MBNUT1

Anybody have experience with both who could offer a comparison? The basic question is does anybody find the post facelift enough better that given the choice they wouldn't consider a preface lift. The visual differences I can see but what else about the post facelift make them more desirable?

TIA

LandSeaAir

Yeah I'm wondering if other than the new interior and the new exterior the car actually drives different, 2011 C300 vs 2012 C300 to be fair.

MBNUT1

That's the model I would like the comparison for.....

jimmythegreek

The frame and all base materials are the same, theres just the interior and sheetmetal differences really, I bet u couldnt tell the difference blindfolded w a newer wheel on a prefacelift C

Sportstick

The 4 cylinder turbo is certainly a different experience, and doesn't the C350 have a revised engine with different specs? The C3004MATIC may be the most similar. There may have been suspension revisions (not geometry but bushing durometer, spring rates, etc.), if anyone has a full list of changes, as recalibrations often occur, especially with the weight reduction of the 4 cylinder.

BTW, these are unitized body construction...no frame.

Glyn M Ruck

The 350 is a new 60 deg V6 DI engine.

acr2001

I have read in many places that the suspension is VERY improved - would love to see more details on this.

I've also read that the throttle response is totally remapped (no more kickdown switch) but this might have happened way before 2012 - anyone?
I haven't driven a pre-facelift 204 in a very long time so I can't remember.

The hood is made of aluminum to reduce weight / bring the ratio closer to 50/50 - I think that is new for 2012.

The braking system has been updated (how much different I'm not sure) but the biggest difference is the hold function (not just hill hold).

And as was said - the interior is completely different. This is what pushed me into the 2012 - I find the pre-facelift 204 interior to be one of the most vile interior designs in Mercedes history (no flames please, just my own opinion!) The new interior is really stunning. I am also a huge fan of the new tail lights.

Glyn M Ruck

The new interior is a huge improvement! Proper facelift. Benz is listening to it's customers for a change.

acr2001

This really seems to (finally) be the case. I think the most obvious evidence might be that the aux / usb port is in the center console - and there's even a gap so that a wire can fit through the lid!!!
Took them long enough to figure that one out!!!

The new gauge cluster and steering wheel also seem to be much better tuned to the younger C class demographic.

saucemang

I just moved from the 11 to the 12 a couple days ago. Other than the noticeable difference such as interior, which is a massive upgrade in my opinion the ride is much improved as well. The handling is tight and its noticable. the exterior is moderately different, not something I would go out of my way to upgrade from an 11. But overall its a very nice upgrade in all interior, exterior and ride performance. My dealer did a even swap and took my 11 and put me into a 12 no money down and same payment, made it very hard for me to say no.

Glyn M Ruck

They did focus groups in a number of countries on the new interior. They even had beta vehicles in some customer's hands for comment. They are listening. Love the new wheel - detect a bit of Honda there!

Carsy

I know which interior will date the quickest.

The longer I have it the more I like the pre update understated look !!

In Australia the diesels came with a new 4 cylinder more efficient engine & the 7 speed ATM.

Glyn M Ruck

JC - You & I are not the target demographic. The new Elegance is fine though. I like the satin wood finishes instead of all the high gloss stuff of the past.

MBtech1098

The new V6 M276 has a much better power curve.

Glyn M Ruck

+1 ^

AdidasC230

The new one does ride different, its not a huge difference but you can tell, and it is missing the throttle kick down, which isn't there which kinda sucks. Also the trans seems much more sluggish in E then the old ones did in C, in sport they seem the same. The car seems to take bumps better then the old one, yet still rides smoother and doesn't seem any less stiff. Also the new ones have Audio over blue tooth which is cool, obvs the new interior and exterior being the tail lamps and bumpers and headlamps and fenders.

I drove a 2012 C350 sedan back to back to my 2008, Interior, ride, and engine are def better. Didn't like the way the tranny behaved in "e" mode. And also like the color info gauge in the cluster now vs the black and white digital read out. Oh and the base screen doesn't look so damn ghetto and tiny like the post '12 do.

I would take a 12 C350 over my 08 in a heartbeat for the interior, audio over blue tooth and the engine.

SSJ

Not sure about it but I thought only the facelift version has the 7g shift gear?
Again Im not sure about this since I only joined this forum since I got the facelift w204,used to drive a w211 with 5 shift gear box and the 7 shift gear box is really amazing what a difference.

And judging only by pictures I would already consider the facelift version over the pre facelift even if its only for the interior

AV1

As others have said above and as most magazine reviewers have also noted, the differences in the C Class pre and post update are substantial.

The interior has really stepped up and the better for it IMHO, the new C Class coupe even gets same/similar seats as the E Class, mechanically the new C Class coupes now have the handling to match or rival 3 series BMW coupes, something MB never had before in this class, AFAIK the C Class sedans remain the same in this regard, I've read an article where MB engineers stated they didn't want to carry over the revised chassis/suspension from the coupe over to the sedans, the 7sp auto being standard on the updated C's is far better than the previous 5spd unit.

Exterior revisions and tweaks add alot of extra appeal IMHO, given the choice I'd definitely choose/want the updated vehicle, but it's a case of each to their own and individual requirements

MBNUT1

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

What's prompting the question is that I can buy an 11 cpo car with 10k miles for about 4K cheaper than a roughly equivalently equipped '12 and I am trying to decide. The '11 is here and the 12 is 8 hours away so that is an influencing factor.

The 11 has the nav and the 12 has the base command which is in the dash. I prefer the 12 because there aren't any moving parts to break.

acr2001

You think the newer interior will date quicker? I have to respectfully disagree completely! The old interior seems very cheap to me - the pop up screen and area around the glove box seem especially tacky. The materials are much more plasticy and cheap feeling too.

AdidasC230

All W204s are 7g autos but the programming has changed on the newer ones new ones have a "blue efficiency" badge and have econ mode instead of comfort and it remaps the shifts and its just diff in the newer cars, not the trans itself.

acr2001

Speaking of the transmission shifting - Here's a complaint: the damn thing starts in E mode every time and I have to remember to switch to sport mode. It is definitely much more conservative in E, but if you floor it or nearly floor it from a stop, there is a VERY harsh shift into first as the car jolts forward. Sport mode is a world of difference - much more so than C / S in the past. There is a lot less throttle lag (but there is still plenty of throttle lag overall!)

Carsy

I find it difficult to understand why customers buy products that they dislike.

jctevere

Everybody keeps talking about the kickdown switch on the accelerator, On my 2009 and 2011 w204 these are non-existent. I didn't even know any w204's had them until I drove my friends 2008. Was this ONLY implemented on the 2008 w204 and then had disappeared?

SSJ

I had that problem when I just got the car but I think its just something you will get used to and after a while you will do it automaticly,I have the car for about 6 months now and probably after 2 months everytime I started the car I press the S button immediately .