Glyn's New Toy - plus some dealership pics
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From: Perth, Australia
Audi A4 Quattro 2013
Its probably an option, like it is in Australia, and they don't come standard. Some people just tick all the boxes when it comes to adding accessories to a car. And sometimes items like heated seats come in an options pack with other accessories. My Benz came with headlamp washers which I've never used. I doubt many people ticks 'headlamp washers', they it just came in a package. Mine came with the AMG Sports package.
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Congrats Glyn! To hell with the Turkey, bring on the new Mercedes!
I was sitting in traffic the other day and saw a beeeeuuuuutiful CL55 next to me.
I briefly considered owning one, and the cost of ownership.
It could be that bad could it? Ha.
And then there's the Hooligan factor.
I was sitting in traffic the other day and saw a beeeeuuuuutiful CL55 next to me.
I briefly considered owning one, and the cost of ownership.
It could be that bad could it? Ha.
And then there's the Hooligan factor.
I nearly bought an SLK55 but could not tolerate the creaks & groans. Also felt it was not practical & chewed too much juice in SA where gas is expensive. I have to admit a love affair with the 55 engine. It's fabulous but I immediately become a hooligan behind the wheel. Not good 
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From: Nuevo México
2005 C230K Sport Sedan, 6 speed manual
Wow, that is a fabulous-looking car, Glyn. It is interesting that it does not have a moonroof. My W203 also has the moonroof deleted (I special-ordered it that way), but this is very rare in the US.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Thanks guys for sharing my enthusiasm 
Nah! we have a number of really good guys like Johnand & splinter etc. We all help one another & in that lies the technical strength of the 203 forum. I'm so pleased we have John now that I have an M272/722.9 rig. He knows it better than I do.
Salary sacrifice works well in Aus from a tax perspective. The Crossfire is a fugly beast!
The SLK55 is a funny beast as spec'ed for SA. It's full house apart from Parktronic which is the only option. Don't know why they did not just put it in the spec & make the car whole.
They did come in diesel but never seen one in SA 
Yes - the base spec on the SA model includes heated seats, heated mirrors, heated windscreen washers & heated headlight washers before you start ticking the options boxes - Go figure 
Indeed! - Damn Govt. gets rich on car sales in SA. Anyway - not as bad as places like Singapore or Finland.
John. The cost of the retrofit of Parktronic killed the Tanzanite Blue car with Pebble Beige leather. $5000 before fitting the genuine kit & spraying the bumper plastics via Steve - much more via MBSA. The cost of the option in SA if fitted at build is $1000. Once you've had Parktronic it's hard to live without. Especially with the ingress to & egress from my garages on a steep slope. BiX & Parktronic were both deal breakers for me in the end. The aftermarket PDC fitted was crap & looked crap. BTW - the impact strips are not removeable on later cars. The bumpers are one piece moldings.
Yep - I did not want a sunroof or moonroof. I've had crap with every one I've had & my bald patch gets sunburned 
Deleted sunroof on my 203 as well.
Glyn, fantastic car. Your making me want to upgrade now :-)
I'm trying to convince a friend of mine to buy a CLK. He was headhunted from Melbourne by BHP and now he's in Perth on a huge salary and paying the government much too much tax. I'm trying to talk him out of buying a crysler crossfire into a CLK salary sacrificed. He is a big Benz fan and I don't know why he likes those crossfires so much.
Your clk does look super! Once you get them AMG wheels on it will certainly look the part.
I hope you do never leave the w203 forum, just hover in from the CLK section every now and then :-)
I'm trying to convince a friend of mine to buy a CLK. He was headhunted from Melbourne by BHP and now he's in Perth on a huge salary and paying the government much too much tax. I'm trying to talk him out of buying a crysler crossfire into a CLK salary sacrificed. He is a big Benz fan and I don't know why he likes those crossfires so much.
Your clk does look super! Once you get them AMG wheels on it will certainly look the part.
I hope you do never leave the w203 forum, just hover in from the CLK section every now and then :-)
The cost of the option in SA if fitted at build is $1000. Once you've had Parktronic it's hard to live without. Especially with the ingress to & egress from my garages on a steep slope. BiX & Parktronic were both deal breakers for me in the end. The aftermarket PDC fitted was crap & looked crap. BTW - the impact strips are not removeable on later cars. The bumpers are one piece moldings. Deleted sunroof on my 203 as well.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 27, 2011 at 06:27 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Detailed the C240 with the friend that has waited 8 years for her yesterday. He is one excited puppy. Has never owned a Benz before & knows my car's trouble free history.
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From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
I can't imagine that your car would ever need to be detailed, perhaps it is was that one nano speck of dust you needed to rid of.
Trouble free C class??? I think that you were the only one in the world that got one, perhaps you had an inside to Benz and they gave you 'the car' In the automotive world it is the rare car out of the production run that is a 'lemon', for Mercedes it is the opposite and you got the only one that was perfect!
I am sure you will enjoy the extra 100hp
Trouble free C class??? I think that you were the only one in the world that got one, perhaps you had an inside to Benz and they gave you 'the car' In the automotive world it is the rare car out of the production run that is a 'lemon', for Mercedes it is the opposite and you got the only one that was perfect!
I am sure you will enjoy the extra 100hp
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes - She only needed a "nano" detail More drinking than detailing.
SA built W203's gave a fraction of the trouble that ROW experienced. Much of the crap was worked out of them in very early production here in East London.
My 240 has had 2 X Castor bushes under warranty - redesigned ones have been fine. One tranny plug crush washer to stop a fluid weep & one RHS brake light lamp. The rest has been servicing to the book, brake pads & tyres.
The factory did get a letter from Jurgen Schrempp telling them to build me a good one.
More drinking than detailing.SA built W203's gave a fraction of the trouble that ROW experienced. Much of the crap was worked out of them in very early production here in East London.
My 240 has had 2 X Castor bushes under warranty - redesigned ones have been fine. One tranny plug crush washer to stop a fluid weep & one RHS brake light lamp. The rest has been servicing to the book, brake pads & tyres.
The factory did get a letter from Jurgen Schrempp telling them to build me a good one.
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From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
But 100K is Crazeeee.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Anyway. Jurgen still sits on the MBSA Board & we as a country are delighted to have him.
He is a massively capable individual. Like Steve Jobs he knows how to put a couple of sensitive noses out of joint!
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 28, 2011 at 05:34 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Thanks guys!
Karo - I warned you before about SA car prices. Half this board would be driving Toyota Corollas in SA.
I love the 350 M272. You know I like V6's. I prefer the AMG 5.5 but too heavy on gas for SA & bad for my behavior. In fact I prefer the 5.5 V8 to the 6.2.
I would like to see you drive a 5.5 AMG. It would be like Clarkson in the SLS. Rear tire life = 200 miles with bigfoot Karo
EDIT: BTW Karo. MBSA ensure me that all the little M272 & 722.9 gremlins were sorted by the time this car was built. The transmission feels great.
Karo - I warned you before about SA car prices. Half this board would be driving Toyota Corollas in SA.
I love the 350 M272. You know I like V6's. I prefer the AMG 5.5 but too heavy on gas for SA & bad for my behavior. In fact I prefer the 5.5 V8 to the 6.2.
I would like to see you drive a 5.5 AMG. It would be like Clarkson in the SLS. Rear tire life = 200 miles with bigfoot Karo
EDIT: BTW Karo. MBSA ensure me that all the little M272 & 722.9 gremlins were sorted by the time this car was built. The transmission feels great.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 27, 2011 at 05:38 PM.
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
I would think you are the type person who would take the new one you get straight in anyway for a detail, oil change and other things just to start your ownership out. However, the question popped in my head tonight, as I know different places require things be done differently
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
A Benz owned dealership found this car for me. They originally sold the car new & have it's short history. I wanted to go via a dealer to get the Mobilo Drive plan made whole so I have the next 6 years/120,000Km warranty cover & maintenance plan. They do a Benz 103 point check. Ensure that all TSB's have been done & all software on the car is the latest right down to Nav. Detail you name it. This will be a so called MBSA Certified used car. They did not want to buy her back until they had a buyer. She is being given her first 15,000Km service before I take her.
EDIT - I know this dealership well. I have bought 2 cars new from them.
EDIT - I know this dealership well. I have bought 2 cars new from them.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 27, 2011 at 08:50 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
