akira

I just picked up an 03 C240 for my wife this week, it is a really impressive car made me think why am I driving BMWs, I have the 4.4i X5. I was amazed by the ride and I wanted to ask if there are any real changes exterior and interior between the 03 and 04 models, also I have seen that some c-class front lights are clearer, something like the 01 S-class and 03 S-class. Is that what happened for the C-class?

P.S. I leased the C240 with $3100 due at signing, which includes tax and 450 a month for 36 months, the msrp was initially $34800, 12k miles per year.

tbyrne

No more stick available in the 240. I'm glad I got an '03 with stick.

SC04ksedan

I picked up the '04 i got my wife a week ago. I don't know about changes exept from the brochure ('03). airbag off button is different, also the wiper blades. As far as the light, those are bi-xenon (optional lighthing package comes with clear fog lights and headlamp washer), makes the car look much better than the regular housing. It can be retrofited but cost is high, I think you might skip it since it's a lease. As to BMW, I never driven an X5, but as I agree the benz is a phenomenal car, It does not have all the characteristics that would make it better than BMW. Granted I am a bit biased.

akira

now it makes more sense, the xenons do look a lot better, but I guess i'm not into sports cars or cars that make you feel the road and the speed, because of that sometimes i'd rather drive the c240, which is much weaker in torque and hp than my X5 V8 but the ride is just so much more comfortable, i guess if there were all air suspension that was adujstable I may still stick with BMW, but not so sure now, i just feel like in a benz you don't need to feel like you have to stomp on the gas you just enjoy the smooth ride more, i know that my opinions may differ from most of the members on this board but i guess its the way I feel now after driving sports cars for so long

MarkL

OMG, I couldn't believe this, but I checked MBUSA and kbb.com and you're right! You can only get the 6-spd w/ the 230 sedan/coupe and the 320 coupe. Well, I've got my 2002 C240 6-spd -- maybe this will help my resale value . I'm not sure why they don't give people the choice -- can it cost that much for them to simply make both available?

peet

MB Really and I MEAN REALLY ticks me off with this automatic only thing.

That's just nuts. C32 - Auto only sorry. I can understand maybe on the E55 auto only - after all it's heavyand torquey but not offering it on the C32 really ticks me off.

I would SOOOOO want one if it was stick. After all it was the closest to the M3 it would replace, alas, my next car may have to be non MB. (actually thinking S4).

P

vadim

I totally agree... They must be losing customers in this segment to BMW and Audi big time.

Frank B

I agree. I went from an Audi S4 Tiptronic to a C240 4Matic and really love the ride. Highway handling on the C240 is great and although it, of course, does not have the acceleration under full throttle of the S4 it does feel very similar under normal cruising in D4 at 70-85 mph.

Frank B

Lynn

The C320 Sport Sedan has the six speed as standard equipment.

akira

now see MB is a really good highway tourer sometimes you just want to feel more comfortable than fast

vadim

How about those having 300+ HP under the hood (not that they are not comfortable ). I wish they played by the rules here.

akira

I understand what you are saying. yea but to have a 300 + hp car still be really comfortable and not loud and jaunty you would need to spend a lot, S55 for example, would take it in a heartbeat and I'm not the only one here saying that.

Don't get me wrong I love power because a car that is expensive yet weak is worthless, its gotta do it all or forget it. My 03 X5 V8 is really not my type. Don't get me wrong it’s an amazing car and the fun really starts at 50mph and up but its just not my type of car, if I want to start from stop and accelerate smoothly its difficult to do so, do other people somewhat share the same basic ideas here.

I think my next car is going to probably be an S class, probably 430 or 500, which is my type of car. For a weekend car I would be definitely with the M3, but to have the only car be an M3 is a bad idea. It’s just like a friend of mine that only owns a Porsche boxter, nice car but not the car you go on trips with or go buy groceries in.

vadim

That's not quite what I was trying to communicate: MB is losing money by not offering manual trannies in their fast cars. A lot of people who *can* afford an MB go elsewhere for this simple reason. Personally, I find the S class absolutely uninspiring, although it is fast. In this regard it's in the same category as Cadillac (engineering and "3-point-star" magic aside). I'd get an M3 over it without thinking twice. The latter, BTW, is equally suitable for grocery shopping.

c2jones

I saw this picture today via an email that MB sent me.

The Sport Sedan looks like it has new wheels unlike what I've seen previously. Of course, sometimes they show photos of those special European models too, and perhaps this is another example.

I wonder if the sedan is a C32 or C230K...?

SC04ksedan

I have seen those in European sites (MB), European models get all the good stuff, I recall they are staggered also.

c2jones

This was on MBUSA as an upgrade option:

2004 Accessories - 5-Twin Spoke Wheel

7J X 16 ET 37 205/55 R16

But this is NOT the one in the New C-Class Photo above.

c2jones

This is certainly a European option. I wonder if it is available in the US?

c2jones

Here's a close-up of the one seen just above:

This is THE ONE I like! I wish my wife's 2003 could have come with this wheel. Probably too expensive to swap it over. (She likes only factory wheels.)

amdeutsch

The C230 sport sedan has 7-spoke wheels like the Coupe. The C320 sport sedan has the 5-poke wheels. Look under the *feature* heading of both cars.

Matt230K

I have yet to see an '04 C320 Sport sedan, so I don't know if it will have those 5-spokes or not. (I didn't look at the site) But I did hear something about that wheel being used when the facelift happens later this year.

SC04ksedan

I don't see it in mbusa? This is the image for 2004 C320 sport

Kar don

is this correct?

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...0WZ&class=03_C

MB says that the C320 sport has 17x7 wheels?

Lynn

I believe that to be another of the numerous errors on the MBUSA web site.

milani

That has to be the Euro wheel. Notice the larger, vented rotors? My 04 does not look like that......

new-c320

Yup
My 2003 C320 sport sedan with 17x7 stock wheels

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...&pagenumber=66