To expand on the subject of your sending a message to another driver when in traffic, I used the words, "I might send the wrong message to the wrong tailgater who returns the message with a shot in the head. ". I meant this statement in a very broad sense. with some humor (that is a smilie with a grin). That said, I think it is important to remember we never know what the person in the other car is about, or carrying; and it benefits our safety and that of the people we care about to not get involved in personal reactions while driving to avoid any negative reciprocity. It only has to happen once!
of course you are absolutely correct.. there are any number of weirdos driving with who knows what agenda.... no need to apoligise! thats for sure! though id never intentionally drive in a manner that might even be interpreted as "road rage".and for the sake of public safety..as well as my own id probably move over... and allow the jerk to pass.. id raise the shade 1st...
To those of you who had your first oil change done early at approx 3,000 miles -- Would you have done so if the Mobil 1 had already been in your C at delivery? There were some posters who said they did the early oil change to remove new-car sludge and some to get the new synthetic Mobil 1 into the car.
Mike&Mike: I hate the behavior as well (people do it wayyy too much in the Boston area). The problem is they are making a whole bunch of "bad driving behavior" equal to "road rage".
I would like some feedback on my first-ever experience with the Mercedes dealer. I am interested in the C-320 and recently took it for a test drive. I asked the salesperson about getting the 3% dealer hold back deducted from the MSRP if I ordered a Mercedes (I do not want the sunroof). The sales person told me that Mercedes does not deduct the 3% AND that, since 2000, Mercedes no longer negotiates on the price. In other words, she said that there's a built-in 9% markup that is on-negotiable. I would like to hear if this is the case all over the US , or just a wacky story from Atlanta? I appreciate any comments, THANKS! Marie
Gary and Dennett -- Thanks for your patience with me, since it is the second time I am asking about changing oil before scheduled 10,000 miles. I want to do it right with the Obsidian, even if it comes in with Mobil 1.
Did the salesperson tell you that it came with factory filled Mobil 1, or was there actual literature included with the vehicle that said that it had Mobil 1? AFAIK, none of the vehicles, other than the AMG tuned ones, come factory filled with Mobil 1. It's only for the first scheduled oil change that the oil is replaced, that is in the US. MB Canada has not adopted the synthetic oil policy. If you look under the hood of an AMG-tuned vehicle, you will see MB/Mobil 1 sticker. Does your car have that? If not, I'd suspect that it is still factory filled with regular mineral oil (gives a chance for the engine to break-in).
Curious to read your response, Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
you cant go wrong having your oil changed more often than the prescribed milage(approx 10,000 miles).it may be argued that it may be unneccessary... but certainly can only benefit the long term performance of the engine..considering the minimal cost... ive always felt its a"no brainer" IMHO
Here we go again....I know there was several discussions regarding car care in the past. But I was wondering what the best car wax there was out there to protect against salt and the elements. Many people swear by Zaino but I've heard mixed things about it, including the silicone buildup. What is a good car wax to use that will protect, not negatively effect the paint surface (in any way), and make the car look good (in that order of importance). Any help would be appreciated.
Sandy, Try going to www.meguiars.com and filling in the Paint Care Prescription form. It looks like it will accept Cdn postal codes etc...Based on that and a number of other factors (it will tell you what the "acid rain" is like in Toronto, etc...) it returns a detailed prescription for your model year car, clear coat paint etc... Also there is a Care & Maintenance discussion link at the top of this page - MB C Class Owners.
Any of these excellent products: Klasse, Liquid Glass, Meguiar's, Mothers, Pinnacle, Zaino, Zymol will make the C shine beautifully. Cdn winters and road salt require frequent washing IMO... Ian
Acutally, while it may or may not be against the law to not use your blinkers, my dad told me he always uses his blinkers, even when there was "no one around", because, that is usually when somebody is hiding in your blindspot. Just a thought.
Dealer changed my engine oil(1400 miles) with Mobil 1 synthetic to reduce the vibration during cold start. The MB USA rep. said that this is a normal characteristic for the 320 engine. The purge valve was replaced also. Now I can barely hear the ticking noise.
You are absolutely correct. Using the blinker on all lane changes is a very good habit. Maybe that's why Mercedes made it so easy with the C Class (simple flick of the turn signal lever nets 3 blinks of the turn signal lights) Speaking of good driving habits, I was chasing some idiot way back when at 110 MPH for many miles. Every time the fleeing felon made a lane change he signalled!! True story!
I ordered a c240 on Jan 19 and will be picking up on 04/25. Brilliant silver, ash, C1, C2, Bose, Auto, Multicontour seat, Premium leather. Paid MSRP. Dealer is giving CD changer and mats for free. I'll be leasing this car for 36 months/15K miles per yr. Residual 67% and MF is 0.00354. According to my calculation, the payment with 6% sales tax should be around 600. Does this deal sound reasonable ?
Just got back from my 2400 mile trip to Wisconsin and back. 28.9 MPG going north, 27.9 MPG on the return trip. Averaged 63 MPH both ways.
No paint chips. Thanks Zaino! Bose was excellent. We like to rent audio books for long trips and the "Speech" option works great. I did not see another 01 C the entire trip. 36 hours of seat time and after finding the right settings, I was very comfortable. My batteries went dead in my key. I replaced them today and I still can not unlock the car. Must be something else. My wife's key is broken. The latch for the battery access is gone.
In North Carolina, if the turn signal is on, it came that way from the factory.
I used the sun shade a lot at night, especially in city traffic. We drove through Cincinnati the night of the riots. I am sure glad I was not "Sending any Messages". We did not know about any of the problems until the next day.
Does anyone else try to signal turns with the cruise control lever?
Never got over 80 MPH. I must have seen 25 patrol cars.
My Father-in-Law passed away on Good Friday (91 years old) and we were blessed with a new granddaughter the following Tuesday. We were there for both events. The Circle of Life is amazing.
I am Interested in a Orion, Capri, or Midnight Blue C320. Any comments on the differences? How firm is the $1,000 special order charge, and where does it go?
Has anyone experienced a draft running through the body cavity of the C when the sun roof is in "tilt" position while moving? You feel the draft when you put your hands over the small speakers (tweeters) in the door next to the side mirror or even the seat controls. Was this an intentional design "feature"? I asked my service guy and he replied it must have been something they mean't to do and thus will not cause any problems.
Wow, are there ever differences between MB USA and MB Canada when it comes to paint choices!
Not to mention the models offered - in Canada you can get into a C 240 Classic (steel wheels, classical MB grille, a few other differences) for about $24 K US. Because I'm cheap, that's going to be my choice when the time comes.
Magma red is a standard ("free") colour in Canada. All metallic colours cost the same ($860 CDN - $550 US) and there's no such thing as the "special order charge". Same story in Europe, although the odd-ball Designo colours cost more than normal metallic paint. On the other hand, our "sunroof only" option costs about the same as the US "C2", which includes roof + power blind! Good deal for the USA!
Dennett is right, though, get the colour you want, even if it involves the $1625. I guess MB USA and the dealer split the $1000 windfall "special order" charge.
Hmmm, it seems as though the marketing people have been running amok, as the prices charged for paint and other options are, shall we say, a "tiny bit" unrelated to the cost.
This reminds me of when I worked in a Volvo parts department one summer. A guy came in to order new front fenders for his 123 GT. I had to attempt to explain to him why the LF one cost twice as much as the RF one. That right hand fender press must have been REALLY difficult for Volvo to make ;-)
Regarding the question about the Midnight, Capri and Orion blue, I can offer the following personal opinions. Midnight blue is OK, but not too distinctive. A cool, dignified but sober colour.
Capri blue is perhaps slightly lighter than Midnight blue, but the metallic effect seems to make the former appear purple-ish in some light and even medium blue in bright sunlight, at least on the bodywork highlights (panel curves for example). I like Capri blue a lot, but I also like the charcoal interior so that kind of rules Capri out for me, as a lighter interior would be preferred with a dark blue.
Orion blue is really bright, very flashy, very nice but perhaps a little over the top for a sedan. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice blue, but maybe better suited to a sports car. Or a C 32?
You didn't mention it, but the Wedgewood blue is very nice too, sort of a blue-green, although it's a lot lighter than the other blues. In fact, it almost looks silver in some light conditions. We'll probably get this colour when our turn to order a C comes, unless a new palette becomes available by 2003 and/or WW blue is dropped.
Hi All, I picked my Brillant Silver up at Prestige in Paramus, NJ almost 4 weeks ago. Posted then - had a GS300. Remember my keys went bad within hours. Well, now I have three working keys and have gotten use to this car and love it. Prestige Service seems great - gave me an extra Cd holder. One thing, someone who had an E had just gotten a C320 and posted about not having exit lights - I thought he said on the door. Others wrote and said they were there. I cannot seem to find them. Also, can you set the passenger mirrow to go down to a set position. Boy one more, I am the only driver - should I have that key setting on computer to OFF - it came that way. Have many been lurking but sure do enjoy this board.
Just passed the six-month point with my C320. 4800 miles. Absolutely no problems with anything, except the "12:03 steering wheel" which came with the car and was promptly realigned by the dealer. A few weeks ago, I participated in a BMW "Ultimate Driving Machine" demo and driving school in the San Diego Qualcom Stadium parking lot. They let us test drive all BMW models and flog 2001 330i's (or 530i's or X5's) around a closed autocross course (with a pro race driver onboard). I was truly impressed with the 330i's (sport model) acceleration, handling, and braking, but on the other hand, I've never driven my car as hard (and won't). When it was all over, I was happy to drive away in my MB.
Dennett: Yup, that's me in the Autoweek C320 review. Also, I got my oil changed to Mobil 1 at 4400 miles at MB of SD. They were confused about how to price it with me supplying the oil. The total cost was $20.79, which included $13.20 for the filter, $1.90 for waste disposal, and $.99 tax. That indicates that the labor charge was $4.70!!! At that price, I may have to get the oil changed every couple thousand miles!
Thanks Tom (aka Stirling Moss). The dealer used 8.5 quarts right ? (that you supplied). I just scheduled first oil change (in 3 weeks) I should be around 3500 miles then. Picked up 2 boxes (six quarts each box) at WalMart last night for $26.80 a box (or $4.46 per quart) of Mobil 1 Synthetic 15W50. Ian
Just picked up a new C240 sport last week & last night noticed a very quiet rumble in the upper console (interior lights). It's only noticeable when the car is completely shut down & parked in a quiet spot. It sounds like there may be a little fan up there that runs for a while after the car turns off, but I wasn't patient enough to wait for it to shut down. Does anybody know if there is in fact a fan in the upper console, or should I be worried? Great car, by the way- I'd recommend it to anyone.
Do you have the residual heater set on - it may run the fan for a while after shut down. Look in the manual for information on this feature and play with the settings (I believe it is a dash switch) to see if that is the nature of the noise.
For some strange reason, Walmart charges more per quart for Mobil 1 packaged six quarts to the box, then it does per quart when you buy them individually! I saw the about the same price per box in San Diego that you paid, but the loose quarts were $3.78 each. Maybe the box itself is valuable!! Anyhow, I bought 9 quarts and put them in my trunk for the MB service people. When I picked up the car, I found one-half quart, carefully wrapped, in the trunk. I presume the other 8 1/2 quarts went into the engine.
What I'm about to ask is very elementary and please be patient with me for I haven't seen a 5sp auto trans. before. As my understanding the M-B C320 came with 5-speed automatic transmission... So, is it just like a 4sp auto where you pretty much don't have to bother with the stick? I really want to own a M-B. However, I don't know how to drive a manual trans. Also, I'll be driving this car back and forth from work, and I don't think I can tolerate a manual trans. for traffic down here is bumper to bumper!
A 5-speed auto is the same as the 4-speed auto, with one more gear. They are both auto transmissions. All you have to do is to put it on D and drive away.
A 5-speed auto is better than a 4-speed auto because your car has more choices of gears to choose from. A CVT (continuosly variable transmission) would theorectically be best since it will keep the engine running in it's sweet spot all the time.
This time it doesn't go down once it is tilted up. Dealer had it for two days already, and still doesn't know what is wrong. They are going to install a new motor and re-program the whole thing this afternoon. Now I am worried that something else might go wrong soon. However, my sales person just told me that if the same problem happens over 3 times in a short period of time, and the dealers cannot fix it, MBUSA will give me a new car! Is that true? Does anyone have details on Lemon Law? If they indeed give me a new car, what is going to happen with the sound system that I put in recently and the tinted windows? What about the DMV registrations and other paper works? Please share your experiences. Thx!
I don't think it is common information because my salesman and service advisor at Mb didn't know this, but the 2001 S and Classes don't have radio codes any more. In the past if you disconnected the battery or removed the radio, you had to enter a 5 digit code on the radio to activate it to play. Now, with the new 2001 S and C classes, the radio code is in the smart key chip, so everytime you put the key in the ignition it sets the code for the radio. RSL007
insert key... turn.. and drive.... the 5th gear is hmm i guess like "overdrive" lets you cruise at highway speeds using less gas..on the other hand.... if you want more interactive fun with your car.. play a bit with the select shift!no,its really not the same as a stick.. nor difficult to understand,or drive... just gives you a bit more torque(pick up) if and when you need it.BUY IT! YOU LL LIKE IT! RE sun roof... while browsing through the manual,i did read that you can "resynch" the sunroof by yourself... try that and see of you can do anything.it was verrryyyyy annoying when i had to fidget with the sunroof to get it to work.
Jerry -- here is some info on the "Lemon Law". You can do a search to find your state.
The "Lemon Law" is simply a term that is used to cover a body of laws that protect the consumer from goods sold that are defective and under warranty and to provide a means to recover any loss one may have incurred due to the defective product. The "Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act" is the federal "lemon law" act and in conjunction with this all but 2 states have enacted "lemon laws" of their own. These laws very from state to state but they all hold similar things in common. They are as follows: 1. They require the manufacture of the vehicle not the dealer to remedy the problem. The dealer may have the authority to do the repairs but the ultimate responsibility for the warranty falls on the manufacturer. (Unless of course the warranty was issued by the dealer which occurs at times with used vehicles). 2. The defect must substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle and the manufacture must have been given sufficient time to remedy the problem. If the problem is not remedied the consumer has a right to a refund or a replacement. 3. The question of what is sufficient time to repair a problem or defect varies somewhat but in general it's as follows: a.) If the problem or defect involves a serious safety issue such as the brakes or the steering then the manufacture is given one (1) opportunity to fix the problem. b.) If the problem is a safety issue but not serious then the manufacture is given two (2) attempts to repair. c.) If the defect is not directly safety related then the manufacture is given three (3) or four (4) attempts to fix the problem depending on the state. At issue here is the warranty! If a car is purchased without a warranty then the "lemon law" does not apply per se. Other laws may be applicable such as "breach of contract" which goes beyond our scope of discussion and one is encouraged to consult with their attorney on such an issue. Each state has enacted different guidelines as to the period of time within which a vehicle is "presumed" to be "lemon".(You can take a look at the "State Summary" page on this site for the guidelines in your particular area.) As an example in California the state "lemon law" is the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It is "presumed" a vehicle is a "lemon" if a problem is addressed within the first 12,000 miles or 12 months of the vehicle purchase. In this case its up to the manufacture to prove that the vehicle is not a "lemon". If a vehicle defect is not addressed within this time period then the burden of proof falls on the consumer. The criteria is not whether the vehicle has been brought in three or four times during the first 12 months or 12,000 miles but only if the problem has been addressed even once during that period.
Each states "lemon laws" regarding the "coverage period" will vary. There may be factors in an individuals case that falls outside of the covered period. One is advised to seek the advice of an attorney in their area regarding the specific issues. Take a look at the "State Summary Page" for some general information thats particular to your area.
CALIFORNIA Vehicles used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, excluding motorcycles, portions of motor homes used primarily for habitation, or off-road vehicles. Includes the chassis, chassis cab and that portion of a motor home devoted to its population, includes a dealer-owned vehicle and a "demonstrator." 4 repair attempts - 30 calendar days out of service 1 year - 12,000 miles which ever occurs first.
Yup, there is a coolant recirculation pump that does turn on for about 5 minutes after the car is shut off. It's to keep the coolant moving in the aluminum alloy engine block so as to prevent hot spots from being created. Nothing to worry about.
Don't miss the weekly MB Tuesdays chat at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10pm Eastern! All MB fans/enthusists/owners/potential owners are welcome to participate. Hope to see you there!
Click on the link below to enter the chat at the times above. Note that the link to the chat is always near the top of this page, just under the discussion topic title:
Considering buying a C240, haven't seen much on performance. Does anyone know what 0-60 time is and does it feel torquey or sluggish with the automatic. Will be driving one soon but interested in other opinions. Oh yeah, if you own one of these, how do you feel about it? Thanks!
I just came back from Prestige Service in Paramus NJ. They took off some grease on car and washed it. People there are great. Anyway, saw a Brillant Silver like mine but had no mirrors. Asked what was wrong. Well they were stolen - not in NYC but from the woman's driveway. Servic guy told me this was the 2nd case they had since November. By the way found the exit lights. Still having problems setting passenger mirror in down positinn for reverse. Read the manual but any ideas what I am doing wrong. Do not have computer set with the "KEY POsition " since I am only driver. Is that the problem??
My dealer finally fixed the sunroof problem. This time, according to the service doc., they changed the entire control module which includes the interior-light controls and "sos" connection. The initial bill comes out to $423, and am I lucky that MBUSA is picking that up. They gave the car a good wash, and everyone came out to apologize. No Kidding! However, my sales person is encouraging me to keep records of all the repairs and dates. According to him, if I do get a new car it will be counted as another sale for him. (I cannot believe that he is making commission on a lemon replacement) Anyway, everything works for now.
>my sales person is encouraging me to keep >records of all the repairs and dates.
Jerry -- I am the Queen of Record-Keeping ) Be sure to note on your computer every time you drop by the dealer with a problem with date and outcome -- not just for repairs. Sometimes, depending on the situation, I faxed the service manager to reiterate in detail what happened on that visit. This way you have more solid confirmation of what has been done or not done to your car. I keep everything on the computer. If you have something go wrong and it keeps reoccurring, you can always send copies of your faxes to the powers that be showing some history.
Just got back from my first trip with "Benjamin" up to Wisconsin. What a blast! Everything went well, but it was sure hard minding the "break in" requirements. Question for the board who have all been very helpful... during the last five miles or so of the trip, we started noticing a "thunk" sound coming from what seemed to be the rear speakers. The thunk occurred about every three minutes. It happened when the CD was playing, but then occurred when we switched to radio as well. I thought it might be the mid size cooler (which was more or less empty) in the trunk sliding around except my passenger in the rear seat thought it was coming from the speakers. Also it did not strictly occur during acceleration, deceleration or turning. Any thoughts or advice before I raise it with my dealer? Thanks as always.
>According to him, if I do get a new car it will >be counted as another sale for him. (I cannot >believe that he is making commission on a lemon > >replacement)
Jerry,
Every now and then a replacement is given, not because the car is a "lemon", but because something the dealer may or may not have done is responsible for customer dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the car. In this case, the dealer assumes the major financial responsibility and methinks the salesperson does not get commission. This is not to say that your car would or would not have been considered a "lemon".
For the passenger side mirror to tilt down when in reverse you must have set convenience -> mirror setting when parking "ON", and the passenger mirror switch depressed - I leave the driver's side mirror button depressed unless I want to see the curb
First, I just want to thank everybody who contributes all the valuable information and advise to this board. I've been following it for about 2-3 months now, and during this time, I have learned more than I need to know about this car. Though, this is my first time posting.
I guess, this is partly why I decided to drive up to one of the dealer in NJ and place an order for the 2002 model. The sales person I dealt with was surprisingly nice and honest! I told him that I want the car in mid July, and according to the information that I got from this board, the car should be a 2002 model. Then he came back with a stack of paper, which shows all the cars on order / allocation for his dealer. After looking through it, he pointed out that he has 3 C320s available for June production for July dilevery, and the paper confirms that they are 2002 model. Naturally I proceed to talk price. Here is what I want: C320, Capri Blue, Ash interior, C1 (don't know if this is going to be std. for 2002 C320), C2, C3, C4, Command, Xenon, Leather and Glove box CD changer. He added them all and gave me the total (for 2002 price estimate). I ask him up front if he can cut me a deal. He thought for about 3 seconds, and gave me a price that was about 1,300+ less than MSRP. I said, how about all season floor mat included. He nodded, then I said, "Looks like we have a deal". Extremely pleasant experience overall, and I can't wait for my car to arrive. Oh, one last thing, he requires no deposit.
Once again, I would like to thank everyone on this board
A guy, who is soon going to be a full member of MB family.
The obvious advice is to remove the cooler from your trunk and see if the "thunk" sound is still there, with and without the radio/CD on. If it is with audio on, it could be the large (bass) speaker in the "parcel shelf" is short-circuiting. If it's still there with the radio off, who knows? Poltergeist?
Comments
zmeenow,
I misunderstood and I apologize.
To expand on the subject of your sending a message to another driver when in traffic, I used the words, "I might send the wrong message to the wrong tailgater who returns the message with a shot in the head.
Miki
no need to apoligise! thats for sure!
though id never intentionally drive in a manner that might even be interpreted as "road rage".and for the sake of public safety..as well as my own id probably move over... and allow the jerk to pass.. id raise the shade 1st...
zmeenow,
'Tis with a sigh of relief that I read your post.
Miki
Miki
I hate the behavior as well (people do it wayyy too much in the Boston area). The problem is they are making a whole bunch of "bad driving behavior" equal to "road rage".
Marie
Miki
Curious to read your response,
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Try going to www.meguiars.com and filling in the Paint Care Prescription form. It looks like it will accept Cdn postal codes etc...Based on that and a number of other factors (it will tell you what the "acid rain" is like in Toronto, etc...) it returns a detailed prescription for your model year car, clear coat paint etc...
Also there is a Care & Maintenance discussion link at the top of this page - MB C Class Owners.
Any of these excellent products: Klasse, Liquid Glass, Meguiar's, Mothers, Pinnacle, Zaino, Zymol will make the C shine beautifully. Cdn winters and road salt require frequent washing IMO... Ian
The purge valve was replaced also. Now I can barely hear the ticking noise.
Residual 67% and MF is 0.00354. According to my calculation, the payment with 6% sales tax should be around 600. Does this deal sound reasonable ?
Thanks
No paint chips. Thanks Zaino!
Bose was excellent. We like to rent audio books for long trips and the "Speech" option works great.
I did not see another 01 C the entire trip.
36 hours of seat time and after finding the right settings, I was very comfortable.
My batteries went dead in my key. I replaced them today and I still can not unlock the car. Must be something else. My wife's key is broken. The latch for the battery access is gone.
In North Carolina, if the turn signal is on, it came that way from the factory.
I used the sun shade a lot at night, especially in city traffic. We drove through Cincinnati the night of the riots. I am sure glad I was not "Sending any Messages". We did not know about any of the problems until the next day.
Does anyone else try to signal turns with the cruise control lever?
Never got over 80 MPH. I must have seen 25 patrol cars.
My Father-in-Law passed away on Good Friday (91 years old) and we were blessed with a new granddaughter the following Tuesday. We were there for both events. The Circle of Life is amazing.
Not to mention the models offered - in Canada you can get into a C 240 Classic (steel wheels, classical MB grille, a few other differences) for about $24 K US. Because I'm cheap, that's going to be my choice when the time comes.
Magma red is a standard ("free") colour in Canada. All metallic colours cost the same ($860 CDN - $550 US) and there's no such thing as the "special order charge". Same story in Europe, although the odd-ball Designo colours cost more than normal metallic paint. On the other hand, our "sunroof only" option costs about the same as the US "C2", which includes roof + power blind! Good deal for the USA!
Dennett is right, though, get the colour you want, even if it involves the $1625. I guess MB USA and the dealer split the $1000 windfall "special order" charge.
Hmmm, it seems as though the marketing people have been running amok, as the prices charged for paint and other options are, shall we say, a "tiny bit" unrelated to the cost.
This reminds me of when I worked in a Volvo parts department one summer. A guy came in to order new front fenders for his 123 GT. I had to attempt to explain to him why the LF one cost twice as much as the RF one. That right hand fender press must have been REALLY difficult for Volvo to make ;-)
Regarding the question about the Midnight, Capri and Orion blue, I can offer the following personal opinions. Midnight blue is OK, but not too distinctive. A cool, dignified but sober colour.
Capri blue is perhaps slightly lighter than Midnight blue, but the metallic effect seems to make the former appear purple-ish in some light and even medium blue in bright sunlight, at least on the bodywork highlights (panel curves for example). I like Capri blue a lot, but I also like the charcoal interior so that kind of rules Capri out for me, as a lighter interior would be preferred with a dark blue.
Orion blue is really bright, very flashy, very nice but perhaps a little over the top for a sedan. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice blue, but maybe better suited to a sports car. Or a C 32?
You didn't mention it, but the Wedgewood blue is very nice too, sort of a blue-green, although it's a lot lighter than the other blues. In fact, it almost looks silver in some light conditions. We'll probably get this colour when our turn to order a C comes, unless a new palette becomes available by 2003 and/or WW blue is dropped.
Yes, it is amazing, and I have seen it illustrated so many times. Congratulations on your new granddaughter.
No chips? Did you look everywhere
Miki
Dennett: Yup, that's me in the Autoweek C320 review. Also, I got my oil changed to Mobil 1 at 4400 miles at MB of SD. They were confused about how to price it with me supplying the oil. The total cost was $20.79, which included $13.20 for the filter, $1.90 for waste disposal, and $.99 tax. That indicates that the labor charge was $4.70!!! At that price, I may have to get the oil changed every couple thousand miles!
Tom
I just scheduled first oil change (in 3 weeks) I should be around 3500 miles then. Picked up 2 boxes (six quarts each box) at WalMart last night for $26.80 a box (or $4.46 per quart) of Mobil 1 Synthetic 15W50.
Ian
JR
For some strange reason, Walmart charges more per quart for Mobil 1 packaged six quarts to the box, then it does per quart when you buy them individually! I saw the about the same price per box in San Diego that you paid, but the loose quarts were $3.78 each. Maybe the box itself is valuable!! Anyhow, I bought 9 quarts and put them in my trunk for the MB service people. When I picked up the car, I found one-half quart, carefully wrapped, in the trunk. I presume the other 8 1/2 quarts went into the engine.
Tom
What I'm about to ask is very elementary and please be patient with me for I haven't seen a 5sp auto trans. before. As my understanding the M-B C320 came with 5-speed automatic transmission... So, is it just like a 4sp auto where you pretty much don't have to bother with the stick? I really want to own a M-B. However, I don't know how to drive a manual trans. Also, I'll be driving this car back and forth from work, and I don't think I can tolerate a manual trans. for traffic down here is bumper to bumper!
Thanks.
Joe
A 5-speed auto is better than a 4-speed auto because your car has more choices of gears to choose from. A CVT (continuosly variable transmission) would theorectically be best since it will keep the engine running in it's sweet spot all the time.
RE sun roof... while browsing through the manual,i did read that you can "resynch" the sunroof by yourself... try that and see of you can do anything.it was verrryyyyy annoying when i had to fidget with the sunroof to get it to work.
The "Lemon Law" is simply a term that is used to cover a body of laws that protect the consumer from goods sold that are defective and under warranty and to provide a means to recover any loss one may have incurred due to the defective product.
The "Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act" is the federal "lemon law" act and in conjunction with this all but 2 states have enacted "lemon laws" of their own. These laws very from state to state but they all hold similar things in common. They are as follows:
1. They require the manufacture of the vehicle not the dealer to remedy the problem. The dealer may have the authority to do the repairs but the ultimate responsibility for the warranty falls on the manufacturer. (Unless of course the warranty was issued by the dealer which occurs at times with used vehicles).
2. The defect must substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle and the manufacture must have been given sufficient time to remedy the problem. If the problem is not remedied the consumer has a right to a refund or a replacement.
3. The question of what is sufficient time to repair a problem or defect varies somewhat but in general it's as follows:
a.) If the problem or defect involves a serious safety issue such as the brakes or the steering then the manufacture is given one (1) opportunity to fix the problem.
b.) If the problem is a safety issue but not serious then the manufacture is given two (2) attempts to repair.
c.) If the defect is not directly safety related then the manufacture is given three (3) or four (4) attempts to fix the problem depending on the state.
At issue here is the warranty! If a car is purchased without a warranty then the "lemon law" does not apply per se. Other laws may be applicable such as "breach of contract" which goes beyond our scope of discussion and one is encouraged to consult with their attorney on such an issue.
Each state has enacted different guidelines as to the period of time within which a vehicle is "presumed" to be "lemon".(You can take a look at the "State Summary" page on this site for the guidelines in your particular area.)
As an example in California the state "lemon law" is the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It is "presumed" a vehicle is a "lemon" if a problem is addressed within the first 12,000 miles or 12 months of the vehicle purchase. In this case its up to the manufacture to prove that the vehicle is not a "lemon". If a vehicle defect is not addressed within this time period then the burden of proof falls on the consumer. The criteria is not whether the vehicle has been brought in three or four times during the first 12 months or 12,000 miles but only if the problem has been addressed even once during that period.
Each states "lemon laws" regarding the "coverage period" will vary. There may be factors in an individuals case that falls outside of the covered period. One is advised to seek the advice of an attorney in their area regarding the specific issues.
Take a look at the "State Summary Page" for some general information thats particular to your area.
Lemon Law Answers
info@thelemonlaw.com
© 1999 Lemon Law Answers All Rights Reserved
CALIFORNIA
Vehicles used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, excluding motorcycles, portions of motor homes used primarily for habitation, or off-road vehicles. Includes the chassis, chassis cab and that portion of a motor home devoted to its population, includes a dealer-owned vehicle and a "demonstrator."
4 repair attempts - 30 calendar days out of service
1 year - 12,000 miles which ever occurs first.
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Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
J
Thanks.
Joe
NJ. They took off some grease on car and washed it. People there are great. Anyway, saw a Brillant Silver like mine but had no mirrors. Asked what was wrong. Well they were stolen - not in NYC but from the woman's driveway. Servic guy told me this was the 2nd case they had since November.
By the way found the exit lights. Still having problems setting passenger mirror in down positinn for reverse. Read the manual but any ideas what I am doing wrong. Do not have computer set with the "KEY POsition " since I am only driver. Is that the problem??
Jerry -- I am the Queen of Record-Keeping
Miki
>According to him, if I do get a new car it will >be counted as another sale for him. (I cannot >believe that he is making commission on a lemon >
>replacement)
Jerry,
Every now and then a replacement is given, not because the car is a "lemon", but because something the dealer may or may not have done is responsible for customer dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the car. In this case, the dealer assumes the major financial responsibility and methinks the salesperson does not get commission. This is not to say that your car would or would not have been considered a "lemon".
Miki
reverse you must have set convenience -> mirror
setting when parking "ON", and the passenger mirror
switch depressed - I leave the driver's side mirror
button depressed unless I want to see the curb
I guess, this is partly why I decided to drive up to one of the dealer in NJ and place an order for the 2002 model. The sales person I dealt with was surprisingly nice and honest! I told him that I want the car in mid July, and according to the information that I got from this board, the car should be a 2002 model. Then he came back with a stack of paper, which shows all the cars on order / allocation for his dealer. After looking through it, he pointed out that he has 3 C320s available for June production for July dilevery, and the paper confirms that they are 2002 model. Naturally I proceed to talk price. Here is what I want: C320, Capri Blue, Ash interior, C1 (don't know if this is going to be std. for 2002 C320), C2, C3, C4, Command, Xenon, Leather and Glove box CD changer. He added them all and gave me the total (for 2002 price estimate). I ask him up front if he can cut me a deal. He thought for about 3 seconds, and gave me a price that was about 1,300+ less than MSRP. I said, how about all season floor mat included. He nodded, then I said, "Looks like we have a deal". Extremely pleasant experience overall, and I can't wait for my car to arrive. Oh, one last thing, he requires no deposit.
Once again, I would like to thank everyone on this board
A guy, who is soon going to be a full member of MB family.