My 2009 C350 Obsidian, P2 package, MM was in the shop for a service B and I was given a straight black 2010 C300 with 5 thousand something miles. These are just some random thoughts that I have compiled on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Let me preface this that I don't mean to offend anyone with my ramblings, it just is what it is.

1) They changed the black plastic material on the front dash from black plastic to some sort of gray metallic plastic which IMO is uglier. It also feels cheaper. Also what was black clear plastic around the ESP off button has been changed to the same gray metallic plastic, also uglier.

2) Both cars have MB-Tex. They seem to have added some cushion underneath the plastic door panels so that it is softer to the touch and you can actually press down on it on the 2010 model. My 09 has this hard plastic door panels in the interior which IMO is worse.

3) The C300 engine is pretty gutless compared to the 350. No surprises here, but the transmission felt slower and less responsive. It did not want to shift and there was a lag when needing more power. Probably due to the number of different drivers and different learning curves. Also it was annoying how it kept reverting back to C instead of S mode.

4) The loaner car I had was pretty basic, and coming from an almost fully loaded C, this was big difference. There was a lack of homelink garage buttons, lack of 6 disc CD, lack of electro-chromatic mirrors, lack of driver seat controls on the door, lack of electric tilt and telescopic steering wheel, lack of rain sensing windshield wipers, lack of bi-xenons, lack of heated seats, lack of rear sunshade and of course lack of MM Comand. I don't really see the point of buying a Mercedes without some of these options. It just seems to me that these creature comforts create the vehicle, and this base car wasn't a true Mercedes in my mind.

5) the new mirrors: this was the first time I got to drive a car with the new style. They certainly look better. but they do seem smaller vertically. Also they are positioned lower than the old mirrors, so when looking at the passenger side mirror, part of the door obstructs the corner of the mirror. This isn't that big of a deal, but it took some getting used to, especially when you are already paranoid about driving somebody else's car.

6) I like the extra net in the trunk without the P2 package.

7) Standard LCD without Comand IMO was a let down. It was my first time using it, and while it is simplistic and does what it is supposed to do, it had a bad resolution, and was just too "base" if that makes sense. The Comand is an expensive option I know, which might deter people from getting it, but the regular LCD was just too low grade. Part of this was due to the plastic cover. While on the MM package where the cover retracts automatically, this cover needed to be manually set open or closed, which reminded me of the cheap storage cabinet covers that other lower branded vehicles have.

8) The ride: 17" compared to my 18" AMG wheels. ride noise was comparable, and no noticeable difference between the two vehicles. My car is definitely "bouncier" over bumps in the road, but IMO, there was no trade off in getting the 18"s

9) also noticed that the instantaneous fuel consumption gauge increments changed from my car (0 to 80mpg) to 0-40mpg on the 2010. No preference.

I guess that is it. I hope some of my frank comments didnt offend anyone on here that has a base C300 that seemingly had no options included. IMO, there is a huge difference after loading up the car. It feels like a much more upscale vehicle in general. That said, the C300 still looks great and for the money, it is still a Mercedes with the star up front.

Happy Driving

 

I agree..I dont like the new stuff as much. The only benefit is that it wont peel like the soft-touch black on ours. I'm insanely easy on my car, I drive it to and from class and not much else, and it's already peeling slightly. It's just a 1/8" little scrape but I'm afraid it's gonna get worse.

My car has the hard as a rock upper door panels in the front and the cushiony, much nicer upper panels in the rear. Kinda weird. I'm thinking they were in the process of changing them when my car was built and I got two of each.

I agree again. Could be in my head but my 6sp 300 seems noticeably quicker than the auto loaners I've had.

And I agree again. If I had my time back I would've got the command. It was just impossible to find a manual with it.

 

IMO, the chassis, suspension, and safety make the car a mercedes benz not the creature comforts. There are many cheaper cars that have more comforts than a loaded c class and for cheaper too. Trust me, I know, my C is loaded with everything possible except for "quick park."

My car has an all black dash...no grey metallic. Is something that was changed later in 2010? Do you have pics?

The extra net is not P2, I believe its the sub and amp from the HK option.

Haven't experienced this either...is your seat really low?


Anyway thanks for posting this. It's always good to hear the little differences between the model years.

 

see how it has like a gray finish compared to the surrounding dash black? And notice how the airbag light above the ESP is no longer clear

This is the 2009 model for comparison

 

Interesting, I thought it had to do with the LEDs

If anything I was driving at a higher seat position than my car. I should have taken a pic

 

I just had to run and check my car lol. I actually like the new black on the 2010's but the glass airbag button is WAY better on the 09s! Does the console in the 09s feel different?

 

Yeah in 2010 they made the HK a standalone option. I think in 09 it was combined with MM. But the HK in 2010 is a different system than 08..not sure about 09.

 

it feels the same, both are smooth to the touch. However, when I was tapping the 2010 with my nail, it sounded more hollow. Not sure if that is a conclusive way to test it though

 

On my 08 C300, I found that replacement 17" tires that are the exact model Michelins road better than the originals. Learned that manufactures are asked to use a harder compound so that that MB (as well as others) can get a higher mpg rating.

Comparing the OEM 17" tires to 18"s may very well feel about the same. However comparing OEM 17" tires to replacement 17" tires that are the exact same model in my experience was definately different.

Speaking of the P2 package, that also give you the trunk pass through option....or at least that's the way it was for the 2008s.

 

Really? I remember it feeling hard rather than the rubbery texture in the 08-09.

 

your center console is rubbery? We are talking about the general radio button area right?

 

Yeah...the radio/hvac area, as well as part of the center console (like where the command knob is)...it's all hard plastic with a thin coat of rubbery soft touch paint on it. It looks nice but like I said mine's already peeling. What makes it even worse is the plastic underneath it is white. I'll take a pic later.

 

yeah now i get what you are saying. Its not so much rubbery, its just soft to touch. and it does feel like you can scrape it off. The 2010's have a hard plastic feeling to it, but both are smooth.

 

Yeah rubbery probably isn't the best description..just couldn't think of a better word haha

 

My kids laugh about the "basketball Merc" (referring to the dash material). The touch and feel issue, and build quality, of my daily driver Ford is just SO much better. The C300 acceleration is just lame, another point of ridicule by my sons, both of whom have (or had) 330i's, one a ZHP which does mid-fives 0-60. The Merc is almost two seconds off that with the same 3.0L displacement. Whats wrong with this picture? Now the 2011 gets even worse trim, less color combinations, and the LED running lights, what is everyones opinion on THAT?

 

Not trying to be a wiseass, but if the interior materials, build quality, and engine are so bad....why did you buy the car?

I'm a prospective buyer, so I'm wondering why you would buy the car if you felt that way about it.

 

^^

 

i wanted the MM but it was not offered when i was buying where i was buying
only 2010 models in my region has MM offering
it is the biggest let down besides the no amg sport package :/
now i have to trouble myself to retrofit it

 

prob a fake post

 

Looks and the pop-up Nav lol.

 

@lastrada: after test driving a 2010 Elegance in San Diego, the 335i, and some others, when it came to purchasing a new car in Mexico I thought the C300 Sport would suit my needs. For the price, which as equipped costs substantially less than its C equivalent in the US, 0% interest 24-month financing, prepaid insurance and servicing, it seemed like the right choice. It was purchased via Internet and never got to see the car before it was delivered on a platform, the nearest dealer being several hundred miles away. The Sport of course looks fabulous from the outside, however the ride is much firmer, the trim different, and I had not thought that the performance would be so disappointing, in terms of acceleration and transmission behavior, being used to my son's 330i, which has very decent performance. The C300 was also promised by the salesperson to come equipped with the Harman Kardon system, an iPod interface, and 5 spoke wheels, none of which came on my, nor on ANY C300 or C350 destined for Mexico, I discovered.
Consumer rights being as they are in Mexico (none), I was stuck with this vehicle not to my total liking, and refused to drive it at all for 6 months, purchasing soon after a fabulous Ford Mondeo, made in Belgium, fantastic build quality, dream suspension, great steering (why is the Merc's so LIGHT?), quiet, roomy, comfortable, and is my daily driver. Top Gear rates the Mondeo above both the C, the A4 and the 3 series, to give you an idea.
Dont get me wrong, the C300 is a fine automobile, certainly better in almost every way than the 3 or the A4 except for some interior materials choices, the lackluster performance, lower fuel economy and the frankly horrible stereo speakers not worthy of a Chinese Faw.
As of a few months ago, Daimler claims to have sold a million of the W204, and there is still 2011 and 2012 to run, so expect long-term service and parts availability. Plus, now in its fourth year of production, the service and recall rates have been excellent, just look at the 135i/335i debacle.
Is this car recommended? Of course, there are a nearly a million people who just love the C-class. Just expect mediocre performance, 20-25% poorer gas mileage, a more limited warranty (these in comparison to its competition) and impenetrable "stealerships" in some cases. I thought about trading the C300 in on an E350, but decided to keep the W204, which means I will probably have it for the next ten years. Just wanted to be frank about a nice automobile that unfortunately could and SHOULD be a whole lot better.

 

Any car can always be better. The new turbo-charged CGI BlueEfficiency engines not only perform better than their current counterparts, but are very fuel efficient.

Top Gear is not a good indicator because it is perhaps the most biased motoring show out there. They prioritize entertainment value over straight, honest and serious reviews. It's a great show to watch but I'd take their opinions with a grain of salt.

I can't comment on the Mondeo. Never driven one but just from an aesthetics perspective the W204 is in another league. Should the W204 out-perform the Mondeo, a car with a lesser price tag? Perhaps, but the fact is that Mercs charge a premium on their cars due to brand name legacy and prestige. Anyone who considers a Merc has to accept that fact, whether they agree with it or not. I still stand by the view that the W204 is a great car, well worth its price even though in my country there's a >100% luxury tax.

The lack of options seems to be an issue unique to Mexico and as for the difference in performance compared to the BMW, Merc always lags behind because some of that performance is sacrificed for comfort.

It doesn't make sense for you to keep a car that you are so unsatisfied with for another ten years, and judging from your complaints I doubt an E350 would be a wise switch. Sounds like a BMW might be a better option.

 

Very interesting. I think you have a different take on quality than most. Performance aside, the W204 bests the 3 Series imo. Also a C300 should be compared to a 328i, not a 330i. Those cost as much as a C350 when new.

 

The only exterior difference on the 2009 to 2010 that is notable is the Arrow style mirrors.

 

@lithium332 @C300kid: C300kid has it right, "the W204 bests the 3 series", and of course if I didn't totally agree with that, I would get a BMW where the dealer is 1 km from my home, not hundreds of kms away as the closest MB dealer is. And as lithium332 suggested, already have a (wonderful) V12 BMW whose maintenance costs as much as a mortgage. As I AM planning to keep the C300 for ten years or more, the whole point of perusing MBworld is to find out how to make the W204 perfectible. The stereo faults have been satisfactorily dealt with (new speakers, iPod interface, German instead of China-sourced iPod amplifier), now need to address the noise and performance issue, and there are more than several MBworld threads providing solutions such as Dynamat/Fatmat, ECU tunes, accelerator pedal resets and dealer TCU flashes that seem to satisfy many C class owners with similar complaints.
Some W204 owners love theirs just the way they are. Other seek to change the appearance of their C's, some quite radically. Still others lower suspensions and change air intake filters. And there are some quality issues, such as the Sport hood ornament emblem paint flakes off, even the MB dealer had brand new cars in the showroom with this fault. I find no alternative (other than the Mondeo) to the W204, so it is a process to love and adapt to the faults in any car, and to try and search for solutions for the faults that bother one most. Anyone truly enamored with the C class should praise its virtues, but also recognize its faults. Only then will the future generations of Benzes be even more outrageous, satisfying, performance, style and cost-effective.