themindfield22

wow, u guys sound pretty harsh on the sound system, i wouldn't think they would put anything bad in those cars. i mean they're still benz!!

schwarz c230

As much as I love this car , better than any car I have owned, this stereo is kinda weak, so after a few months I replaced it, did I mention it has a TAPE DECK .

TNblkc230wz

The sound system is ok, It is just not audiophile quality. The Bose system in the MB has more bass than the Bose systems in my Acura. The first mod in my Acura was a 10" sub and amp, and that is all the factory stereo needed.

Bose just makes bright, low bass systems. Thats seems to be the preference of the auto makers, not sure why.

The European Audio 10 CD is suppose to be much better. It is an MB head unit made by Becker. It is about $650 new from www.autoclass.net. You will loose some of the AM stations, but will have more bass, in-dash CD, and steering wheel controls.

The other mod you will probably want is AMG sway bars. About $200 dollars from the dealer. Should negotiate them in with the deal.

C230K

Let's not forget the price difference between the two cars. and the difference might help pay for the mods on the C230

themindfield22

hey TNblkc230wz, ,so your saying that the bose system is nice, it's the deck that comes with the cars is what makes the sound bad??? is that what you guys are experiencing??? because i was thinking about the navigation system, and i am wondering if that would fix that problem of the tape deck thing...???

mctwin2kman

The C230 Mod for right now is the Intercooler, it should help the 1.8 more than the 2.3 since the 1.8 has a higher boost. Probably a 10-15 HP increase and you will get rid of the 10 hp loss due to heat soaking. This is the one I am getting as soon as the $500 one comes out or there is another $800 group buy on the Renntech. Also Kleeman is working on a smaller SC pulley for the 1.8. A %10 smaller one should help a little and give a 1-2 lbs of boost increase. The C320 of course has the underdrive pulleys that free up 10-15 hp. I went with the 230 because I like the better fuel economy and hopefully can bring the hp over 200 with an intercooler and maybe the smaller pulley will add about 15hp making it right inline with the 320 motor for $1500 less. Only time will tell. I am enjoying the power increase from the cold weather and the intercooler being properly cooled, due to the cold weather.

themindfield22

you have a really good point, the only thing i am not too comfortable with, is pushing that 1.8 engine so much, when it's already being pushed hard. freeing up the HP out of the 320 sounds more comforting. but then again, maybe i am just too paranoid.

MB-BOB

Can we step back a few paces here? Are you looking to purchase either the C230 (1.8L) Coupe, the new C320 Coupe (3.2L), or the C320 Sedan? Your post isn't clear which "C320" you test drove.

If your comments above are based on driving the C320 SEDAN, then I think I understand where you are going with your remarks.

If you are used to driving the V6 Camaro, and remark that the 3.2L V6 "accelerates with much more ease... i can tell the difference so easily" then I think you want the C320 SEDAN over the SportsCoupe. No dis on the S/C Coupe. I'm just saying that if you liked the V6 in your previous car, the V6 in the Sedan (or the new C320 Coupe) is more equivalent than adjusting to a supercharged 4 cylinder.

This will also clear up some confusion over the Bose audio system... The Bose system in the SEDAN is much BETTER than the Bose in the Coupe (repeating several other opinions here, not just mine).

Underdrive pulleys are available within reasonable costs for the C320 motor. But any other mods cost gobs of $. Modding MBs is not as cheap as modding a Honda.

Granted, there is alot more tunability in the S/C motor than in the V6. But IMO, putting a pulley on a 194 HP car to bring it to 225 HP is more complicated than tinkering with a C320 sedan which is already within 10 HP of the target. A K&N filter could make up some of the deficit (jury is still out on that, as everyone has an opinion but no one has supplied any facts.) A free-er flowing exhaust can probably get the 3.2L to 230HP, but depending on what you buy these can be expensive too.

Just tell us which C320 you drove and that will clear up some confusion.

themindfield22

well, Mr bob, the one i that i test drove was the c320 coupe, and it had the regular sound system in it. (i didn't like the sound system all that much). and the reason i liked it better, wasn't because the HP difference between the two vehicles was 25 HP, i really didn't think that 25 HP is much. it was just that i felt that i didn't need to step on the gas as hard as i needed with the 230 to make it accelerate nicely...that's why i am leaning more towards the 320(coupe), but the icing on the cake would be having the ability to kick the horse power up to like 230-250???

viper

I am sure that with some minor ECU tuning and intake manifold changes this goal is readily attainable.

MB-BOB

Thanks for the clarity. I now understand. Yes, if you are not used to driving a supercharged 4, and instead are acclimated to a V6, then I fully understand your observations regarding the ease of acceleration. I think it's fair to say that the C320 Coupe is better suited to your CURRENT driving style... not that you couldn't change, but you'd have to make a decision to do so if you bought the 230. You will need to be more aggressive with the 1.8L (any 4-cyl, for that matter). I hope everyone agrees that is a fair statement.
Not that there are many bolt-on kits available, yet...

mctwin2kman

To get good acceleration out of the 1.8 you need to be above 3000 RPM. It's torque band is from 3500-4500 RPM. I have not driven a V-6 one so I can't really compare, but the 1.8 accelerates nicely for me even when doing 75 in 6th gear. If I floor it, the car goes quite well up to 100 within a few seconds. Not like a V-8 or anything but definetaly better than your average 4 banger. My wife and I could not really justify the $2500 extra for 25 Hp and less gas mileage. We could swing it but we did not think it was really worth the extra, since an intercooler and a pulley(Kleeman is working on it) can be had for at least $1000 less if not $1500 and get you at least the same power the V-6 has. But I would say drive them both and decide which suits your driving style more.

TNblkc230wz

The tonal qualities of any sound system; home, car, or otherwise; is greatly impacted by both the amps and speakers. You must decide what you like and purchase it. I don't personally care for the Bose systems. They are too bright and don't have much bass for my taste. I stongly encourge you to listen before you buy

mongoman

The 320 will kick the 230s *** all day long effortlessly. Its the torque that counts.

TNblkc230wz

The 230 may have 192 LBs Ft of torque from 3500 - 4000, but it also has 180 Lbs Ft from 1850 - 5500 RPM. That's a pretty wide power band.

I need to check out the Bose in the sedans. They do have a different speaker arangement.

Matt230K

Yeah, I believe the subwoofer in the sedan is in the rear deck and it is also larger.

MB-BOB

Not only that, but the sub faces upwards into the rear glass, directly exposed into the cabin. The Coupe's sub is in the back side wall, facing across the car. More important, it has to blast through that solid hatch cover to be heard.

Outland

Doesn't help one damn bit to lower the seats or remove the hatch cover. That sub is just WEAK! Its pathetic. Ive had surround sound speakers that made more bass than that little wuss. I think that overall the BOSE system sound good, but the lack of bass is a major weakness. A lot of people only judge the quality of the sound based on the 'thump'.

I would expect a little more 'thump' for the extra bucks the bose setup cost.

BTW, the AUDIO 10 headunit sucks. Don't waste your money. Apply that towards the COMAND unit.

TNblkc230wz

What advantages in sound quality does the command unit have?

FrankW

that's why I like my old Bimmer's Harman Kardon system better. It had two subs on the rear deck.

mctwin2kman

It is a self contained ported bandpass box. You will not get great thump out of it unless you had more power and maybe two 10's. Still not that earth shattering bass. I get clean bass fill from my Bose setup and it is perfect as it should be. To an actual audiophile it is perfect. The bass does not sound like it comes from the back it sounds like it comes from the door speakers or all around you. It has a flat response when the bass is set to 0 which is what competition audio is all about. If it were in a competition it would score nicely for its flat frequency response. Not so good for SPL though. I personally like it and I use to install custom car stereo equipment for competition use. We had to have this kind of sound but the ability to really hit the SPL meter hard in the end.