Regretting New 220CDi Coupe What to do

[Rosun]

The 4 cylinder diesel does get quieter when you put a few miles on her (it) - off topic - my car is a female Or, you just get used to it, drove the wifes Mazda the other day and I thought I had stalled it ... repeatedly!
If you want, I'll swap my run-in 60k 2011 plate C class for your shiny new coupe :bannana:

 

[artyman]

My C200cdi is my first diesel, and to be honest the only time I notice it is when stationary at the lights, just a bit more clattery than my previous petrols, plus when it's cold for the first few hundred yards.

 

[blue gnome123]

Your options seem to be

1. Put up with it.
2. Change your tyres and add sound defining.
3. Sell it, take a loss and buy something quieter/ softer riding.

Although I think that you will look long and hard to find a c350cdi/350 petrol without AMG sport suspension.

Maybe a smaller petrol engine with smaller wheels?

Many cars are hard riding these days. Our Accord has 55section tyres and 2.4 petrol. A very comfortable combination but a bit slow.

I'm thinking of getting some winter wheels for the eclass. Not sure what the 19inch wheels will be like on winter roads. I suspect I won't want to go back to 19s after the winter wheels.

 

[Luke_C]

I definitely agree with you on the engine noise, I hate it. I thought I'd get used to it but 7 months down the line, I just find it unbearable. Maybe I'm just a petrol guy though. As for the suspension, I can't comment, I love it. This is by far the comfiest car I have driven and yes, I have the "sports suspension" and 18" wheels too. I guess that's because I'm 22 and my other cars have been fiestas, but the comfort is in a completely different league in this car.

 

[wilsodg]

Lots of good advice here. I'd definitely try a different tyre/wheel - my winter setup is smaller wheel and 45 tyres, and it is a whole lot nicer to drive. Sure it doesn't grip as well if you are really ragging it on smooth dry warm roads but since less than 0.1% of driving is like that I'd happily forgo the looks (albeit the winter wheels really don't look as good). Hope you find a compromise to tide you over. Look on it as education - next time you'll insist on a test drive for the day or a weekend, and make sure to test exactly what you buy.

 

[latent]

Appreciate all the replies folks. I have had petrols and guess I've been use to their fairly quiet engines. I had a Golf 2.0TDI a few years back which was clattery, I have also had a E 320CDI which if course is 6Cyl. but expected a new 220CDI to be quieter than it is. As for the ride. Yes I expect the 18 and suspension setup are the culrpits on our pothole ridden roads, but the seats seem hard, yet very supportive to me. Maybe I need to put some weight on my a@@e

I have booked it in the dealer for them to have a once over, just to ensure all is OK. I suspect they will just say it's all normal..If so, then the hard thinking begins and maybe, a little chat with the dealer to see how accommodating he might be!!

 

[Charles Morgan]

a little chat with the dealer to see how accommodating he might be!!

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
He pours the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!

Lewis Carroll could have had dealers in mind...

 

[PenelopePitstop]

I hated my diesel too, 250CDI. I tried to sell it without success and now I just ignore it and wait for lease end. I can only accept diesel as my second car/workhorse. That's how I see my SLK right now - workhorse. My proper sounding car should be with me in March.

 

[Williamwoo]

We had a 12-plate Audi A4 (4-cyl diesel) which we hated and wanted to trade in for the equivalent C-class but the latter's engine was notably less refined than the Audi. In the end, we took the plunge and went for the C350 instead - haven't regretted it for a minute!

 

[peter49]

In my experience, anything less than a 6 cylinder diesel engine should be regarded as only suitable for a utility vehicle, ie: taxi or delivery van.
Any car referred to as a Sport model should be avoided at all costs as should any car with a wheel size over 17".

 

[kinaero]

In my experience, anything less than a 6 cylinder diesel engine should be regarded as only suitable for a utility vehicle, ie: taxi or delivery van.
Any car referred to as a Sport model should be avoided at all costs as should any car with a wheel size over 17".

5 or 6 years ago, I would never contemplate on getting a 4 cylinder diesel, especially with a prestigious marque!

Now I just turn the radio up and admire the build quality

 

[robtt]

My 250cdi now has plenty of miles on and it had quietened a little bit. Coming from a 3.00 tdi A4 it is not as nice to listen to by a margin and I do regret not getting another for this reason.But, the C class is overall a better car with much better mpg. Per chance I filled the car up with Esso super diesel and unless I am mistaken the engine runs more sweetly with it. Strange this as when I have used the super versions of Shell and BP diesel I never noticed a difference from the supermarket stuff.

 

[export]

Must admit, my e220 is a month old and doing my head in with niggles, a few are:
Satnav - terrible compared to my 100£ tomtom
You cant see the next turning until you are right on top of it normally 400yds which is way too late when coming up to a roundabout on a dual carriageway.
No idea how far next junction is
Try alternative route, all it gives you is a tiny map , no road names, so no idea what the alternatives are. If anyone can tell me how to browse route with road names, I will be happy. Otherwise I might go back to my tomtom.
Speedo display The outside temp is only visible in one out of 6 screens never the one you are on.
The radio / satnav is either too bright or too dark, you cant adjust day and night brightness separately.
The stupid auto gearbox - try to use the paddles and in diverts back to auto in a few seconds and then jumps up a couple of gears, I can find no way to get it to stay in manual mode.
Nowhere for coins.
Try to skip along a track on MP3 - it moves very slowly, to move 10 mins takes about 2 mins of holding the button.
Engine - oh so rough when revved and sloooow
Steering - dull and vague no connection to what is going on
Seats so hard, I have to take out a wallet otherwise its like sitting on a brick
A rear wiper would be nice as the rear screen is opaque in the mornings
What is that beeping about when you pass lorries, its too late to do anything if its supposed to be a warning, its just annoying
Funny , I had two C classes before and nothing niggled me in the same way or any other new car for that matter.

 

[kinaero]

Must admit, my e220 is a month old and doing my head in with niggles, a few are:
Satnav - terrible compared to my 100£ tomtom
You cant see the next turning until you are right on top of it normally 400yds which is way too late when coming up to a roundabout on a dual carriageway.
No idea how far next junction is
Try alternative route, all it gives you is a tiny map , no road names, so no idea what the alternatives are. If anyone can tell me how to browse route with road names, I will be happy. Otherwise I might go back to my tomtom.
Speedo display The outside temp is only visible in one out of 6 screens never the one you are on.
The radio / satnav is either too bright or too dark, you cant adjust day and night brightness separately.
The stupid auto gearbox - try to use the paddles and in diverts back to auto in a few seconds and then jumps up a couple of gears, I can find no way to get it to stay in manual mode.
Nowhere for coins.
Try to skip along a track on MP3 - it moves very slowly, to move 10 mins takes about 2 mins of holding the button.
Engine - oh so rough when revved and sloooow
Steering - dull and vague no connection to what is going on
Seats so hard, I have to take out a wallet otherwise its like sitting on a brick
A rear wiper would be nice as the rear screen is opaque in the mornings
What is that beeping about when you pass lorries, its too late to do anything if its supposed to be a warning, its just annoying
Funny , I had two C classes before and nothing niggled me in the same way or any other new car for that matter.

Just to pick on a few points you've mentioned.
The satnav does split the screen to show you more details when approaching the junction/turning/lanes or roundabout.
Not try alternative route, so cannot say.
Coin storage, I have approx £10 worth of loose change in cupholders and the ashtray.
Paddle gears, did you know there's a button on your centre console(just below the cupholders where you could change from economy/sport/manual
Manual mode does hold the gear unless speed is too slow.
MP3, not try skipping along the track, cannot say.
Hard seat? May be you have a fat wallet

 

[gIzzE]

Export, have you got Comand or the Nav50?

 

[baxlin]

Just to pick on a few points you've mentioned.
The satnav does split the screen to show you more details when approaching the junction/turning/lanes or roundabout.
Not try alternative route, so cannot say.
Coin storage, I have approx £10 worth of loose change in cupholders and the ashtray.
Paddle gears, did you know there's a button on your centre console(just below the cupholders where you could change from economy/sport/manual
Manual mode does hold the gear unless speed is too slow.
MP3, not try skipping along the track, cannot say.
Hard seat? May be you have a fat wallet

To add to the above answer.......

OK if your car is an estate or hatchback, yes a rear wiper is needed, and it'd be standard, surely, but who wants a rear wiper on a saloon? Looks silly, IMHO, sorry.

I just wipe the rear window, in the same way as I wipe the side windows and the windscreen, before I get in the car. It's been the same on all cars I've had and kept outdoors.

 

[V12]

Do people not thoroughly test/investigate a car before they buy it or are purchase decisions guided by aesthetics alone?!

 

[export]

Export, have you got Comand or the Nav50?

Its a command system, 63 plate.
I cant see how to get road names listed on diversions, I just get a tiny map with no names just yellow roads If I want to avoid a road, I cant choose it .

Maybe I am missing something.
thanks

 

[LTD]

I've got a E220 Cdi Sport Coupe. Came to it from a W220 S500.

Yes, it's a harder ride. Yes, the seats are firm but careful adjustment gets them fine. Yes, the diesel is a diesel and can make a clatter - that's the nature of the beast.

But yes, it's a bloody good car. Quick enough, economical to run, comfortable, tactile in controls and built well. Pretty to look at and a car most want to aspire to.

What's not to like ? It's not an S Class or a Ferrari so look at it for what it is. There will always be compromises to accept if you do not buy a car at the top end of the scale.

As many have said - changing wheels might just be the answer.

 

[Samsung1uk]

I too have recently purchased a E250 AMG sport coupe and I must say that I love the ride, the economy and the build quality. I've come from a RS Focus which had a crippling ride and a economy of 22 mpg at best, so this car is an absolute revelation in terms of build quality.
Yes it's a diesel but it still has more torque that the RS did so it goes fairly well with the economy to boot.
It also gets admiring looks now and again.
All in all I am pleased with my purchase.