My 200CDI (5 speed automatic) is at the garage for service A
& they gave me a 220CDI (6 speed manual) with AMG pack.

I noticed that there is a huge difference in the (power) steering,
mainly when parking.

it takes zero efford with the 220, where is with my own 200
i do have to use "some" force.

I would have thought that the power steering is the same on each C class?

(mind you; tires & rims on both cars are pretty much the same,
so that can't be it)

Thoughts?

 

This is the parametric steering (in German: parameterlenkung) option, which is standard on AMG pack Cs (at least in Europe). My own C200 CDI Avantgarde (not AMG) has this option and indeed the most noticeable impact is that the steering becomes very light at maneuvring speeds. This makes it perfect for parking and driving around town.

I once did a test drive with a W204 but that was long ago and I can't remember much about the steering (can't recall whether it had the option even), so from experience I can't tell you what other difference there is between the regular and parametric steering. However magazine articles generally state that the parametric steering is more accurate and also more direct, especially as it is 'variable' in the sense that the more you turn the wheel, the bigger the effect is (i.e. it's not linear). This non-linear effect should also increase stability at speed, as small steering wheel movements have very little effect. From my experience all of this is true - as the steering on my car is indeed pretty direct (coming from an Alfa I have no complaints and those have incredibly direct steering) and very accurate, and the steering is very stable at speed. I do however suspect that the overall steering feel might suffer a little bit due to this system - at the very least it is probably lighter in pretty much all circumstances.

Overall I think it's a really nice option, which suits the character of the car very well. It's also a much better investment (at 200 or so EUR) than the parking sensors (850 EUR), as the latter are crap and the parametric steering helps much more with parking than sensors (at least if you have a break - sedans do need sensors).

 

Is this all done with software?

 

thanks for the explanation.
would have imagined that this was standard on a car like this & not an option..

 

I agree & would ask the workshop manager if there was any problem with your car.

 

The cost of the option (not so much, around 200 EUR from what I remember) would suggest that the modifications aren't that enormous - perhaps software only. On the other hand, if the standard steering is fully linear (not sure if that is the case) and the parametric one has a variable rate (which it does), the hardware is probably different as well.

 

This is why you always need to study the option lists on German cars in a lot of detail. There's lots of crazy stuff that isn't free, like cup holders, floor mats (though most dealers throw those in), etc.

Frankly I only ticked the box at the last second, when I finally realized what it meant. Although I didn't experience it first hand (at least I can't remember the test car having it), I was convinced by some magazine reviews plus the fact that it is standard on the AMG pack cars.