealer this afternoon.
included in the deal such as floor mats or cd changer?? If so, how did you ask for it?
Also, is there anyone out there can confirm Merc's one price policy?
I am willing to pay sticker if this is indeed the Merc company policy....
Any experiences with a tire like this and 17 inch rims?
This is for a non sport C320.
James South Florida!
Good luck.
P.S. - I have had none of the problems which some of the posters have had.
If they say no deal for new C's screw them. Try another dealer, or call back and try to get another salesperson. You can always get a deal.
What are you planning on purchasing? Options?
Let us know what you work out.
greg@thedailydonut.com
greg@thedailydonut.com