C230K Coupe - '02 vs. '04 the good and bad
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
C230K Coupe - '02 vs. '04 the good and bad
Last week, I got a Mars Red '04 coopay to replace my flaky '02. Mercedes provided assistance in trading me out of it... an amicable buyback, basically.
Here are my observations, for what they're worth (and that isn't much):
The 1.8 is smoother, quieter, and has a more pleasing exhaust note. The difference in percieved power is barely noticable. I thought I'd hate the smaller engine, but I love it.
The interior has been cheapened up a lot. No Homelink. No lighted vanity mirrors. No fresh air dial on the center A/C vent. Non-adjustable upper center dash vent. I hope Benz saved $5 per car this way. Cheep cheep.
Seat Belt "presenters" - good idea! poor design, though. They don't help much.
Mars Red is definitely darker and no orange tinge whatsoever. It's an OK color, but Magma was a GREAT color!
The 6-speed shifter/tranny is waaaaay smoother. WOW!
Continental Conti IIs? Well, at least I got Pilot Sports the first time around.
Bi-Xenons are pretty cool. Why do they "auto-level", though? They seem to only do it at startup.
I'd like to add COMAND - anyone selling their once the DVD nav comes out? What sucks is... central IL is split on TWO CDs!
Here are my observations, for what they're worth (and that isn't much):
The 1.8 is smoother, quieter, and has a more pleasing exhaust note. The difference in percieved power is barely noticable. I thought I'd hate the smaller engine, but I love it.
The interior has been cheapened up a lot. No Homelink. No lighted vanity mirrors. No fresh air dial on the center A/C vent. Non-adjustable upper center dash vent. I hope Benz saved $5 per car this way. Cheep cheep.
Seat Belt "presenters" - good idea! poor design, though. They don't help much.
Mars Red is definitely darker and no orange tinge whatsoever. It's an OK color, but Magma was a GREAT color!
The 6-speed shifter/tranny is waaaaay smoother. WOW!
Continental Conti IIs? Well, at least I got Pilot Sports the first time around.
Bi-Xenons are pretty cool. Why do they "auto-level", though? They seem to only do it at startup.
I'd like to add COMAND - anyone selling their once the DVD nav comes out? What sucks is... central IL is split on TWO CDs!
Last edited by RedC230K; Jan 4, 2004 at 02:54 PM.
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Re: C230K Coupe - '02 vs. '04 the good and bad
Originally posted by RedC230K
Bi-Xenons are pretty cool. Why do they "auto-level", though? They seem to only do it at startup.
Bi-Xenons are pretty cool. Why do they "auto-level", though? They seem to only do it at startup.
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Re: C230K Coupe - '02 vs. '04 the good and bad
Originally posted by RedC230K
Seat Belt "presenters" - good idea! poor design, though. They don't help much.
Seat Belt "presenters" - good idea! poor design, though. They don't help much.
Erik
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Re: C230K Coupe - '02 vs. '04 the good and bad
Originally posted by RedC230K
The interior has been cheapened up a lot. No Homelink. No lighted vanity mirrors.
The interior has been cheapened up a lot. No Homelink. No lighted vanity mirrors.
I just priced the car with the Comfort and Premium Packages (the C1, C5) that I bought in '02 ('03 model year) and it is almost identical to the MSRP in '02 and I got the exact same features. That means similarly configured (except bare-bones) the car didn't come up in price in 2 years, thats not bad.
Erik
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
You forgot no rest mode (if I'm not mistaken) and no dimming mirrors unless you go for the sunroof. Quieter engine at the expense of at least another .5 sec to 60- I pulled several runs on my new Escort accelerometer (highly recommended btw, lots of data/fun) in the high 6 low 7 range- braking 125ft from 60-0 and 15.1 in the 1/4. After driving the 1.8 in auto I would definitely go for the 320 next time (over the 2.3 as well if it were still online), but I do like the Mars red and the xenons though- nice job and best of luck.
Last edited by zimmer26; Jan 4, 2004 at 09:34 PM.
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C250 Coupe 2012
good luck with your new ride, it's a good feeling when your paying for a car you enjoy. I traded my 2002 c230 coupe for the c320 coupe same color (magma red), big difference. Is there a great difference between the colors
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
I had the occaision to view them side by side and you wouldn't mistake one for the other. I'd say the difference is comparable to magma MB vs. your Volvo- not huge but a noticeably deeper shade of red, its a nice color, I'd gladly take it and save the 7 hundo putting that toward extra cost of the 6.
Last edited by zimmer26; Jan 5, 2004 at 11:09 AM.
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From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
Re: C230K Coupe - '02 vs. '04 the good and bad
Originally posted by RedC230K ...Bi-Xenons are pretty cool. Why do they "auto-level", though? They seem to only do it at startup...[/B]
, with autoleveling, the lights won't be pointing down.and i personally love the seatbelt extensions. they bring the seatbelt forward a good 7 to 8 inches, not sure why you wouldn't care for them.
oh, and about the non-lit vanity mirrors. this must be an '04 thing, my '03 has lights.
EDIT: just saw the post from Jens C320 about the autoleveling doing their job after startup. perhaps this is the case (probably is). i've never noticed it, but then again it is very subtle and would be hard to see while moving.
Last edited by truelove; Jan 5, 2004 at 11:20 AM.
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2003 MB C230 coupe
Originally posted by zimmer26
You forgot no rest mode (if I'm not mistaken)...
You forgot no rest mode (if I'm not mistaken)...
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
Right, but that's not what I was referring to, that's the economy mode. Rest mode departed after 02 model year, its not a big deal, but what it does is keeps the fan running while the car is off to keep the cabin warm by utilizing residual engine heat for up to 20 or 30 minutes.
Last edited by zimmer26; Jan 5, 2004 at 02:30 PM.
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From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
hmmm, i'll have to go try it. i had no idea about this 'rest' mode. i've heard the term but i just assumed everyone meant that the 'rest' mode gives the compressor a 'rest'. i'm dumb. 
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
Interesting, why would they change the wording on the button? Crazy *** Germans, same type of deal with our old two button keys that really do have 3 button functionality (well 4 if you include panic.) My theory on this is that's their way of tweaking perceived value/model separation, the switch/extra button costs them virtually nothing but they want some differentiation beyond the sheetmetal. Strange, but it makes sense, to me anyway.
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'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
WOW! Thanks for all the info, guys.
The seat belt presenter makes it impossible to reach with my left arm, as I'm accustomed to.
I hadn't noticed the REST feature gone... weird!
Mars Red is considerably more dark and muted than Magma. Mars is more of a blood red.
The cheapers cars (like mine) are the ones that are effectively de-contented over previous years, but the well-optioned cars get everything added back in. My '04 with similar options is over $1,000 more than my '02 was. (but I have xenons!)
The seat belt presenter makes it impossible to reach with my left arm, as I'm accustomed to.
I hadn't noticed the REST feature gone... weird!
Mars Red is considerably more dark and muted than Magma. Mars is more of a blood red.
The cheapers cars (like mine) are the ones that are effectively de-contented over previous years, but the well-optioned cars get everything added back in. My '04 with similar options is over $1,000 more than my '02 was. (but I have xenons!)
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2003 MB C230 coupe
Originally posted by RedC230K
...The seat belt presenter makes it impossible to reach with my left arm, as I'm accustomed to...
...The seat belt presenter makes it impossible to reach with my left arm, as I'm accustomed to...
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MB C230K
Originally posted by zimmer26
Interesting, why would they change the wording on the button? Crazy *** Germans, same type of deal with our old two button keys that really do have 3 button functionality (well 4 if you include panic.) My theory on this is that's their way of tweaking perceived value/model separation, the switch/extra button costs them virtually nothing but they want some differentiation beyond the sheetmetal. Strange, but it makes sense, to me anyway.
Interesting, why would they change the wording on the button? Crazy *** Germans, same type of deal with our old two button keys that really do have 3 button functionality (well 4 if you include panic.) My theory on this is that's their way of tweaking perceived value/model separation, the switch/extra button costs them virtually nothing but they want some differentiation beyond the sheetmetal. Strange, but it makes sense, to me anyway.
--Steffen
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Originally posted by jigga619
i noticed that the 04 C230 didn't have the infrared thing on the passenger door handle.
i noticed that the 04 C230 didn't have the infrared thing on the passenger door handle.
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
Really? So based on that, I guess MB thinks C320 sedan owners are "smart" and C320 SPORT sedan owners are "dumb" because the former still has a REST button while the latter doesn't. Now why do think they did it?
Originally posted by steffen
I wouldn't blame the Germans for changing that button. It's probably the stupid-*** Americans that were too dumb to check the manual to find out what "EC" and "REST" stood for, so the Germans had to dumb down the button by making it obvious "AC Off".
--Steffen
I wouldn't blame the Germans for changing that button. It's probably the stupid-*** Americans that were too dumb to check the manual to find out what "EC" and "REST" stood for, so the Germans had to dumb down the button by making it obvious "AC Off".
--Steffen
Last edited by zimmer26; Jan 6, 2004 at 10:04 AM.
