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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
7297 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 7:48 PM
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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Car Safety, Sedan
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#5763 of 7297 My 2 cents to mrkwan by hansen
Jul 10, 2002 (11:13 am)
You may want to consider the 2002 c240 for the following reasons:1. You will have a new car with a full warranty for 4yrs/50,000 miles.You are at least guaranteed a few years without the visit to the local Mercedes garage, which can get really costly.
2. All maintenence, including breaks, are covered for that period of time.
3. The safety features on the c240 are more up to date.
4. Resale will be better
5. Dealers are bargaining on the 2002's to make way for the 2003's. It will cost you a few grand more up front to get this car, but you may save in the long run.
Best of luck
#5764 of 7297 Steering vibration in new C240 by m94a96
Jul 11, 2002 (8:11 am)
My C240 is 4 months old. I am ready to sell it!!I have a rapid, slight but annoying vibration on the steering wheel between 30 and 40 mph. It is now in the shop for the 3rd time. Before, all they did was check the balancing and say that it was 100% ok. I have a feeling the vibration is in the steering system. Now they are checking the steering.
Do you know if this is common on the c240? I would want to replace the car if it can't get fixed. They tell me it may just be a 'feature'?! I am not sure what I should accept and live with any longer as far as cars go!
Thanks
Ivar
#5765 of 7297 IVAR by eos
Jul 11, 2002 (8:59 am)
What brand of tires have you got?Unless your dealer finds a specific steering problem, I would strongly urge you to check whether they used a Hunter Road Force balancer to check the wheel/tire balance; if not, I'd suggest you find a shop that has that equipment.
Off-hand, you seem to be describing a tire problem. You should be aware that many tires these days come through the usual static and dynamic balance process with flying colors, but nevertheless produce very annoying, disturbing, even alarming vibrations within a specific speed range. Replacing the tires may not even help -- I went through 2 sets of brand-new Michelins on our Trooper without any improvement in a vibration that started after I replaced our worn-out Good Years; however, rebalancing with the Hunter machine completely cured the problem. (I'm also happy to say that the ContiSports on my Y2K C280 have been vibration-free).
Good luck with the problem. It would be a pity to take the hit in selling your new Benz if it's just bad rubber.
Bob
#5766 of 7297 Yes, I agree... by jrct9454
Jul 11, 2002 (9:41 am)
...wheel balance is the first thing they go for, and it is usually runout, not balance, that is the problem.Vertical runout is most likely the culprit, that is, one or more of the tire/wheel combinations is not round enough. It only takes a variance of 1-1.5mm to make it very noticeable on these cars. And no, you are not the first one to have this issue come up.
The Hunter Road Force balancer that is being referred to above is designed to pinpoint vertical runout. It can then point the tech in the right direction to try to rotate the tire on the wheel to minimize the problem - or a new tire may be the only option.
Another possiblity is rotor or hub runout caused by incorrect, or uneven, tightening of the wheel bolts. This can actually distort the hub, and cause symptoms that feel like you're describing. I managed to screw up our '85 190E by doing exactly this with a torque wrench that was reading incorrectly, and I and the dealer pulled out hair out chasing the vibration through the usual means, always coming up empty until I confessed to what I thought was the source of the problem.
#5767 of 7297 sargent4: RE: Blinkers by scaredmb
Jul 11, 2002 (8:29 pm)
Blinkers and other lights are a known problem. Each of my tail lights were replaced 3 times before the dealer offered to replace the entire sockets - supposedly they were corroded. Then the front blinkers started going out - so those sockets had to be replaced as well. Each time they identified the problem then had to order the part. In 17 months and 19k miles my new C320 has been in the shop 24 times.I think the car is a piece of CR*P
#5768 of 7297 Used C320 impressions by vpking
Jul 12, 2002 (12:10 am)
I just traded my 2002 Honda Accord EX-V6 on a used 2001 C320 with 12,000 miles, 38 months lefton warranty. I got rid of the Honda because of
atrocious wind and road noise and engine hesistation. There was no way the wind noise could be fixed as the car probably was built to
improper tolerances, bad window seals, ect.
The Mercedes is like driving in a cocoon. Never
knew a car could be so well insulated from outside noise. The engine is perfect and smooth
through all ranges. I have read other people's complaint about the radio. This is the best radio
reception I have ever heard, no static on AM. I
had a 99 Beetle and 95 SC400 that both had crappy
radios. The Lexus was unusable at night due the
wiring layout which picked up ignition noise. It
apparently was a common problem of all 95 and
earlier Lexus's.
The Mercedes build quality is superb. Maybe I got
lucky but the only defects I have so far is a
burned out bulb over drivers visor(vanity mirror
bulb) and the drivers climate control blue button
sticks.
My only major complaint like others is the seats.
They are very hard. When I go around a turn the
seat cushion pops like weight shifted off a spring. Do they use springs in the seats or like
have read on older models horsehair. I am thinking of using sheepskin covers to soften the
seating area.
#5769 of 7297 nyccarguy and the W202 C-Class by 404c
Jul 13, 2002 (11:39 pm)
I don't mind the old C either, but quite frankly, it is an unsafe vehicle in a collision.Check out www.euroncap.com; it was a two star car and is outperformed - comprehensively - by the MCC smart micro-car, which gets three stars. Embarrassing? You bet!
The new C-Class is a four or five star car, depending on whether you believe collision safety points should be awarded for "seatbelt reminders". EuroNCAP rates it as both, in two tests. Still, it's head and shoulders above the old C, which ironically had a good reputation for safety in most peoples' minds, despite its unstable crash performance.
If the W 202 C-Class is the last of the old-school Mercedes, good riddance!
#5770 of 7297 More Info on '03s by jrct9454
Jul 14, 2002 (6:26 am)
The following was posted on the MBWorld site:Prices for '03 C class -- ADD DESTINATION CHARGE [$685 next year?] in each case:
C230 Coupe - $24950 [Unchanged]
C240 Sedan - $29900 [Slightly down - but some eqpt will be optional that was standard]
C240 Wagon - $31400 [Offering the wagon with the 2.6 liter engine, so you don't have to spend upwards of $41k to get one]
C320 Sedan - $35200 [Manual trans will be standard and avail in Jan.]
C320 Wagon - $36700 [Again, manual in Jan]
4-matic available as $1800 option in Jan.
Automatic continues as $1300 option, now on all models.
The CD changer has been redesigned, will be offered as both factory and dealer option, and will be priced at [wait for it!]...$400.
Plus, a single CD player slot should be standard on all models.
Availability will be in August - some cars are already at the VPCs.
The new, all-aluminum 1.8 4 cyl. in the Coupe will be supercharged, lose about 5 hp, gain about 1-2 mpg in fuel mileage, and should be both quieter and smoother than the old 4. Performance in the real world should be virtually identical - 0-100 kph times are 8.1 seconds vs. 8.0 seconds on the old one. Sounds good to me...
#5771 of 7297 404c by paul_p
Jul 15, 2002 (6:45 am)
Good riddance? OK, whoever no longer wants their W-202 C-Class is welcome to send it to me, especially if it is a C36!
- Paul
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