C-Class (W204) Official Mercedes-Benz W204 C-Class Discussion Thread

[RLE]

Factory pickup or......

Are you able to specify any different options with factory delivery?

It really is too bad that you cannot get the beige interior with the sport version. If it were available I would order the sport in red with beige. As it is I will probably end up with black with black/grey interior.

Did the dealer have all of the options, colors, etc. available?

Factory delivery US market cars are the same as local delivery since they were certified that way. I guess.

The dealers now have their MBUSA online ordering guide which shows the packages and the stand alone options such as leather, the panorama roof and so on. They have the packages prices but do not have the prices for the car itself which I don't understand. I too would buy a Sport version if the beige interior was available. But, even in Germany it's not offered. They do have a grey/black and a red/black option but not here.

I cannot imagine what is going on with the Multimedia package being unavailable until September. Maybe MB is still smarting from the 2003 E-Class debacle where they had to replace all the early cars (thousands?) that prepaid for Comand to be dealer-installed later and then found that the early cars were incompatible with the Comand package. A friend bought an '03 E500 (delivered Dec 2002) and did not order Comand because it was so cumbersome in his '00 S430. Had he done so, he would have received a new identical E500 at no cost except the balance due for Comand which was $1000. And his car had 11000 miles on it at the time.

 

[RLE]

I need a favor

The new C's colors (not for North America) include a metallic red which seems to named Carneol Red. So it says on the MB-Germany car configurator.I'm wondering what Metallic Red colors (by name) have been seen at the German and UK dealers, if any.

Here in the US the only such color is Barolo Red which has been around for a few years. There are a few other metallic reds but they are on other models only.

 

[bmer]

I visited the local dealer yesterday. They only had C 280 Avantgarde and C 220 CDI Classic. IRL it looks even better than in the pics. Even the rear lights that I wasn't so sure about look very nice. The interior is the same quality as in the 3 Series (I visited the BMW dealer as well and compared the two cars). Looks like Audi is still the interior quality leader... What was interesting was that the (fake) aluminium trim in the Elegance version looked much cheaper than the standard piano black trim in the Classic version. It's great that even the cheapest radio version has color screen and Bluetooth. The head room in the backseat is as modest as in the 3er. One thing I didn't like was how the arm support/door handle on the rear doors sweeps down, it isn't very ergonomic. All in all I think the new C-Class is a very strong competitor for both A4 and 3 Series.

 

[georgl]

"What was interesting was that the (fake) aluminium trim in the Elegance version looked much cheaper than the standard piano black trim in the Classic version."

The piano trim is plastic with piano paint (in Designo it is wood underneath the piano paint).

But the wood and aluminium trims are real!

They're manufactured by a family driven company from Stuttgart:
Behr-Unternehmensgruppe

 

[Benzboi_inoz]

Greetings All

My first post here, and I have just 'committed suicide' by reading through all 93 pages.... GAaaaaaaaah!!

Great thread, but literally a few hours of reading... heheheh...

Firstly, just to nail my colours to the mast, I am a Mercedes Benz fan. I've never owned one, and have only ever driven six examples in total, seperated by a fair number of years. However, amongst the many different brands that I've driven, Mercedes to me has always held some special appeal that has been hard to identify, and as such, is my favourite.

I don't think it is any one thing that holds such appeal for me, so much as the overall balance of qualities. On one hand the intellectual appeal re the subtle and very clever design detail engineering has always held strong appeal, as has the safety engineering, and overall sense of bullet proof quality and reliability.

Then there is the driving, the sense of something solid cast or hewn from a single piece, rigid, taut, but yet aethletic and nimble, not heavy and lumbering, balanced with an absorbent, compliant ride, but yet with taut, very neutral, balanced handling, vehicle dynamics and body control.

True, having driven extensively the BMW range (3, 5 & 7 series, Z3 & 4) for eg, there are sportier cars around to drive, but hugely impressed as I am by the BMW's, for some odd reason I've always come away from drives of them thinking "what an fantastic car" but yet never feeling as if I'd want to own one, or live with it for a long time - not that I'm saying they're bad cars, or better or worse than a Benz, not at all, but just different.

As I say, emotional and intellectual appeal in balance is what seems to draw me to Benz.

I've also looked closely at Lexus, and been completely bowled over by them on an engineering/quality/fit/finish/assembly/tooling/attention to detail/value for money POV amongst other things.

Brand cache is not so important to me as quality and engineering, and Lexus is hugely, hugely impressive.

However, a recent test drive of an IS250 left me with a feeling very similar to what I have experienced with my test drives of BMW's. That is, hugely impressive car, almost unbelievable quality for a mass produced vehicle (Lexus) - but there was something 'missing' about the driving experience, that did not leave me with a "My God, I have to have this!" feeling.

Two cars that did hit me with that feeling once, were an Citroen, with the self levelling hydropneumatic suspension and a ride to die for, and, yes, not so long ago, a Benz. A W203 C240 in fact - tested new from a dealership.

So, I have been toying with the idea of a new car, and Benz has been right up the top of my list.

But here's the negative; the perceived (using my own eyes) drop, and drop in quality of Benzes over the last few years - looking at things like the quality of the interior plastics and general interior fittings, and the really poor fit and finish/assembly quality, with poor shut lines, and panel gaps etc; to my mind barely acceptable on a cheap 'budget' car, let alone something as highly regarded as a Mercedes, has been really putting me off. Hence my evaluating brands such as BMW and Lexus.

But, the Benz is where my heart is, and I have been reading and poring over all the information I can find on the new W204, because I am just so, so hoping that they have sorted the quality and reliablity issues.

Time will tell, and I will be organising a test drive when they arrive here in a couple of months.

Thanks for putting up with the long post; just wanted to say Hi; seems a great site, lots of nice people with lots of good info, nice and friendly, no grandstanding or ego flame fests, and thank goodness for that!

Hope to be able to contribute more (and shorter posts!) as time goes on.

Best Regards

John...

 

[NTT]

Thanks John, and a warm wlecome.

 

[wltsm]

Welcome John, great first post!

Look forward to talking to you more, I will improve my reading skills! j/k

I have yet to see the W204 in the flesh, so don't know, but all the reviews I have read have said the build quality is excellent. There are a few members here who have had experience, or own the W204, so can ask them any questions you have!

 

[NTT]

Hi everybody, especially UK fans,

Just received a letter from my local dealer, informing me that MB UK are taking factory orders so I went over and picked up a brochure and price list.

To list a few things:

The Sport Line upgarde (Avantgarde + AMG Sports pack) is UK£2895.00 - (C350 & C320CDI - UK£1700.00)
The Elegance upgrade is UK£1195.00 -
I'm pleased to say that the C280 comes with 7-G tronic only.
Keyless Go is not on the options list.
I am not surprised, it's almost impossible to find a V6 Benz with a manual box in the UK

UK fans will be able to preview the car before the launch date of 14 June 2007.
The dealer stressed on 'no driving allowed' during the preview.

The long wait is almost over.

 

[MercFan]

Found this picture on the official Mercedes-Benz site. But I can't find in the list of options. Maybe somebody has photos of the interior with such steering wheel?

And another question. Is ventilated seets option available on the C-class?

 

[MoSs]

GOSH!!!! when is the new c-class going to debut here in USA LA?

 

[Hobo86]

Hi All

I'm also joining the thread alittle late, but I thought I'd also share my enthusiasm with everyone. 11 weeks and counting til my C220 Cdi arrives.

Mine will be white, advangaurde with the AMG package, Xenons, COMAND, Advanced Agility, HArmon/Kardon Logic 7, Sunroof, Manual . Leather and ParkTronic.

From the cars I've seen driving around (MB Test Vehicles) the car is going to be awesome.

Pictures this, Imagine being stuck in the day before your birthday, when you know the present your're getting is what you've always wanted. Now imagine living like that for months!!! I cant wait!

Anyone else there waiting and dreaming about that day they take delivary?


J

 

[M.Toni]

I know what you mean I have been waiting for mine for 3 months and I was the first to pick it up in our country.

You can check my revire here: http://www.germancarforum.com/member-car-reviews-more/13619-just-got-new-c-class.html

It's an awsome car and you will be happy with it.

Good luck with driving it - and a little heads up - mind that the mirrors are much much bigger now and be VERY careful when driving in town in those narrow streets next to other close objects.

I also have the manual transmision and it's pretty good. And PDC is a must because you really can't see all that good when backing up because of it's higher trunk surface.

 

[Centurion]

Some very nice info about the C-class performance package.
One of the best options MB has ever offered for their cars. This will help attracting more BMW fans to BMW.


"A Performance Package will include a mechanical limited-slip differential (offering 30 percent lockup under power, 10 percent or less on overrun), and compound steel brake rotors with aluminum centers (for vastly improved fade resistance and slightly lower weight). Springs and dampers are stiffened by 10 and 15 percent respectively, and the speed governor is raised to 174 mph. Europe's optional 19-inch wheels and tires won't be offered, as they can't survive urban-America's potholes."

 

[ismeto]

Hi All

I'm also joining the thread alittle late, but I thought I'd also share my enthusiasm with everyone. 11 weeks and counting til my C220 Cdi arrives.

Mine will be white, advangaurde with the AMG package, Xenons, COMAND, Advanced Agility, HArmon/Kardon Logic 7, Sunroof, Manual . Leather and ParkTronic.

From the cars I've seen driving around (MB Test Vehicles) the car is going to be awesome.

Pictures this, Imagine being stuck in the day before your birthday, when you know the present your're getting is what you've always wanted. Now imagine living like that for months!!! I cant wait!

Anyone else there waiting and dreaming about that day they take delivary?


J

I have heard Advanced Agility will be available with Sepember 2007. I think yours standart normal Agility Control. and I am asking your your colur choise White . Why White and your second colour please ?

 

[Hobo86]

I have heard Advanced Agility will be available with Sepember 2007. I think yours standart normal Agility Control. and I am asking your your colur choise White . Why White and your second colour please ?

Mines coming with the Advanced Agility (R18000 Extra) and the new delivary date is Sept.1

Why white, well, it just looks bloody stunning in white. My initial order was for a black one, until I saw the white. It looks amazing, especiacial with the xenon and meandored lights...

Will post some pics when I get it...

PS...U just have to look at my avatar to understand why I went White...

 

[Hobo86]

some test cars i spotted in sunny east london

 

[fuzzzzy]

Hi Hobo86,

When was your original delivery date? Is Sept.01 later or earlier than planned?

My date at the moment is 10 August

fuzzzzy

 

[Hobo86]

Hi Hobo86,

When was your original delivery date? Is Sept.01 later or earlier than planned?

My date at the moment is 10 August

fuzzzzy

Well, mine was also originally for then. But luckily I went in to check if everything wa correct. They made a stuff up with the Advanced Agility and forgot to spec my car with it. So, the revised date is Sept.1 The cars arrive 2 weeks before that, but the PDS takes 8 days...

Luckily I went through the weekend before production started. Talk about a calling..

 

[Zafiro]

if you want to see many new C-classes on the streets then go to Denmark. I've been there and they are even using the new C-class as a TAXI.

 

[fortuner]

hey hobo

how you

ui am also getting my c220cdi white avtgardr no amg(21000rands)

i am getting mine in auto with sunroof,and command,,,

hey your car is heavely speced,,,,when you sell it sell it to me..he he he i wanted mine specced exactly like you but the extras are toomuch money...

i saw one yets in real its awesome i cant wait..mine comming arond 21st augaust...

what part of sa u from me from limpopop