W169 Buying Advice

[dokalj]

Hi all,

I hope everyone is well.

Just looking broadly at the idea of an A-class.

Are there any options that are a must and anything I should look out for?

I know what I would like, it just seems a little rare on a decent priced A-class.

What is the main difference between the A150 and A160? Is one more favoured over the other?

Thanks

dokalj

 

[jeffwebb]

I have had a 200 Cdi manual for the past couple of years that I am very fond of. Goes like a little rocket and very frugal on fuel. My personal preference is the "avantgarde" trim but purely a matter of personal choice. Not much point in electric seats for such a small car. I have comand, ipod, cruise etc. One gripe is that one of my powerfold mirrors was knocked backward and needs a replacement at around £200. Wasn't hit, just pushed back by a drunk passerby. No a very good design IMHO. Sorry can't comment on petrol versions. Go for it and enjoy.
Regards, Jeff.

 

[dokalj]

Cheers jeffwebb!!!

I have been looking at the Avantgarde, although the elegance is similar spec wise, correct?

I don't see many with parktronic.

Regards

dokalj

 

[spinaltap]

We bought our A180CDi Avantgarde nearly two years ago, and if I were changing cars today I would buy another.

It's the first diesel that we have owned. Maybe we have led a sheltered life, but it goes like a rocket from standstill and when overtaking without hesitation.

Likewise, we have not had an automatic before but I couldn't go back to a manual.

The park assist is a real hoot. How does it do it? Every time it's used it is millimetre perfectly distanced from the curb. Similarly, the GPS Audio 50 is pin-point accurate.

More importantly, this car saved my wife's life following a severe road traffic accident earlier in the year, with my wife emerging from the car without a scratch or hair out of place.

Look at buying new. Often with the finance deals in place, it's often cheaper to buy new than used.

 

[Alfie]

I had an a160cdi avant-garde with just about every option including electric seats, roof etc and of course comand.

It was a great little reliable car. Ride was bit harsh on 17" rims but the standard 15 or 16 would be fine. Very very economical too. Petrols are more refined but diesels hold their values better and are more economical.

I would buy another one.

 

[dokalj]

We bought our A180CDi Avantgarde nearly two years ago, and if I were changing cars today I would buy another.

It's the first diesel that we have owned. Maybe we have led a sheltered life, but it goes like a rocket from standstill and when overtaking without hesitation.

Likewise, we have not had an automatic before but I couldn't go back to a manual.

The park assist is a real hoot. How does it do it? Every time it's used it is millimetre perfectly distanced from the curb. Similarly, the GPS Audio 50 is pin-point accurate.

More importantly, this car saved my wife's life following a severe road traffic accident earlier in the year, with my wife emerging from the car without a scratch or hair out of place.

Look at buying new. Often with the finance deals in place, it's often cheaper to buy new than used.

Cheers spinaltap!

I want to find a used one with parktronic, this is harder in reality I have found.

Glad to hear your wife was unhurt. Was the vehicle on the verge of being written off?

I was looking at the 150 and 160. How much does it cost on average to fill up your tank?

I know that the 150/160 is insurance group 6 and the 180 is group 7.

Is the road tax £245 on the 180?

Ideal spec:

150/160 (not to sure about diesel atm)
Facelift W169
Less than 20,000
Parktronic (desirable)
Auto
Elegance or Avantgarde
*Comand (may fit later with the help of Alfie)

Cheers

dokalj

 

[dokalj]

I had an a160cdi avant-garde with just about every option including electric seats, roof etc and of course comand.

It was a great little reliable car. Ride was bit harsh on 17" rims but the standard 15 or 16 would be fine. Very very economical too. Petrols are more refined but diesels hold their values better and are more economical.

I would buy another one.

Hi Alfie,

Cheers for the info.

I remember seeing your a160cdi when you fitted the Comand into the w163. (2009)

Where is your a-class now?

I presume yours was brand new at the time, can you recommend any dealers?

I know getting Comand is far cheaper to out source than buying from MB, this may be a future mod.

What do you think to my spec above?

Do all of the facelift W169 come with the bluetooth as standard?

Are there any mods that can be done using STAR and does the Comand have to be coded using STAR?

Thanks

dokalj

 

[EDZ649]

I'm not sure if the 169 suffers with the same Auto box issues as the 168 but personally I would buy a manual.

 

[dokalj]

Doesn't the W169 have the new gearbox? I thought Mercedes addressed this?

 

[rhud]

Other options to think about - electric folding mirrors (manual mirrors don't fold at all and are tricky to get back into place after being clipped in supermarket car parks); two-way steering wheel adjustment; comfort seats, which have a winder range of adjustment,including lumbar support.Avoid sport suspension.

 

[dokalj]

Other options to think about - electric folding mirrors (manual mirrors don't fold at all and are tricky to get back into place after being clipped in supermarket car parks); two-way steering wheel

adjustment; comfort seats, which have a winder range of adjustment,including lumbar support.Avoid sport suspension.

Hi rhud,

Noted, I will avoid the sports suspension. I am not after a hard ride.

Will try and get the mirrors and the comfort seats. I think the comfort seats are harder to find on a used A-class.

Still deciding on new or used.

Thanks again

dokalj

 

[A210AMG]

Just a thought....


When we were looking at Changing my wifes A210 A class, I was looking at the new shape A class... and in the trim I liked with some toys they were as much if not more than a B class...

So I started looking at B classes.... and ended up buying one of them instead. Love it great car, 2.0 cdi and the 7 speed auto makes for a really smooth ride and I've had nearly 60mpg out of it

Ours is a SE so on 17" alloys but rides very well (her A class was the AMG Evo version so I think had harder springs)

Very good use of space and feels like a much bigger car (its much higher to wash than my E class)

Took a while to find one in the right spec, but its great. With a A class it always felt like a smaller car (athough in LWB form has more room than my E class or the B class for rear seat passengers). The B class feels quite grown up compared...

Just a thought

old and new car.....

New car..

 

[dokalj]

Just a thought....


When we were looking at Changing my wifes A210 A class, I was looking at the new shape A class... and in the trim I liked with some toys they were as much if not more than a B class...

So I started looking at B classes.... and ended up buying one of them instead. Love it great car, 2.0 cdi and the 7 speed auto makes for a really smooth ride and I've had nearly 60mpg out of it

Ours is a SE so on 17" alloys but rides very well (her A class was the AMG Evo version so I think had harder springs)

Very good use of space and feels like a much bigger car (its much higher to wash than my E class)

Took a while to find one in the right spec, but its great. With a A class it always felt like a smaller car (athough in LWB form has more room than my E class or the B class for rear seat passengers). The B class feels quite grown up compared...

Just a thought

old and new car.....

New car..

Cheers A210AMG

I will give it some thought.

I may ask you some questions about the b-class.

Nice Cars

Regards

dokalj

 

[spinaltap]

I'll also add that the folding mirrors are a real boon for getting in modern-day narrow garages/streets.

There's a foot difference in height between my wife and myself, so the range of adjustment on the A Class for us is a must (she couldn't drive the replacement Smart while the A Class was being rebuilt).

When I originally purchased the car, a much more substantial deposit and APR was required for a used A Class - which would have come with shorter warranty.

I paid a minimal deposit for the new car, but could have paid no deposit in exchange for higher monthly repayment.

 

[dokalj]

I see MB are currently offering a free specification upgrade and a reasonable 7.1%.

I am learning more every minute. What year is yours?

Is it true the 2nd service can cost similar to a B-service on a ML?

Lastly did you get any other items on top of the Avantgarde?

Regards

dokalj

 

[rhud]

I got rear sidebags (often carry grandchildren) and Park Assist.

 

[npuk]

Doesn't the W169 have the new gearbox? I thought Mercedes addressed this?

W169 does not suffer from gearbox problems like the W168.

Regarding bluetooth you can tell by the looking at the audio unit. The newer units with bluetooth have the cd slot at the top, the older non bluetooth units have the cd slot at the bottom under the screen. The Comand unit with bluetooth is the NTG2.5 and will have a SD card slot above the cd slot.

Comand can be easily retrofitted in the W169. If post facelift it is pretty much a direct swap.

Parking sensors too so I wouldnt worry about that unless you are specifically after Active Park Assist. If you find a car you like but without Parktronic get the dealer to fit sensors as part of the deal. When dealers fit aftermarket kits with display like the OEM kit they use Steelmate kits. It would cost about £300 front a front and back kit with display if you got it done yourself.

As already mentioned the manual mirrors cant be folded so worth looking for one with this option.

The standard spec is different for pre and post facelift. I have the pdf brochures for both. PM me your email address if you want them.

Is it true the 2nd service can cost similar to a B-service on a ML?

Not sure where you are but you can find the fixed price servicing costs on your local dealers site. e.g. Mercedes-Benz UK - Mercedes-Benz of Slough - Passenger Cars - Fixed Price Servicing

 

[dokalj]

W169 does not suffer from gearbox problems like the W168.

Regarding bluetooth you can tell by the looking at the audio unit. The newer units with bluetooth have the cd slot at the top, the older non bluetooth units have the cd slot at the bottom under the screen. The Comand unit with bluetooth is the NTG2.5 and will have a SD card slot above the cd slot.

Comand can be easily retrofitted in the W169. If post facelift it is pretty much a direct swap.

Parking sensors too so I wouldnt worry about that unless you are specifically after Active Park Assist. If you find a car you like but without Parktronic get the dealer to fit sensors as part of the deal. When dealers fit aftermarket kits with display like the OEM kit they use Steelmate kits. It would cost about £300 front a front and back kit with display if you got it done yourself.

As already mentioned the manual mirrors cant be folded so worth looking for one with this option.

The standard spec is different for pre and post facelift. I have the pdf brochures for both. PM me your email address if you want them.



Not sure where you are but you can find the fixed price servicing costs on your local dealers site. e.g. Mercedes-Benz UK - Mercedes-Benz of Slough - Passenger Cars - Fixed Price Servicing

Cheers this is very helpful, nice a-class as well

 

[dokalj]

I got rear sidebags (often carry grandchildren) and Park Assist.

Thanks for the useful and wise post.

Regards

dokalj