Buying advice for C350 CDI Estate Facelift

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Hexagon82

New Member
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Oct 23, 2018
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6
Location
Devon
Car
ML280 W164
Hi,

I've put down a deposit on a C350 CDI(Late 2011), which I get to view and pick up tommorow if all is ok with the car. The car has done 126k miles, what should I be looking for and checking on it? Are there common problems that are easy to spot, It's just had new brake lines as they failed the last MOT. Every other MOT is pass first time.

The car ad can be seen here: Used MERCEDES C CLASS in Exeter Devon | Transparency Cars

Thanks for any advice, Rob
 
Check for oil leaks down the back of the engine , indicating oil cooler seal failure . I think they weren’t updated until 2012 cars ?
 
Also was gearbox atf and filter changed at 37500 miles ? You will need another atf change at that mileage on the hurry up ...£250 at an Indy
 
Also was gearbox atf and filter changed at 37500 miles ? You will need another atf change at that mileage on the hurry up ...£250 at an Indy
I noticed a photo of a service early this year that inculded the gearbox..

Will check the back of the engine for oil, that is a good tip thanks :)
 
Check around the injectors for cleanliness and any residue . Do a search on this forum for ‘black death’ . My C270CDI needed all five injectors replaced at similar mileage .

If history shows yours have been done , great . Otherwise worth getting the sealing washers replaced as a pre emptive measure - the washers are pennies , plus a bit of Labour , new injectors from MB are £400 apiece.

At the mileage on your car it is worth checking .
 
W204 can suffer from front suspension knocking.

Turn the steering wheel lock to lock while parked, and lock to lock at parking speed (the MB WIS says this should be tested by driving slowly in reverse doing the figure 8...). Listen to any knocking sound.
 
Your gearbox will be the 7G-Tronic+, with the ATF and filter due every 77,500 miles or 5 years. On a 2011 car, this should have been done in 2016, and will need doing again in 2021 (unless done earlier due to mileage).
 
Does it have:


- Audio20 with pre-wiring for Becker Map Pilot satnav, but without the satnav unit itself.


or


- Audio20 with pre-wiring for Becker Map Pilot satnav, and the satnav unit.


or


- COMAND Online NTG4.5 (with built-in navigation).


If the latter, might be worth trying to get the dealer to throw in a free maps update ;)
 
Check around the injectors for cleanliness and any residue . Do a search on this forum for ‘black death’ . My C270CDI needed all five injectors replaced at similar mileage .

If history shows yours have been done , great . Otherwise worth getting the sealing washers replaced as a pre emptive measure - the washers are pennies , plus a bit of Labour , new injectors from MB are £400 apiece.

At the mileage on your car it is worth checking .

Thank you, I will take a look and see if there is anything there.. I've bought the car now, it's a lovely drive :)

Shame the engines are covered in plastic, makes it very hard to check when a dealer is watching you!
 
W204 can suffer from front suspension knocking.

Turn the steering wheel lock to lock while parked, and lock to lock at parking speed (the MB WIS says this should be tested by driving slowly in reverse doing the figure 8...). Listen to any knocking sound.

I will test this, haven't noticed anything while driving it.. The car handles very tighly, lots of fun on the back roads!
 
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Does it have:


- Audio20 with pre-wiring for Becker Map Pilot satnav, but without the satnav unit itself.


or


- Audio20 with pre-wiring for Becker Map Pilot satnav, and the satnav unit.


or


- COMAND Online NTG4.5 (with built-in navigation).


If the latter, might be worth trying to get the dealer to throw in a free maps update ;)

It has Comand Online, seems pretty awesome with all the differant options for music sources and has a reversing camera too. Maps are out of date, so will look on ebay for some new ones.
 
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It has Comand Online, seems pretty awesome with all the differant options for music sources and has a reversing camera too. Maps are out of date, so will look on ebay for some new ones.


a. The maps themselves are a free download form MB, you then copy the data to a USB flash drive or SD-Card and stick it in the car. The latest version is 2020 v19.0. BUT when trying to install the maps, you will need to use a PIN, which is generated by MB specially for your car’s VIN. So what you will be buying in effect is the specific PIN code for your car, for Europe v19.0 maps for NTG4.5. You can either ask the dealer to purchase the PIN code for you, or better still get them to just update the maps (it takes around one hour to copy the maps form the USB flash drive to the COMAND HDD). If the dealer isn't willing to do that, then you can purchase the PIN code for your car from any MB dealer, or form here: NTG3.5/NTG4.5 Map Update PIN code for Europe Maps

See also:
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b. Unrelated to the maps data, the COMAND unit has built-in software, which can be updated. MB provide the updated software itself for free, however it needs to be applied using MB STAR Diagnostic Computer, so most garages will charge you for half-hour labour. This updates the software on the COMAND unit, including the navigation software. Also, early versions of COMAND had the yellow/brown background theme, newer units had the grey/red theme - some prefer the later design, and this should be configurable via software update (might not apply to very early COMAND units). So, in short, if the dealer can and is willing to update the COMAND software on your car, then get them to do that, otherwise look at getting it done afterwards at a local dealer or MB specialist

c. The sound quality on MB cars isn't the greatest.... if you are an audiophile, you may want to consider a professional speaker upgrade, e.g.: Mercedes Audio upgrades
 
This is useful info - thanks markjay. I have my car booked in for a COMAND navi update next Tuesday - From it's factory installed 2011 v.4.0 to v19.0 as you mentioned. Will ask tomorrow about the possibility of other updates. Would love to ditch the yellow/brown for grey/red. Also have been looking into the Morel speaker upgrade options
 
I always check car history
 
This is useful info - thanks markjay. I have my car booked in for a COMAND navi update next Tuesday - From it's factory installed 2011 v.4.0 to v19.0 as you mentioned. Will ask tomorrow about the possibility of other updates. Would love to ditch the yellow/brown for grey/red. Also have been looking into the Morel speaker upgrade options

Is this with Comand UK in Lightwater? They fitted Morel speakers in my W204, very very happy with the result.
 
Is this with Comand UK in Lightwater? They fitted Morel speakers in my W204, very very happy with the result.
I was actually looking at this kit with an idea to fit myself - MOREL MAXIMO ULTRA 602 2-WAY 6.5" 165m SYSTEM, BRAND NEW KIT, 90W RMS, WARRANTY 7290105921222 | eBay - Did you get the exact speaker model detail of what was installed in your C class? Seems there are different options from Morel. Did you have front and rears replaced with dynomat in the doors?
 
I was actually looking at this kit with an idea to fit myself

30 years ago, no problem (done bigger jobs than that), but not anymore... I had Comand UK fit everything.

Did you get the exact speaker model detail of what was installed in your C class? Seems there are different options from Morel.

- Morel Maximo 6½" 2Way Component System 90W RMS in the front doors

- Morel Maximo 6½" Coax 80W RMS in the rear doors

- Alpine PWE-V80 flat subwoofer in the boot (mine is a saloon)

- Dynamat insulation

Did you have front and rears replaced with dynomat in the doors?

Yes.
 
I was told that this was their 'entry level' recommendation. You can go crazy with the Morel speakers, some of them are well into four figures territory... each. But I found their advise to be sound (no pun intended), the result is awesome (approved by my 18-years old :thumb:)
 

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