C-Class (W205) First week with my 2015 W205 C300

[StanNH]

I've let MB-USA know that I expect them to work out an arrangement with my dealer for a new C300. They're supposed to get back to me in a few days. I have never been so frustrated with any new car I've ever owned.

 

[mini_cooper4]

@StanNH I feel so frustrated and I don't even own your C-Klasse. This is quite an ordeal you're going through. I'd let your dealer write a letter to MB USA and MB Germany. This car should be replaced for a completely new one.

It seems like many new C-Class models come standard with all these problems in the US.
Even if they give him a new C-Class it might pretty much be the same story all over again...
Try to get reimbursed by MB USA @StanNH
Mention that it's already going viral on the internet.

 

[Merc1]

Unbelievable. I knew the C was a new car in a new plant for the U.S. but damn. Glad I didn't do anything rash as far as getting one. Hopefully all these issues will be worked out completely for the 2016 model year. I would hate to see the C450 have all these problems.

M

 

[Amat46]

Sorry to hear your ordeal mate.MB should import of car straight from Germany for you and fix the issues with the plant whatever it is ASAP.

I've let MB-USA know that I expect them to work out an arrangement with my dealer for a new C300. They're supposed to get back to me in a few days. I have never been so frustrated with any new car I've ever owned.

 

[StanNH]

The real tragedy here is that MB has designed a brilliant car. I've owned several BMW's and Audi's over the years, and this is probably the best AWD sedan I've yet driven. It does everything well, and I'm as impressed with the car itself now as I was when I initially wrote that first week review. Simply put, this car is fantastic. I don't know why the cars coming out of Alabama are being released with obvious fit and finish issues, I don't know how a new supplier could screw up MB-Tex as badly as they did. I also don't understand how a company like Mercedes Benz could authorize the release of a repair kit for the MB-Tex issue and then not completely fix the problem.

 

[Rolf]

Sorry to hear about your problems with your car, I can imagine all the frustrations as this is no ordinary car but a Mercedes Benz so you would be expecting the quality been much better than what you experienced. It looks like MBUSA need to bring in the quality control experts from Germany (and South Africa's East London) to evaluate their production processes as things there are terribly wrong. I wish you all the best that they can either give you a much better built replacement or reimburse you for the grief that you have suffered.

 

[Merc1]

The real tragedy here is that MB has designed a brilliant car. I've owned several BMW's and Audi's over the years, and this is probably the best AWD sedan I've yet driven. It does everything well, and I'm as impressed with the car itself now as I was when I initially wrote that first week review. Simply put, this car is fantastic. I don't know why the cars coming out of Alabama are being released with obvious fit and finish issues, I don't know how a new supplier could screw up MB-Tex as badly as they did. I also don't understand how a company like Mercedes Benz could authorize the release of a repair kit for the MB-Tex issue and then not completely fix the problem.

It is all in the name of higher sales IMO. Mercedes used to double check every car twice back in the day or so the myth went. Now they build them and ship them like everyone else. That said, I expect Mercedes-Benz to act quickly to fix the production issues either during this model year run or most definitely for the 2016 model year.

Don't feel back though, it isn't just Alabama made Mercedes products. The 2014 S-Class was riddled with problems also from bad fitting interior trim to bubbling windshields. It isn't just the Bama made cars. Mercedes is chasing volume and giving up quality in the process. The acted real quick and rushed out the 2015 MY S-Class and most if not all of the bugs are gone now. Consumer Reports dinged MB big time for the 2014 S and CLA, both built overseas for their many issues.

M

 

[StanNH]

I realized I never actually closed out this long story. In February, my dealer asked me to spec out and order a new car. The new car arrived in April, and my dealer agreed to take my original C300 in as a trade. I ordered the new car as a Palladium C300 Sport, with the Interior Package which includes ventilated leather seats. Emotionally, I never wanted to look at MB-Tex again.

The C300 Sport came in at nearly $4,000 more than my C300 base, and we all agreed I would be responsible for that amount. The depreciation on the original car was significant but, between MB-USA and my dealer, I walked away with only a $1500 hit on my seven month old car.

There was no way I was going to walk away with a simple swap since, in spite of all my troubles with this car, it always ran fine and had no safety issues. It did not qualify for my state's Lemon Law, so I had a relatively weak negotiating position. The deal I did get was, to me, satisfactory and put together with a lot of help from my dealer.

I have put just over 1,500 miles on the new car and it has been trouble free and appears to be very well put together. It is quiet and exhibits no wind noise at all, and no rattles or squeaks. Fit and finish is excellent, except for the typical slight mismatch of the rear bumper cover. Fuel economy has been quite good, with a measured 27.6 mpg since I got the car. I have seen over 33 mpg on highway runs. I do like the Sport package, and find the more aggressive side bolsters on the seats are much appreciated. The ride seems very close to my base with the 18" tires ... firm, but not harsh.

The final irony is a letter I got from MB a week after getting the new car. It was a recall notice for the fuel tank ... and it was for my old C300. That would have been the third recall for that car ... pus one service campaign ... to go along with all the other service visits I made during that short seven month period I owned the car.

My new C300 Sport is the car I expected it to be when I first purchased a C300. MB-USA gave me a 7 year/75k warranty with this car, so I hope to keep it just a bit longer than my first one.

 

[Merc1]

I've been reading your story here and on MBWorld, thanks for sharing Stan. Best of luck with the new car. I like the way this looks much better than your original one too.

M

 

[StanNH]

I've been reading your story here and on MBWorld, thanks for sharing Stan. Best of luck with the new car. I like the way this looks much better than your original one too.
M

I didn't think the Sport/AMG design package would make a big difference, but it does. Just a few small changes to the front facade, side trim, and rear quarter panels do add up and create a sportier look. That, plus the slightly lower stance, make for a very nice looking variant.

I am so glad this phase of my Mercedes ownership experience is behind me.

 

[Pagani]

I read this with interest because I am [finally] in the final months before taking the plunge on a new Mercedes. Are there any options you got that turned out you would not have minded being without? On the flip side, do you find you wished you had specced certain options you don't have? I am especially torn between the driver-assistance package and the interior leather (I have craved the red interior since I saw the very first pics of this car). I absolutely hate how Mercedes does not allow me to spec a car without getting a myriad of unnecessary packages.

 

[DexterMorgan]

I read this with interest because I am [finally] in the final months before taking the plunge on a new Mercedes. Are there any options you got that turned out you would not have minded being without? On the flip side, do you find you wished you had specced certain options you don't have? I am especially torn between the driver-assistance package and the interior leather (I have craved the red interior since I saw the very first pics of this car). I absolutely hate how Mercedes does not allow me to spec a car without getting a myriad of unnecessary packages.

I have a W205 with the red interior and I, too, chose it after seeing the initial pics of this interior. After 8 months of owning this interior I must say I am glad I did. The only thing I would do different if I could do it again is choose the natural black ash wood instead. I went with the aluminum which pairs with the cheap black plastic in the center console. Although the aluminum looks fantastic, the cheap plastic in the center is a fingerprint/dust/scratch magnet.

I had debated about the driver assistance package but decided as nice as the tech is, I would barely ever rely on it. Plus, the 'steering assist' is a joke when compared to systems offered by Tesla and Infiniti. The W213 will finally make this a usable feature but the implementation on the W205 is just hopelessly bad.

 

[Pagani]

All of my instincts are telling me to avoid the packages as much as I can. There are a couple of things that for me are a must on this purchase: the lighting package, the panorama roof, the cranberry interior (which will force-feed me the Premium 2 package).

That said, I have gotten a completely different dilemma that defeats my purpose of keeping this purchase simple: the C 450/43. I am wondering if by spending an extra $6-7k, I could get 100+ horses, a fancier (standard) suspension and a sportier overall ride. I am sure I will outgrow this by September, but maybe not. It will be very interesting once I go and test both these models at the dealer one of these weekends.