Just ordered B180CDI Sport Auto

[HumberMart]

After over 2 years with her current B180CDI CVT, my wife has sweet talked me into treating her to a £4K deposit, so that she can switch to a new model B180CDI 7 Speed dual clutch auto. We have the chance of a factory order for April delivery.

She would have had white, but what with my white ML, we don't want the drive to look like we run a delivery business from home, so she's going for postman pat red. Quite how this has happended, as me a Leeds U supported, and her a Hull FC supporter, I don't know (their respective nemesises are red and white, for those without local knowledge!).

It has to be the sport spec of course, to get the Bi-Xenons, LED's, and other sports pack goodies for a few hudred over the SE, but I'm not sure whether to recommed she 'downgrades' from the 18" bi-colour/runflats, to the 17's. This brings other swaps whether you like it or not - comfort suspension (good?), loss of direct steering (?), and generally chrome trim rather than gloss black (good?).

Any advice (from experience) on the above option appreciated.

Also, other options such as the Becker Nav? and if the 'full media' upgrade is worth it over the standard USB/Bluetooth.

Anyone seen one in the flesh with the 'Exclusive Pack', and does it look worth spending a grand on?

Guess there aren't too many on here yet with intimate knowledge of the new B, but if you have, any comments could help us make the right choice.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

My wife has the same as yours currently and loves it. It will be interesting to see how she likes the new one and what it does to the gallon.


I drove hers today on a 20 mile journey and managed 47mpg quite easily.


The new one has grown on me and I like the inside.

 

[HumberMart]

Hello

My wife has the same as yours currently and loves it. It will be interesting to see how she likes the new one and what it does to the gallon.


I drove hers today on a 20 mile journey and managed 47mpg quite easily.


The new one has grown on me and I like the inside.

Yeah, mine likes the whole 'B Concept' as well (not sure why - she's alone in it 99% of the time!). The 2.0 D in the current one is far too 'agricultural' for me - but then she can't spot the difference between SD and HD TV!!

She gets about 42 mpg, I usually get more like 44. The new one should top 50 with ease.

I borrowed a 250 C Coupe yesterday, and staggered when I returned it with 58.9 mpg on the computer. I tried to talk her into one of those 'cos of the current deals, but they're 'too saloon' like for her!

 

[ucr]

Did you get the free sport over SE upgrade ?

 

[HumberMart]

Did you get the free sport over SE upgrade ?

The deal is an upgrade for £650 (half list price), not 'free'.

- unless you know of a better deal?

 

[A210AMG]

I looked at the C class estates for my wife before the B class but she just didn't like them.

She had an A class before in and athough inside its probably as big or bigger than a C class she prefered the B.

I like it have to say, looks smart and rarer than a Golf or A3 type car wich we also looked at.

Like you it could have a 1.4 engine or a 3.0 litre engine and she wouldn't know, looks and what its like inside.

 

[st4]

If its the new model B then sport spec may well be ok and it will be nicer to look at, inside and out, and easier to sell and you'd easily get your £650 and then some back.

 

[HumberMart]

Did you get the free sport over SE upgrade ?

ucr, you may have opened a can of worms here!!!

Merc seems to have made a mistake with their current ad for the B.

Following your post, I've just checked the ad in the new What Car, and it does say 'enjoy the sport for the same price as an SE'.

However it then goes on to confirm a £650 saving off the normal upgrade price (and as I say, this is published as £1,300).

Strange, me thinks they've made a boo boo.

 

[Red C220]

So far, every review I've read has said the ride on the run flats is not hard, it's simply unbearable.

I'd be very tempted to go with sport spec, 17" rims with normal tyres and comfort suspension.

It'll look good and ride well.

Nice choice of colour

 

[A210AMG]

When I was on the BMW forum owning a...BM (sorry) and the new models started coming with runflats Including the minis almost everone moaned about the tyres...

I wonder why they are so bad.

 

[Red C220]

When I was on the BMW forum owning a...BM (sorry) and the new models started coming with runflats Including the minis almost everone moaned about the tyres...

I wonder why they are so bad.

There is not as much give in the sidewall of the tyre so there's a whole element of "suspension" removed from the ride, which when added to the thin section of an 18" rim on a small car makes it feel like it's riding on solid tyres.

I drove a 325i Msport tourer last year on a "56" and I only got 100 yards down the road and turned around. Lovely looking car but simply unbearably harsh ride.

 

[rhud]

As said earlier - the reviews so far do not support the idea of big wheels. If I was going for one I would seriously consider 16" wheels, if available, for a better ride.

 

[tompy575]

It has to be the sport spec of course, to get the Bi-Xenons, LED's, and other sports pack goodies for a few hudred over the SE, but I'm not sure whether to recommed she 'downgrades' from the 18" bi-colour/runflats, to the 17's. This brings other swaps whether you like it or not - comfort suspension (good?), loss of direct steering (?), and generally chrome trim rather than gloss black (good?).

Any advice (from experience) on the above option appreciated.

Also, other options such as the Becker Nav? and if the 'full media' upgrade is worth it over the standard USB/Bluetooth.

Anyone seen one in the flesh with the 'Exclusive Pack', and does it look worth spending a grand on?

Guess there aren't too many on here yet with intimate knowledge of the new B, but if you have, any comments could help us make the right choice.

The ride isn't too bad on 18s, far better than the previous model on 18s (despite the run flats). If you delete the 18s you get a lot of silver trim on the car which really changes the look of it! I would never suggest buying the wrong car based on resale values, but selling a 'downgraded' car on might be harder (and dealers will certainly pay quite a bit less for it). I think it's a no cost option as well, so no saving on list! Have only seen one with the silver trim and it looks a bit odd (not bad at all, just not used to seeing them!!). Not driven 17s yet.

Exclusive package is nice, I'm not a fan of ARTICO trim particularly so I'd certainly go for the leather (i think it includes heated seats as well). I know it's lots of money but should get about half of that pack on PCP/resale after 3 years.

Incidentally the new 7 speed box is fantastic. Borrowed one (B200CDI Sport) a couple of weeks ago and saw 58mpg on the trip! Not bad considering it had only covered about 500miles.

Becker is good but not that intuitive. Gone from COMAND to Becker in my C-Class recently and missing it! Whether it's worth £1500 more depends on whether you use an iPod in your car because it gives you the Media Interface.

 

[Dryce]

When I was on the BMW forum owning a...BM (sorry) and the new models started coming with runflats Including the minis almost everone moaned about the tyres...

I wonder why they are so bad.

Sidewalls are extremely stiff and rigid. If run on 18s or 19s they feel like the tyre is completely solid rubber. So there's no give and they make lots of noise on anything but the smoothest surface. Tyre fitters can have problems getting them off and back on.

Thought about swapping them for non-RFT on SWMBO's car but the advantage is that she doesn't have to worry about changing a wheel or reinflating a tyre when out an about.

So a bit of a mixed blessing.