Questions about a C200 petrol-servicing, accessories, etc...

[iliria]

Been enjoying my 2015 C200 SE petrol with executive package for a few days now and had some questions about it:

1. The MB dealer has asked me if I would pay for a servicing plan, around £30 per month for 2 years which pays for 2 services apparently. Is this worth paying for? I have noticed that Kwik Fit offer a service for MB but I'm not sure if I should risk that?

2. Are there any good independent MB garage specialists in the Cheshire area (I live in Macclesfield)?

3. I have been reading the car's user manual (or at least attempted to) which looks like an encyclopaedia and I am very confused about what features apply to my model or not. Is there anywhere I would be able to find out what the features of a 2015 C200 petrol SE with exec package are? I was looking in the MB website and it said that the Exec package should have the 17" wheels but this is not the case in my car (I dont know if this is a mistake or if that spec applies to the 2016 model only).

4. The car comes with a key rather than a Start/Stop push button. Am I able to add the push button feature to the car?

5. Is it possible to change the pedal covers from the standard rubber ones to the more fancy looking metal ones?

6. Do I need to have two sets of wheels/tyres (winter/summer)?

7. Any other accessories I should consider?

PS: Apologies in advance for the endless questions

 

[PobodY]

1) There's a bit of debate about this; MB are going to be more expensive that Kwik Fit, but they will probably do a better job of the servicing since they should be using the correct MB spec parts. Plus if Mobilo Life applies to your car, that's automatically renewed.
I think price wise it's not that different from paying outright for each service, but obviously you stagger the costs this way.
2) I couldn't say, but I suspect there's someone in the environs of somewhere like Stockport.
3) If you've got your VIN, you can decode it and get a list of the options/features that have been installed on your specific car. - Try this one for a starter: VIN decoder is the best online tool to check vin number | VinDecoderz.com
4) I don't know, but I suspect it's the kind of thing that requires STAR to recode the car to accept it.
5) I believe the requirement in the UK is that pedals have a working anti-slip coating, so my understanding is that you can put metal covers on them as long as they include anti-slip material (probably rubber nodules).
6) MB will tell you "yes", but the answer is probably "up to you". - There's no disputing that winter tyres provide significantly more traction in ice and snow than "all season" tyres. If you live somewhere that's quite hilly, then it's probably worth it if you want to be able to get home. If you live on the flat, or only ever drive salted main roads, you can probably save your money.
7) What accessories do you want? - I bought a cargo net to stop things sliding around in the boot, but an umbrella could be useful.

As always, I'm happy to be corrected by people who know more than me; I'm just trying to be helpful.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It will be possible to install fancy pedal covers, but I would recommend that you stick to the Mercedes fancy pedal covers from the parts counter in a Mercedes main dealer.

If you search MBClub for official club mod you will find an old thread on this subject, listing part numbers. Being a very recent model, I would check with your dealer to make sure you buys the right covers for you car.

Finally the Mercedes covers do come up on eBay but they'll probably be cheaper at you main dealer. Or at least that used to be the case.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

It will be possible to install fancy pedal covers, but I would recommend that you stick to the Mercedes fancy pedal covers from the parts counter in a Mercedes main dealer.

If you search MBClub for official club mod you will find an old thread on this subject, listing part numbers. Being a very recent model, I would check with your dealer to make sure you buys the right covers for you car.

Finally the Mercedes covers do come up on eBay but they'll probably be cheaper at you main dealer. Or at least that used to be the case.

I ordered these from eBay for my W447 Vito. I was totally expecting cheap plastic but for £10.95 I was prepared to gamble.

When they arrived I was gobsmacked to see they where indeed metal and they fit like a glove. Unbelievable quality for the price.

No Drilling Accelerator Fuel Brake Pedals Pads For Benz GL-Class W164 X164 W251

Amazing how they can send an item like this across the world and still make money on it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Rear wheel drive cars are often more difficult to drive in snow, made more difficult by automatic transmission and low profile performance tyres.

Some drivers will say they've never had a problem with Summer tyres in snow, but I would say they're in the minority. However the majority of people keep their fingers crossed, hope it doesn't snow, and try not to use their car if it does snow.

I personally don't like having to keep my fingers crossed, the anxious feeling when snow falls, or the inpracticalities of having to abandon my car. Having to abandon my car was enough to prompt me to buy a spare set of wheels and winter tyres.

Winter tyres really are a good as people say, and make it possible to confidently drive cars in snow which would be otherwise well and truly stuck. However think of them as an insurance policy, you hope never to use them, but if you do you'll be glad you had them.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

PS Winter tyres make the biggest obvious difference when there's lying snow, but will general perform better than a summer tyre in cold temperatures. That said they'll perform less well in warmer temperatures.

Also you can switch the tyres using the same set of wheels if that's better for you. Some people choose to have an extra set of wheels to make it possible to switch on the drive yourself rather than get a tyre fitter involved.

Also if you have polished wheels, then salt used to treat the roads in winter can accelerate the deterioration of the polish surface and so using winter wheels can help keep summer wheels in better condition for longer.

 

[GLK]

q1. One thing to remember about MB Service Care plan is that, it includes all additional items required, as per MB service schedule, i.e. sparks, ATF, fuel filter, etc (these will not be included in the standard A-B service).

The plan also comes with free MB Roadside Assistance.

Personally I found it to be a good value and a worry-free option, since it completely removes any uncertainty from my car servicing budget.

 

[PobodY]

I'm already looking at winter tyres for the CLK. - I've driven in Lapland and Iceland, and was amazed at the grip you get on roads that are iced-over.

You can come from 110km/h to a full stop without hitting this guy:

I never bothered with the Nissan because the loss of traction is overcome by putting power to all four wheels; there's nothing like a full-speed rally start in the snow, and experience tells me that I can just drive around the 3-series BMW spinning its wheels at the bottom of a slope.

 

[wivenhoe]

I use winter tyres on the original wheels and keep the summer tyres at the tyre depot. Changing and storing them once a year costs me less than £ 100. The weather last year didn't really warrant them but as they seem to wear at about the same rate as summer's you don't incur anymore costs other than storage and changing. If you weren't running on the winter's you would be running on the summer's !

A colleague refuses to buy winter tyres so that when the weather turns, he can call work to say he will have to work from home as it would be dangerous to drive in !

 

[dad4geer]

I use winter tyres on the original wheels and keep the summer tyres at the tyre depot. Changing and storing them once a year costs me less than £ 100. The weather last year didn't really warrant them but as they seem to wear at about the same rate as summer's you don't incur anymore costs other than storage and changing. If you weren't running on the winter's you would be running on the summer's !

A colleague refuses to buy winter tyres so that when the weather turns, he can call work to say he will have to work from home as it would be dangerous to drive in !

I was reading the conversation and now I am a bit concerned about winter and winter tyres. As I previously had a front wheel Honda Civic VTEC in which I never had any issues even in thick snow or salt or slope or whatever. This will be the first time I will be going into winter with my Merc so do I really need to buy a set of winter tyres? what is the cheapest option like maybe renting them for few few months and then putting my current tyres back on in March/April.. I am quite new to this winter tyres concept as I never used them before with any of my cars (Honda Civic, Nissan, Corsa) so just wondering if anyone of you guys can shed some light on this winter tyres thing. Appreciate your help.

 

[dad4geer]

3) If you've got your VIN, you can decode it and get a list of the options/features that have been installed on your specific car. - Try this one for a starter: VIN decoder is the best online tool to check vin number | VinDecoderz.com

Thanks for that link.. excellent decoder and it has given me a list of what my car has.. very useful. I will start a new thread to understand some of those options which the decoder has decoded.

 

[markjay]

I was reading the conversation and now I am a bit concerned about winter and winter tyres. As I previously had a front wheel Honda Civic VTEC in which I never had any issues even in thick snow or salt or slope or whatever. This will be the first time I will be going into winter with my Merc so do I really need to buy a set of winter tyres? what is the cheapest option like maybe renting them for few few months and then putting my current tyres back on in March/April.. I am quite new to this winter tyres concept as I never used them before with any of my cars (Honda Civic, Nissan, Corsa) so just wondering if anyone of you guys can shed some light on this winter tyres thing. Appreciate your help.

Living in the South East I never had any problems with snow or ice. These are quite rare here anyway, and on the odd day that it does snow heavily I simply don't use the car (not even my other car which is a FWD). And the temperatures here rarely go down below the performance envelope of summer tyres. Winter tyres are still a good idea, but probably not a must as such if you live in the South, unless you have to travel by car come what may.

 

[dad4geer]

Living in the South East I never had any problems with snow or ice. These are quite rare here anyway, and on the odd day that it does snow heavily I simply don't use the car (not even my other car which is a FWD). And the temperatures here rarely go down below the performance envelope of summer tyres. Winter tyres are still a good idea, but probably not a must as such if you live in the South, unless you have to travel by car come what may.

I live in SE and agree that it rarely snows or temperature goes beyond freezing point .. Thanks for some encouraging words

 

[iliria]

q1. One thing to remember about MB Service Care plan is that, it includes all additional items required, as per MB service schedule, i.e. sparks, ATF, fuel filter, etc (these will not be included in the standard A-B service).

The plan also comes with free MB Roadside Assistance.

Personally I found it to be a good value and a worry-free option, since it completely removes any uncertainty from my car servicing budget.

Sounds like the MB service plan is worth paying for considering what it offers.

I use winter tyres on the original wheels and keep the summer tyres at the tyre depot. Changing and storing them once a year costs me less than £ 100. The weather last year didn't really warrant them but as they seem to wear at about the same rate as summer's you don't incur anymore costs other than storage and changing. If you weren't running on the winter's you would be running on the summer's !

A colleague refuses to buy winter tyres so that when the weather turns, he can call work to say he will have to work from home as it would be dangerous to drive in !

My previous car was a front wheel car so I never had any problems with snow. Plus in winter we only get about two days of snow anyway. Our roads in Cheshire seem to be salted quite frequently too.

However if storing and changing them once per year only costs £100 then it seems like a good investment for piece of mind. I would be using them between Dec-March and i do around 10000miles per year so they should last quite a while.

Are there any particular brands recommended or will budget ones do fine?

 

[iliria]

3) If you've got your VIN, you can decode it and get a list of the options/features that have been installed on your specific car. - Try this one for a starter: VIN decoder is the best online tool to check vin number | VinDecoderz.com

Unfortunately that decoder site doesn't work properly. I enter the VIN and it says that my car is a 2002 one with 200000+ km on it

 

[CaptainChaos]

Are there any particular brands recommended or will budget ones do fine?

If you are going to all the trouble to fit winters, I really wouldn't go for budget ones!

Recent test here:
2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test 225 45 R17 - Tyre Reviews

 

[190]

For independents there is Nick Webster in Poynton which I've heard good things about and Cheshire Classic Benz in Pool street Macclesfield. SPR auto's used to have a base in Macclesfield but I think they are in Stockport now. There is also a place in cottage street that does BMW's and MB's. They are good guys but I not sure if they'd call themselves MB specialists.

 

[GLK]

Unfortunately that decoder site doesn't work properly. I enter the VIN and it says that my car is a 2002 one with 200000+ km on it

Try this one - should work okay. Mercedes-Benz parts catalog 2014 | MBFans.info

They were offline for quite a while, but it seems it's all back to normal

 

[David404]

Are there any particular brands recommended or will budget ones do fine?

I'd be a bit concerned that the budget tyre had just had a 'winter' tag applied for marketing purposes.

I always stick to the brands that we've all heard of Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear...

 

[PobodY]

How about this one: Checking VIN for Mercedes-Benz WDB2093562F208858 | CARInfo

I don't read Russian so I've got no idea what most of it says... and that link may default to my VIN (hopefully not because that will just confuse things further).