Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans

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Comments

  • mbnut1mbnut1 Member Posts: 403
    It was good to finally get a chance to read your impressions of the new C's. I was particularly interested in comparison with your '01 Accord. Thanks for the post. You didn't say what your objection to the A4 was however. Form my experience the new C is a nicer more refined car but in some sense the A4 feels more like the older Mercedes like when you close the doors etc.
  • limanliman Member Posts: 32
    I enjoyed your posts re/ the new C-coupe, etc. However, I feel obligated to put in my 2 cents re/ the engine in the C230K sedan. The supercharged 4 has great power, is very responsive and delivers great gas mileage. As far as 'noise', yes, there is some sound from the engine when cold, but to cite the need for earplugs does a disservice to this engine. I like the sound. After the car warms up (no more than 5 minutes) the sound level quiets down considerably.

    Again, thanks for your posts. I just don't want folks to be put off from what I consider a fine piece of work. I bought my 2000 C230K new, and this great engine was a major selling point.
  • maroon95maroon95 Member Posts: 26
    what's the difference between the 2002 versus the 2001 model?

    are the 2002 in the show room yet?
  • maroon95maroon95 Member Posts: 26
    how much is a typical C240 go for?
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    2.3k engine, old vs new: well, I was being literary, not literal. No earplugs required in either case, of course, but I make no bones about not being a fan of the previous iteration of this engine. I came very close to buying a '99 C230k new, but the coarseness of the engine, especially at idle and low speeds, was very off-putting. Only my opinion, of course, but I also know that MB agreed the engine needed work - which is why they worked on it...I like the results.

    Current A4: The car is seriously cramped inside, especially the back seat; I don't need Quattro, and if I want fwd, I'll go Japanese; there is just nothing special there for me. With the NEW A4, the "special" is the new V6 and most importantly, the new CVT, which promises to be a real revelation. I plan an early test as soon as the car is available. The CVT gives them something the rest of the Japanese fwd competition doesn't have, though no Audi [yes, I have lots of experience with them, too] will have the reliability of Honda/Acura or Toyota/Lexus or Nissan/Infiniti....

    And finally, I forgot to mention the latter: a really, really promising car is the upcoming Infiniti G35, a luxed-up version of the latest Skyline sedan [which has always been rwd / awd]. Should be here next Spring.

    As I said, great time to be a car enthusiast...
  • fuzzofuzzo Member Posts: 88
    The 2002's are already out. I just picked up mine last friday. As far as I can tell (and i'm no expert..so someone correct me if i'm wrong) there are no changes from 01 -02 other than the base price going up by $500.

    if you are in the DC metro area, i would go to valley motors in B'more. THey are the only dealership that offered a free cd changer. All the others would not budge.
  • paul_ppaul_p Member Posts: 271
    sspector - I just purchased an MB extended warranty for my '00 C230 from Courtesy Motors in Chico, CA. Though I have yet to receive the full documentation I've been told this is the same MB extended 8 year 100,000k mile warranty offered locally in Atlanta for $2,560. Purchase price was $1,680 for a savings of $880. Contact Lisa Lehrbaum at Courtesy Motors (800) 655-3535 for more info. Good luck!

    - Paul P.
  • gerrymurraygerrymurray Member Posts: 7
    Hi,
    Yep, I checked the mb web site and it looks
    like they've removed the C6 from the 2002 version.
    BOGUS!
    However, in the 'specifications' section they
    still refer to the 'Sports Package' when they
    refer to the beefed-up anti-roll bar. A web oversight perhaps? Also, they now give you the option of choosing different styles of wheels.
    I admit I may have to now go looking for a showroom 2001 version _with_ the C6 sports package (arrgh!) ...when, in fact, I was hoping
    to order a 2002 C6-based version.
    The lowering of the suspension, the metallic interior and the body/cosmetic adjustments made me WANT the sports package. I had no problem with the price. Now with the sports package, apparently dropped from the 2002 line, a C240 or C320 --- even loaded up to the gizzards with extra options (and will cost a LOT more) will LOOK the same as your basic run o' the mill version. Argh!
    Even the choice of wheel styles doesn't even make me want to spend the measly extra 1,300 or so, and did you notice "tires not included".
    Hello!

    :-(

    Gerry
    Long Island, New York
  • bobbyrabbobbyrab Member Posts: 14
    I contacted Mercedes Benz through their website and they told me that the C6 Sports Package IS available for 2002 for the C240, C320 and C320 Wagon. So I guess its not being mentioned on the Website is an oversight.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    There should be a lesson here...the website is notoriously behind the curve in both information and useability, and it also [infrequently] has been known to contain flat-out mistakes. Get a brochure for any car you are seriously interested in, and get a dealer contact who has access to the ordering computer. Then you have a serious source of information...the website doesn't qualify, as far as I'm concerned.
  • paul_ppaul_p Member Posts: 271
    Hello All,

    From the viewpoint of someone who bought one of the "growling" (term used affectionately here) C230 engines, here was my rationale - I noticed the noise when test driving with only 26 miles on the VDO, but imho:

    1) It sounded just like an SLK I had test driven a couple of years earlier, so it was a somewhat familiar, sporty sound.
    2) The car was really fun to drive, as the engine put out significantly more HP.
    3) I didn't mind the sound, as long as it was not indicative of the engine wearing.
    4) The engine sound provided nice harmony for the Kompressor whine which was fun to listen to.
    5) It was the last year to get a W202 model C-Class, and a great value at the end of that model year.

    Besides, with the current economic downturn, I have to learn to enjoy what I've got & can't consider a new C anytime soon - though they are beautiful machines as well!

    For what it's worth...

    - Paul P.
  • paul_ppaul_p Member Posts: 271
    Can't remember when, but a while ago somebody posted mentioning they wanted to stop an annoying tone over the radio that sounded whenever they turned the ignition key to the 1 (accessory) or 2 (driving) position. My '00 C also used to make this noise, it sounded like a brief dial tone on a telephone.

    Well, last week my car stopped making this sound. At first I thought it was because I had the radio on, but then I noticed it had stopped doing it altogether. I was very happy, as I did not appreciate the tone!

    It so happens that this is one year from the week I took delivery on the car, and I did not renew tele-aid this year. Perhaps the tone is to indicate tele-aid is active. Hmmmm, don't keep the service and the tone goes away - problem solved, imho and interesting if true! Can anyone confirm or deny?

    - Paul P.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    I'm sure that you are correct in your conclusion; that is the startup for the tele-aid you were hearing.
  • w2p2w2p2 Member Posts: 63
    anybody else experiencing this problem? It takes several turns of the ignition switch before it catches. Have an appointment Thursday, which was the earliest.
    2001 C320,
    I have also noticed on my pin stripping, they spliced one line of the pin stripe and it doesn't line up.
    Still getting the white haze on the inside of the windshield. Looks like MB would do away with that huge vent on the dash. I think its more of a deterant than any real help.
    Also my side mirrors keep changing position ever so slightly about every 3 days.
    getting HWY 26.4.............. city 18.8 so thats not bad
  • weberamgweberamg Member Posts: 43
    Hi All-

    I too noticed the sport package missing from the updated 2002 web site. I emailed MB and they acknowledged the error and forwarded it to their IT people. BTW, the 2002 MSRP for the sport package is $3010.

    I plan to order the C240 6spd w/sport package.

    John W.
  • kenyeekenyee Member Posts: 738
    It was at a restaurant in a neighborhood
    shopping area in a town called Wellesley.
    The guy I talked to said he worked
    for a marketing agency in NY that does work for
    MB. Wellesley wouldn't let them put a podium
    up so they could grab people on the street since
    not that many people signed up on the web site.
    All I got was a picture of the girl in the classic C
    MB shirt who was part of the event. The guys
    got boring silver MB shirts. I didn't see why
    everyone didn't wear yellow shirts since
    it was a C event.

    They only had two C240s. No C320. They had
    a C230K there, but you could only look at it. My
    only thought was "what's the point?". I was
    expecting a big bunch of C cars parked in
    a row with a stand next to them; that would have
    made an impressive pic.

    Drove around the streets in the area for about
    half an hour while the guy I talked to earlier
    rode with us. Got to play w/ acceleration w/
    A/C, etc. There weren't enough clear winding roads
    to really push the C. It felt like it was on rails
    compared to my ML though; turn radius is
    impressive :-)

    A friend who came with us said the C was well
    appointed for the cost. It's also quieter than his
    A4. My brother said the engine was a bit noisy
    when accelerating and the A/C saps too much
    power from the engine. I thought it downshifted
    a bit more than I expected. The waiter at the
    restaurant was also impressed with what MB
    offered for the money. He was looking for a
    safe car for his family and said his choice was
    this or a Volvo, so MB is targetting the right
    market.

    I asked the guy who rode with us about when
    the 4matic will come out but he knew nothing
    about it, so I told him all the rumors I
    knew of in case someone else asked him :-)

    Would you believe I forgot to take a pic of the
    appetizer? Talk about brain failure. I should
    never do stuff like this when I'm too hungry.
    It was 3 grilled scallops on 3 diagonal slices
    of roasted zucchini on a bed of oregano tomato
    sauce. The layout was shaped like an MB
    star. Very tasty. Even my wife, who didn't
    drive, got the appetizer. We stayed and had
    dinner there as well. The portobello mushroom
    pizza was excellent. The others were interesting
    but didn't strike us as something to try again.

    I thought the MB Powertrip event was more
    fun, but this had better food ;-)
  • paul_ppaul_p Member Posts: 271
    The tele-aid tone is back - but only when first getting into the car. Subsequent "key in the ignition" sequences do not produce the tone. Go figure! It still seems to be operating differently now that the one year period has expired.

    Electronics can be interesting! :-) I just found my FSS function today as well - a year later.

    - Paul
  • weberamgweberamg Member Posts: 43
    Hi All,

    I was debating about adding the dealer installed glove mounted CD changer to my car order. My question is, is it worth the $775 for the 2002 model year? Are their better alternatives to gaining CD capability?

    Thanks,
    John
  • kenyeekenyee Member Posts: 738
    Just wondering if the C's gas pedal has a wire hookup or is just a sensor like the ML's.
    The ML's accelerator is more notchy than the C's.
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    As we've discussed in the chat, I think all MB vehicles have drive-by-wire. That's how they get the 4ETS/ESP to work seemlessly without pulsation in the throttle pedal when the throttle is interrupted. I'm just not sure if the throttle pedal is physically wired to a little box like our MLs, and then a sensor reads that input, or if there is a sensor right at the pedal itself. Perhaps someone here could check?


    Drew
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  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    >Still getting the white haze on the inside of >the windshield. Looks like MB would do away with >that huge vent on the dash. I think its more of >a deterant than any real help.

    Sorry about your other problems. Here is what works for me and avoids/eliminates the haze.

    1. I don't sing in the car (too much exhaling)

    2. I close the top-dash vent for a few seconds when I see the haze starting.

    Miki
  • xtypebuyerxtypebuyer Member Posts: 7
    2002 C320 Silver/black, not premium leather, C2, for $38200. Also the dealer said they would provide and install a CD player for their cost of $656. Does this all sound about right?
  • zmeenowzmeenow Member Posts: 341
    I KEEP TOP VENT CLOSED ALL THE TIME I THE SUMMER.FORCES MORE COLD AIR FORWARD TO THE PASSENGERS
  • zmeenowzmeenow Member Posts: 341
    service manager explained to me a while back that the pedal is wire... suggested for faster shift response use the select shift since its electronic.
    got an invitation to fill out survey.. and test drive cars in westchester ny,it didnt say mb's specifically...but it should be interesting!
  • rockribbedrockribbed Member Posts: 44
    I suspect that the haze is from 'out gassing' of the plastic and vinyl in the cabin. I'm leaving the windows and sun roof open as much as possible in my C230K as a test. Mine's parked in the garage at night so there is no problem with that.
  • kenyeekenyee Member Posts: 738
    I'm curious as to why none of you guys have complained about notchiness of the gas pedal while ML owners seem to talk about it more. I've noticed it on mine as well.

    As for the outgassing haze, go grab the glass cleaning spray and towels from Griot's Garage (www.griotsgarage.com). Works amazingly well, even on bathroom mirrors at home (no fogging even w/ fan turned off).
  • zmeenowzmeenow Member Posts: 341
    please define?
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    I keep climate control at 72, and I like lots of air-conditioning. The hazing happens so seldom in my 320 and clears up in seconds when I close the top dash vent that it is hardly worth mentioning. As soon as haze is gone, I reopen the vent. It starts very slowly in the shape of two-quarter coins in the bottom center of the windhield.

    Zmeenow, it gets too cold for me when I keep that vent closed since I have the other vents adjusted to blast me with air :)

    Methinks it has something to do with the difference between the temperature outside and inside the car or heavy breathing :)

    Miki
  • mleskovarmleskovar Member Posts: 171
    Miki...I think they are referring to a different type of haze. Two types appear...1.
    a moisture haze - opening & closing center vent can control this. I used RainX
    Defogger inside front window to control this type. 2. oily haze caused by 'outgassing' of plasticisers used to protect/finish/manufacture plastic and vinyl components for the car's interior. It actually affects all windows but the thought is it is more prevalent directly above the center vent because of the volume of air passing through that vent. In theory this type of haze diminishes over time, mine
    has. I don't want to go there with the heavy breathing type of haze. I hope this
    isn't when the car is moving though. :-)
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
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    Just a reminder that the MB chat is on tonight (6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern). Hope to see you there!

    http://www.edmunds.com/townhall/chat/mercedeschat.html




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  • mb_a_mustmb_a_must Member Posts: 32
    In my opinion the CD player is worth it! There is nothing like having it loaded with your favorites. Everything is right there when you want it. And if you wanted to change a CD you can reach over to glove box while you drive < sorry folks .. don't perform this stunt at home>. I have had CD jukeboxes located under the front seat and trunks in previous vehicles and this beats them all! Try it you will like it ... I think you will regret it if you don't buy. You can save a few bucks if you buy it yourself (from Clareparts. com etc) but your still going to need to find someone to install it.
    greg@thedailydonut.com
  • mtroymtroy Member Posts: 45
    Thanks to Paul P. for posting Lisa of Courtesy Motors' number regarding her discounted warranty. Many months ago, Steven Howitt also posted her name, and he indicated not to bother checking or negotiating with other dealers. I found it hard to believe that my friendly local dealer (Auto Stiegler in Encino) would not offer a discount on the warranty because their ads boast about how much they care about the customer, so I called. I was told the price was $2,550 and there was no negotiation. Further, the nice lady assured me that no dealer could or would offer a lower price. She was polite enough but clearly indicated that I was crazy for asking and strongly suggested that the lower priced warranty probably was an "aftermarket" i.e., non-Mercedes warranty with less coverage. Gee, I thought, maybe I had misread Paul P.'s seemingly clear email. So I called Lisa, and asked ten different ways whether her $1,680 warranty was the same EXACT warranty for which the other dealer was charging $2,550. She assured me ten times that it was and that her owner and service manager simply feel strongly that we should all own the extended warranty, so they offer it for a discount. Consequently, they're getting my business. It seems to me that anyone who pays full price for the extended warranty from their dealer should have his/her head examined.
  • zmeenowzmeenow Member Posts: 341
    the price for the cd player dealer installed is about the best ive heard.... other than a couple of stories we ve had about dealers throwing them in,go for it!
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    >Miki...I think they are referring to a different >type of haze. Two types appear...1.
    >a moisture haze - opening & closing center vent >can control this.

    Mark -- thank you for setting the blonde straight :) I do see the "outgassing" on the door and side windows and it is an oily haze. It wipes off easily with my Miracle Cloth for windows.

    >I don't want to go there with the heavy >breathing type of haze. I >hope this
    >isn't when the car is moving though. :-)

    LOL -- I allow no distractions when I am driving.

    Miki
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    Armed with all my tools of the trade -- artist brushes, sponge swabs, touchup paint, alcohol, needle, round toothpicks, Langka (to name a few) -- I confidently approached a few microscopically minute hood chips ready to do battle. Uh Oh! -- the paint does not adhere as it did in the good old days of oil-based paint; it does not stay exactly where I put it; it does not readily fill in the chip. The finished product, although not dreadful, did not make me happy. I called the mobile service that does the chip work for the dealer to my home. He removed the week-old paint from the chips, mixed my touchup paint with some additives, and quickly dotted the few chips with a dab of paint. He did not use the clearcoat as I did for the Obsidian. He told me the touchup paint was just too thin. They look just fine now. It was all so miniscule that he did not charge me. He left me with the advice to just wait until the car goes in for work and do any future chips at that time. I thought the white showing through would cause paint to rust so did not want to wait too long to repair -- what do I know about what color bare metal is!!! He did say I had remarkable eyesight (that's how small they were :)

    His admiration for the shiny surface of my car was without bounds and he left here with one of my product catalogues from Proper Auto Care.

    Miki
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    I have occasionally encouraged people on this and other boards to let the professionals do this kind of work - they have the tools and experience to make it look right, and the prices I have been quoted are reasonable. I'll do the work myself on occasion, but once it gets past a certain point, I bring on the detailers and their airbrushes...
  • sandiegotomsandiegotom Member Posts: 50
    Just passed through ten months and 8200 miles with my C320. Overall mileage is 22.3MPG. No problems other than the differential housing touching the rear subframe during deceleration, causing a turbine-like whining noise. That's the subject of an MB Tech Bulletin and was fixed by the installation of two shims.

    I just received the brochure about renewing TeleAid - $240 per year. Too much, in my opinion. Please read the fine print when you get this pitch - if you do nothing, MB will charge your credit card automatically. They got your card number when you initially signed up. I called and told them I didn't want to renew, and got the pitch again! The brochure has a paragraph in it that says something to the effect that some insurance companies give discounts for the theft locater system that might pay for the entire yearly service. I called my company (USAA) and found that I was already getting that discount, but it is about $25 per year, not quite enough to cover TeleAid.

    Tom
  • sandiegotomsandiegotom Member Posts: 50
    mtroy,Paul P., and Steven Howitt:

    I too have been looking into getting the MB extended warranty. A local dealer's finance guy quoted the brochure price of $2550 for the 48 month/100K miles version. He rapidly offered 10% off, then opined that NO MB dealer could, or would, sell the policy at prices like I told him I was seeing on the net. He said that MB wouldn't let them, etc. He wanted to know who was undercutting the official price, and said that they were either not a real MB dealer, or were selling an aftermarket product, not the genuine MB deal. I didn't snitch on Lisa...

    I have the MB "Mercedes Care New Vehicle Extended Limited Warranty" contract. It refers to a "cancellation refund" that will be made "...if no claims have been made against this [contract]...cancellation refunds will be pro-rated based on the total selling price of the contract and the time in months expired since the New Vehicle Limited Warranty Start Date". I believe this date is the ORIGINAL warranty start date, not the extended warranty start date. The contract goes on to say: "Please see your [MB Dealer] for a copy of the Cancellation Refund Schedule". Do you have any info on this subject?

    I would appreciate hearing how your extended warranty purchases turn out...

    Tom
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    Keep in mind the extended warranty is a product, just like the CD changer, that is alleged to have a "suggested retail price", but for which the dealers are free to charge whatever the market will bear. It is complete and utter claptrap to suggest that every dealer in the USA is adhering to the ludicrous markup on the warranty; the folks in Chico are hardly the only ones looking to build a little market share...they're getting good word-of-mouth [or word-of-keyboard], and more power to them, but you can bet your boots that there are other dealers out there willing to settle for a more reasonable profit on this product. Finding them is the trick, of course, since there are 300 individual F & I managers out there making these decisions.

    I'm familiar also with Honda's extended warranty, and the dealer practices associated therewith...same story, same outcome...there are plenty of dealers willing to sell more at less margin, it's just a question of finding them. Another reason for the rapid growth of internet communities like this one...
  • kenyeekenyee Member Posts: 738
    They've had problems in the past w/ a jealous dealer who harassed them. They got the regional MB rep involved. Not pretty.
    If you want to give your dealer a chance to match, do so, but don't tell them where you got it from...
  • zmeenowzmeenow Member Posts: 341
    whats the consensus? my 240 cannot have locked doors opened by sattelite... my mobile card ..and insurance cover both tow... and car rental... and i have a great sense of direction.... worth the $240?
  • sleakesleake Member Posts: 47
    Your 240 CAN have it's doors unlocked by satelite if you take it to the dealer and get them to install the fix. I did, and it works! As for the other benefits of tele-aid... the fact that emergency services (police/ambulance) can be automatically dispatched in the event of an accident...or the SOS button can be pushed for help in any other emergency (e.g., car-jacking, etc.) makes it worthwile for me. But maybe that's just a female talking?
  • michhalamichhala Member Posts: 375
    In the info about discounted extended warranties which was provided by our knowledgeable forum member, it was clearly stated that we do not go back to another dealer with the discounted prices and try to negotiate.

    Miki
  • newmbfannewmbfan Member Posts: 59
    It is 2:00 AM and you just got hit by some drunk. (He drives off unhurt of course)

    The airbag deploys and MB sends the cavalry or you saved 200 bucks and you freeze to death. I doubt that this will ever happen but???????????

    I am spending the money!
  • diwc240diwc240 Member Posts: 172
    Ward, you make such an emphatic and valid point !
    But does it really get that cold in beautiful NC ?
    Just for info, if anyone wants to see some very nice photos of a Euro Delivery trip April 2001(BMW 330i), checkout Post #4 - Platypus in BMW 3 Series Photo Gallery. Lots of MB photos included !!! Beautiful scenery shots in Germany & Austria.
    We are considering a 2nd vehicle: BMW 325i; C230 coupe; and maybe the Subaru Legacy GT Limited, to replace a 1993 Mazda. Hope to test drive each this weekend. Everyone have a Great Long Weekend & a Safe one too !
    Ian
  • mleskovarmleskovar Member Posts: 171
    $830 for 5 year, 100K miles
  • bankohbankoh Member Posts: 7
    mleskovar:

    Where did you purchase your extended warranty for such a great deal? For that prices, I would do so without any hesitation.
  • ahostahost Member Posts: 36
    Some time ago I wrote that I felt the shift from 1st to 2nd in my C320 was a little rough. I went to the service center, where they said the transmission was all right. Still, I wonder if it is normal? The shift is not very rough, but still I can clearly feel when it shifts, like a slight shudder, definitely not smooth -- like a slightly failed manual shift. If it was myself making a manual shift, it would be a shift I would not be happy about, nor really embarrassed about. I still wonder if others experience the same? Is the shift from 1st to 2nd smooth?
  • bankohbankoh Member Posts: 7
    I have a C240 automatic. The shift from 1st-2nd is smooth if I keep the gas pedal depressed. If I let it up, then the shift is not smooth--like what you described. Does this roughness occurs when you step on the gas hard--ie like entering the freeway?
  • mleskovarmleskovar Member Posts: 171
    5 years or 100K miles...WCF... for $830 at the time I purchased the car from Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach, Ca. They make mistakes like everyone else but my order/delivery experience was flawless and professional.
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