Design Flaw???
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Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 111
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Design Flaw???
Here's an observation:
2 weeks ago when i had my car for service, they gave me a brand new (only 700 miles on it) 2005 C230K which was EXACTLY just like what i have. WRONG... the first thing i noticed was that the console looked a bit different. Which i thought was weird considering i just bought mine a couple of months ago.
Here's what's different: the location of the LOCK & UNLOCK button where in the wrong place as mine. Mine had the LOCK button on top and directly on the bottom was the UNLOCK button. So i said okay...then i noticed the A/C, front and rear defogger buttons were also diffrerent. THIS REALLY PISSED ME OFF NOW CAUSE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN RIGHT AWAY?
So when i got home i was reading the manual and sure enough MB had 2 designs for the console depending on production date. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? Does this mean that in such a short time that MB already detected a design flaw? WOW, whatever happend to R&D before releasing products to the public. This is really unheard of.
Just wanna let you guys know what i experienced.
2 weeks ago when i had my car for service, they gave me a brand new (only 700 miles on it) 2005 C230K which was EXACTLY just like what i have. WRONG... the first thing i noticed was that the console looked a bit different. Which i thought was weird considering i just bought mine a couple of months ago.
Here's what's different: the location of the LOCK & UNLOCK button where in the wrong place as mine. Mine had the LOCK button on top and directly on the bottom was the UNLOCK button. So i said okay...then i noticed the A/C, front and rear defogger buttons were also diffrerent. THIS REALLY PISSED ME OFF NOW CAUSE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN RIGHT AWAY?
So when i got home i was reading the manual and sure enough MB had 2 designs for the console depending on production date. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? Does this mean that in such a short time that MB already detected a design flaw? WOW, whatever happend to R&D before releasing products to the public. This is really unheard of.
Just wanna let you guys know what i experienced.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,161
Likes: 1
From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally Posted by Chedeng_05
Here's an observation:
2 weeks ago when i had my car for service, they gave me a brand new (only 700 miles on it) 2005 C230K which was EXACTLY just like what i have. WRONG... the first thing i noticed was that the console looked a bit different. Which i thought was weird considering i just bought mine a couple of months ago.
Here's what's different: the location of the LOCK & UNLOCK button where in the wrong place as mine. Mine had the LOCK button on top and directly on the bottom was the UNLOCK button. So i said okay...then i noticed the A/C, front and rear defogger buttons were also diffrerent. THIS REALLY PISSED ME OFF NOW CAUSE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN RIGHT AWAY?
So when i got home i was reading the manual and sure enough MB had 2 designs for the console depending on production date. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? Does this mean that in such a short time that MB already detected a design flaw? WOW, whatever happend to R&D before releasing products to the public. This is really unheard of.
Just wanna let you guys know what i experienced.
2 weeks ago when i had my car for service, they gave me a brand new (only 700 miles on it) 2005 C230K which was EXACTLY just like what i have. WRONG... the first thing i noticed was that the console looked a bit different. Which i thought was weird considering i just bought mine a couple of months ago.
Here's what's different: the location of the LOCK & UNLOCK button where in the wrong place as mine. Mine had the LOCK button on top and directly on the bottom was the UNLOCK button. So i said okay...then i noticed the A/C, front and rear defogger buttons were also diffrerent. THIS REALLY PISSED ME OFF NOW CAUSE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN RIGHT AWAY?
So when i got home i was reading the manual and sure enough MB had 2 designs for the console depending on production date. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? Does this mean that in such a short time that MB already detected a design flaw? WOW, whatever happend to R&D before releasing products to the public. This is really unheard of.
Just wanna let you guys know what i experienced.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 3
From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
Actually, it's probably not a design change by choice. More than likely its simply a result of manufacturing supply, or perhaps a mistake in ordering parts. Since the consoles between MBs are similar, I guess they just figured that they'll use up their current stock and switch to the new design later on in the production schedule. However, what's really important is that it does not take away from the functionality of the car.
If you really want a problem to complain about, listen to this. On my '89 BMW 535, for some reason, during production the ABS brake fluid resevoir was changed to a completely different design. If you go to any BMW dealer and ask for the part, they give you the previous incarnation of the part, not the later model. Thus, twice during that car's lifetime I had to go to a Jaguar dealership to track down the rubber grommits for the brake fluid resevoir, as it was leaking. That's something you really should take offense to; something that really makes owning/maintaining the car a hassle.
If you really want a problem to complain about, listen to this. On my '89 BMW 535, for some reason, during production the ABS brake fluid resevoir was changed to a completely different design. If you go to any BMW dealer and ask for the part, they give you the previous incarnation of the part, not the later model. Thus, twice during that car's lifetime I had to go to a Jaguar dealership to track down the rubber grommits for the brake fluid resevoir, as it was leaking. That's something you really should take offense to; something that really makes owning/maintaining the car a hassle.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
C32AMG
Originally Posted by Chedeng_05
Here's an observation:
2 weeks ago when i had my car for service, they gave me a brand new (only 700 miles on it) 2005 C230K which was EXACTLY just like what i have. WRONG... the first thing i noticed was that the console looked a bit different. Which i thought was weird considering i just bought mine a couple of months ago.
Here's what's different: the location of the LOCK & UNLOCK button where in the wrong place as mine. Mine had the LOCK button on top and directly on the bottom was the UNLOCK button. So i said okay...then i noticed the A/C, front and rear defogger buttons were also diffrerent. THIS REALLY PISSED ME OFF NOW CAUSE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN RIGHT AWAY?
So when i got home i was reading the manual and sure enough MB had 2 designs for the console depending on production date. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? Does this mean that in such a short time that MB already detected a design flaw? WOW, whatever happend to R&D before releasing products to the public. This is really unheard of.
Just wanna let you guys know what i experienced.
2 weeks ago when i had my car for service, they gave me a brand new (only 700 miles on it) 2005 C230K which was EXACTLY just like what i have. WRONG... the first thing i noticed was that the console looked a bit different. Which i thought was weird considering i just bought mine a couple of months ago.
Here's what's different: the location of the LOCK & UNLOCK button where in the wrong place as mine. Mine had the LOCK button on top and directly on the bottom was the UNLOCK button. So i said okay...then i noticed the A/C, front and rear defogger buttons were also diffrerent. THIS REALLY PISSED ME OFF NOW CAUSE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN RIGHT AWAY?
So when i got home i was reading the manual and sure enough MB had 2 designs for the console depending on production date. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? Does this mean that in such a short time that MB already detected a design flaw? WOW, whatever happend to R&D before releasing products to the public. This is really unheard of.
Just wanna let you guys know what i experienced.
The R&D that you insist DBZ neglected was not ignored.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
05-C230SC
it's actualy rather common for manufacturers to run out of parts and retrofit other parts that are simply in stock.
One of my GF's cars is a 86 VW Jetta Coupe, during that year they ran out of clutch cables... so they started using clutch cables from the diesel motor. Took us three trial and error orders from parts dept to figure that out.
One of my GF's cars is a 86 VW Jetta Coupe, during that year they ran out of clutch cables... so they started using clutch cables from the diesel motor. Took us three trial and error orders from parts dept to figure that out.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 1
From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
You are clearly not an engineer. Its very common for minor items to change mid year, or during the year. Suppliers change...one is cheaper, or has fewer problems. He puts the lock on top, the other on bottom. Same with the climate control. Sometimes changes planned for start of model year get pulled ahead or run behind due to availability, cost, or lead time. Deal with it. Lamest complaint Ive heard this year.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
2005 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 2004.5 C230 Sport Sedan, 2005 E320 CDI, 2008 C300 4-Matic Luxury
can you take a picture of what yours looks like? i wanna compare it to mine now 
, i'm sucker for this kinda stuff too 
i think it's the OCD in me
, i'm sucker for this kinda stuff too i think it's the OCD in me
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Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 178
Likes: 21
From: Orange County, CA
GLA250 4Matic, 911 Carrera S, R1250 GS Adv.
The Owner's Manual for my '05 C230 sedan describes both versions of this control panel area, but as far as I can tell neither one is cited as an "improved" or "updated" version. It is odd, I agree, but the two versions seem equally good.
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