Thinking about buying this Benz C300. **UPDATE Bought one** WITH PICS

[Stopsignhank]

congrats on your new benz and thanks for the reply. just curious, are your tires offset?

As a matter of fact they are. I will admit in my research I did not delve that deep to look at tire size. However since it is a rear wheel drive, maybe the front tires won't wear out as fast.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've driven the C350 coupe, which I really like the looks of, but I put a lot of miles on my car so I didn't end up buying it. Still have a soft spot for Mercedes-Benz though and might end up with one eventually.

Everything will cost more than your Camry, maintenance, tires, brakes, and it will need them more often.

 

[OutHouse]

$599 Dealer & Handling Fee? Just be honest and call it Padded Profit Fee.

thats why i buy using a auto broker. they can normally get the car cheaper and no bullshit charges like that. bought my wifes mazda3 using autosearchusa and it was awesome. I will never buy direct from a dealer again.

 

[Stopsignhank]

How was the test drive?

 

[OutHouse]

How was the test drive?

It went well. Car drove very nice, went on some twisty roads and it felt stuck to the road, the AWD is a very nice feature. wife and son rode in the back and did mention there is less leg room than the camry.

a couple of minor things that arent deal breakers but i took notice. first is no backup camera. Really? its a 2013 benz, my 2011 sienna has a backup camera. Also the lack of USB ports. There is only one and its in the center console. The sales guy said you can put an adapter in the front and back cigarette lighters. Yes, Benz still puts ash trays in all their vehicles.

The original window sticker was in the glovebox, 2 years ago that car sold for 43K.

I emailed the broker last night and told him if he can get the vehicle for 23K or less im a buyer so we will see what happens tomorrow on monday. pretty sure dealerships will be open on Presidents day.

 

[Yuriman]

can you elaborate why?

I assume it's because you're very quickly going to be into the range of miles where you'll have regular and expensive maintenance. European cars are great to lease, but generally not so good to own. I'd personally point you toward a Lexus or Acura.

 

[Stopsignhank]

Yep, the back up camera is an option. We got it on ours. And you are right there is less leg room than your Camry. We went from a 2009 Camry to our C300 because my wife wanted a smaller car.

 

[Midwayman]

It went well. Car drove very nice, went on some twisty roads and it felt stuck to the road, the AWD is a very nice feature. wife and son rode in the back and did mention there is less leg room than the camry.

a couple of minor things that arent deal breakers but i took notice. first is no backup camera. Really? its a 2013 benz, my 2011 sienna has a backup camera. Also the lack of USB ports. There is only one and its in the center console. The sales guy said you can put an adapter in the front and back cigarette lighters. Yes, Benz still puts ash trays in all their vehicles.

The original window sticker was in the glovebox, 2 years ago that car sold for 43K.

I emailed the broker last night and told him if he can get the vehicle for 23K or less im a buyer so we will see what happens tomorrow on monday. pretty sure dealerships will be open on Presidents day.

I added a backup cam to mine for less than $50. With the navi all you need is a cheap ebay cam and a farka connector. Not sure on the base audio in that car, but check here.
http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204-83/

The stock backup camera is kinda insane. It was like a $700 option. Not even included with navi. A real factory one is a rare beast indeed. Fun thing is the factory camera isn't even that great. And its just a NSTC composite camera.

You can also unstagger the wheels. I have non-staggered winter wheels on mine. The 'luxury' variant of it comes unstaggered from the factory.

Check the glovebox for more connectors. I seem to remember there being a port in there of some sort as well.

 

[Midwayman]

Little more research shows the audio20/audio50 systems need a media interface to add a camera.

such as
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-20...2?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3a6cb2c84e

So its a little more expensive, but doable its its on your must have list.

 

[OutHouse]

thanks for the info about the backup cams.

we test drove a 2013 Lexus ES350 a few hours ago, very nice but its almost 7K more in price and 15K more miles and not AWD. Lots of room, i put the drivers seat all the way back and could not touch the pedals. guess why its a Executive Sedan. The Lexus dealership was like being at a resort. they had a huge gift shop, impressive coffee bar with all kinds of food, tables and shit to sit down and eat like a mall food court.

Still leaning towards the Benz.

 

[kaerflog]

i just read about a feature that im not sure im too crazy about.

front and rear tires are different sizes. 225/45's front and 245/40's rear

so no 4 tire rotation just swap left to right, right to left.

Rear wheel drive cars are like that. Fatter wheels in the rear.

I have a dumb blond story about a co-worker of mine. She had a rear wheel car that she took to the tire shop to get new tires. The guy told her her wheels were all different and suggested that she get new wheels also. She ended up getting all new wheels and tires. I told her afterward that those people fucked her. Rear wheel cars are supposed to have different size wheels on the back. She like "no way !!!" why would the tire guys tell me differently. I'm like sucked "stupid bitch", because they are trying to get more money out of you !!!!

 

[OutHouse]

how do you guys feel about the 2012 C300? should i look for a 2012 or the 2013 with the newer engine?

 

[Midwayman]

how do you guys feel about the 2012 C300? should i look for a 2012 or the 2013 with the newer engine?

There was a substantial HP bump between those years. Minor increase in mpg as well IIRC. That's about the only meaningful change. only you can really say how important that is. I wouldn't stay away from the older engine on mechanical concerns or anything. FWIW if you don't care about 4matic, the c350 got the m276 in 2012. my 2012 c350 was like $5k less than the 2013 c300 was going for at the time.

If I were making a wishlist for the 4matic, it would be 2013, keyless go and navi. Lighting package is cool but not needed. Pano roof is pretty meh for me (I have it) but if you carry passengers in back frequently they might light it. It also looks nice on non-black cars (If you see a car with a black roof it has the pano roof)

The other issue with 2012 is how much warranty you have left. Most likely a 2012 will be out of warranty. Any warranty it has will be extended or CPO. 2013 might have warranty left on it allowing you to add the factory extended warranty if that's your thing.

 

[OutHouse]

^ for update

 

[XavierMace]

Where's the pictures?

 

[OutHouse]

Where's the pictures?

ill get some. it was dark when i got home last night.

 

[JulesMaximus]

*** UPDATE**

The autobroker i buy through found me a sweet 2012 C300 Luxury. One owner, 24K miles on it. weathertech floor mats, all windows including the windshield and sunroof are tinted. the thing is cherry inside and out. The only odd thing about it, it has a Affalterbach badge on the hood.

Congrats on the purchase. What color is the car?

That's an AMG badge, Mercedes-Benz performance division (kind of like M badges on BMW).

And make with the pics already.

 

[OutHouse]

Congrats on the purchase. What color is the car?

That's an AMG badge, Mercedes-Benz performance division (kind of like M badges on BMW).

And make with the pics already.

Its gray but in the sun it looks like a platinum

I ordered a Star hood ornament from Amazon to replace the AMG badge. The badge looks cool but the car is not a AMG. Plus i really want to see that beautiful star while im driving.

Pics are posted in OP. Enjoy.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Nice car! So it's a C300 and it has AMG badging everywhere, or just the hood? Stick up star or flat star? Choices!

I especially like the color.

 

[OutHouse]

Nice car! So it's a C300 and it has AMG badging everywhere, or just the hood? Stick up star or flat star? Choices!

I especially like the color.

Only the hood. Im putting on a stickup star.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YMDXVF2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

 

[Midwayman]

Congrats. Hope you enjoy it. You get navi and keyless go? Interior shot was too dark to tell.

 

[OutHouse]

Congrats. Hope you enjoy it. You get navi and keyless go? Interior shot was too dark to tell.

no, didnt come with navi or keyless-GO. :'(

 

[Ackmed]

Looks like a good deal and a nice car. Should be fun to drive and likely will be reliable for the near future


You already likely know the "negatives"
1.) It will cost a lot more to maintain
2.) Likely will have more problems
3.) Resale if you want to sell it is not good

So, I'd have mixed feelings

Yeah.... wife is currently at the Benz dealership at this moment paying $760 to get the fan regulator replaced.

Also takes 8 quarts of synthetic oil, which cost a lot more than our other cars at 5 quarts of regular oil. Oh well, I knew that going in.

 

[NutBucket]

Maybe someone ripped off the original star and that's why it was replaced with a flat (though incorrect) badge?

 

[Midwayman]

Maybe someone ripped off the original star and that's why it was replaced with a flat (though incorrect) badge?

The badge isn't even expensive. They probably just liked the flat badge. You can get all sorts of designs off ebay or aliexpress.