Edmunds Inside Line - Long-Term Test: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport
- Thread starter Merc1
- Start date
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Armrests/Console Storage Bin
Let's talk about front-seat storage. That red arrow points to the button on the driver side which opens the center console storage area in our long-term Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport. There's an identical button for the front passenger. The placement of the button so far back makes pushing it rather awkward, which is my main nit-picky complaint, but it works just fine (unlike our long-term BMW X5's).
When closed, the armrests (which serve as doors to the storage bin) are comfortable enough, though I personally never really use armrests when I'm driving, so they could be covered in stinging nettles and angry jellyfish and I wouldn't notice. But that's just me.
Pushing the button makes the armrests open from the center, causing the driver or passenger to have to peer over the door if he or she wants to see what's in there. I recommend exploring by feel, as long as you don't regularly keep double-edged razor blades in there.
The main bin has a flocked surface and is roomy without being cavernous. It hits a good balance between annoyingly small and useless storage bins and black holes of roominess that require a professional organizer to save you from your Starbucks receipts. There's also a smaller, deck-of-cards-sized space (below the cupholders in this picture) with a rubbery, removable insert for easy cleaning. Perfect for parking lot tickets and change.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 12,497 miles
Let's talk about front-seat storage. That red arrow points to the button on the driver side which opens the center console storage area in our long-term Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport. There's an identical button for the front passenger. The placement of the button so far back makes pushing it rather awkward, which is my main nit-picky complaint, but it works just fine (unlike our long-term BMW X5's).
When closed, the armrests (which serve as doors to the storage bin) are comfortable enough, though I personally never really use armrests when I'm driving, so they could be covered in stinging nettles and angry jellyfish and I wouldn't notice. But that's just me.
Pushing the button makes the armrests open from the center, causing the driver or passenger to have to peer over the door if he or she wants to see what's in there. I recommend exploring by feel, as long as you don't regularly keep double-edged razor blades in there.
The main bin has a flocked surface and is roomy without being cavernous. It hits a good balance between annoyingly small and useless storage bins and black holes of roominess that require a professional organizer to save you from your Starbucks receipts. There's also a smaller, deck-of-cards-sized space (below the cupholders in this picture) with a rubbery, removable insert for easy cleaning. Perfect for parking lot tickets and change.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 12,497 miles
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport: Door Lock Blues
This weekend our long-term 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 lost one of its door lock plunger trim pieces. Don't know how, and neither of my kids is owning up to it, but it's not where it's supposed to be.
Worst part? I vacuumed the little piece of plastic up off the carpet at the car wash yesterday. Thought it was a pen cap, and it didn't occur to me what it was until it was too late.
So instead of just snapping it back in place, we'll get a new one installed at the car's next scheduled service, which according to the Benz's computer is a short 500 miles away.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 12,603 miles
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport: Door Lock Blues | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line
From what I have heard this is a known issue on the rear door locks on the C.
This weekend our long-term 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 lost one of its door lock plunger trim pieces. Don't know how, and neither of my kids is owning up to it, but it's not where it's supposed to be.
Worst part? I vacuumed the little piece of plastic up off the carpet at the car wash yesterday. Thought it was a pen cap, and it didn't occur to me what it was until it was too late.
So instead of just snapping it back in place, we'll get a new one installed at the car's next scheduled service, which according to the Benz's computer is a short 500 miles away.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 12,603 miles
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport: Door Lock Blues | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line
From what I have heard this is a known issue on the rear door locks on the C.
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Fuel Economy Update
Correct me if I'm wrong, but my research shows we have yet to publish a lifetime average on our long-term C300's fuel economy. Sure, we've given you data from a couple of road trips, but not a snapshot of how we've done since purchasing the car late last year.
I'd say it's about time, so here you go: 19 mpg. The EPA estimates for our 7-speed automatic-equipped sport sedan are 18 city/25 hwy/21 combined.
Looking over the 50-some fill-ups we've had, best tanks are in the mid 20s, and someone managed to go 372 miles before having to stop and give the C300 a drink. That tank garnered 23.3 mpg.
Bryn MacKinnon @ 14,000 miles even
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Fuel Economy Update | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line
Correct me if I'm wrong, but my research shows we have yet to publish a lifetime average on our long-term C300's fuel economy. Sure, we've given you data from a couple of road trips, but not a snapshot of how we've done since purchasing the car late last year.
I'd say it's about time, so here you go: 19 mpg. The EPA estimates for our 7-speed automatic-equipped sport sedan are 18 city/25 hwy/21 combined.
Looking over the 50-some fill-ups we've had, best tanks are in the mid 20s, and someone managed to go 372 miles before having to stop and give the C300 a drink. That tank garnered 23.3 mpg.
Bryn MacKinnon @ 14,000 miles even
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Fuel Economy Update | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300: Wild Wild West
For the holiday weekend, I decided to get out and do a little camping and stay at my family's cabin in Tahoe. In the far reaches of Nevada I set up my tent only to be assaulted by nature.
A gentle breeze soon escalated into a dust storm that raged for seven hours. My tent wasn't built for such forces. It was so bad at times I couldn't see the sun or the hood of our Mercedes I had taken cover in.
The holiday fun had ceased to be. Nature won by ripping up my high-summer seasonal tent and filling it with ten pounds of fine silt. A few items inside the now violently flopping tent took off into the sky like rockets. I ran out into the gusting dust clouds to recover as much of my equipment as possible. When I jumped back into the car I sneezed mud and dust came pouring out of my ears like upturned bags of flour.
I drove the four hours back to Tahoe in the middle of the night to recover at my family's cabin. In the morning I got a good look at the disaster that was our C300. It was white, not the original dark gray and the interior was tan, not the original black. I vacuumed out the engine bay and interior as best I could. I found a coin-op car wash on my way back to LA and hosed off the outside. I was further depressed when flows of mud ran out of the cracks and crevices from the massive quantities of hidden silt I drove off. The long drive back to LA was a snifflely one as dust still saturated the interior.
The first thing I did when I arrived was to dropped it off at the local car wash for a well deserved detail. Hopefully that $150 will do some good.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 15,130 miles
For the holiday weekend, I decided to get out and do a little camping and stay at my family's cabin in Tahoe. In the far reaches of Nevada I set up my tent only to be assaulted by nature.
A gentle breeze soon escalated into a dust storm that raged for seven hours. My tent wasn't built for such forces. It was so bad at times I couldn't see the sun or the hood of our Mercedes I had taken cover in.
The holiday fun had ceased to be. Nature won by ripping up my high-summer seasonal tent and filling it with ten pounds of fine silt. A few items inside the now violently flopping tent took off into the sky like rockets. I ran out into the gusting dust clouds to recover as much of my equipment as possible. When I jumped back into the car I sneezed mud and dust came pouring out of my ears like upturned bags of flour.
I drove the four hours back to Tahoe in the middle of the night to recover at my family's cabin. In the morning I got a good look at the disaster that was our C300. It was white, not the original dark gray and the interior was tan, not the original black. I vacuumed out the engine bay and interior as best I could. I found a coin-op car wash on my way back to LA and hosed off the outside. I was further depressed when flows of mud ran out of the cracks and crevices from the massive quantities of hidden silt I drove off. The long drive back to LA was a snifflely one as dust still saturated the interior.
The first thing I did when I arrived was to dropped it off at the local car wash for a well deserved detail. Hopefully that $150 will do some good.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 15,130 miles
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300: Eeeeeeeeeek...
This past weekend was my first time back into our C300. I was worried the dust storm that ravaged our Benz would come back to haunt me. It has.
I turned the wheel of the car as I backed out of the parking space down in our garage and a low "squeeeeeak" followed by an "eeeeeeeeek" as I turned the wheel back to center came out of the steering column. It didn't do that before.
This sucks.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
This past weekend was my first time back into our C300. I was worried the dust storm that ravaged our Benz would come back to haunt me. It has.
I turned the wheel of the car as I backed out of the parking space down in our garage and a low "squeeeeeak" followed by an "eeeeeeeeek" as I turned the wheel back to center came out of the steering column. It didn't do that before.
This sucks.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300: Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's a Compact Flash
I must have looked past this a dozen or more times, but it didn't register. But this week I'm having trouble with the PCMCIA card slot in my laptop, so the little light bulb above my head finally went on. Our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport has exactly the same sort of PC Card slot in plain sight, fiddly eject button and all.
Because I have a laptop, it just so happens that I have Compact Flash cards and a PCMCIA card. We use them to transfer data from our VBOX data logger on track days. And I have CDs. So I ripped a few tunes onto a CF card and gave it a try.
After plugging it all in, I needed to do nothing as the audio system recognized the memory card and began playing my tunes striaght away. A couple of flicks with the COMAND dial later, and I'm seeing a logical folder sturcture with album titles and track names.
Song titles show up on the multifunction display on the instrument panel and can be stepped through using the left-hand steering button, too. But, curiously, the cell phone hang-up button does not allow one to "zoom out" to change artists or albums like it does when an iPod is connected. Here, you do that with the COMAND wheel. Consistency would be nice.
And just like the slot on my laptop, there is a fiddly little eject button to get the card back out.
It works great, and 4 GB or 8GB memory cards are cheaper than MP3 players and iPods. But only laptop owners are liable to have the PCMCIA card adapter necessary to use it. You can buy one at Best Buy, of course, but it seems silly that this is a two-part process. Mercedes-Benz must think so, too, because a newer Benz I drove last week had a smaller SD card slot insead, no adapter required.
Discuss...
Dan Edmunds, Director of Automotive Testing @ 15,462 miles
I must have looked past this a dozen or more times, but it didn't register. But this week I'm having trouble with the PCMCIA card slot in my laptop, so the little light bulb above my head finally went on. Our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport has exactly the same sort of PC Card slot in plain sight, fiddly eject button and all.
Because I have a laptop, it just so happens that I have Compact Flash cards and a PCMCIA card. We use them to transfer data from our VBOX data logger on track days. And I have CDs. So I ripped a few tunes onto a CF card and gave it a try.
After plugging it all in, I needed to do nothing as the audio system recognized the memory card and began playing my tunes striaght away. A couple of flicks with the COMAND dial later, and I'm seeing a logical folder sturcture with album titles and track names.
Song titles show up on the multifunction display on the instrument panel and can be stepped through using the left-hand steering button, too. But, curiously, the cell phone hang-up button does not allow one to "zoom out" to change artists or albums like it does when an iPod is connected. Here, you do that with the COMAND wheel. Consistency would be nice.
And just like the slot on my laptop, there is a fiddly little eject button to get the card back out.
It works great, and 4 GB or 8GB memory cards are cheaper than MP3 players and iPods. But only laptop owners are liable to have the PCMCIA card adapter necessary to use it. You can buy one at Best Buy, of course, but it seems silly that this is a two-part process. Mercedes-Benz must think so, too, because a newer Benz I drove last week had a smaller SD card slot insead, no adapter required.
Discuss...
Dan Edmunds, Director of Automotive Testing @ 15,462 miles
PHYBENZ
G-Class Explorer
There have been quite a few since this last update, but this was actually a review maybe worth reading...
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Not a Bad Parts Hauler
I'm pretty sure the junkyard where I bought these wheels for my truck had never seen a Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot. And judging by the looks of the guys who helped me load the wheels into the C300's trunk, it was definitely the first time any parts from said junkyard were ever actually deposited into a Mercedes-Benz.
But as you can see, all four wheels fit just fine. And thanks to a lovingly thrown down towel, it suffered no permanent scrapes or bruises.
In fact, it seems as though our C300 has suffered very little wear over its 21,000 miles. The doors still close with a light touch and a solid thunk. There are no squeaks, no rattles, nothing. There are virtually no signs of wear anywhere in the car as far as I can tell and that's nothing to sneeze at given how this car has been passed around.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor @ 21,007 miles
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Not a Bad Parts Hauler | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Not a Bad Parts Hauler
I'm pretty sure the junkyard where I bought these wheels for my truck had never seen a Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot. And judging by the looks of the guys who helped me load the wheels into the C300's trunk, it was definitely the first time any parts from said junkyard were ever actually deposited into a Mercedes-Benz.
But as you can see, all four wheels fit just fine. And thanks to a lovingly thrown down towel, it suffered no permanent scrapes or bruises.
In fact, it seems as though our C300 has suffered very little wear over its 21,000 miles. The doors still close with a light touch and a solid thunk. There are no squeaks, no rattles, nothing. There are virtually no signs of wear anywhere in the car as far as I can tell and that's nothing to sneeze at given how this car has been passed around.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor @ 21,007 miles
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport: Not a Bad Parts Hauler | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line
Merc1
Premium
************wrap-up*****************
Wrap-Up
From the flagship S-Class to the entry level C-Class, the Mercedes-Benz nameplate is synonymous with quality. But as the three-pointed star of Mercedes began to be stretched over more and more models during the last decade, the brand's reputation for quality began to slip. Recent generations of Mercedes, notably the lower-end models, have been plagued by quality issues in increasing frequency. For 2008 Mercedes turned its focus back to quality and it started by revamping the C-Class line.
Once we purchased an example of the all-new 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300, we had the opportunity to evaluate the improvements. Would this new generation return the C-Class to its glory days and quell the ailing quality reputation of Mercedes before things grew out of hand? We would find out. We would also encounter an unexpected factor in this test: the importance of good service at a trustworthy dealership.
There is more to driving a Mercedes-Benz C300 than the glamour of its badge. A reliable dealer experience can make or break the ownership experience. Unfortunately, we were nearly broken by our service center of choice.
Why We Bought It
Mercedes introduced an all-new C-Class for 2008, a real sign of progress for the brand in this segment. This new C300 is an attempt by Mercedes to polish the tarnished image of previous-generation C-Class models and the questions surrounding their reliability.
Our comparisons of the C350 with its competitors revealed that even this C-Class with a 3.5-liter V6 is generally underpowered among its peers. But the less expensive C300 offers the same finely finished interior, multimedia system and refinement as the C350. We were curious to see whether the faux leather would stand up to our kids. How easily could we sync our tunes with the dedicated iPod connector? Would the pop-up radio display break over time? The questions were already beginning.
A long-term Cadillac CTS was also days from entering the fleet. We looked forward to comparisons between the two entry-level luxury sedans. A check was cut, the C300 Sport purchased and our long-term test began.
Durability
Inside Line Executive Editor Michael Jordan wrote on the long-term blog pages, "Until you drive cross-country, you'll never understand just how good a Mercedes-Benz really is. It goes down the road with a purpose, but all the rough edges have been smoothed down from long experience with the whole vehicle engineering thing, so everything works with the sure, carefully damped action of the turn-signal stalk on a Mercedes S-Class sedan." This characteristic persona of the brand extends to all classes of Mercedes sedan, including our entry-level C300.
Inside the cabin we found the dark interior of the C300 nearly impervious to time. Its MB Tex cow-free leather was remarkably durable, and with the exception of a tear on the driver's door grab handle, there were no signs of excessive wear in the cabin after 22,000 miles of service. So far, we found the quality concerns of prior generations absent.
Senior Editor Erin Riches appreciated the Mercedes' down-to-business character. She noted, "It's not trying to coddle me or make me feel something about the C300 that I shouldn't really be feeling. All it does is put me in the right position to drive and manage the controls. And while this isn't a car that inspires me to take in any really interesting roads, I know wherever we go, it will be an orderly affair."
We did encounter some usability problems with the C300. One such complaint surfaced when Lead Senior Editor Ed Hellwig popped the glovebox to use the dedicated iPod connector. He explained, "Once connected, I got a three-pointed star on my iPod, but nothing on the car's main audio screen. I was expecting a full menu of my music rather than the 'auxiliary' message it gave me. Switching songs isn't done with dashboard controls either. You have to use the steering wheel buttons. And even then you don't have full control, merely the ability to scroll from one song to the next. I expected more functionality from a dedicated connector."
Road Test Editor Brian Moody spent a considerable amount of time with the Mercedes. He commented, "Sadly, there is a problem with the C300. The rear seats are sculpted too narrow, making it very difficult to install my kid's booster seat. It's near impossible to clip the seatbelt in. My 6-year-old usually does it himself, but not in the C-Class. Maybe my Graco booster is too wide? Regardless, it is a hassle. Buying a new $40 booster seat that fits isn't the end of the world, but I'd sure like to know this before I bought the car."
Long-term durability was our leading reason for purchasing a C300. Recalls and problem history were followed closely, and are really the story here. There were no recalls during our ownership, but we still had a fair number of problems with our Benz. Collectively they taught us a very important lesson. We learned how important locating a trustworthy and competent dealership is to the ownership experience.
With 3,500 miles on the Benz, we discovered that the rear sunshade portion of our panorama roof would not open. It also began to rattle. And just about this time the switch to operate the sunroof broke off. We headed to Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach. We chose this dealership for one reason. It is conveniently located. Past repairs had been performed to our satisfaction, but there was always a general air of disorganization. Some days we saw the A-game and others no game at all. We were curious to ride it out and see what came next.
Brian Moody received the call saying our C300 was ready for pick up. Moody recalls, "Our advisor looked at me and said, 'We did nothing to the rear sunroof shade. The tech thought I meant rear window shade. Since your car doesn't have one of those, he disregarded my comments completely.' Here's the best part. I brought my 18-month-old daughter with me. Hear her screaming in the background? A few hours after I left in a dealer-supplied Toyota Camry, our advisor called with the news they needed to order parts. On back order from Germany, it would take 2-3 weeks. Now I get to choose whether to drive a slightly busted C300 or this four-cylinder Camry LE rental. This isn't a choice any Benz owner should ever have to make."
Three weeks later we received the call. Parts had arrived from Germany. We delivered the C300 and our phone rang a few hours later. Our advisor skipped over cordial greetings and dove right in. "Sir, we lowered the headliner to install the part and realized that we need more parts to complete the repair. Sorry, we should have caught this the last time it was here." We appreciated the no-excuses apology, but it still meant another 7-10 business days for the additional parts to arrive. By the time parts were installed and the problem fixed, we were fed up with this dealership. Then the engine light came on.
We hadn't located a replacement dealership when the engine light first illuminated at 11,000 miles. By 11,005 miles it turned off. Then it was on again. We swallowed our pride and returned to Long Beach. There was an open service bulletin for our problem. A camshaft position sensor set off the light. Within hours the problem was solved by replacing the right-side cam solenoid. A missing door lock plunger was also replaced during this trip at no charge. Suddenly it seemed the dealership had its act together.
We gave the dealer another shot when it came due for the 13,000-mile Service A. The going rate was $230. Since the 5,000-mile service was free, we didn't bat an eye at this charge. In hindsight it looked even better. This was our only scheduled service charge through 22,000 miles of ownership.
At the 19,000-mile mark we brought the C300 back for a small list of items we wanted to remedy prior to selling the car. There was another roof rattle, an errant rock had busted the foglamp, the front-end alignment was off and a rubber molding popped off the parking brake pedal. Charges for the new foglamp and alignment ran the bill to $385, while rattle stuffing and the brake molding replacement fell under warranty. We waited one day for the foglamp to arrive. The following day we left with a hole in our wallets and a new respect for Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach.
Tires made up our only other major expenses with the C300. When the rear took a nail too near the sidewall it was replaced. A sidewall bubble in the front tire spurned its demise. We spent just over $575 to replace both tires.
Total Body Repair Costs: None
Total Routine Maintenance Costs (over 18 months): $231.91
Additional Maintenance Costs: $386.12 alignment and foglamp, $576.27 tires
Warranty Repairs: Broken sunroof switch, roof rattles, cam solenoid
Non-Warranty Repairs: Foglamp replacement
Scheduled Dealer Visits: 2
Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 3
Days Out of Service: 2
Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None
Performance and Fuel Economy
The C300 didn't miss a beat after 22,000 miles. Performance tests at the beginning and end of our tests were nearly identical.
From a stop the Benz reached 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Its 3.0-liter V6 pulled the C300 through the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds at 91.5 mph. From 60 mph the Mercedes needed a mere 114 feet to reach a stop. That is very good in this class.
Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton commented following the C300's 0.89g run around the skid pad, "It is amazingly easy to maintain an arc all the way around with zero steering input, only throttle. It has gobs of grip and talkative steering."
Over time we recorded all ranges of fuel economy with the C300. A day at the test track delivered 8 mpg, while a mostly highway drive downhill on an empty stomach scored a best tank of 30 mpg. We averaged only 20 mpg overall, however.
Best Fuel Economy: 30.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 7.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 20.1 mpg
Retained Value
Our plan was to sell our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport within one week. We searched for the best offer utilizing Carmax, an auto broker, Craigslist and Auto Trader. In the end we turned to Carmax, selling the Mercedes for $26,000. This reflected 34-percent depreciation from the $39,450 we paid for the C300 new, according to Edmunds' TMV® calculator.
True Market Value at service end: $28,199
What it sold for: $26,000
Depreciation: $13,450 or 34 percent of original paid price
Final Odometer Reading: 21,962
Summing Up
Quality control issues began taking a toll on Mercedes-Benz over recent years. These concerns were especially focused on lower-level models such as the C-Class. Mercedes hoped the introduction of an all-new C would quiet the cynics. But after 18 months with the 2008 C300 we found quality improvements are an ongoing process. Our C300 had its fair share of problems during this test. None that would strand us beside the road, to be sure. But little things add up.
In dealing with the problems we encountered, a lesson was learned. A trustworthy and competent dealer for service items makes a difference. We based our dealership decision on proximity to our homes and office, as most consumers do. But our reliance on this convenient location nearly backfired. On multiple occasions parts were ordered incorrectly or not at all. Customer service levels ranged from nonexistent at times to acceptable, with no rhyme or reason. Were our expectations too high just because we were driving a Mercedes?
Choose a dealer and service advisor carefully. Realize that sometimes the individuals who care aren't at the shop around the corner.
Edmunds Inside Line - Long-Term Test: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport - Wrap-UP
M
Wrap-Up
From the flagship S-Class to the entry level C-Class, the Mercedes-Benz nameplate is synonymous with quality. But as the three-pointed star of Mercedes began to be stretched over more and more models during the last decade, the brand's reputation for quality began to slip. Recent generations of Mercedes, notably the lower-end models, have been plagued by quality issues in increasing frequency. For 2008 Mercedes turned its focus back to quality and it started by revamping the C-Class line.
Once we purchased an example of the all-new 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300, we had the opportunity to evaluate the improvements. Would this new generation return the C-Class to its glory days and quell the ailing quality reputation of Mercedes before things grew out of hand? We would find out. We would also encounter an unexpected factor in this test: the importance of good service at a trustworthy dealership.
There is more to driving a Mercedes-Benz C300 than the glamour of its badge. A reliable dealer experience can make or break the ownership experience. Unfortunately, we were nearly broken by our service center of choice.
Why We Bought It
Mercedes introduced an all-new C-Class for 2008, a real sign of progress for the brand in this segment. This new C300 is an attempt by Mercedes to polish the tarnished image of previous-generation C-Class models and the questions surrounding their reliability.
Our comparisons of the C350 with its competitors revealed that even this C-Class with a 3.5-liter V6 is generally underpowered among its peers. But the less expensive C300 offers the same finely finished interior, multimedia system and refinement as the C350. We were curious to see whether the faux leather would stand up to our kids. How easily could we sync our tunes with the dedicated iPod connector? Would the pop-up radio display break over time? The questions were already beginning.
A long-term Cadillac CTS was also days from entering the fleet. We looked forward to comparisons between the two entry-level luxury sedans. A check was cut, the C300 Sport purchased and our long-term test began.
Durability
Inside Line Executive Editor Michael Jordan wrote on the long-term blog pages, "Until you drive cross-country, you'll never understand just how good a Mercedes-Benz really is. It goes down the road with a purpose, but all the rough edges have been smoothed down from long experience with the whole vehicle engineering thing, so everything works with the sure, carefully damped action of the turn-signal stalk on a Mercedes S-Class sedan." This characteristic persona of the brand extends to all classes of Mercedes sedan, including our entry-level C300.
Inside the cabin we found the dark interior of the C300 nearly impervious to time. Its MB Tex cow-free leather was remarkably durable, and with the exception of a tear on the driver's door grab handle, there were no signs of excessive wear in the cabin after 22,000 miles of service. So far, we found the quality concerns of prior generations absent.
Senior Editor Erin Riches appreciated the Mercedes' down-to-business character. She noted, "It's not trying to coddle me or make me feel something about the C300 that I shouldn't really be feeling. All it does is put me in the right position to drive and manage the controls. And while this isn't a car that inspires me to take in any really interesting roads, I know wherever we go, it will be an orderly affair."
We did encounter some usability problems with the C300. One such complaint surfaced when Lead Senior Editor Ed Hellwig popped the glovebox to use the dedicated iPod connector. He explained, "Once connected, I got a three-pointed star on my iPod, but nothing on the car's main audio screen. I was expecting a full menu of my music rather than the 'auxiliary' message it gave me. Switching songs isn't done with dashboard controls either. You have to use the steering wheel buttons. And even then you don't have full control, merely the ability to scroll from one song to the next. I expected more functionality from a dedicated connector."
Road Test Editor Brian Moody spent a considerable amount of time with the Mercedes. He commented, "Sadly, there is a problem with the C300. The rear seats are sculpted too narrow, making it very difficult to install my kid's booster seat. It's near impossible to clip the seatbelt in. My 6-year-old usually does it himself, but not in the C-Class. Maybe my Graco booster is too wide? Regardless, it is a hassle. Buying a new $40 booster seat that fits isn't the end of the world, but I'd sure like to know this before I bought the car."
Long-term durability was our leading reason for purchasing a C300. Recalls and problem history were followed closely, and are really the story here. There were no recalls during our ownership, but we still had a fair number of problems with our Benz. Collectively they taught us a very important lesson. We learned how important locating a trustworthy and competent dealership is to the ownership experience.
With 3,500 miles on the Benz, we discovered that the rear sunshade portion of our panorama roof would not open. It also began to rattle. And just about this time the switch to operate the sunroof broke off. We headed to Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach. We chose this dealership for one reason. It is conveniently located. Past repairs had been performed to our satisfaction, but there was always a general air of disorganization. Some days we saw the A-game and others no game at all. We were curious to ride it out and see what came next.
Brian Moody received the call saying our C300 was ready for pick up. Moody recalls, "Our advisor looked at me and said, 'We did nothing to the rear sunroof shade. The tech thought I meant rear window shade. Since your car doesn't have one of those, he disregarded my comments completely.' Here's the best part. I brought my 18-month-old daughter with me. Hear her screaming in the background? A few hours after I left in a dealer-supplied Toyota Camry, our advisor called with the news they needed to order parts. On back order from Germany, it would take 2-3 weeks. Now I get to choose whether to drive a slightly busted C300 or this four-cylinder Camry LE rental. This isn't a choice any Benz owner should ever have to make."
Three weeks later we received the call. Parts had arrived from Germany. We delivered the C300 and our phone rang a few hours later. Our advisor skipped over cordial greetings and dove right in. "Sir, we lowered the headliner to install the part and realized that we need more parts to complete the repair. Sorry, we should have caught this the last time it was here." We appreciated the no-excuses apology, but it still meant another 7-10 business days for the additional parts to arrive. By the time parts were installed and the problem fixed, we were fed up with this dealership. Then the engine light came on.
We hadn't located a replacement dealership when the engine light first illuminated at 11,000 miles. By 11,005 miles it turned off. Then it was on again. We swallowed our pride and returned to Long Beach. There was an open service bulletin for our problem. A camshaft position sensor set off the light. Within hours the problem was solved by replacing the right-side cam solenoid. A missing door lock plunger was also replaced during this trip at no charge. Suddenly it seemed the dealership had its act together.
We gave the dealer another shot when it came due for the 13,000-mile Service A. The going rate was $230. Since the 5,000-mile service was free, we didn't bat an eye at this charge. In hindsight it looked even better. This was our only scheduled service charge through 22,000 miles of ownership.
At the 19,000-mile mark we brought the C300 back for a small list of items we wanted to remedy prior to selling the car. There was another roof rattle, an errant rock had busted the foglamp, the front-end alignment was off and a rubber molding popped off the parking brake pedal. Charges for the new foglamp and alignment ran the bill to $385, while rattle stuffing and the brake molding replacement fell under warranty. We waited one day for the foglamp to arrive. The following day we left with a hole in our wallets and a new respect for Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach.
Tires made up our only other major expenses with the C300. When the rear took a nail too near the sidewall it was replaced. A sidewall bubble in the front tire spurned its demise. We spent just over $575 to replace both tires.
Total Body Repair Costs: None
Total Routine Maintenance Costs (over 18 months): $231.91
Additional Maintenance Costs: $386.12 alignment and foglamp, $576.27 tires
Warranty Repairs: Broken sunroof switch, roof rattles, cam solenoid
Non-Warranty Repairs: Foglamp replacement
Scheduled Dealer Visits: 2
Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 3
Days Out of Service: 2
Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None
Performance and Fuel Economy
The C300 didn't miss a beat after 22,000 miles. Performance tests at the beginning and end of our tests were nearly identical.
From a stop the Benz reached 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Its 3.0-liter V6 pulled the C300 through the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds at 91.5 mph. From 60 mph the Mercedes needed a mere 114 feet to reach a stop. That is very good in this class.
Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton commented following the C300's 0.89g run around the skid pad, "It is amazingly easy to maintain an arc all the way around with zero steering input, only throttle. It has gobs of grip and talkative steering."
Over time we recorded all ranges of fuel economy with the C300. A day at the test track delivered 8 mpg, while a mostly highway drive downhill on an empty stomach scored a best tank of 30 mpg. We averaged only 20 mpg overall, however.
Best Fuel Economy: 30.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 7.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 20.1 mpg
Retained Value
Our plan was to sell our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport within one week. We searched for the best offer utilizing Carmax, an auto broker, Craigslist and Auto Trader. In the end we turned to Carmax, selling the Mercedes for $26,000. This reflected 34-percent depreciation from the $39,450 we paid for the C300 new, according to Edmunds' TMV® calculator.
True Market Value at service end: $28,199
What it sold for: $26,000
Depreciation: $13,450 or 34 percent of original paid price
Final Odometer Reading: 21,962
Summing Up
Quality control issues began taking a toll on Mercedes-Benz over recent years. These concerns were especially focused on lower-level models such as the C-Class. Mercedes hoped the introduction of an all-new C would quiet the cynics. But after 18 months with the 2008 C300 we found quality improvements are an ongoing process. Our C300 had its fair share of problems during this test. None that would strand us beside the road, to be sure. But little things add up.
In dealing with the problems we encountered, a lesson was learned. A trustworthy and competent dealer for service items makes a difference. We based our dealership decision on proximity to our homes and office, as most consumers do. But our reliance on this convenient location nearly backfired. On multiple occasions parts were ordered incorrectly or not at all. Customer service levels ranged from nonexistent at times to acceptable, with no rhyme or reason. Were our expectations too high just because we were driving a Mercedes?
Choose a dealer and service advisor carefully. Realize that sometimes the individuals who care aren't at the shop around the corner.
Edmunds Inside Line - Long-Term Test: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport - Wrap-UP
M
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
"Quality control issues began taking a toll on Mercedes-Benz over recent years. These concerns were especially focused on lower-level models such as the C-Class. Mercedes hoped the introduction of an all-new C would quiet the cynics. But after 18 months with the 2008 C300 we found quality improvements are an ongoing process. Our C300 had its fair share of problems during this test. None that would strand us beside the road, to be sure. But little things add up."
Are those small issues really "quality problems"? Because when I read the Club Lexus forums you can hear tons of Lexus owners whine about similar problems. Cabin rattles, small electric glitches, malfunctioning navigation system, dealer screw-ups etc.
Based on the overall summary of this C300 it seems the car performed pretty well. The problems that appeared were small and perhaps annoying, but nothing that would leave the driver stranded or in a life-threatening situation. If Edmunds had tested a W203 C-Class in the past in the same fashion logic would dictate that it would fare far, far worse.
I wonder what would happen if Consumer Reports would get a hold of this review...
"Oh my god! 3 unscheduled dealer visits for...for what? Oh, it doesn't matter, we'll just rank this car as a major POS!"
Are those small issues really "quality problems"? Because when I read the Club Lexus forums you can hear tons of Lexus owners whine about similar problems. Cabin rattles, small electric glitches, malfunctioning navigation system, dealer screw-ups etc.
Based on the overall summary of this C300 it seems the car performed pretty well. The problems that appeared were small and perhaps annoying, but nothing that would leave the driver stranded or in a life-threatening situation. If Edmunds had tested a W203 C-Class in the past in the same fashion logic would dictate that it would fare far, far worse.
I wonder what would happen if Consumer Reports would get a hold of this review...
"Oh my god! 3 unscheduled dealer visits for...for what? Oh, it doesn't matter, we'll just rank this car as a major POS!"
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
^Lol
But did they really face some crappy ones? or this is just the way it is?
Well when you look over at what's going on at Club Toyota...excuse me, Club Lexus (
), you'll find tons of threads about a "reliability" issue. Someones LS460 doesn't start or the navigation is acting up or someones battery got depleted on an RX400h etc. Lexus have their share of problems too, mega annoying or a small nuisance. It's just funny how the press just seems to skip over these things but make it sound like a Mercedes is a total piece of crap.
Tarek
Cornering Kingpin
Well when you look over at what's going on at Club Toyota...excuse me, Club Lexus (
It's just funny how the press just seems to skip over these things but make it sound like a Mercedes is a total piece of crap.
Well bro i'm surprised to see edmunds say that,they are always harsh on MB seriously.
You know... I don't want to sound like a fanboy, but I'm starting to believe that reliability is a bit overrated... just a bit.
Toyotas are mostly reliable, but I'll take my VW with its temperamental electronics, because I absolutely hate the way Toyotas drive and I positively despise the way Toyotas look. Have you seen the new Avensis? If not... then don't. Otherwise you will vomit explosively before such ugliness.
Besides, all cars go wrong. Even mighty Toyota is not immune of faults. My mother used top have a Yaris, of which she had a share of problems with it and Toyota dealer service proved to be arrogant. Only when she threatened to sue the shit out of them, they started to treat her with more respect. Now she drives a Fiat Panda, yes, the damn car already gave her a few troubles, but she seems to be happier driving her piece of junk Fiat than the was driving her previous Toyota.
Toyotas are mostly reliable, but I'll take my VW with its temperamental electronics, because I absolutely hate the way Toyotas drive and I positively despise the way Toyotas look. Have you seen the new Avensis? If not... then don't. Otherwise you will vomit explosively before such ugliness.
Besides, all cars go wrong. Even mighty Toyota is not immune of faults. My mother used top have a Yaris, of which she had a share of problems with it and Toyota dealer service proved to be arrogant. Only when she threatened to sue the shit out of them, they started to treat her with more respect. Now she drives a Fiat Panda, yes, the damn car already gave her a few troubles, but she seems to be happier driving her piece of junk Fiat than the was driving her previous Toyota.
NarutoRamen
Kraftwagen König
It's not that Toyotas or Hondas don't go bad, they do, the problem is the cost of fixing those cars. A toyota or a honda is WAY cheaper to get fixed than any german car or even a british car. That is what makes people buy Toyotas and Hondas is the fact that when they do break down, it's not going to cost you an arm and a leg to get fixed. Germans on the other hand, even the cheapo VW cost crazy amounts of money.
My local Audi/VW dealer charges $110 an hour as their labor cost, plust the parts are usually expensive. The local honda dealer charges about $70 an hour, and the parts are pretty cheap. I'm not even going to talk about insurance. So what do you think your average person is going to choose? The brand that costs more to buy and to fix or the brand that is cheap to buy and to fix? I think it's a no brainers.
I'm not defending Toyota or Honda, I'm just saying that there is more to it than "they make bland cars, so I'll take my money elsewhere"; that issue is only for those with the income to afford the more expensive cars.
I perfectly understand your point. I'm no Toyota hater, btw.
Toyota strived for the success and congratulations to them. My advice for those who are thinking about buying an used German car, is to avoid the dealers. They will cost a lot and the service probably will not be very good. Find a good German car specialist. It will be cheaper and the service will possibly be better as well.
Our fellow GCF member "VroomVroom", told us a nightmarish story of his dad's used Audi A6. Apparently, only when his father took the car to an independent Audi specialist, most of the faults, which the Audi dealer couldn't be bothered to fix them, were fixed.
NarutoRamen
Kraftwagen König
Oh yeah, I know that. When I had my M3, I took it to an independent shop around my area, who also work on race cars. the best thing was they were cheaper than BMW dealer and they didn't F_ck about. They would check the car out for free, the dealer charges $120 regardless if there is anything even wrong with the car or not.
The problem is, the average buyer is just gonna take it to a dealer because they percieve the dealer as "being safe" vs. some independent shops where they might feel jipped.
modena_360stradale
Autobahn Adventurer
How in the world is he getting 19 miles per gallon? Even driving with an occasional lead foot I've never really managed under 22 mpg on a C300.
Similar threads
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
Established in 1926, Mercedes-Benz Group produces consumer luxury
vehicles and light commercial vehicles badged as Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG,
and Mercedes-Maybach.
Its origin lies in Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft's 1901 Mercedes
and Carl Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which is widely regarded
as the first internal combustion engine in a self-propelled automobile.
The slogan for the brand is "the best or nothing".
Official website: Mercedes-Benz (Global), Mercedes-Benz (USA)
Official website: Mercedes-Benz (Global), Mercedes-Benz (USA)
