hybridlover
Active Member
I have the same issue but I am sure I read you can't use an extension lead but that may be wrong.
I have the same issue but I am sure I read you can't use an extension lead but that may be wrong.
yeah i think i have read that they advise against it but surely if the cable is the same quaility and resilience as they standard charge cable it shouldnt be a problem. I mean its not like im going to chuck a 2.99 special bin extension lead at it it will be a quality item. What do other people think??
350e
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2015
- Messages
- 519
- Car
- Mercedes C-Class 350e, Brilliant Blue
I tried an extension lead and it did not work. The car's supplied cable, 8 feet, does incorporate a heavy control unit and I concluded that it has sophisticated electronics built in that detects the use of an extension lead ? Whatever the reason it didn't work and so I bought a Rolec Pod for about £80 and am waiting for electrician to install.
350e
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2015
- Messages
- 519
- Car
- Mercedes C-Class 350e, Brilliant Blue
Suggest that @RS Lozworth and all others simply download the App freely available from Chargemaster to take advantage of the many free of charge Charging Points all round the country. I put twenty pounds in to the Chargemaster account and todate after several charges around the area I still have a credit of £20 
Also ask for a Ecotricity card, FOC, and just keep in your wallet until the day comes when on your travels you can again top up free of any charge. Why wouldn't you ?
Also ask for a Ecotricity card, FOC, and just keep in your wallet until the day comes when on your travels you can again top up free of any charge. Why wouldn't you ?
MBrummm
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2015
- Messages
- 85
- Car
- C350e Premium 'Brilliant' Blue
yeah i think i have read that they advise against it but surely if the cable is the same quaility and resilience as they standard charge cable it shouldnt be a problem. I mean its not like im going to chuck a 2.99 special bin extension lead at it it will be a quality item. What do other people think??
Hi, just an idea but it may probably be easier/just as straight forward to extend the current socket in your garage to a new one at the front and plug in from there. With a bit of simple electrical know how you/an electrician could run a spur off the back of the socket, down the skirting and up again at a desired level. Just like if you were doing the same to install additional sockets to relocate a tv on a wall for instance. Would cost minimal and you could then even use it to plug in a Hoover closer to the car for Sunday morning man chores.
Thanks. I'm currently renting a house but I'm buying early 2016 so will hold off any amendments to electrical circuits etc. I'm hoping the 8m cable will be long enough. I should measure the length of the garage tbh, it's standard garage so I think that is about 6m giving me a couple of metres spare. Should be ok if not i may consider something reversible. Thanks again. Also anyone have good suggestions on charging station memberships. I've just joined chargeyourcar.co.uk as that is who supplies my works stations and I have just read the post talking about charge master and they seem good. Don't really want too many that chargers join or receive a card.
JuliusCaesar
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2015
- Messages
- 13
- Car
- Mercedes Benz C350e Estate
I don't charge mine with a plug either. I too seemed to be getting around 300 miles per tank at first but now, after 4 weeks and 3000 miles, I'm getting 350 miles in a mixture of urban / motorway driving and around 400 miles if mainly motorway (80 cruise). I tend to leave the car in Comfort (motorways) or Economy (around town) /Hybrid modes. I did drive the 12 miles to work in Sport+ this morning and only got 26mpg - the same journey in Economy or Comfort gets 38-40mpg and the traffic was lighter than normal today! I use BP Ultimate, but that's for the double Nectar points!
wivenhoe
Active Member
I seem to be getting an average nearer 50mpg now that I have done over 2000 miles. Did 15 miles of mainly dual carriageway at 70 and with a full charge at start got 55mpg and 45mpg on the return. Other than at junctions etc where I use Sport I leave it in comfort.
famousgrouse
Active Member
- Joined
- May 7, 2015
- Messages
- 141
- Car
- C350e Estate
Technically speaking you shouldn't use an extension lead, even if it works. Reason being the car draws a constant ~10 amps the whole time it's charging. Most appliances won't draw that sort of current constantly.
It's a safety thing, fundamentally!
As to whether a standard 13a socket is OK to use or not really depends on the wiring at your house, if it's been bodged in with thin lighting cable or similar then the internal cabling could well get a bit hot, and if the fuses are old then there's certainly potential for fire and all sorts....
I'm sure the majority of people wouldn't bother, but I'd really recommend getting a dedicated circuit put in just to be safe, or at least- have it checked to make sure the circuit you're intending to use is beefy enough. Not worth risking burning the house down for the sake of 12 electric miles...!
It's a safety thing, fundamentally!
As to whether a standard 13a socket is OK to use or not really depends on the wiring at your house, if it's been bodged in with thin lighting cable or similar then the internal cabling could well get a bit hot, and if the fuses are old then there's certainly potential for fire and all sorts....
I'm sure the majority of people wouldn't bother, but I'd really recommend getting a dedicated circuit put in just to be safe, or at least- have it checked to make sure the circuit you're intending to use is beefy enough. Not worth risking burning the house down for the sake of 12 electric miles...!
quonker
Active Member
I had an update on mine today, it was built on the 11th October but still isn't projected to arrive at the dealer until 9th November which seems a bit rich.
Can't believe the story I was told regarding cars in front of mine on the assembly line are awaiting parts hence mine can't move off, not unless production has halted on C350e for more than two weeks.
But I'm driving a brand new CLS loaned by the dealer till mine eventually does arrive going for me which is nice.
Can't believe the story I was told regarding cars in front of mine on the assembly line are awaiting parts hence mine can't move off, not unless production has halted on C350e for more than two weeks.
But I'm driving a brand new CLS loaned by the dealer till mine eventually does arrive going for me which is nice.
Last edited:
350e
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2015
- Messages
- 519
- Car
- Mercedes C-Class 350e, Brilliant Blue
Hard to imagine that the dealer is spinning a line regarding the delay all the while that you are swanning around in his stock. I would, being charitable, think that you are being told in good faith the info that the dealer has gleaned. And that won't be from the factory I'm sure.
wivenhoe
Active Member
I was told mine was on a transporter on the way to the dealer when it was on 'hold' at Bremen. The dealer was expecting 3 C350's but only 2 turned up. I wonder if they take some of them off the line for extensive battery testing - my car had 50 miles on it when I collected it at the dealer.
How you finding the CLS - a bit of a luxurious barge ?
I did quite a bit of research on this and came to the conclusion that the advise is driven solely by health and safety due to aging domestic electrics. It is the consistent draw that is the issue which can cause domestic sockets/circuits to overheat and catch fire due to the constant current required to charge the car.
However, after a lengthy discussion with my electrician, at work I have now had a dedicated 16amp circuit connected to my dis board with RCD socket. I connect a heavy duty 10m 2.5mm cable extension lead to the 8m cable supplied by MB with the car. It works a treat at 13amps and charges up in around 1.5hrs from flat.
With my 16amp Rolec at home, and the extension setup at work, I am now pretty much driving to work and from work solely on electric.
Clearly I cannot recommend this as you need to have your own electrical set up reviewed by a quality Part P installer to check that it could be possible.
I also cross a footpath with the cable......... But that's a whole different debate too!!!
350e
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2015
- Messages
- 519
- Car
- Mercedes C-Class 350e, Brilliant Blue
Oh don't leave it there
When my Rolec pod is installed, which I now have, I will have to run the cable over the pavement. I plan to use one of those brightly coloured cable protectors to signal its existence. What is your story ?
quonker
Active Member
^^ exactly this
It's a lovely car to drive but just too big, it's the small diesel so performance is less than smile inducing.
It's only the base model, still pretty well equipped and suppose it's perfect in so much as its a huge upgrade to my old A4 but I'm still looking forward immensely to the much more modern and faster C350e.
Dealer said if I wanted to change my order then I could have a CLS tomorrow
According to com car.com if I had the base model CLS220d it would cost £368 a month in BiK tax, my C350e is almost exactly £300 less so not much chance of my order being changed
wivenhoe
Active Member
^^ exactly this
It's a lovely car to drive but just too big, it's the small diesel so performance is less than smile inducing.
It's only the base model, still pretty well equipped and suppose it's perfect in so much as its a huge upgrade to my old A4 but I'm still looking forward immensely to the much more modern and faster C350e.
Dealer said if I wanted to change my order then I could have a CLS tomorrow
According to com car.com if I had the base model CLS220d it would cost £368 a month in BiK tax, my C350e is almost exactly £300 less so not much chance of my order being changed
I think you'll find that the CLS will make the C350e feel even better than it really is ! I found it to feel 'agile' compared to the barge - but there is only 0.2s in it 0-60 on the 350CDI. I can now park at the station and be confident I can get in even if a Range Rover parks alongside - something I could never say in the 18 months I had the CLS.
To get the same acceleration in the CLS you need to get the 350CDI and I have just checked that the BIK for the same spec as my C350e would be £ 490 / month - the C350e is £ 77 - no contest !
350e, I'll follow this up in the charging thread
wivenhoe
Active Member
I think that either Bremrn or my dealer test drove it to confirm everything was OK with the hybrid system. There are reports on the other forum of cars about the same time suffering major hybrid / battery 'issues'. I was so glad to get it after 6 months wait 50 miles on the clock didn't bother me.
uumode
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2003
- Messages
- 1,587
- Car
- C300 AMG Line Premium Plus
Possibles...
Did you see the James May programme last week on BBC2?
There is a fair bit of driving around test tracks, re-tests, driving around plant to dispatch point, driving onto trains, off trains, ports onto ferries (like one massive car park) and when at destination from port to presumably another delivery area in country of destination etc.
I've seen a batch of brand new Fiat 500s (about 30 cars) in a large convey being driven along the M4 to a destination. Don't know if Mercedes do this from one dealer to another dealer within the same network who has stock.
Maybe dealers allow test drives in cars that have already been sold?
Depending on where the car is bought e.g. Drive the Deal, the default method of delivery is dealer driven delivery unless extra is paid for transporter.
