Speccing a C43

[JamesG66]

I had a go at speccing a C43 estate last night, since I'm in the market for a swift estate.

No matter what, I can't seem to spec one without the panoramic sunroof. This is because it gets bundled in with both the Premium Pack and the Premium Pack Plus. Fine I thought, I just won't have either, but you can't seem to deselect one, without the system auto selecting the other.

So what am I missing? Or is this MB UK insisting that everybody must have a sunroof whether they want one or not? I would call the dealer, but they'll no doubt tell me a sunroof is essential for resale or some such.

Ironically, were I ordering a C63 I could spec one without a sunroof, but I don't want a C63, rightly or wrongly.

 

[def90cars]

Derby MB have a C63 without a sunroof (no Premium pack) and they can't give it away.
There is a list price for without, but I can confirm you can't deselect it in the configurator

 

[JBD]

thats because you have to have either the premium or premium plus package in the initial production run. We got a communication from the factory to say so. You also can't have the performance seats

 

[def90cars]

thats because you have to have either the premium or premium plus package in the initial production run. We got a communication from the factory to say so. You also can't have the performance seats

Good info

 

[JamesG66]

Derby MB have a C63 without a sunroof (no Premium pack) and they can't give it away.
There is a list price for without, but I can confirm you can't deselect it in the configurator

Thanks for confirming re the configurator.

I can't find a car at MB Derby without a sunroof, but I did find this one at MB Coventry.

https://www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/...-c-63-estate/3d1bb620d47250e2a57fa829f0501450

If that's the one, then I am surprised it isn't selling. Nice colour and the safe choices of black leather and sun protection glass.

 

[JamesG66]

thats because you have to have either the premium or premium plus package in the initial production run. We got a communication from the factory to say so. You also can't have the performance seats

Thanks for this. In your experience do people rate the panoramic roof as a "must" have? My experience of them is that they are just too noisy at anything above town centre speeds, so I haven't missed not having one on my recent cars.

 

[Red C220]

Thanks for this. In your experience do people rate the panoramic roof as a "must" have? My experience of them is that they are just too noisy at anything above town centre speeds, so I haven't missed not having one on my recent cars.

Do you mean when open?

I like the Pano roof simply due to the light it gives the car interior. In fact I'd be quite happy with a cheaper option of a fixed glass roof rather than an opening one.

It's a must now I've had it on a car, a bit like a reversing camera which fell into the category of "why would I need that?" until I had one, at which point it become "Why wouldn't you have that?"

 

[StuartK]

Thanks for confirming re the configurator.

I can't find a car at MB Derby without a sunroof, but I did find this one at MB Coventry.

https://www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/...-c-63-estate/3d1bb620d47250e2a57fa829f0501450

If that's the one, then I am surprised it isn't selling. Nice colour and the safe choices of black leather and sun protection glass.

I'm not surprised Coventry were crap they then offered me £18k for my car.

 

[JBD]

Thanks for this. In your experience do people rate the panoramic roof as a "must" have? My experience of them is that they are just too noisy at anything above town centre speeds, so I haven't missed not having one on my recent cars.

I love it in my C Class. Even if it's not open, it makes it so much brighter


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[JBD]

Thanks for confirming re the configurator.



I can't find a car at MB Derby without a sunroof, but I did find this one at MB Coventry.



https://www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/...-c-63-estate/3d1bb620d47250e2a57fa829f0501450



If that's the one, then I am surprised it isn't selling. Nice colour and the safe choices of black leather and sun protection glass.

No premium pack, boggo alloys, no night pack, no performance seats. That's why it's not sold


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[JohnBell]

Thanks for this. In your experience do people rate the panoramic roof as a "must" have? My experience of them is that they are just too noisy at anything above town centre speeds, so I haven't missed not having one on my recent cars.

Great for squeaks !!

 

[def90cars]

No premium pack, boggo alloys, no night pack, no performance seats. That's why it's not sold


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The one at Derby was white.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks for this. In your experience do people rate the panoramic roof as a "must" have? My experience of them is that they are just too noisy at anything above town centre speeds, so I haven't missed not having one on my recent cars.

We have a Mercedes with a panoramic roof, but not a W205 C-Class, and I can't say that it's noisy when it's either open or closed. We love it. The light it allows in transforms the cabin space IMHO.

Perhaps a test drive in a W205 with a Panoramic roof might help to confirm or allay your fears about the noise?

Do you have to buy new? If second hand is an option maybe one of these almost new C63 AMG without panoramic roof might work out well. They seem to be around £50k which the C43 AMG might end up being close to with a few options.

 

[st13phil]

I agree that a pano roof brightens the interior, but so do light coloured headliners.

I've had a W212 with Macadamia and a W204 with a light grey headliner and both were as bright inside as my E63's with their Tutonic coal hole black headliner and pano roof. IMO it's no accident that MBUK offer nothing but black headliners on so many cars. The pano roof is a money-making solution to a self-inflicted problem.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I agree that a pano roof brightens the interior, but so do light coloured headliners.

I've had a W212 with Macadamia and a W204 with a light grey headliner and both were as bright inside as my E63's with their Tutonic coal hole black headliner and pano roof. IMO it's no accident that MBUK offer nothing but black headliners on so many cars. The pano roof is a money-making solution to a self-inflicted problem.

I do agree, light rooflining without privacy glass has a similar light and airy feel. A panoramic roof wasn't available when we bought our W164 so we went for the blue tinted glass to maximise the feeling of light inside the car, which combined with the very very light grey rooflining makes it a lovely place to sit.

 

[st13phil]

...so we went for the blue tinted glass to maximise the feeling of light inside the car, which combined with the very very light grey rooflining makes it a lovely place to sit.

I honestly believe that MB's Pano roof is a classic "solution looking for a problem" scenario.

When I spec'd my first W212 I went for the Avantgarde trim because in Sport guise it was only available with a black headliner. I remember the salesman saying to me, "most buyers spec a pano roof on the Sport model because otherwise the interior is too claustrophobic".

MBUK create the problem, and then sell you a solution to it.

 

[st13phil]

Oh, and don't get me started on the "packages" that are now the only way to get an option I want.

So I enjoy listening to good sounds in my car. I now have to have a Pano Roof if I want the sound-system upgrade. Genius...

 

[JBD]

Oh, and don't get me started on the "packages" that are now the only way to get an option I want.



So I enjoy listening to good sounds in my car. I now have to have a Pano Roof if I want the sound-system upgrade. Genius...

Factory order from Bremen is now 7 weeks though. It's all for the greater good.


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[st13phil]

It's all for the greater good.

Hahahahahah

So I can pay more for what I don't want more quickly?

Like I said, genius...

 

[JBD]

Hahahahahah



So I can pay more for what I don't want more quickly?



Like I said, genius...

Hardly. Compare the prices vs. when they were stand alone options. Value for money has gone up. It also makes cars easier to sell after as they have everything people want. We always used to have issues with cars having two out of three options that people wanted.

It may not be ideal for you, but it's better for the majority


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