Off topic again but, my impressions of the first month (900 miles)
Obsidian black metallic
Anthracite / pale grey leather (as close to AMG as you can get from the factory)
Automatic (must be getting old !)
Single CD
Sports Suspension
17" sports alloy wheels
Alloy pedal mod - courtesy of you good chaps at the forum.
1. a completely different car to drive from my two previous E46 BMs (330d saloon, 323Ci coupe)
2. Ride quality - excellent - even with the optional sports suspension and upgraded (17") alloys - about the same as a BM on standard wheels and suspension.
3. Handling - very little body lean initially and then the car just sits down in the corners (the BMs used to chop across the road on the front )
4. Styling - despite a few criticisms of it looking heavy at the rear wing area I really like it, probably helped by the bigger wheels
5. Interior - the single CD looks a bit cheap for Mercedes. Seats very supportive, two tone leather looks great. Motorised seat belt provider a real talking point - but brilliant if you have the seat forward. Space wise it provides good accomodation for twpo adults, with space for teenagers or adulkts in the back also. 4 seats only though - there is no middle to the rear seat (storage tray). Boot space better than the BMs - less boxed in at the sides and loads of cubies at the sides / under the floor. Split rear seats standard also.
6. Engine and performance - not quite up with the BM (yet - possible Carlsson / Brabus module under consideration). Don't exactly miss the smoothness of the six cylinders, but am a little worried about the amount of smoke from the exhaust, even under modest throttle openings (although other 270 diesels appear to be the same). The winter mode on the gearbox is now labelled C (for comfort), perhaps should be cruiser ?.
7. Ability to drop all windows is a bit of a gimmick, and I wonder what happens to your rear screen at high speeds.Nothing in the handbook - I wonder how long before we hear of German owners losing their rear screen maxing the car on the autobahns ?
Annoyances
1. the fact that everyone tells you you've left your lights on when you park in a dark carpark (should adjust the lights off delay I suppose, but it looks so cool with the side lights and front fogs on delay).
2. Occasionally when turning sharp left, and accelerating (such as pulling onto a roundabout and taking the first exit) there appears to be a slight graunching sound from the offside rear wheel area - almost as though the tyre is rubbing the carpet liner in the wheelarch. This is not the case - I've had the wheel off twice, but it will need further investigation.
3. Why don't they offer the uprated front brakes of the C class sport pack as an option - std brakes are fine but they don't look as good!
Overall - I have to say I'm very happy. If I can figure out how to get my jpegs ono the members gallery I'll post some pictures.
Compared to the E class you are paying a lot for the coupe body, but it'd be a strange world if we all had the same tastes.
Have just got the Navman up and running - took a few goes to get it registered online, and the maps take an age to download to the iPAQ (20 minutes for UK + Netherlands - 103Mb) even on USB connection. Will see if I can fool it on the way to work tomorrow !
