If there was ONE thing you change with your W204, what would it be?
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Factory ordered 2012 MB C350 w/Dynamic Handling Package
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2013 C250 Sport
- The unpredictable and wonky electronic throttle response.
- The horrible pitched whine that comes from the engine bay.
- The ability to get an alignment from the dealer that actually aligns the car.
- Better rear view camera with guidance.
- Instrument cluster trim that didn't rattle/buzz
Since this is supposed to be one thing I would have to go with #2 as I think the other options can be potentially fixed or hacked. This is the most god awful, horrible sounding car in automotive history ever produced and nothing can be done about it. Combine that with the instrument cluster that won't stop rattling has given me a hatred for the car that grows with time.
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2013 C250 Sport
Buddy of mine had a RS4 for a total of 1 year before he kicked the can on that (DI/carbon issues like my B7 crappy A4). Same sort of lag was felt for downshifting D to R.
The main difference though with the Audis (both my crappy A4 and the RS4), was that when the tranny did downshift, the engine would pull happily until redline because they were both turbocharged. The W204 C300 pulls well once it does a double downshift, but then it dies off power wise from 5500 rpm until redline. It's sad, really.
I don't feel that the tranny is any better or worse than other cars I've owned though. The B7 A4 couldn't downshift two gears (from what I remember- please don't crucify me if I'm wrong). I do appreciate the W204 for being able to do so. (kickdown pedal)
The main difference though with the Audis (both my crappy A4 and the RS4), was that when the tranny did downshift, the engine would pull happily until redline because they were both turbocharged. The W204 C300 pulls well once it does a double downshift, but then it dies off power wise from 5500 rpm until redline. It's sad, really.
I don't feel that the tranny is any better or worse than other cars I've owned though. The B7 A4 couldn't downshift two gears (from what I remember- please don't crucify me if I'm wrong). I do appreciate the W204 for being able to do so. (kickdown pedal)
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With paddle shifters it's even better. A pull and brief hold on the paddle before passing will produce a ton of instant power. It's one way to work around the slow responding throttle and computer always trying to second guess an eco response. All too often people blame the 4 cyl for turbo lag when it's just the computer.
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2018 A4 Quattro
- The unpredictable and wonky electronic throttle response.
- The horrible pitched whine that comes from the engine bay.
- The ability to get an alignment from the dealer that actually aligns the car.
- Better rear view camera with guidance.
- Instrument cluster trim that didn't rattle/buzz
.
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2013 C250 Sport
I have been wanting to get the car recoded to take care of some of those things. But something easy to do is put the car in gear limit mode such as D6. It can be in E or S mode. The throttle becomes a bit more responsive and predictable. The down side is you don't have 7th gear unless you switch out.
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From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
Since it is limited to ONE thing, I'd perform a serious noise reduction. Before I decided to buy C-Class, I compared many competitor's cars, and found C-class is the best overall, especially its low noise rating. Now I found the C is not as quiet as I like it to be.
I am not going to do noise reduction, too much work, just imaging I am doing that ...
I am not going to do noise reduction, too much work, just imaging I am doing that ...
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2013 C250 Sport
Since it is limited to ONE thing, I'd perform a serious noise reduction. Before I decided to buy C-Class, I compared many competitor's cars, and found C-class is the best overall, especially its low noise rating. Now I found the C is not as quiet as I like it to be.
I am not going to do noise reduction, too much work, just imaging I am doing that ...
I am not going to do noise reduction, too much work, just imaging I am doing that ...
Some people have reported good results from sound dampening.
But for me it's the accessory/belt system that offends the ears. The engine and exhaust are actually pleasant sounding. At certain RPMs it drowns out the engine and exhaust with a high pitched sound. This may only impact the C250.
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2020 Mercedes E450 Wagon
I think so...the V6 in the C300/C350 sounds great. No high pitched sounds.
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2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
To be honest, the very first day I drove my C out to a MB dealer, I was worried that if I park my car and come back, will it start normally? Now no more worry, it won't let me down, although average reliability of European cars are lower than that of most Japanese cars.
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2013 C250 Sport
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Since it is limited to ONE thing, I'd perform a serious noise reduction. Before I decided to buy C-Class, I compared many competitor's cars, and found C-class is the best overall, especially its low noise rating. Now I found the C is not as quiet as I like it to be.
I am not going to do noise reduction, too much work, just imaging I am doing that ...
I am not going to do noise reduction, too much work, just imaging I am doing that ...
The C class is not that much more noisier than a S class or an A8. It shocked me, and I didn't believe it until I took a sound-o-meter and measured the DB at various speeds.
Don't have to believe me - check it out yourself. Sure, an S class is quieter, but only by a few db.
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2013 C250 Sport
I've posted about this already. Not sure if it's in this thread, but I have confirmed what was reported.
The C class is not that much more noisier than a S class or an A8. It shocked me, and I didn't believe it until I took a sound-o-meter and measured the DB at various speeds.
Don't have to believe me - check it out yourself. Sure, an S class is quieter, but only by a few db.
The C class is not that much more noisier than a S class or an A8. It shocked me, and I didn't believe it until I took a sound-o-meter and measured the DB at various speeds.
Don't have to believe me - check it out yourself. Sure, an S class is quieter, but only by a few db.
But my complaints of the C250 are more related to the pitch. It's like nails on a chalkboard. Most people don't seem to notice it though.
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73db is double the sound to 70db? I'm not disagreeing with you, I just did not know this and this info is news to me and keen to learn more. Danke!
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2013 C250 Sport
According to that 3dB is doubling of sound power and 10dB is perceived as a doubling of loudness.
So now I'm not too sure now. Is 3dB double but we perceive 10dB as double?
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I'm just remembering way back to school since it's a logarithmic scale. But I found this one interesting, http://www.noisehelp.com/decibel-scale.html.
According to that 3dB is doubling of sound power and 10dB is perceived as a doubling of loudness.
So now I'm not too sure now. Is 3dB double but we perceive 10dB as double?
According to that 3dB is doubling of sound power and 10dB is perceived as a doubling of loudness.
So now I'm not too sure now. Is 3dB double but we perceive 10dB as double?
Maybe I will have to buy a new car after all
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2013 C250 Sport
I'm back in a W205 C300 loaner now and OMG, is it ever quiet. I get a soothing feeling of peace when I drive it. But the turbo and exhaust still sound nice when pushed.
My car has been at the shop so much I feel like the W205 C300 is my second car.
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From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
When my C300 was in for the B service three months ago, I had two loaners at separate times, one is 2017 C300 with AMG package, one without. I felt their quietness is about the same as mine, except their idles are slightly rougher than my V6. That is why I don't quite like 4 cylinders. Everything else with the loaners are better than mine.
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Mercedes w204 4matic sport
When my C300 was in for the B service three months ago, I had two loaners at separate times, one is 2017 C300 with AMG package, one without. I felt their quietness is about the same as mine, except their idles are slightly rougher than my V6. That is why I don't quite like 4 cylinders. Everything else with the loaners are better than mine.
If I could realistically change one thing right now on my car it would be having the HID headlights.
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2013 C250 Sport
Call me crazy but I like my W204 a lot more then the W205, every time I bring my car in I want to get out of the 205 and back into mine. Maybe it's just me but I like the seats a heck of a lot more, the handling feels much better, it sounds better to me, and I feel it's much better/classier looking, the interior also feels real cheap with the plastic fake wood. So far mine has been really good to me and problem free. Though the 205 trans is definitely more responsive. All these things are my opinion tho.
If I could realistically change one thing right now on my car it would be having the HID headlights.
If I could realistically change one thing right now on my car it would be having the HID headlights.
It's like they tried to do too much retro in the current design lineups.
I've put about 30,000 miles on my w204 and about 6,000 miles on W205 loaner cars.
Last edited by michail71; Jul 8, 2017 at 04:28 PM.
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Call me crazy but I like my W204 a lot more then the W205, every time I bring my car in I want to get out of the 205 and back into mine. Maybe it's just me but I like the seats a heck of a lot more, the handling feels much better, it sounds better to me, and I feel it's much better/classier looking, the interior also feels real cheap with the plastic fake wood. So far mine has been really good to me and problem free. Though the 205 trans is definitely more responsive. All these things are my opinion tho.
If I could realistically change one thing right now on my car it would be having the HID headlights.
If I could realistically change one thing right now on my car it would be having the HID headlights.
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From: Australia
C220 CDI SLK 200
Perhaps they have repaired that problem but early W204 models were all doom and gloom around 5 years old. The part probably cost 2 dollars to manufacture but the charged me nearly 2000 to repair it
