Which C class C220 CDI C230 C280

[Sherekhan]

Hi

I'm a newbie to this forum had search around the web and thought this was the best place to ask my question to current owners.

I'm a newbie to MB and may be getting one as my new co car.
I'm looking at moving over from BMW to MB.

I currently drive one of these.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BMW-3-Series-320si/220123/

I cannot seem to make up my mind which C class I should get.
I've listed my choices below and what they will cost me.
My car scheme is a weird one as in I don't pay tax for the car.
Car is fully maintained and insured in the price I pay.
Adding options is about £30 p/m per £1k.

I'm looking at getting MB standard spec (Met paint incl).
Not sure about adding Xenon's as i'm trying to keep monthly cost below £250. I currently pay £180 for the BMW.

My BMW is standard spec. I'm not sure about diesels as I have only ever driven petrol cars. I quite like the idea of a C280 but have tried to track one down to look at but failed. I have seen lots of C220CDI Sport versions. I've ommited Elegance models as i'm no sure about the Artico seats.

Mercedes C220 CDI SE 4dr Auto (£142)
Mercedes C220 2.1CDi 170hp Sport 4dr Auto (£188)
Mercedes C230 2.5V6 231hp Sport 4dr Auto (£251)
Mercedes C280 3.0V6 231hp SE 4dr Auto (£239)

Any thoughts and opinions on choices?

 

[Mr Jadefox]

I presume you aren't intending to keep the car or buy it in the longer term, in which case I guess advice of which options to go for in the terms of future sellability are not rellevant?

Are you just interested in what things would be good from a useability sense? I'm assuming if you got a lower spec e.g. CDI, you would buy more 'extras' to top up the spec?

 

[Mactech]

Unless you have a very good reason to be different, then go with the flow and get a 220 CDI.
The car is popular with good reason. You will have already spotted the costs and the looks, but the current 220 engine has really good accessible performance and is frugal.
The petrols are more refined from outside the car, but little different from inside, and they can be quicker by the stopwatch but it's rare you will get chance to use this!

 

[Topkat]

C220 all the way!

 

[Sherekhan]

I've no plans to keep the car as my scheme usually quotes an inflated price to buy of the scheme. I tend to do 30k miles a year. My scheme is about to change and only diesels are permitted. Topping up spec can make the car more expensive than the next one up so its a case of balancing the standard spec and adding what would be useful.

I's like Xenon's as i'm sure the MB std lights are just as bad as the BMW's.

Its my last chance to have a petrol. I'm used to having a very high redline (BMW starts at 7.5/8k) and a manual. Like foot to the floor.

The temptation with the C230 and C280 is the 7G box and match for my BMW 0-60. I wanted a V6 BMW last time but was swayed by the homoglation model I have.

Believe it or not fuel costs do not bother me as business fuel is paid for.
I currently get 27mpg and use V Power. My private mileage is limited to about 5k miles.

 

[MUGGY]

I've no plans to keep the car as my scheme usually quotes an inflated price to buy of the scheme. I tend to do 30k miles a year. My scheme is about to change and only diesels are permitted. Topping up spec can make the car more expensive than the next one up so its a case of balancing the standard spec and adding what would be useful.

I's like Xenon's as i'm sure the MB std lights are just as bad as the BMW's.

Its my last chance to have a petrol. I'm used to having a very high redline (BMW starts at 7.5/8k) and a manual. Like foot to the floor.

The temptation with the C230 and C280 is the 7G box and match for my BMW 0-60. I wanted a V6 BMW last time but was swayed by the homoglation model I have.

Believe it or not fuel costs do not bother me as business fuel is paid for.
I currently get 27mpg and use V Power. My private mileage is limited to about 5k miles.

If you drive like a hooligan you'll probably prefer another BMW !

 

[Sherekhan]

If you drive like a hooligan you'll probably prefer another BMW !

I probably would prefer another but its a lot more expensive this time round. It was my 1st BMW and its been a nice car but had lots of probs and has been in the garage lots - new engine for one. So I'd like to try another marque.

Not a fan of VAG group cars, Alfa is a no-no as i've had a Fiat before.
Insignia is the same price as a C class. So MB is the best choice.

 

[GCLTuning]

220CDI All day long !

As said there is a very good reason for being popular....


Plus there is 220 BHP to be had !

Regards ***

 

[Sherekhan]

220CDI All day long !

As said there is a very good reason for being popular....


Plus there is 220 BHP to be had !

Regards ***

I thought the 2.2 diesel unit had 170bhp or are you referring to remap/tuning boxes?

 

[BenzedUP]

If your not too bothered about feul costs then go for the C280 nice smooth V6 better than a 4-pot 220 anyday! And if you want to remap then a healthy 250+bhp to be had! plus you can drive it like a nutter as well..

by the way the C230 V6 is only 204bhp not 231.

 

[Mr Jadefox]

Given that we've now decided on engine .....

out of:

Mercedes C220 CDI SE 4dr Auto (£142)
Mercedes C220 2.1CDi 170hp Sport 4dr Auto (£188)

I don't think there is really much choice personally. As you would about £45 a month for about £1,500 worth of extras, I'd say the sport would be well worth the extra, it's not just the styling either - you get things like rain sensing wipers, parameter steering, electric folding mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors......

 

[jeremytaylor]

My car scheme is a weird one as in I don't pay tax for the car.
Car is fully maintained and insured in the price I pay.

Eh? I think you will find that you do pay tax for this car unless you never use it for personal mileage (includes to and from place of work ).

As you do pay tax BiK on the petrols will be more than the 220, which is why most company car drivers drive diesel these days ...

 

[Sherekhan]

Eh? I think you will find that you do pay tax for this car unless you never use it for personal mileage (includes to and from place of work ).

As you do pay tax BiK on the petrols will be more than the 220, which is why most company car drivers drive diesel these days ...

The way the scheme works as follows

It is a personal lease in your name backed by the company so it does not appear on your credit record

The employer pays the £5k deposit as this is tax free

The employer pays for all running costs (maintenance, insurance repairs etc) as these are not a taxable benefit.

The employer pays all termination costs and any tax due on them

The employer takes the element of the tax free mileage allowance over and above the cost of fuel as a contribution towards running expenses.

The benefit to the employer is savings on employee NI

The inland revenue does not like this and the rules are changing from the 5th April so that the running expenses become a benefit in kind which your employer will have to pay the tax on for you (grossed up so zero effect on take home pay)

The scheme is changing as the NI savings are outweighed by the tax changes.

I also don't have one place of work I travel to clients.

 

[Sherekhan]

I've just noted that I've typed

Mercedes C220 CDI SE 4dr Auto (£142)
It should read
Mercedes C220 CDI 170 SE 4dr Auto (£142)
Cheers for pointing out my typo BenzedUP.

I'm leaning towards C230 2.5V6 204hp Sport 4dr Auto (£251) in palladium silver. But can't add any extra's.

Alternatively I could go for a C220 CDI 170hp Sport add these extras

But I have some questions

-How good are the standard headlights (non Xenon)?

-Do you get parking sensors at all? (BMW only give them as standard to rear)

- multi-contour seats? I have inflatable side bolsters on my BMW
I think these are excellent as i'm quite slim - on most cars I slide all over the place when going round corners.
Does anyone have this option? I'd appreciate a picture of what they look like.

- iPod connectivity what does MB offer (true connectivity or a bodged interface?) and how much to add on?

 

[fuzzer]

I've just noted that I've typed

Mercedes C220 CDI SE 4dr Auto (£142)
It should read
Mercedes C220 CDI 170 SE 4dr Auto (£142)
Cheers for pointing out my typo BenzedUP.

I'm leaning towards C230 2.5V6 204hp Sport 4dr Auto (£251) in palladium silver. But can't add any extra's.

Alternatively I could go for a C220 CDI 170hp Sport add these extras

But I have some questions

-How good are the standard headlights (non Xenon)?

-Do you get parking sensors at all? (BMW only give them as standard to rear)

- multi-contour seats? I have inflatable side bolsters on my BMW
I think these are excellent as i'm quite slim - on most cars I slide all over the place when going round corners.
Does anyone have this option? I'd appreciate a picture of what they look like.

- iPod connectivity what does MB offer (true connectivity or a bodged interface?) and how much to add on?

No Idea how the standard lights are as ive got xenons.

Parking sensors are £605 , none are included.

multi contour seats arent available with the sports seats in the sports pack

Ipod connectivity can be had but requires the following.

Audio 50@ £995
Media Interface @ £140
Media Interface cable pack@ £47

or the ipod adaptor fitted which gives the song names on the dash display for £300 fitted or so.

 

[cjcor]

Sherekhan, you have a very rare car. How does this compare with the 'standard' E90 320i?

 

[sylvester]

The way the scheme works as follows

It is a personal lease in your name backed by the company so it does not appear on your credit record

The employer pays the £5k deposit as this is tax free

The employer pays for all running costs (maintenance, insurance repairs etc) as these are not a taxable benefit.

The employer pays all termination costs and any tax due on them

The employer takes the element of the tax free mileage allowance over and above the cost of fuel as a contribution towards running expenses.

The benefit to the employer is savings on employee NI

The inland revenue does not like this and the rules are changing from the 5th April so that the running expenses become a benefit in kind which your employer will have to pay the tax on for you (grossed up so zero effect on take home pay)

The scheme is changing as the NI savings are outweighed by the tax changes.

I also don't have one place of work I travel to clients.

Sounds very much like the scheme my last employer ran: so definitely no personal tax liability.

If you’re considering the C280 then I would suggest that you also consider the C320 Diesel in sport trim (the uplift to sport is lower on the C320 which makes the extra cost over the C220 or C280 less than it first looks).
The C320 is actually quicker 0-62 than the C280 and has bags more torque, which really makes the difference performance wise.
Having driven both the C180 Sport C280 Elegance (Yuk) each for three days before owning the C320 Sport I would go for the later again without a moment’s hesitation.
Don’t get hung up on the Horse Power figures it’s the massive torque of the C320 V6 that makes the difference and gives that satisfying shove in the back.
The C280 puts out 231bhp vs the C320 224bhp but then the C280 has 300nm Torque compared with 510nm for the C320 big big difference. Even the C220 produces 400Nm.

You also won’t notice the difference in the rev range between the c280 and the c320 with the 7G box, it just becomes seamless unless in manual mode in which case the short shifts and closer ratio’s are probably what you want. The ability of the c320 to go from refined cruiser to hooligan is addictive though.
Not to mention the greater fuel economy, I managed to see up to 40mpg on a long run with normal driving habits.

Having said that the c220 is also an impressive engine at a more reasonable price.

Headlight wise I was rather unimpressed with the standard lights, they are quite literally poo
The sports seats are fine with plenty of lateral support and keep you in place but then I’m largish framed J but much better than the elegance seats where I did slide all over the place.
Parking sensors are extra but personally I did not miss them or find that I really needed them
Ipod interface if I recall was about £250 including dealer fit if order with the car
It’s pretty functional with song / album display in the centre console and steering wheel control, sound was excellent through a full command system.
Longer album/song names scroll/wrap across the display which is annoying but liveable with. Would like to have seen full display of information on the Audio screen as well as the instrument cluster though but again worth the investment in my opinion.

If you go for a sport model an option worth considering is the advanced agility pack (I think its listed on the MB site now as the Dynamic Handling Package) at about £450-500
This provides a sport button which sharpens up the throttle response and makes quite a difference to the feel of the car, it really becomes must more responsive and sensitive.
It also firms up the suspension further and provides electronic adjustment rather than the mechanical arrangement on the standard car. It can become a little too firm over rough surfaces but is immense fun when pushing on hard and really tightens up the feel of the car significantly, there is almost no body roll at all! It also reduces the level at which the stability control/traction control nanny kicks in, so some tail end fun can be had but stay alert in the wet, it won’t let you get into serious trouble but might just wake you up a bit.

Note that for the C230 the 7G transmission is an optional extra so will increase the cost if you want this compared to the standard 5 speed auto.
My personal preference having driven both is for the 7G unit.

Of course these are just my opinions and come with all my own baggage and preconcentptions but I hope you find the useful.
Whatever model you plump for I’m sure you will enjoy a C-Class there are fantastic cars.

 

[Sherekhan]

cjcor
The car is very different to the stock 320i. The engine just begs you rev and rev to the redline. I've taken the car onto the German Autobahn and it really comes to life above 100mph. It sounds like a real touring car.
The engine note is just awesome. The response 50 -85mph is that of a 325. When in 4th it just sounds great. Shame I can't stay 100mph in the UK. It sticks to the ground like glue as the engine is set very far back in the engine bay. The carbon cam head does help with lower centre of gravity. It has suffered a lot of abuse in my hands.

When I first had it I was really suprised how quick it was round any roundabouts. I have to say the front tyres are still original tyres at 67k miles!! I will miss it when it goes.

The car has been pretty reliable until the engine decided to have a min dof its on when starting. So I battled with BMW to fix it. It spent 6 weeks in the garage and its now fixed.

Fuzzer
Thanks for the info on the seats. Sounds quite expensive for full integration for the iPod then.....

Sylvester
I did look at the C320 but its way too expensive and out of my reach.

C CLASS DIESEL SALOON C320 CDI Sport 4dr Auto
£300 incl met paint

My scheme is really weird when they work out monthly prices.
I have non xenon's on my BMW and I really wish I had xenon's. I have had a couple of near misses at night.

I cannot believe that you have to pay for parking sensors. I'll think I'll give them a miss as i'd rather have xenon's instead of them! After all knocks and scrapes will be paid for by someone else.

I have a very small frame so need seats that will hug me and stop me sliding all over the place. I spend a lot of time in the car so need to make sure the seat is comfy as possible.

I initially thought the agilty pack came with the sport version but will look into that option.

On the C230 front. It appears that the 7G Auto option is a no cost option. So I get the C230 Auto Sport cheaper than a manual as the lifetime cost of the car is lower (resale value).

The iPod option is a nice thing to have. As I have my entire collection has been ripped as lossless AAC ~250Gb in total.
It would be nice if I can get the integration cheaply (changing and viewing tracks - not playlists only like some marques).

But if it came to the crunch i'd have a bigger engine in place of adding options.

 

[sylvester]

cjcor
The car is very different to the stock 320i. The engine just begs you rev and rev to the redline. I've taken the car onto the German Autobahn and it really comes to life above 100mph. It sounds like a real touring car.
The engine note is just awesome. The response 50 -85mph is that of a 325. When in 4th it just sounds great. Shame I can't stay 100mph in the UK. It sticks to the ground like glue as the engine is set very far back in the engine bay. The carbon cam head does help with lower centre of gravity. It has suffered a lot of abuse in my hands.

When I first had it I was really suprised how quick it was round any roundabouts. I have to say the front tyres are still original tyres at 67k miles!! I will miss it when it goes.

The car has been pretty reliable until the engine decided to have a min dof its on when starting. So I battled with BMW to fix it. It spent 6 weeks in the garage and its now fixed.

Fuzzer
Thanks for the info on the seats. Sounds quite expensive for full integration for the iPod then.....

Sylvester
I did look at the C320 but its way too expensive and out of my reach.

C CLASS DIESEL SALOON C320 CDI Sport 4dr Auto
£300 incl met paint

My scheme is really weird when they work out monthly prices.
I have non xenon's on my BMW and I really wish I had xenon's. I have had a couple of near misses at night.

I cannot believe that you have to pay for parking sensors. I'll think I'll give them a miss as i'd rather have xenon's instead of them! After all knocks and scrapes will be paid for by someone else.

I have a very small frame so need seats that will hug me and stop me sliding all over the place. I spend a lot of time in the car so need to make sure the seat is comfy as possible.

I initially thought the agilty pack came with the sport version but will look into that option.

On the C230 front. It appears that the 7G Auto option is a no cost option. So I get the C230 Auto Sport cheaper than a manual as the lifetime cost of the car is lower (resale value).

The iPod option is a nice thing to have. As I have my entire collection has been ripped as lossless AAC ~250Gb in total.
It would be nice if I can get the integration cheaply (changing and viewing tracks - not playlists only like some marques).

But if it came to the crunch i'd have a bigger engine in place of adding options.

Hi Sherkhan,

If the C320 is not an option then personally I would tend to lean towards the C220 as other members have suggested. Although it’s a close call against a petrol with the 7G box but the Torque I think would win it for me. Glad it’s not my dilemma again.

You don’t seem to see many C230’s about and I suspect that’s because of the relatively small cost differential between that and the C280.
In fact the C230 never made much sense to me as to why it’s in the range at all as it’s just a detuned version of the engine in the C280 anyway.

I may have been mistaken about the option of the 7G box on the C230 sport being a no cost options but the MB car configurator shows it as a £1,546 option, which narrows the base price between the C230 and C280 to just £221. Although it may be that they are running an offer at present or have a deal for corporate customers, I think when I purchased they added metallic paint as a no cost option when normally it’s an extra. Hum just looked at a different page on the MB site and it shows the 7G as a no cost option on the C230 so may be best to get that clarified by the car scheme or supplying dealer.

The naming around the Advanced Agility Pack is very confusing:
If you look at the top level overview on the MB web site it talks about the “Agility Control Package” which is standard on all sport models. This is essentially a mechanical damping system that adapts to the road surface conditions and is teamed with the 15mm lower ride height and firmed springs on the sport and speed sensitive parameter steering rack. But that’s it.
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/home/new_cars/models/c-class/w204/overview/drivetrain_chassis.0004.html

They then have another tab for “Dynamic Handling Package” this adds to the “Advanced Agility Pack” with the sport button, improved throttle response, sharper steering, sharper/faster gear changes and reduced ESP/Traction control intervention. However when you come to order this option via the online configurator or dealer its referred to as the “Advanced Agility Package”, so not very clear Mr MB.
I had to check several times to ensure that I had the right option selected as I was not entirely convinced for the above reason.
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/home/new_cars/models/c-class/w204/overview/drivetrain_chassis.0007.html

IPod wise yes you can definitely change and view albums and tracks using the steering wheel controls and view the display in the instrument cluster, so you’re not limited to five or six play lists.
Although with 250Gb you could be scrolling for a good few mile.
The Ipod interface can be added later but does need a dealer or independent with a Star Diagnostics machine to code it to the car before it will work, so generally it’s just as cheap to have it factory or dealer fitted on delivery of a new car. You could check out Richard in the electronics forum though for more informed advice on pricing of adding the Ipod interface later.

 

[Sherekhan]

Hi Sherkhan,
In fact the C230 never made much sense to me as to why it’s in the range at all as it’s just a detuned version of the engine in the C280 anyway.

Hum just looked at a different page on the MB site and it shows the 7G as a no cost option on the C230 so may be best to get that clarified by the car scheme or supplying dealer.

You could check out Richard in the electronics forum though for more informed advice on pricing of adding the Ipod interface later.

I understood the C230 to be a 2500cc engine and C280 a 3000cc engine and a C320 is a 3500cc engine.

I spotted the same page on the MB site. I've noted on my co car online configurator its a 7 speed only as they have listed the auto as a separate car. The prices of both cars are the same.

I will read through the electronics bit of the forum and work out if I get it done on delivery or not. I'd like to keep it out of the monthly budget and take it as a hit.

I've struggled to see C280 and C230, one dealer told me he'd never seen on at all. He suggested like everyone on here that the C220 is one to go for. But he did tell me about the C250 due sometime this year.

Only prob I have is whether i should wait to see if my new scheme will let me have that or not as its sounds really good. But sods law will be that I will be forced to drive an Vx Insignia