Thoughts on the 2012 4 Cylinder Turbo
I should have stuck with my instincts and gotten a used 335, M3 or something equally sporting. I was misguided in my notion that my daily driver could not be a sports car. The transmission and motor are SOOO sluggish together. In manual mode the transmission shifts about 1,500 - 2,000 after I shift.I think this is the Juice box:
Juice Box?
Notice it does not bring the boost/torque in quicker.
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Ive got the C250 CGI 2011 model. This car goes quite good. There is a lag in the turbo which is annoying some times, but this car is not built for that purpose.
Remember, MB is more for luxury focused while BMW is more sports focused.
I test drove the BMW 328 before I bought this car and it can be quite stressful.
BMer had sharper steering and more responsive engine.
Now for about a year driving the C250, it is a very enjoyable car. You have to know when to change the gear selection on manual mode if you are in a hurry. This will help keep the desired RPM you require to get the car going quick.
From my experience, this thing is 5spd tranny, but this thing can be a bit of a beast if played correctly.
joe....
To Do, imho:
1) try another C250 or three at your dealer, and ignore him on the test drive and just do the things that bother you. See if it's just your car. If so, demand another.
2) based on the JB dyno curve, which will show any off-the-line improvement, it looks like they just work on the turbo control. Take a look at the Sprintbooster for same $$$ . This is a white paper on an older MB, but it's likely MB still uses the same droopy pedal-motion vs TB-motion.
(see fig-1 and fig-3) :
SprintBooster White Paper
3) if the C250 turbo has typical OEM sleeve bearings (vs ball bearings), consider running the MB approved Castrol Edge Syntec (european) 0W-30. Dealers normally run Mobil1 5W-40. Note that in the latest owner's manual, 0W-30 and XW-40 were included in the same column, representing the widest approved temperature range.
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Last edited by kevink2; May 31, 2012 at 03:52 PM.
As it's a lease, I'd drive it as hard as possible, leave it in S, and see if you get better results after another 500 miles or so.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
To Do, imho:
1) try another C250 or three at your dealer, and ignore him on the test drive and just do the things that bother you. See if it's just your car. If so, demand another.
2) based on the JB dyno curve, which will show any off-the-line improvement, it looks like they just work on the turbo control. Take a look at the Sprintbooster for same $$$ . This a white paper on an older MB, but it's likely MB still uses the same droopy pedal-motion vs TB-motion.
(see fig-1 and fig-3) :
SprintBooster White Paper
3) if the C250 turbo has typical OEM sleeve bearings (vs ball bearings), consider running the MB approved Castrol Edge Syntec (european) 0W-30. Dealers normally run Mobil1 5W-40. Note that in the latest owner's manual, 0W-30 and XW-40 were included in the same column, representing the widest approved temperature range.
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From OEM websites:
WRX STI
305 hp - @ 6000 rpm
290 ft-lb @ 4000 rpm
EVO GSR
291 hp - @ 6500 rpm
300 ft-lb @ 4000 rpm
Of course this says nothing about turbo lag or how well the engine pulls from a stop.
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Last edited by kevink2; May 30, 2012 at 10:54 AM.
what do you all think of the new 4 cylinder turbo on the C250? I drove it and was pleasantly surprised with it. My wife and I test drove the 350 and the 250. My wife preferred the 250 because she said it felt more quick and agile, whereas the 350 felt more powerful probably on the top end. I'm curious what the rest of you all think?
Anyone own the car and can give some feeback?
In one bracket I drove (on the track) a C250 petrol, diesel and then a C350 petrol back to back and then on the same bracket even compared them to a new 2012 SLK 350 and both the 350's felt 'flat' compared the the forced inducted 250's.
They are obviously quicker, but from the drivers seat they really didn't feel that way and just seemed no where near as much fun or strong compared with the torque rush that happens with the forced induction 250's.
It would be nice to do some before and after elapsed-times for test runs. I have done many on other cars. A couple conceptual ideas, with details to suit you:
On flat road, minimal traffic:
1) cruise in 3rd gear, about 2000 rpm, lift at pedal and go @ 50%, check time to gain say 30 mph.
2) same thing from dead stop. Use temporary pressure gage to check boost. Measure time to 10 psi.
To show what I mean, check out my test on my Saab Turbo (rip) :
saab-8v-Intercooler-test
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The turbo engine delivers 201 hp @ a low 5500 rpm, and 228 ft-lbs @ 2,000 - 4,300.
The V6 has same 201 hp at a higher 6100 rpm, and a low 181 ft-lbs@ 2,900 - 5,500
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P1 is an option most people would want anyway (split rear seats, premium HK sound system with sat radio and CD changer, power lumbar, 14 way power driver seat and memory, heated seats, power steering column adjust, etc..) The marketing of the C250 at base pricing makes it look a lot cheaper than the C350, but it really isn't. It's how MBUSA gets people into the C Class.
Someone in the family is shopping this week and they're coming from a IL6 BMW. They prefer n/a motors and with some top end and smooth acceleration. They ruled out the 4 cylinder C Class and ruled out the 3 series BMW since there is no choice in motors with the 328i (only if you go with the 335i. And even then there are no more of the famous n/a IL6 motor options with BMW.)
ymmv, but I think the C350 is the way to go. And the difference in mpg is pretty negligible. C250 4 cylinder: 21 city 31 highway; C350 6 cylinder: 20 city 29 highway.
P1 is an option most people would want anyway (split rear seats, premium HK sound system with sat radio and CD changer, power lumbar, 14 way power driver seat and memory, heated seats, power steering column adjust, etc..) The marketing of the C250 at base pricing makes it look a lot cheaper than the C350, but it really isn't. It's how MBUSA gets people into the C Class.
I wouldnt say that the gas mileage is Negligible most guys are getting well above that. Yes the C350 is a great deal and maybe the better deal, but that engine is pretty much tuned out already. The 1.8 Turbo has so much more room to grow and it will be relativity cheap and reliable.
Someone in the family is shopping this week and they're coming from a IL6 BMW. They prefer n/a motors and with some top end and smooth acceleration. They ruled out the 4 cylinder C Class and ruled out the 3 series BMW since there is no choice in motors with the 328i (only if you go with the 335i. And even then there are no more of the famous n/a IL6 motor options with BMW.)
ymmv, but I think the C350 is the way to go. And the difference in mpg is pretty negligible. C250 4 cylinder: 21 city 31 highway; C350 6 cylinder: 20 city 29 highway.
The actual fuel diffrence is quite dramatic as most guys are seeing well above that with spirited driving. Also dont underestimate the tuning prowess that 1.8T has, in its future gobs of power on the cheap.
And if mpg was the determining priority, then there are many other brands to choose from for optimum frugality. The MB 4 is not the best in its segment in respect to mpg. Again, the buyer is coming from an IL6 BMW (E46) and fuel consumption isn't a major concern. But smooth pedal response and n/a type acceleration and power band characteristics is the priority here. As I said, ymmv.
And if mpg was the determining priority, then there are many other brands to choose from for optimum frugality. The MB 4 is not the best in its segment in respect to mpg. Again, the buyer is coming from an IL6 BMW (E46) and fuel consumption isn't a major concern. But smooth pedal response and n/a type acceleration and power band characteristics is the priority here. As I said, ymmv.
Last edited by StuttgartUSA; May 29, 2012 at 03:11 AM.
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But that said, it's always a trade off between stiffness/handling and comfort/handling. BMW has softened things up a bit lately as a response to being a direct competitor to the C Class and that "ultimate driving machine" slogan is starting to lose some of its credibility, imho. And for overall daily driving I'd prefer the C Class (as I already mentioned.) However, for a car I'd be tuning (both motor and chassis) and want to use as a canyon tosser, I'd personally be going with BMW/Audi (Quattro) as a better (for that purpose) platform.
The eco nannies (start/go), transmissions with more cogs (and new formulas for more viscous transmission fluids), direct fuel injection with higher compression ratios, new liners and honing techniques for cylinder walls, etc., etc. is all part of getting a number or two knocked off of the EPA mpg rating for the entire fleet. Consumer concern over gas prices is really more of a secondary issue, although the printed EPA numbers do help with marketing to a certain demographic.





