2006 MB C-class Trickle down
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2006 MB C-class Trickle down
Is it possible that Mercedes Benz could employ a trickle down effect with regards to the vehicles. I would like to see the Inline 4 cylinder engine replaced with the exiting 3.2 V6 at the same price point, since it is long known that the cost to manufacture the 4 cylinder is greater. This would give MB a boost to the c-class all around, not just near the top end, and would allow for better segmentation when the A class cars arrive. In 2006, I would love to see the C-class lineup as follows: 3.2V6 $30,000 215hp
3.5V6 $36,000 265 hp
AMG Version
Any comments or insights.
3.5V6 $36,000 265 hp
AMG Version
Any comments or insights.
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
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Why would you want the older 3-vlv tech engine to continue when newer 4-vlv, more efficient, less displacement are just around the corner. If you like the old 3.2 I believe it will continue in the Crossfire for a little while longer.
And where are you getting the idea that a 4 pot is more expensive to manufacture?
And where are you getting the idea that a 4 pot is more expensive to manufacture?
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
The fewer the parts, the less expensive it is to machine and build. Frankly, I'm amazed there is any savings in the V6 vs the supercharged engines, as the supercharger has a lot of tight tolerance machining in it, but there it is, so the MB employees building that lackluster V6 must be pretty expensive, at least relative to the poor slobs at Eaton, grinding out Superchargers 
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Originally Posted by PsssTkiD
they should really just take the 4 cyl. off. v6s are more reliable
for a benz...v6 should be the lowest. they dont even use 4cyls. on slk's
for a benz...v6 should be the lowest. they dont even use 4cyls. on slk's
The SLK's have ALWAYS had four cylinder engines. The new one does too.
V6's are not more reliable. The most reliable MB engines are the older v8's, the inline 6's, anything diesel, and the M111 four banger.
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From: Bay.Area
'02 c230k coupe
Originally Posted by Outland
Aint it great to be an ignorant with an opinion on the internet?
The SLK's have ALWAYS had four cylinder engines. The new one does too.
V6's are not more reliable. The most reliable MB engines are the older v8's, the inline 6's, anything diesel, and the M111 four banger.
The SLK's have ALWAYS had four cylinder engines. The new one does too.
V6's are not more reliable. The most reliable MB engines are the older v8's, the inline 6's, anything diesel, and the M111 four banger.
umm...i dont see any SLK350 got four cylinders...
...on the v6 thing, i was just thinking that...v6 are more powerful than 4cylinders (in general).. and better mpg than v8s.. so it's in the middle... u noe wut i mean?
Last edited by PsssTkiD; Feb 21, 2005 at 02:15 AM.
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'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Originally Posted by Outland
The fewer the parts, the less expensive it is to machine and build. Frankly, I'm amazed there is any savings in the V6 vs the supercharged engines, as the supercharger has a lot of tight tolerance machining in it, but there it is, so the MB employees building that lackluster V6 must be pretty expensive, at least relative to the poor slobs at Eaton, grinding out Superchargers
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Originally Posted by PsssTkiD
sorrie, i mean they dont use I-4 on slk's NEMORE
umm...i dont see any SLK350 got four cylinders...
umm...i dont see any SLK350 got four cylinders...
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From: Orlando, FL
2002 C230K Coupe & 2005 C230 SS
Originally Posted by amdeutsch
Kiddo, you really need to learn that MBs are all over the world. Whats available in one country may not be in another. It might also help if you'd familiarize yourself with how MB identifies their cars and what that means: SLK200 = 4 and SLK350 = 6.
You are absolutely right, there are numerous different 4 cylinder models in the MB German stable (look at their website http:www.mercedes.de), starting with 6 different variants for the A, 5 for the C and even 1 for the CLK. Some of these are different varients of the same 1.8L Kompressor, some are diesels, one is a direct injection 1.8L 4 cylinder.
I regularly go to Germany on business an I see these 4 cylinder cars, along with the Audi A4 with a 1.8T 4 cylinder, managing to travel at 160+ kph without any apparent issues. It amazes me that we here in the US complain about acceleration from 80 - 130 mph (another set of posts!) when there are very few spots you are able to do this, or even want to when over the rise or around the corner somebody may be doing 60mph in a Lincoln Towncar in the outside lane.
Europe and the US come from different perspectives on car engines. In Europe the emphasis has been on high performance small engines which are relatively fuel efficient, in the US the desire was and sill is to some extent for larger V8 and V6 engines since the cost of fuel is significantly lower (try driving a car that get 16mpg when fuel is $5 per gallon).
So in terms of trickle down I would like to see that 4 cylinder development continue and even see more diesels introduced.
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From: Ontario, Canada
C230 Coupe 2002
4 Cylinder Cost
Well, guess I'll put in my two cents worth. I think that it cost more or at the very least the same for Mercedes to put a 4 cyl. in the Coupe because they have to outsource the Supercharger plus put an inter cooler on it. Try buying an aftermarket supercharger and the intercooler is extra. I think most of the cost is in the development but once the machinery is set up the cost of aluminum can't be that much. Besides if they want to sell more cars the new 3.5 will do that for them. 
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From: Bay.Area
'02 c230k coupe
sorrie for my posts....i really do need to learn more about mb
didnt know new SLKs got 4 cyl. in other places
but i was just saying that since, they dont even offer I-4 for SLKs here in the US, then they should just offer V6 to all the C's
if they're upgrading the 320(215hp) into 350(250+hp) ...then why not upgrade the 230 into V6 (maybe the 320 engine)
for the I-4 lovers,....sorrie, it's just my opinon
didnt know new SLKs got 4 cyl. in other places
but i was just saying that since, they dont even offer I-4 for SLKs here in the US, then they should just offer V6 to all the C's
if they're upgrading the 320(215hp) into 350(250+hp) ...then why not upgrade the 230 into V6 (maybe the 320 engine)
for the I-4 lovers,....sorrie, it's just my opinon
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From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
Actually they are releasing newer V-6's to replace engines. A whole new line-up will be out eventually. With something like a 2.3 L v-6 for the 230 line-up which will be 24 Valve and around 200+ Hp. Supposedly MB is dumping all SC'ed engines as well as the 4 banger for everything except the A and B Class'. We will see eventually what engine's the US gets but year end hopefully. The C350, E350 and SLK 350 are the first. Replacing MB's 3 valve per cylendar setup with 4 V per.
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From: Charlotte, NC
Had: 1987 300TD, Had: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, Have: 2014 E350 Sport, Have: 2019 S450
Mercedes is not 'upgrading' the 320 to the 350. They are replacing the older 3.2L with the new 3.5L engine. The 3.5 is a completely new engine, rather than simply a punched-out 3.2. This is similar to the engine replacement M271 for M111 (1.8Kompressor replacing 2.3Kompressor) Mercedes did with the four-bangers in 2003.
Why would Mercedes replace the modern, fuel-efficient M271 with the more-expensive and gas-guzzling, older 3.2? What would it gain them?
Also, from a marketing perspective, having the 3.5L and the 1.8Kompressor makes the gap (HP, Torque, etc) larger between the C230 and the C350, thus buyers will be more likely to move to the bigger (read: more profitable) C350.
Presently, there's not too much difference between the C230, C240, C320 . . . at least not enough to move most people up-market (witness the tremendous sales numbers for the C230Sedan). They are probably wanting to bump up the per-vehicle profit numbers, so they want to give people a bigger incentive to go for the 'big' motor.
Why would Mercedes replace the modern, fuel-efficient M271 with the more-expensive and gas-guzzling, older 3.2? What would it gain them?
Also, from a marketing perspective, having the 3.5L and the 1.8Kompressor makes the gap (HP, Torque, etc) larger between the C230 and the C350, thus buyers will be more likely to move to the bigger (read: more profitable) C350.
Presently, there's not too much difference between the C230, C240, C320 . . . at least not enough to move most people up-market (witness the tremendous sales numbers for the C230Sedan). They are probably wanting to bump up the per-vehicle profit numbers, so they want to give people a bigger incentive to go for the 'big' motor.
