NaBenzo8

Hi All,


I'm in the market for a car and I'm considering a 2013 C300 Sport as well as Infiniti G37x and the BMW 328i. Anything that I need to know or look out for? There seems to be a fair amount of them out there in the sub 30K mile range and prices are anywhere from $22K-$29K. Most look to have 17" wheels. Any good bad or ugly that I should be wary of?






Nick

Werkzeug

Nope, your right on the money. That will be a late production 272 engine and the later model C's had very few if any major mechanical problems.

Prago

I actually just sold my 2011 Infiniti G37x for my 2014 C300 4Matic. The Infiniti is bulletproof and requires only cheap maintenance. It's faster than the C300 and handles with a flair for oversteer. However, the car lacks refinement in several areas, the 7-speed auto isn't calibrated as well as the 7G-tronic, it lacks torque, and the interior isn't as nice. All said and done its a solid car I'd recommend to anyone.

I immediately disliked the F30 328i. I didn't like the idle vibration of the I4 or the cheap interior. The suspension tuning is noticeably worse than that of its predecessors as well.

My C300 has all options except for pano and the driver's assistance package and is sitting on 18" wheels. I love it so far but the back seat is quite small and it isn't as powerful as the G37x. I'm quite content with it otherwise. Make sure any C300 you buy has been serviced on time; especially the transmission!

Andriy242

I was once in your position. I wrote of the G37 just because it wasn't as classy and the 328i was such a cheap feeling car on the inside really. Ended up with a '12 C300. Easiest way for me to explain why I got the car is my video man.

michail71

I'd have to agree with the above posters. I was looking at 3 series first. In some respects they could be considered better cars but sitting behind the wheel was another story.

The C-Class has it's issues too but Mercedes wins in overall design consistency. Every little details feels like the go together. The BMW interiors always feel a little dated to me and various components look more randomly thrown in. Although I do like iDrive.

Both the German cars will get you price wise with options though. My local German shop said not to go BMW if you plan to keep the car for more than a couple years. But perhaps things have changed in later models.

Werkzeug

Absolutely and in case you are wondering the transmission service on a C300 (and most cars) is due at 39k miles.

NaBenzo8

thanks for all the info everybody

Pabla

If you haven't made your mind up yet here are some pros and cons about the c300.

Pros:
Sounds good
Rides smooth
Handles pretty well with a good set of tires
Looks good

Cons:
Slow car (get a 350)
Interior is subpar for the class
If you're expecting to keep it for a while be ready for a few expensive fixes

Some must have Options I'd suggest are HID headlights, parking sensors, power folding mirrors, keyless go, navi system. Most of these cant be added on aftermarket so make sure to get one with most of these options, trust me you'll want them later. Have fun and good luck searching for your car!

JaredP

2013 C300 is M276, direct injection. It's the first year that engine was in the C300, not the last.

MB Marko

I agree with Pabla for the most part, get all the option you want upfront or youll be paying 4000$ for adding navi like I'm now considering lol! C300 is great...once you get rid of the throttle lag its a beast, it feels like a new car.

just get a fully loaded one so the only mods you'll need are new rims lol i personally think the interior is best in class by far BMW,audi is awful it looks dated the MB has a great look but to each their own.

so far my cost of ownership has been 700$ all work done at MB dealer tranny fluid change, brake fluid change and an oil change. I'm at about 78,000km i had one warranty service it wasn't even expensive like 300$ for a emissions air pump at 60,000km took 1 hour to replace.

I have all the previous maintenance records it was all normal wear and tear nothing out of the norm.

if i could go back I would just get a C63, I mean add another 10k and there you go.
People say get the C350 its about 5-7k more than a C300, might as well add another 10k more than and get a true monster of a car. (and yes it depends where you live in Canada theres a few 2012's for 40,000ish)

But its unrealistic to think that way theres a reason people get the C250,C300.

the best advise I can give is test drive all of them and see what makes you smile the most and is the best bang for your money.

I also got my C300 because it had the best resale vales in my area compared to the C250 and C350, It's a car right in the middle.

good luck with your choice, just get all the options! also please Make sure it has all the maintenance records and follow your heart.

Prago

Maybe if you have a pre-2013 model. Both of those issues were addressed during the 2013 facelift to great extent.

JaredP

pros and cons about the pre-facelift model (2011 or earlier, 2012 was the year of the facelift) are not necessarily pros or cons about the facelift model.

The response is appreciated, I'm sure, but this is misleading to people new to the C-Class. The 2013 C300 can be had as fast as a 2013 C350 with a tune (the C300 and C350 in the 2013-2014 model year have the same engine, the C300 engine is software limited and can be unlocked to C350 power). And the pre-facelift does not even compare to the facelift interior (the facelift interior looks exceptional).

michail71

The new A4 interior is nice but definitely not in the pre-owned market yet. Audi seems to be the first one modernizing the sports sedan interiors. But out of the OP's choices I do prefer the C-Class interior too. The BMW interior just doesn't hold up to its exterior. The new W205 C-Class is better on the sides but the instrument cluster and middle bits are a disaster.

My practical side had me pick the C250 but occasionally wish I had gotten a C300 or C350. If you read the C63 group a common complaint is the frequent trips to the gas station.

NaBenzo8

Hold on there, the difference is mapping? so you can flash it and get the C350 performance? No intake/exhaust mods needed?........hmmmmmm

michail71

I think you can get close enough through a flash.

Even the C250 could in theory get C350 numbers with less weight but the tuning market isn't really there for the M271 engine.

michail71

When I was looking I came across some beautifully optioned C300 and C350 cars but I didn't want to have my new daily driver have the dated interior and styling.

The Comand and instrument cluster in 2013 switched over to the black theme. Seems many people hate the older yellow style display theme. If you have a black interior with brushed aluminum it looks really out of place.

davis449

Having driven all of the above, with the exception of the G37x, there's no way I'm ever buying AWD, in this class, again that's not an Audi. I've owned two Audi Quattro's of both types (Torsen and Haldex Gen IV) with one being an A4 and the other an A3...MB and BMW can't touch Audi. I swear the C 300 4MATIC I test drove with my GF was one of the most God-awful things ever. Handling was crap, steering was terrible, and the acceleration was abysmal. I can't imagine that the power bump the 2013 models gained over the 2012 models, like the one we drove, would've been any better. Yeah, I do like the interior of the MB better than a B8 A4 (and an LCI e90 or newer F30), but that wouldn't even come close to making up for the driving experience in an apples to apples comparison.

michail71

I've driven all the above too but I wonder if there was something wrong with the C300 you drove? In Eco mode they can be very sluggish to respond but handling is usually very nimble and responsive. These cars can be too responsive for some drivers.

I just avoided AWD since I didn't need it and wanted to avoid the mechanical complexity. The C250 in RWD and C300 in AWD are closely matched given the weight difference. But the C300 offers some good ECU flash potential.

davis449

Drove it in Sport the whole time, I already knew better. I owned two Mercedes before and the more things have changed, the more they've stayed the same (especially with regards to the Eco\Sport transmission mode comparos). Really, though, the car was in phenomenal condition. Part of the acceleration thing is that I'm so used to modern FI engines that NA doesn't cut it for me anymore and the torque really does make a difference. Also, for the situations we use the torque most often in (low end, around town), boosted is so much better. I hear what you say about the weight, but forget all that. It's the drive train that really sucks the power out of AWD cars. It really shows in the 4MATIC. Then there's the other factors. The steering is much better in the RWD and so is the handling. So, no, I really don't think they're a good match up at all. The 300 wasn't nimble or responsive. My previous B7 A4 was more "nimble and responsive" by a good margin. I can't imagine a universe in which that 300 would be "too responsive" for anyone. I also don't see how a 300 has "good" flash potential. Especially when compared to, say, a JB4 slapped on a 250. The margin of gain would still be heavily in the 250's favor. So take that another step and just get a B8 A4 Quattro, flash that, and then you've made the already superior car (IMO) so much better (my B7 was APR Stage II+). Anyway, none of that means anything to me because this car was for my GF...it isn't getting modded.

But, as you can see, I still wanted her in a C. We went right to a 250 RWD they had on that same lot (again, in wonderful condition) and I knew what to expect from that car. I was not disappointed. That's why we ended up buying one (albeit in another city). I found, apples to apples, compared to an e90 BMW 328i or F30 320i (because it wouldn't be close to fair to compare a 250 to a F30 328i), all of their pros compared to the C just don't make up for the better interior and overall comfort of the Benz. Audi doesn't even come into play as it's 2WD counterpart is FWD and...NO, just NO.

JaredP

The powertrain, exhaust, intake are the same between the C300 and C350 in the 2013-2014 model year. The difference is software. The only company that does the proper tune is Kleemann.

NaBenzo8

okay, new wrinkle. Any opinions on the 2012 versus the 2013? I test drove a 2012 with low miles, I know the 2013 has the 3.5l rather than the 3.0. Considering the 2013 is sort of a v1.0 with the "new" engine, are there any inherent issues with the new power plan?

JaredP

The M276 3.5L was used quite extensively, E300-E350, GLK300-GKL350, SLK350, etc.

Some people experienced an engine rattling issue on startup in earlier 2013 models, but this was fixed by the installation of check-valves and chain tensioners. If the car had the issue, it was likely fixed under warranty already. The rattling caused no damage, but was just sort of annoying and embarrassing.

This is the only "major" issue that has been reported on these forums, and even as such, it has only been reported by a handful of people.

The only difference between the 2012 and 2013 C300 is the engine, so it's your call. Both engines are reliable. The M276 has a bit more power.

NaBenzo8

Thanks! From my research the 3.5l is quicker and gets better gas mileage so that looks like win win, I have a couple other 2013s on my radar.

NaBenzo8

I'm no longer considering a C300, I bought one! 2013 black on black with 18" AMGs

Prago

Congrats! Glad to hear. Time to change your profile.