30,000 Miles/Year with my C230
05-20-2010, 03:27 PM
#126
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2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Yesterday I had the tires rotated across the axles for the 2nd time (now at 12,000 miles total on the tires). They're wearing pretty even - I had to drop the PSI down in the rear tires some to around 33 because it looked to me as though they were getting worse center wear. The fronts still look new. I also had Service A performed.
The popping noise is different for me than what you're describing. I don't get any pops or groans over bumps. I get it when the wheels turn. I can turn the steering wheel while sitting still or especially when backing up and get a series of "pop pop pop pop pop pop" that can be felt in the wheel. It's not terribly loud or rough. Like I say, tires in the front are wearing very well and no other manifestations. I just took the car on a 400 mile trip last night and covered the last 75-mile-lonely-interstate stretch in 49 minutes. I reset the "after start" trip meter for that part to see how such high speed cruising affected MPG. It started at 23.3MPG and slowly climbed to 26.1MPG by the time I exited the interstate. Overall MPG for the whole 400 mile journey was 30.3MPG, brought down from 32.3 by the interstate.
I took this photo during acceleration.. Wow it turned out really blurry.
The popping noise is different for me than what you're describing. I don't get any pops or groans over bumps. I get it when the wheels turn. I can turn the steering wheel while sitting still or especially when backing up and get a series of "pop pop pop pop pop pop" that can be felt in the wheel. It's not terribly loud or rough. Like I say, tires in the front are wearing very well and no other manifestations. I just took the car on a 400 mile trip last night and covered the last 75-mile-lonely-interstate stretch in 49 minutes. I reset the "after start" trip meter for that part to see how such high speed cruising affected MPG. It started at 23.3MPG and slowly climbed to 26.1MPG by the time I exited the interstate. Overall MPG for the whole 400 mile journey was 30.3MPG, brought down from 32.3 by the interstate.
I took this photo during acceleration.. Wow it turned out really blurry.
So what pressure did you settle on for the front tires?
05-21-2010, 01:33 AM
#127
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Yeah that picture is a fail.. anyway..
The fronts are 34PSI. It keeps them from so much shoulder wear.
I really hope it's not something like the steering rack. It happens when backing out of spots, but it also happens at a standstill and at slow forward speeds. The steering doesn't feel any different at any other time. I was under the impression it was the rack bushings.
The fronts are 34PSI. It keeps them from so much shoulder wear.
I really hope it's not something like the steering rack. It happens when backing out of spots, but it also happens at a standstill and at slow forward speeds. The steering doesn't feel any different at any other time. I was under the impression it was the rack bushings.
05-21-2010, 02:28 AM
#128
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I don't have any memories. Must be amnesia? I guess I'll have to take a road trip out there so you and I can make some more memories. The backseat.. that's boring. The front seats, the hood, trunk lid, and roof would be better. If you think I write well with my hands, you won't believe how good I am with my mouth.
05-21-2010, 09:56 AM
#130
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2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
I don't have any memories. Must be amnesia? I guess I'll have to take a road trip out there so you and I can make some more memories. The backseat.. that's boring. The front seats, the hood, trunk lid, and roof would be better. If you think I write well with my hands, you won't believe how good I am with my mouth.
05-21-2010, 04:18 PM
#131
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05-21-2010, 05:16 PM
#132
Out Of Control!!
05-21-2010, 06:24 PM
#133
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I don't have any memories. Must be amnesia? I guess I'll have to take a road trip out there so you and I can make some more memories. The backseat.. that's boring. The front seats, the hood, trunk lid, and roof would be better. If you think I write well with my hands, you won't believe how good I am with my mouth.
05-22-2010, 07:29 AM
#136
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I don't have any memories. Must be amnesia? I guess I'll have to take a road trip out there so you and I can make some more memories. The backseat.. that's boring. The front seats, the hood, trunk lid, and roof would be better. If you think I write well with my hands, you won't believe how good I am with my mouth.
05-22-2010, 07:32 AM
#137
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Glad you all got such a kick out of that. Karo, OTOH, got much more than a kick. He was, how to put this.. blown away?
Meanwhile, I just noticed that I scraped my bumper on something recently.
Meanwhile, I just noticed that I scraped my bumper on something recently.
05-23-2010, 08:10 PM
#138
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1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
just, wow
05-23-2010, 09:04 PM
#140
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) It's level with the fog light area, down the passenger side. About a 4 inch long scrape with red stuff in it. I have no idea how the hell it got there.
05-23-2010, 11:06 PM
#141
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'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
Whatever it was, I think I hit it too, but mine got the white part. 
Luckily the transfer on mine buffed off. Like you I have no clue what it was, I have just decided it was something on the interstate. 
Luckily the transfer on mine buffed off. Like you I have no clue what it was, I have just decided it was something on the interstate.
07-07-2010, 12:38 AM
#142
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The thread title fits again. The car has 85,000 miles now but it's spent 60,000 with me. I've had the car two years on the 19th of this month.
The climate control is turning off on its own sometimes when in AUTO mode. As long as it works in manual I won't worry about it. The popping noise from the front suspension are still present and on my to-do-list. The passenger side mirror doesn't heat anymore and has been dead since I got the car, I just forgot about it while the warranty was in effect.
Aside from these minor issues the car has remained as reliable as ever. I really think this is probably the best all-around car I've ever owned. It's not the fastest thing around, but it's more than adequate. It gets great economy. It has safety features on par with new cars. It is sporty without being overly harsh, has excellent reflexes without being twitchy. The brakes are fantastic, as are the headlights and seats. It gets complimented on a constant basis by people who assume it is much more expensive than it ever was (the other day a friend said 'this is what a $60,000 car?' )
It's not all perfect. It seems to have days where it feels every one of its 85000 miles and 5.5 years. But that's not the norm. Also, the extreme heat and humidity cause it to heat soak and be sort of sluggish at times. Tire wear is a PITA.
But I just spent a day driving a relative's 2004 Chevy Malibu with 95,000 miles and another relatives 2006 Ford Fusion with 71,000 miles and let me tell you.. it really makes me appreciate the Benz. Even on its worst days it is exponentially better than they are. My car is just one year newer and 10,000 miles behind the Malibu.. yet it is literally disintegrating, having hard starts, defunct SRS system, CEL on - dash lit up like a Christmas tree - buttons peeling, rattles everywhere, plastic fading and all this on a design that was ATROCIOUS even when new. And it's been babied. The Fusion is better by a good bit, but the materials quality is still sub-par and WTF is up with no ABS on a 2006 mid-level family sedan that has curtain airbags?! The Fusion is still a POS in a big way (massively unrefined) but not as bad as the Malibu. All you Camry and Accord haters out there need to spend some time in cars like Malibus and Fusions to understand that Camry and Accord owners have it QUITE GOOD!
Fresh off the nightmare that is Ford and Chevy family sedan-dom, I'm really soaking up the Benz refinement and plain-and-simple-all-around superiority. It only takes something really bad to make you see what is "normal" to you is actually really, really good.
The climate control is turning off on its own sometimes when in AUTO mode. As long as it works in manual I won't worry about it. The popping noise from the front suspension are still present and on my to-do-list. The passenger side mirror doesn't heat anymore and has been dead since I got the car, I just forgot about it while the warranty was in effect.
Aside from these minor issues the car has remained as reliable as ever. I really think this is probably the best all-around car I've ever owned. It's not the fastest thing around, but it's more than adequate. It gets great economy. It has safety features on par with new cars. It is sporty without being overly harsh, has excellent reflexes without being twitchy. The brakes are fantastic, as are the headlights and seats. It gets complimented on a constant basis by people who assume it is much more expensive than it ever was (the other day a friend said 'this is what a $60,000 car?'
) It's not all perfect. It seems to have days where it feels every one of its 85000 miles and 5.5 years. But that's not the norm. Also, the extreme heat and humidity cause it to heat soak and be sort of sluggish at times. Tire wear is a PITA.
But I just spent a day driving a relative's 2004 Chevy Malibu with 95,000 miles and another relatives 2006 Ford Fusion with 71,000 miles and let me tell you.. it really makes me appreciate the Benz. Even on its worst days it is exponentially better than they are. My car is just one year newer and 10,000 miles behind the Malibu.. yet it is literally disintegrating, having hard starts, defunct SRS system, CEL on - dash lit up like a Christmas tree - buttons peeling, rattles everywhere, plastic fading and all this on a design that was ATROCIOUS even when new. And it's been babied. The Fusion is better by a good bit, but the materials quality is still sub-par and WTF is up with no ABS on a 2006 mid-level family sedan that has curtain airbags?! The Fusion is still a POS in a big way (massively unrefined) but not as bad as the Malibu. All you Camry and Accord haters out there need to spend some time in cars like Malibus and Fusions to understand that Camry and Accord owners have it QUITE GOOD!
Fresh off the nightmare that is Ford and Chevy family sedan-dom, I'm really soaking up the Benz refinement and plain-and-simple-all-around superiority. It only takes something really bad to make you see what is "normal" to you is actually really, really good.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; 07-07-2010 at 12:40 AM.
07-07-2010, 06:42 AM
#144
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Good news! - hope you get the popping sorted. Even if it's the rack it's probably only a bush change. On John's car a rack replacement was probably overkill but it was under warranty so they went the whole deal. It could have been repaired.
07-07-2010, 07:55 AM
#145
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2005 c230k ss, 2005 Land Rover LR3, 2006 Honda S2000
The thread title fits again. The car has 85,000 miles now but it's spent 60,000 with me. I've had the car two years on the 19th of this month.
The climate control is turning off on its own sometimes when in AUTO mode. As long as it works in manual I won't worry about it. The popping noise from the front suspension are still present and on my to-do-list. The passenger side mirror doesn't heat anymore and has been dead since I got the car, I just forgot about it while the warranty was in effect.
Aside from these minor issues the car has remained as reliable as ever. I really think this is probably the best all-around car I've ever owned. It's not the fastest thing around, but it's more than adequate. It gets great economy. It has safety features on par with new cars. It is sporty without being overly harsh, has excellent reflexes without being twitchy. The brakes are fantastic, as are the headlights and seats. It gets complimented on a constant basis by people who assume it is much more expensive than it ever was (the other day a friend said 'this is what a $60,000 car?' )
It's not all perfect. It seems to have days where it feels every one of its 85000 miles and 5.5 years. But that's not the norm. Also, the extreme heat and humidity cause it to heat soak and be sort of sluggish at times. Tire wear is a PITA.
But I just spent a day driving a relative's 2004 Chevy Malibu with 95,000 miles and another relatives 2006 Ford Fusion with 71,000 miles and let me tell you.. it really makes me appreciate the Benz. Even on its worst days it is exponentially better than they are. My car is just one year newer and 10,000 miles behind the Malibu.. yet it is literally disintegrating, having hard starts, defunct SRS system, CEL on - dash lit up like a Christmas tree - buttons peeling, rattles everywhere, plastic fading and all this on a design that was ATROCIOUS even when new. And it's been babied. The Fusion is better by a good bit, but the materials quality is still sub-par and WTF is up with no ABS on a 2006 mid-level family sedan that has curtain airbags?! The Fusion is still a POS in a big way (massively unrefined) but not as bad as the Malibu. All you Camry and Accord haters out there need to spend some time in cars like Malibus and Fusions to understand that Camry and Accord owners have it QUITE GOOD!
Fresh off the nightmare that is Ford and Chevy family sedan-dom, I'm really soaking up the Benz refinement and plain-and-simple-all-around superiority. It only takes something really bad to make you see what is "normal" to you is actually really, really good.
The climate control is turning off on its own sometimes when in AUTO mode. As long as it works in manual I won't worry about it. The popping noise from the front suspension are still present and on my to-do-list. The passenger side mirror doesn't heat anymore and has been dead since I got the car, I just forgot about it while the warranty was in effect.
Aside from these minor issues the car has remained as reliable as ever. I really think this is probably the best all-around car I've ever owned. It's not the fastest thing around, but it's more than adequate. It gets great economy. It has safety features on par with new cars. It is sporty without being overly harsh, has excellent reflexes without being twitchy. The brakes are fantastic, as are the headlights and seats. It gets complimented on a constant basis by people who assume it is much more expensive than it ever was (the other day a friend said 'this is what a $60,000 car?'
) It's not all perfect. It seems to have days where it feels every one of its 85000 miles and 5.5 years. But that's not the norm. Also, the extreme heat and humidity cause it to heat soak and be sort of sluggish at times. Tire wear is a PITA.
But I just spent a day driving a relative's 2004 Chevy Malibu with 95,000 miles and another relatives 2006 Ford Fusion with 71,000 miles and let me tell you.. it really makes me appreciate the Benz. Even on its worst days it is exponentially better than they are. My car is just one year newer and 10,000 miles behind the Malibu.. yet it is literally disintegrating, having hard starts, defunct SRS system, CEL on - dash lit up like a Christmas tree - buttons peeling, rattles everywhere, plastic fading and all this on a design that was ATROCIOUS even when new. And it's been babied. The Fusion is better by a good bit, but the materials quality is still sub-par and WTF is up with no ABS on a 2006 mid-level family sedan that has curtain airbags?! The Fusion is still a POS in a big way (massively unrefined) but not as bad as the Malibu. All you Camry and Accord haters out there need to spend some time in cars like Malibus and Fusions to understand that Camry and Accord owners have it QUITE GOOD!
Fresh off the nightmare that is Ford and Chevy family sedan-dom, I'm really soaking up the Benz refinement and plain-and-simple-all-around superiority. It only takes something really bad to make you see what is "normal" to you is actually really, really good.
07-07-2010, 10:19 PM
#146
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1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Glad to hear you still love your Benz as much as I love mine!
ahhhh hot pink floor mats
07-08-2010, 12:41 AM
#148
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1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
07-08-2010, 01:35 AM
#149
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No no, I don't like it in the pink..
I was just telling Drew and I decided to share: I really love the robust features of the W203. The power is just enough, but everything else is above and beyond.. Examples:
1. You don't have Honda-like brakes where you get one decent stop and their toast or that fade like red lingere in the wash. You get oversized brakes that really perform well every time.
2. You don't get an A/C system that cools the car. You get one that will freeze you even on the hottest summer day.
3. You don't get just enough airbags to please the feds. You get enough for everyone in the car.
4. You don't get just ABS. You get Brake Assist and ESP.
5. You don't get just front and rear turn signals. You get repeaters in the mirrors because there's a chance that might prevent an accident.. even if it's slim. They look cool too!
6. You don't get a trunk that unlatches. You get one that opens fully, but smoothly, at your command.
I could go on. Everything - save the cup holder - is very well thought out and thoroughly engineered to a degree that is missing from even German competitors.
I was just telling Drew and I decided to share: I really love the robust features of the W203. The power is just enough, but everything else is above and beyond.. Examples:
1. You don't have Honda-like brakes where you get one decent stop and their toast or that fade like red lingere in the wash. You get oversized brakes that really perform well every time.
2. You don't get an A/C system that cools the car. You get one that will freeze you even on the hottest summer day.
3. You don't get just enough airbags to please the feds. You get enough for everyone in the car.
4. You don't get just ABS. You get Brake Assist and ESP.
5. You don't get just front and rear turn signals. You get repeaters in the mirrors because there's a chance that might prevent an accident.. even if it's slim. They look cool too!
6. You don't get a trunk that unlatches. You get one that opens fully, but smoothly, at your command.
I could go on. Everything - save the cup holder - is very well thought out and thoroughly engineered to a degree that is missing from even German competitors.
07-08-2010, 01:44 AM
#150
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1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Yes! But all 2 of those cup holder R&D dollars are being put to good use... I have 1 3/4 useful cup holders in this car, compared to the 2/3 usefule one in my CLK.
