LeggySilverfox
New Member
Fab, thanks for that.
Fab, thanks for that.
Jeddy
Active Member
I don't suppose that changes the way the various modes work does it? I think the thing which annoys me most is that I'm happy going with the flow most of the time (ok, don't have much choice most of the time), but when an opportunity looks like it may arise for an overtake I first feel the need to change it out of Individual to Sport or Sport+ either that or needlessly drive in Sport/+ waiting for the opportunity to arise.
Why can't the dictator of how much power I want be my right foot rather than a stupid switch on the wrong side of the transmission tunnel (although I note it's the correct side on LDH cars, they just didn't both to switch it for RHD cars).
Jeddy
Yeah agree & I'll add it's frustrating you can't control the auto box in 'M' mode for more than half a minute before it reverts to fully automatic.
I was recently offered a map update for £100, on top of this charge which comes in at 3 years. Have noticed reading Hyundai i30N reviews that you get 'free' map updates' & live traffic information for 8 years.
Jeddy
Active Member
You'd think that dropping the odd cog or two in e.g. hybrid mode might change it into Sport/+, apparently not. As you say combine that with not actually holding gear when you do use the paddles it makes it somewhat pointless. While I'm griping, it's also less than clever that in non Sport modes (i.e. engine off while waiting) pulling out of a side road is a less than speedy affair, I thought I could get around that by dropping a cog to get the engine going ready for the pull out, but as above, only if I can get out quickly before the engine cuts out.
Having said which, I do really like being able to move it out and in of the garage without having to start the engine.
Jeddy
Active Member
I complained to my supplying dealer after I bought the car (at 11 months old) that while the map could have been upgraded for free before 1 year, that hadn't been done. They agreed to do an upgrade for me. Having done which I now have a barely usable satnav - entering e.g. postcodes can take 5 secs per character - plain dangerous. It's went in to a different dealer who couldn't fix that immediately (2 different stories, one from mechanic one from department) so it's got to go back again for them to fix that either when the map downloads are working or when a new map becomes available depending on who you believe. That'll be in a month or so - hmm, we've already passed that and I've heard nothing.
D
Deleted member 126969
Guest
I got the distinct impression that they would rather not be bothering with "free" map updates if at all possible. I too got the "we'll do it at the next service", "but that's 9 months away", says I, and then "we'll do it when the new maps come out then". Thanks to information on this forum, I was able to tell them when the new maps were out, as well as the fact they could now get the data on USB which meant the update was about 10 times faster and didn't tie up a service bay all day.
I feel sure MB are perfectly happy for folk to carry on with the old maps right up until they can charge us to update them. The maps on mine were out of date when I got it off the showroom floor. Great PDI routine. Not. MB themselves make money on each paid update, the dealers must make something on every update, "free" or otherwise, for doing the work, no?
Just another little detail that leaves me feeling like a sucker for buying a new MB. They certainly do treat us with disdain. I honestly can't say if I'd be any happier with any other dealer or brand, but I'm not likely to find out now.
I feel sure MB are perfectly happy for folk to carry on with the old maps right up until they can charge us to update them. The maps on mine were out of date when I got it off the showroom floor. Great PDI routine. Not. MB themselves make money on each paid update, the dealers must make something on every update, "free" or otherwise, for doing the work, no?
Just another little detail that leaves me feeling like a sucker for buying a new MB. They certainly do treat us with disdain. I honestly can't say if I'd be any happier with any other dealer or brand, but I'm not likely to find out now.
raspy
Active Member
Today, the dash showed 11 miles range with a full charge. Drove mostly on an A road at around 50mph (lots of ups and downs, not flat) - squeezed 14 miles on battery and arrived with 14% left. I just wish the battery was large enough to allow 20 miles on a charge.
Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
Think you did well getting 14 miles with lots of ups and downs!, time to change to a C400e if and when Mercedes will sell you one, or better value a used BMW330e?!
raspy
Active Member
I've been a lurker here for quite a while, particularly 15-18 months ago when I was considering what car to get.
I have an automatic Diamond Silver (which is metallic) C350e sport estate and am just about to complete my first year of ownership. I say ownership - it is actually on a 2 year private lease. For those that are interested I paid 9 months up front and £315/month (incl VAT) thereafter. The only calculation as such was to compare likely depreciation (on a broker's cash price) with my overall cost. The estate/metallic paint has just cost me £440 on renewal of my road tax as they just tripped me over the £40000 figure. I was aware of this at the time but decided to grin and bear it to get the car and colour I wanted. I just assume all those solid black and white cars are all company cars!
I only charge from a garage 13A plug (I ordered an 8m cable with the car) and although I have a rather Heath Robinson arrangement it works well - the charging plug-in head hangs (under cover) from under the garage eaves when not in use and is simple to plug in with the car reversed up to the garage. Following comments here I've taken great care with the car charging covering flap!
Rather to my surprise I've found myself almost obsessive nursing the retained charge and watching the mpg when driving. Having said that I would describe my style as brisk and quite happy with the 40mpg I have obtained overall. I don't commute by car so only charge at the "home" end, so to speak.
A couple of niggles - the app constantly shows my front offside tyre pressure 10kPa below the other front wheel and I have checked it many times. I get occasional car unlocked warnings when it isn't. As others have mentioned the absence of the outside temp information, without scrolling through the screen info, is a pain - although I notice there appears to be a software update to rectify this. For a car in this price bracket I think the (basic) sat nav is really clunky and frankly pathetic. Apart from that I think it is poor in action too - I've tested it on a familiar route and with heavy traffic against Google Maps on my mobile - the latter was far superior and provided much better routing and accuracy (eg ETA) in the particular circumstances.
Other than that I've really enjoyed driving it. Fast and comfortable and, with the estate, decent enough space (despite the battery!) when needed for extra load carrying. I got caught in some snow last December - not an experience I would wish to repeat, with the car slithering and sliding all over the place! In fact, I immediately rushed out an bought some all weather tyres for our other car and then started wishing for some more snow to try them out (they were really good). I recently had a chip screen repair (£72) by the Glassdoctor - who were really excellent. I was pleasantly surprised at the insurance cost - expecting much higher.
A couple of questions - I have an A Service looming which I think I might have to have done at an MB dealership - what should I expect to have to pay? The actual wording of my contract states:" You are required....maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and schedules and, we recommend, at a Mercedes-Benz dealer". Have others used a different garage (to MB) for this service?
For those with similar lease experience - can I return the car just before my 2 yr lease is up without having a B Service?
I have an automatic Diamond Silver (which is metallic) C350e sport estate and am just about to complete my first year of ownership. I say ownership - it is actually on a 2 year private lease. For those that are interested I paid 9 months up front and £315/month (incl VAT) thereafter. The only calculation as such was to compare likely depreciation (on a broker's cash price) with my overall cost. The estate/metallic paint has just cost me £440 on renewal of my road tax as they just tripped me over the £40000 figure. I was aware of this at the time but decided to grin and bear it to get the car and colour I wanted. I just assume all those solid black and white cars are all company cars!
I only charge from a garage 13A plug (I ordered an 8m cable with the car) and although I have a rather Heath Robinson arrangement it works well - the charging plug-in head hangs (under cover) from under the garage eaves when not in use and is simple to plug in with the car reversed up to the garage. Following comments here I've taken great care with the car charging covering flap!
Rather to my surprise I've found myself almost obsessive nursing the retained charge and watching the mpg when driving. Having said that I would describe my style as brisk and quite happy with the 40mpg I have obtained overall. I don't commute by car so only charge at the "home" end, so to speak.
A couple of niggles - the app constantly shows my front offside tyre pressure 10kPa below the other front wheel and I have checked it many times. I get occasional car unlocked warnings when it isn't. As others have mentioned the absence of the outside temp information, without scrolling through the screen info, is a pain - although I notice there appears to be a software update to rectify this. For a car in this price bracket I think the (basic) sat nav is really clunky and frankly pathetic. Apart from that I think it is poor in action too - I've tested it on a familiar route and with heavy traffic against Google Maps on my mobile - the latter was far superior and provided much better routing and accuracy (eg ETA) in the particular circumstances.
Other than that I've really enjoyed driving it. Fast and comfortable and, with the estate, decent enough space (despite the battery!) when needed for extra load carrying. I got caught in some snow last December - not an experience I would wish to repeat, with the car slithering and sliding all over the place! In fact, I immediately rushed out an bought some all weather tyres for our other car and then started wishing for some more snow to try them out (they were really good). I recently had a chip screen repair (£72) by the Glassdoctor - who were really excellent. I was pleasantly surprised at the insurance cost - expecting much higher.
A couple of questions - I have an A Service looming which I think I might have to have done at an MB dealership - what should I expect to have to pay? The actual wording of my contract states:" You are required....maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and schedules and, we recommend, at a Mercedes-Benz dealer". Have others used a different garage (to MB) for this service?
For those with similar lease experience - can I return the car just before my 2 yr lease is up without having a B Service?
stuartj
Member
I had a call from Mercedes the other day as I have only 6 months left on my lease and they said that details and pricing on the C400e was due to them in January but they were hopeful it may be earlier. The car would then be available in June - not sure though if that was to order in June or deliveries to start in June.
All the manufacturers seem to be in the same position and keep announcing PHEV's but never seem to have details on release dates or prices (or anything really).
As mine is a company car and tax is going up all the time I may change and buy my own diesel as it may work out cheaper with a car allowance and I would get better mpg.
TheCorm
Active Member
Yeah i'd say that's a good range, the c350e is right at the poorer end of the PHEV ranges, with the Outlander, BMW 330e, Golf and Passat GTE's all fighting around the 31 miles claimed range which 20-25 achievable.
For me i'll be sacrificing the class for a fully electric next still, they're are now some little SUV options like the Hyundai Kona with a range topping 300 miles model. There are the real world savings of moving from petrol/electric to electric but more than this it's difficult to ignore that from 2020 the company car tax due on the Merc will be around ten times the selection of EV's out there (High end Tesla's excluded of course).
wrighty senior
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2015
- Messages
- 92
- Car
- C350e
Still no dates for the new plug-in hybrids!!!
I have been so happy with my C350e that I decided I would get the latest replacement when my current lease expires. I have been chasing my local dealer with no success so I contacted Mercedes HQ. The reply was that they "have no idea when the new C300e will be available". When pushed they said that they 'think' they will have data in January 2019 and they 'hope' that cars will be available in July 2019.
When I said that perhaps I could extend the existing lease from December 2018 until July 2019 - I was told that 'they would not recommend that I do this'.
I said it was ridiculous and would result in a lot of happy C350e owners moving to other brands and the agent on the phone agreed!
I have been so happy with my C350e that I decided I would get the latest replacement when my current lease expires. I have been chasing my local dealer with no success so I contacted Mercedes HQ. The reply was that they "have no idea when the new C300e will be available". When pushed they said that they 'think' they will have data in January 2019 and they 'hope' that cars will be available in July 2019.
When I said that perhaps I could extend the existing lease from December 2018 until July 2019 - I was told that 'they would not recommend that I do this'.
I said it was ridiculous and would result in a lot of happy C350e owners moving to other brands and the agent on the phone agreed!
I'd picked out a Hyundai Kona full electric as an obvious choice for someone looking for a company car that doesn't do massive daily mileage, (on cost to run factor alone), the forthcoming All electric Kio Niro from the same stable will be another option. The C350e will however be my last company car before retirement, when it will be 4 years old. We do have the option to buy, however I'm thinking the battery may have degraded significantly by then, I reckon it's down 10 to 15% on range currently after an estimated 600 - 700 charges.
The new WLTP emissions regs have played havoc with manufacture ranges currently available.
D
Deleted member 126969
Guest
They do seem to struggle with supply of the hybrids don't they. Even before the shift to WLTP these things seemed vary hard to obtain.
Jeddy
Active Member
I'm curious, how do people drive their cars, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ etc. or switch between the modes and if so, when do you switch?
I had been using Comfort but switching into Sport/Sport+ for overtaking but was never totally happy about having to do that. I'm now trying Comfort around town i.e. 30/40 mph limits and switch to Sport on the open road which seems more satisfactory. I guess that may hit the economy a bit, but it's worth it, at least I get instant performance when I most need / want it.
I had been using Comfort but switching into Sport/Sport+ for overtaking but was never totally happy about having to do that. I'm now trying Comfort around town i.e. 30/40 mph limits and switch to Sport on the open road which seems more satisfactory. I guess that may hit the economy a bit, but it's worth it, at least I get instant performance when I most need / want it.
wrighty senior
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2015
- Messages
- 92
- Car
- C350e
I can't help myself - if I have a button I have to play with it! Generally I do leave it in Comfort but I often push it into Economy and enjoy the fact that the car harvests everytime I roll closer to another car, and I also play 'try not to let the haptic peddle operate' by driving really carefully - although I tend to get bored with this quite quickly.
If I know I am on a road where overtaking will be possible I just leave it in Sport until I'm sure no more overtakes are necessary. There are a few twisty roads that I use where Sport+ is my choice - despite the weight of the car it can be 'pushed-on' and is good fun. Finally I normally have the Individual setting to Sport+ for engine/gearbox but Comfort for suspension. This is the ideal setting for fast twisty driving in the wet (sports suspension is too hard for the wet and the tail is forever 'hanging out' - softening the suspension makes things a bit more predictable).