timmynabenz

Hey guys, i know this is alot but to me this is a big dilemma, so I would really appreciate it if you guys took the time to read this!!

First a little background:
I do not want a w204. I personally like the 203's way better, and i think they feel much more luxurious and have the all around package. No offense, the 204's are cool, I just feel they are cheaply made.

I love white cars, it took so long to find my White on black C230 fully loaded, white is rare enough, let alone white with Nav, xenon's and everything else??
I pretty much gave up on looking for a w203 C350 because across the whole country every C350 i found either was luxury or the few sports i found were bone stock or overpriced; so i decided on a C55, but i decided it wouldn't be smart for me, still being as young as i am to get back into another V8 Mercedes, although I'm responsible I'm sure it would not have a good outcome whether, a big ticket or worse, so i was back to my original dilemma, get another CLK350 which was a fun car, and the CLK's were my first love or just hold out and eventually find a C350. Then the greedy part of me was like F**k it, i should just go lease a brand new E350

I was trying to figure it out when i came across a C350. Its white on black, with the lighting package, sunroof package, CD changer, auto-dimming mirror, rear side airbags, 6-disc CD changer, and heated seats. (plus all the standard features on the C350)

Honestly, its a dream car! I'm hesitant though because of some small things that are important to me.

CONS:
The C350 doesn't have the entertainment package or COMAND, and i HATE the stock sound system. I love my H/K sound system because I'm big on sound quality, and although there are better systems, compared to the stock the H/K system is amazing! Plus I love the COMAND/nav, not only because i use my nav alot, and the other features of the COMAND but it just looks so much nicer with the COMAND system in the dash.

Another thing is the 2006 VS 2007 things like how the range doesn't show all the way down to "0 miles" but instead just shows a get gas symbol; or the center console, how it feels so cheap in 07's and only opens one way.

PROS:
There are many pros to the C350. First, of course, its a freaking C350 lol I love them not only because of the awesome power but because i like rare or hard to find things, like my euro impact strips or my. 22 spoke SL55 rims.
It also has heated seats and the full power passenger seat.
It is a year newer and has more warranty. My current C230 has extended warranty bringing the grand total to November 2010/ 100k miles. The C350 has warranty until July 2012/100k miles.
I wont have to buy new brakes soon because it has brand new pads and rotors

So what are your guys thoughts??

(P.S.- This is real and i will be happy to post tons of pics and my VIN# to prove it if I buy the car )

AdidasC230

Auto C350s are easy to find, there is 4 on eBay right now 2 sports.

Command was great when it was accurate in 07, its 2010 and a command units 3 years out of date now. I wouldn't be to concerned with that, plus if you wanted you could swap your command unit into the new car and the audio 20 into the old one.

Also owning a car with HK audio, its not better then Volvo Dyna-Audio or any other upgraded OEM stereo, good not great, I wouldn't let that hold you back, that can be easily fixed

Also a lease on a an E350 sedan would cost easily double owning a used C class for 20k or less.

Also and you should know this considering your attitude for all of your post, the M272 is a dependable engine and the warrantee is fruitless add on.

Also if your driving to zero miles, you need to fill your tank up sooner, running the fuel pump near dry is not good for the car, ask BLDG08 he has an 07 he knows all the different quirks.

07 you can set the radio to change by pre set or frequency which an 06 cant do, but 07 dont have AUX or phone pre-wiring.

timmynabenz

Thanks for the feedback!!

johnand

Easily programmed with STAR.

AdidasC230

See I still say don't let the stereo hold you back, you can add a sub to the audio 20 until you want to go crazy with an aftermarket set up, also you can pick up a Command unit for under 500 dollars, so don't let it stop you. HK does sound great I agree just dont think the 20 is as bad as you think.

Warrantee wise, usually rattles and loose parts unless broke wont be covered, I have an MB extended and they said, if it rattles and something isnt broke they be glad to show me where the rattle comes from but Id have to fix it pretty much.

Looks like a good deal though, there are a few on ebay 1 with command if you really want command.

And yeah 07 dont have AUX, but Andrew has the "ipod" connector that controls it through the car but its 50 vs 400 dollars. Also no cell pre wiring so no blue tooth ability and also without the Nav remember no sat radio.

They did alot of taking away in 07 but if you dont have an ipod or need blue tooth or use hd radio then its not an issue.

timmynabenz

yeah, the comand isnt really a BIG issue, i would rather have a white C350 like this than one with COMAND i guess, thanks for the help!

And this one is still under factory, but i have friends that work at the dealers, so having the warranty allows me to get it back to them for free, then they can go to work

Thanks again guys!! Any other feedback greatly appreciated!!

AdidasC230

good luck hope you get it!

W203E35

C350, but how much are you gonna loose on the buy? By loose I mean how much you owe on the 230 and how much is the 350. Also how about mods? I know you did some mods to the 230.

timmynabenz

I will get more than i owe, and the mods i care about most are the quad exhaust, the impact strips, my rims, and my h&r's.
Im going to have them but the impact strips and my rims onto the C350, cant do anything about the exhaust, and idk about the springs yet

W203E35

it's all good the 67 extra horses will break even and then some

TemjinX2

Yeah i would've preferred a c55. But if you like the car and you can afford it, I say go for it.

bdgdl08

Honestly, I don't mind any of the things they took away from the '07s. I would like to have the bluetooth phone, but I don't miss it that much. It is still possible to do, mind you, but it's like $1300 for just the parts. It's still possible to do the Aux input as well, but I don't see why you wouldn't just go for the iPod input (if you have an iPod). I got mine for only about $125 off the $380 () part from the dealer. There are also aftermarket bluetooth options for less than the stock one. I don't think the things that were taken away from the '07s really make a difference. As far as HUs, I would buy a Pioneer Avic before getting a Comand (if you are going for features over look). I'd go for the car.

timmynabenz

I went and looked at it and it has the iPod connection kit already
thats a BIG plus
but as for the sound system itself...
i couldnt wait to get back to my car lol

but yeah as for the HU, i dont like the look of non factory ones, i dont like my car to look aftermarket

bdgdl08

Honestly, the best way to upgrade the stock audio is to upgrade the base. My biggest complaint was the way the sound distorted with a fair amount of base. I now have the base at the HU set very low (-8 for CDs, -5 for radio...) and the subs perfectly compensate. Now there is no distortion, and sounds better than the Bose in my CLK.

W203E35

How about this? http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

couple of Gs more you get a faster w203 and also it already has quads and COMAND little older but it's an AMG

timmynabenz

Yeah, that distortion is the worst!! I dont want to have no bass though lol, i can listen to my harmon/kardon, super loud, with the bass Maxed out and it sounds crystal clear, i decided im just going to redo the whole system or at least forstarters put in a new sub

i was looking at that, white c55's are even more rare but i dont want the power, dgaf about the money, but i want to work my way back to that much power, its the smarter more responsible way, plus if i got an AMG i wouldnt want to wreck it like my CLK (RIP Matt -my car was matt, i didnt kill somebody lol )

C-Class

Funny thread. I actually have a white c230 and have a C350 white loaner cause the car is in the shop.

For some reason the brakes on the C230 seem way way batter than the 350.
The 350 is faster hands down and actually much funner to drive with the 7 speed than the 230 IMO.

The suspension also feels tighter on the 230.



Interior wise I like the 230 much better. Although the pop-up navi in the 350 is nice. But I think the 230 is overall more comfortable/clean inside.

Personally other than the power I wasn't too impressed with the C350 over the 230. Id go a step above it if I were looking to move up.

timmynabenz

Im guessing your talking about a 204 C350. I have had them as loaners and i totally agree with you, the brakes and the interior on the 204 dont seem nearly as good as my C230 brakes.
But im referring to a 2007 C350 (w203), if this was between my car and a w204 C350 and would take mine hands down lol
Thanks though!

mbpc320

I have a solution that will save you lots of money.

Drive your CLS550 more! Hands down my favorite sedan!

timmynabenz

lol really? its my favorite coupe lol

just givin you a hard time The CLS is my dad's, i do most of the modding, and take more pride in it lol but its his daily driver not mine

nrg_mike

If it's not going to cost much to upgrade, I'd say go for it. The radio isn't much to swap out. I had the Eclipse dual din nav/dvd/ipod system installed in mine w/ a custom face mounting plate (generic one was boring and didn't match the lines) and it was clean. People always mistook it for OEM but it was way better.

Sorry, that's the closest I've got to an interior pic with the nav in my coupe.

timmynabenz

so i talked to my dad, and we are going to go in wedesday and hopefully make a deal... and now im really frickin sad haha im gonna miss my car so much!!!!
I love sound quality, not just the good system, but how my kick *** karmon/kardon symbolizes the engineering behind Mercedes, and the quality that goes into each and every Mercedes. And the same goes for my COMAND!.

As pathetic as this may sound i feel like its breaking up, i know im gonna love my C350, but its like a girlfriend, you know when you break up, your going to love your next one more, but it still hurts hahaha

maybe its pathetic, but i seriously connect with my cars and have so much pride in them and love em hahahaha

bdgdl08

I understand... I really miss my CLK, and I still think selling it was one of the worst decisions. I love my C, but it's just not the same (even with 200,000 less miles and better features).

FrankW

ya'll need Brembo GTs. first thing e1000 said after he drove my car was "omg those brakes grab like hitting a wall" lol

anyway, for the $ you gonna spent on the 203 C350 I would just get a C55.

andy_meng1024

I'd also suggest getting a C55. Or trade your dad's CLS with yours.