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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
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Comments
But the larger picture is undeniable: D-B [and VW and BMW] has a lot of work to do to get within shouting distance of the statistical probability of a trouble-free life compared with most of the Japanese.
Having owned 14 MBs, 4 BMWs, 4 VW/Audis, 10 Toyotas, 4 Hondas [and many other one-of-a-kinds] in the past 42 years, I can say that the data doesn't lie....but the data didn't keep me from buying our latest MB, either.
But like you said, nothing from CR is going to stop me from buying European. . .ITS ALL ABOUT THE DRIVIN' EXPERIENCE!!
I was told the main difference is not the quality of the glass (as all windshields have to meet DOT standards) but the decal that bears the facsimile of Mr. Daimler's signature.
After a few phone calls insisting on the OEM glass, the insurance comapny agreed to cover the additional $70.00 difference. It's not over 'till it's over though, and replacement is scheduled for next Tuesday 3/30.
Hope this helps for your future reference. Will let you know how it turns out.
- P.
Do you have the rain-sensing wipers? If so, installation needs to be very careful to keep the sensors functioning properly. If not, never mind...
Good suggestion. Per the MBUSA phone rep, it would be available with my timeframe of a late May or June ED.
You could also find discussions on them by using the Keyword search on the left side of the page.
Thanks for that info, however I don't have the rain sensing wiper option. Would like to have it, but now I'm glad it's not a factor in the repair.
The extra $70, is for the OEM windshield ($300 cost) over the aftermaket one ($212.50 cost). I was told both are similar, but the OEM has the "A Mercedes-Benz Product" windshield sticker. There may be other differences as well, but I'm told the glass composition is basically the same.
Can't imagine replacing with a non-MB windshield that did not have the sticker.
- P.
C-240 B Service: $446
Front Sway Bar Links: $200 (did not solve sounds coming from front suspension this time)
Diagnose (not fix, fix = $577) Driver window failure: $200
Brake fluid drain / replacement: $150
I am sure I am not the only Mercedes owner who is absolutely fed up with the ridiculous cost of servicing these vehicles. The crazy thing is that the guys at the dealer just seem to think we should take it. For instance, I completely freaked over 2 specific items on my bill..
$20 for "shop materials", this was explained to be rags, solvents, etc. I couldn't believe that wasn't included in the $92 per hour labor charge.
$44 for EACH wiper blade insert. Granted the wipre blades are nice, but that has to be the most expensive wiper blades on the planet.
I am just getting sick of paying $400 for basically an oil change, fluid fill and blade change. To me it seems like it should cost about $100 for labor (MAX), $40 for 8 liters of Mobil 1, $20 for oil filter, and $20 for wiper blade inserts.... for a grand total of $180! Which still seems ridiculous. I doubt I will ever take my Mercedes to the dealer again.
In that effort, does anyone know where or how to get the service manuals?
For all you out there who are considering buying a Mercedes, I got a letter from American Service Center in Arlington, VA stating the following prices for C-class vehicles:
2004 C-230 Coupe w sunroof / cd changer for $25,550. ($4030 off sticker)
2004 C-240 wagon w sunroof / cd changer / heated seats for $31,474. ($4896 off sticker).
I suggest you use the $4000 saved to prepare for the service bills that come after the free services are up.
I have a friend who says they might bring an '05 along to give us a preview. He says there is basically a facelift (front and rear) as well as some new interior components. A new dashboard (with a real sized tach!). We shall see.
I hope they have a C230K with 6 speed there for me to drive:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
They will have all variations of the C-class available, but none with manual transmissions. Be sure to go on the C32 Hot Lap.
And all readers be warned: word is already out that it is highly likely that the "free" service will go away starting with the '05 model year. This source has it that the basic warranty will go to 5 yrs/ 60,000 miles, but in exchange the prepaid service goes away. I find this a credible idea, because they are getting killed right now by the appreciation of the Euro, but market conditions here make it very hard to increase prices significantly. One way to increase profit margins is to eliminate the free service on new cars.
For low mileage drivers like me, the "free" preventative maintenance during the warranty period was never going to add up to more than $800 or so; for someone who actually drove 50k miles in 4 years, the value could have easily been twice that. In any case, this kind of "perk" has come and gone in the past, and looks like it is about to do so again.
And before any misunderstandings start, no, this does not mean that they are reneging on the service offer to every owner who has bought a new car during the past x years - just that the '05s will be sold without the free service as part of the deal. AND...I have to emphasize...this is still a rumor so far and not confirmed.
Finally, it is a sad fact of life that ALL of the German makes are relatively expensive to maintain - to keep costs anywhere near tolerable, you pretty much have to abandon the dealer once the warranty is no longer an issue, and look around for good sources outside the dealer network. If you need recommendations, this is another reason to join MBCA - they are a good source for that kind of info.
wonder if an in-dash CD player will be standard
vice the stone-age cassette player. A new 6 speed
manual from the SLK is available but unfortunately
the new 3.5L V-6 is not. MB should have dropped the
C240, lowered the price of the C320 and added
the C350 for 2005. That would have gave them a year
jump on BMW before they upgrade their 3 series
engines.
M
An AUX input jack would be much better, but it's better than having no options if you had a CD player only.
If MB is putting an AMG-tuned V8 into the sedan, it makes sense the SLK's 3.5L will be there too before long, because that is MB's best V6 now: more power and better fuel economy too.
I'd expect to see the new 3.5 across MB's entire line--not just in the C-Class--the E-Class tooh, replacing the next ML's 3.7L "350" and maybe there would also be 3.5L S-Class and SL models too.
Since the V6s are components of the V8, I'd guess there will be a next generation V8 based on this latest technology, e.g., ~4.6L
The course was really tight and I felt it was hard to get any sort of real feel for the C-Class cars. I was bummed that no Manual tranny Cs were available for driving, but oh well.
The steering felt nice and heavily weighted, pretty direct.
The '05 C230K Sedan is a really pretty car. The sculpted side skirts and 5 spoke wheels really give the car an aggressive look. I really like the new interior. The dash materials are very high quality, and the seats seem to be old school MB rock hard. The new center stack looks great too.
They gave you a $1500 credit (above and beyond your best deal) if you buy or lease a C230K Sport Sedan within 90 days that is fully transferrable. I'm not sure whether or not you can use it outside the NY, NJ, CT area, but it is worth a shot (I'll have to read the legalese later). If anybody out there wants it, drop me an email and I'll send it to you.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I've participated in a couple of other similar side-by-side comparison test drive events previously. They were of higher line models from Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Audi, Cadillac, Lincoln and Lexus. Both were at least twice as long as today's event and allowed you to get a much better feel of the vehicles.
After all was said and done, I came away from the C-Spot "Party" much less impressed with the C-Class than I had hoped to be. My 2004 Accord EX V6 Coupe with Navigation is a much more satisfying driving experience. I could have purchased a couple of identical Accords for about the same price as one similarly equipped C-Class. That's only after being "optioned" to death to equip the Mercedes the same way that Honda builds them as a package.
1. Except the body demage to the car, is there any inside problem for the car?
2. What should I be aware of when I deal with the insurnace?
Thanks in advance for your suggestion.
Otherwise your concerns should be focused on your family - since there were injuries, insurance companies have a way of wanting to settle quickly. Take your time and be sure to get some professional advice about fair compensation.
I would love to get a hold of that credit. how do i get your email address. its private on the profile. thanks
So, if you pick the TL, and you're behind the wheel of your Acura, are you going to think "I could have gotten a C-Class" every time you see a MB on the road during the next 36-48 months?
If you pick the C-Class, and you're behind the wheel of your Mercedes, are you going to think "I could have gotten a TL" every time you see an Acura on the road during the next 36-48 months?
Go with the car that's more likely to give you peace of mind.
Of course, in 3-4 years your lease will be up, and you can try the other one if you decide you made the wrong decision this time around.
And you can't really go wrong with either car.
Disclaimer: I have a C-Class as my daily driver, and I've never regretted buying it. I've never owned an Acura, so I can't judge.
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/aboutus/news/newsFrame2004.jsp
The 2005 sport models get the outgoing C32's body kit and "regular" models get the 2004 car's "Sport" look for 2005. Interesting. Did anyone who attended the C-Spot events see the 2005 Sport models of the C230 or C320 Sedans?
M
morgan: I'll have to figure out how to make my email public!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Checking the seller's background on ebay you can see that, for the most part, the transactions are flawless but I still feel a little weird about bidding close to $30K.
Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any feedback and/or advise in this sense. Thank you much in advance.
I do find a website shows you the diminished value to fight for.
NJ has something different from other states.
Anybody have this kind of experience?
And yes, the car's service history is available to any dealer, through their nationwide computer system. Upon purchase of the used car, notify MBUSA of your new ownership status [you can do this via a postcard in the owner's documents/warranty booklet, or simply go to the nearest dealer and have them enter your info in the computer system], and you're in business. After that, whenever you show up at any dealer, you should be recognized as the new owner, and the service program applies as before.
Keep in mind that while extensive, the service offer is not universal - some wear items [logical exceptions like tires and brakes] are not covered, but nearly everything else called for in the service booklet is. However, service frequency under the offer is determined by the onboard FSS system - dealers have some flexibilty here [1000 miles or so is not unusual], but generally routine preventative mtc is only accomplished when the system calls for it. And don't forget other mtc. items that are time-dependent - coolant, brake fluid, etc - these are also covered by the maint offer, but you sometimes have to remind the dealer that it is time to do one of these in conjunction with an A or B service.
And as a final note, we are quite happy with our '02 C240. Hope yours will work as well for you...
Check out tirerack.com for lots of great tire information.
I agree with post 6845 - if you go with a tamer tread and rubber compound, i.e. an all-season tire, you'll at least double the wear. The price will be less absolute cornering ability in the dry, but with everything else improved: wet traction, wear, ride. Consumer choice, as they say...
I wonder how many people opting for the C230 understand that the staggered tire sizes and summer tread compound of the Z-rated tires [which are complete overkill] are going to be a very expensive add-on as the miles pile up. I too expect to see at least 60k miles from the OEM Conti CHs that are on our "boring" C240.
After some research on the web and talking to others, we ordered Bridgestone Turanza from Costco for the replacement. They look good on the car and got the best reviews by owners of the tires (www.tirerack.com), e.g., better than a Michelin tire that would have cost a little more.