RadDad

Howdy Folks,

I just fulfilled a life long dream and today I'm the proud owner of a Mercedes. It's a 2005 C240 Wagon 4matic and I picked it up yesterday and took it on a 200 mile trip and I couldn't be happier. It really likes to run on the open road!

I've been poking around in the stickys and searching a bit and it's obvious there are many more sedan owners than wagons. I understand that they're practically identical mechanically so I imagine most of the info applies to my car even if it isn't specifically wagon-related. Am I correct?

I do have one question that I'll ask before searching (first post and already breaking a rule, right) but I'm pretty sure it's not been asked - does your interior smell like crayons too? Mine is like a box of Crayola....

Ok
RadDad

glocati

Welcome and congrats ! Most sedan info does apply. Engine-drivetrain all the same. You will find that 4-matics and wagons have some different suspension/spring applications and some differing brake rotors/pad applications.

Funny on the crayon smell. I have alway thought MB's had a distinct interior smell. i have always attributed that to the leather and interior materials.




Check out this thread for some wagon wagon love:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...03-wagons.html

RadDad

Thanks for the link. Some nice looking long backs in there!

Ok,
RadDad

contact148

fold and tumble the rear seats this way you can see if anything is under them and see how awsome the cargo space is in these things too.

if your in an area with snow the 4matic handle amazing love mine for that

otherwise just read thru the fourms and learn about it

welcome

samaritrey

We need pics asap
I always wanted a c320 Wagon for some reason always like the utility of them I guess or the C320 Coupe for the same reason

Moviela

You will find the wagon and sedan are much the same, except the wheels and suspension are beefier. The 2005 is the better choice because it has the interior face lift. The first order of business for you is to make sure the service records are accurate, and find a dealer or indie shop that can do a total fluid exchange for the transmission. The information in the manual that the transmission does not need service for 140K is rubbish. Changing the brake fluid every two years is also mandatory. Do your arms a favor and do a complete change of power steering fluid too. When changing the oil, there is no need to crawl about on the ground to drain it. Simply get a topsider and vacuum the oil out. Be sure to use the fleece (polyester) filter and Mobil 1 0W-40 and you are good for 13K miles. Keep a sharp eye on the rear pads because the 05 wagon only has a wear sensor on the front right pad.

Raise the seats and with a bright light look for a crayon. It might be the source of your aroma. I found a white inspectors crayon under a front seat in my car. You might try some Maguiar's Gold Class leather sauce on your seats. It has a pleasant perfume in it.

Have fun. I do with mine.

RadDad

Thanks for your replies everyone!

I did fold down the rear seats. No crayons but a lot of dog hair! Vacuum, check!
I washed it today and will try to get some pictures tomorrow, before the rain and sleet in the afternoon.
Movila, thanks for the tips. I have the carfax report and it shows it has been maintained fairly regularly by dealerships. The PO was using a supposedly reputable place but I saw today a gaping hole in the passenger door jamb where the light switch is supposed to be. The PO told me the plunger had been broken by the seatbelt buckle. I would've thought they'd replace the switch, not tape off the wires and stick them down the jamb. I'll fix it when I add the aux in cable.
In the meantime I think I found the crayons smell. I only have the dust filter for the cabin, not the carbon. Guess this week's mad money will go to filters as well as cables!

Ok,
RadDad

LILBENZ230

So does that not cause false door open warnings? Or is the car too smart for that..

The crayon smell is normal. They all smell sort of like that.

samaritrey

One of the most important things you should look into is finding a reliable place to take your car if you ever have an issue. I would start now before you have an issue so you don't have to worry about finding someone last minute or taking it to a crappy dealer. If you post your location we might have someone local to you that could recommend a good place to go.

RadDad

Here's some pics. Its a stocker but I like it!


I live halfway between LaCrosse Wisconsin and Rochester Minnesota. I've heard there is a good indy in LaCrosse but I've not talked to them yet.
I did talk to the last dealer that did work on it. It had an A service 12000 miles ago and a B service 6,000.

Glad to know there are others that smell crayony!

ok,
RadDad

LILBENZ230

My car doesn't anymore. I miss that smell. Everyone used to comment on it when they got in.. "smells like crayons!". Now it smells like the OEM rubber all-weather mats and 130,000 miles of good times.

Stock = best. Looks good.

Glyn M Ruck

Welcome! Nice to have another wagon owner on board!

RadDad

Howdy Folks,
Again, thanks for the warm welcome.
I've been reading a lot of the sticky posts over the last couple of days and I've run into a lot of terms/features/components that I don't know if my car has them or not.
First is the factory stereo. The HU has no label on it so am I correct in assuming it is not either a HK or Bose?
The second is Sport - I've seen wagons described with it like it was an option, I've also seen all wagons referred to as sport, even Sportwagon, like a Jetta. Can someone enlighten me on the meaning of Sport WRT MB?
Lastly is facelift. I understand that 2005 model year was freshened up but what did they change? I can tell the difference inside but the outside looks the same to me, at least on images I've found on google.

Ok,
RadDad

Glyn M Ruck

Sport is really an AMG body kit, wheels, lowered suspension, upgraded brakes etc. Yours is a Lux (USA) Elegance (ROW) - new front Bumper, grill, wood interior, clear headlights, crystal tail lights etc.

If you really want all the technical changes I can e mail you. The pdf is too large to post. Changes are subtle but large like networking ring db2 to MOST. Softer suspension bushing, more direct steering etc.

RadDad

Thank You Glyn, I'll send you a PM.

AMG__Dom

Welcome! and LOL at the crayon thing i've had so many friends tell me thats what my car smells like.

Alexbosco

Cant seem to find out how to start a new thread so I'll jump in here and show you guys the 2005 c240 wagon I picked up yesterday. It has 56k miles and an extended 3 year warranty. It's had one owner and I picked her up at 15000. Any experiance or things I should look out for besides what has been said here is much appreciated. It's so hard looking on the internet for valid opinions because the most heard of experiances are normally the worst! Anyone know of a good local MB mechanic in the St. Pete area of florida?

phister

if you go back to the main w203 page, theres a nice little button at the top that says NEW THREAD.

glocati

Sweet ! Nice wagon Alexbosco. Love my 2004 C240 wagon.

RadDad

Nice wagon!
I felt the same way once I got used to owning an MB. I started reading and worrying and wondering when, not if, my car would need to be repaired.
But then I read a post on a thread where Glyn said that. most people only post on forums when there is a problem. Nobody ever says how great their car is when it's running fine!
So, I bought the Star CD directly from MB for $70 and I keep it in my laptop. I installed the iPod connector with the help of the forum and the Star CD and marveled at how well put together the car is. It truly is made for serviceability and I appreciate that a lot since I plan on doing the maintenance myself.
30 days after I bought the car I headed south from MN to Florida - Treasure Island Florida to be exact - and it ran ( and continues to run) flawlessly.
I just got back from a weekend at the cabin carrying a 14' kayak on the roof, 5 people and a dog inside, and it never skipped a beat!
So! Drive that car and enjoy it!

Moviela

Well, I am glad you run with the dog inside. When Mit Romney owned a wagon he put the pooch on the roof! You can always tell a Mormon, but you can't tell 'em much.

tiga88

nice wagon..
just slam it like you owned it.. like our w203 fellow socalw210 #niceeee
hahahaa