1st thoughts- 2013 c300
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
1st thoughts- 2013 c300
After a couple weeks- I expected more of a luxury sedan ride but was pleasantly surprised with the performance. I like the exhaust note, great throttle response, awesome braking.
Fit and finish is adequate. Really the rest of the competition has stepped up so it's hard to stand out. Doors close like a bank vault. Layout is good but somewhat redundant with steering, console, and command center all doing the same functions. Somewhat dated electronics, but I know it's last Gen so I expected that.
I've had most all luxury brands. Cache wise Mercedes will always be number 1 to me. Performance probably belongs to BMW. Reliability will be determined down the line.
No regrets. I like the car. Happy owner🚘
Fit and finish is adequate. Really the rest of the competition has stepped up so it's hard to stand out. Doors close like a bank vault. Layout is good but somewhat redundant with steering, console, and command center all doing the same functions. Somewhat dated electronics, but I know it's last Gen so I expected that.
I've had most all luxury brands. Cache wise Mercedes will always be number 1 to me. Performance probably belongs to BMW. Reliability will be determined down the line.
No regrets. I like the car. Happy owner🚘
Last edited by triplmmm; 09-24-2017 at 05:05 PM. Reason: add
#2
Senior Member
I'm on my second Mercedes. First was a 2007 C230 Sport and now I'm in a 2014 C300. All I'll say is that I had never bought the same car twice until now. I'm a Mercedes guy for life now.
#3
I've had my low mileage C300 4Matic for roughly 6 months now and so far, so good.
The first thing I did was put in an Eco-Off override module (here: http://www.midcityengineering.com/pr...s-benz-eco212/) as that Eco-Off crap drove me nuts from day 1.
If you decide to do this AND you have the optional Premium 1 package the CAN/BUS arrangement is different and you need to plug the unit into the passenger side footwell CAN/BUS. It's a PITA and you basically will be taking your footwell completely apart. I powered mine by jumping 12V off the cigarette lighter.
The instructions at that time were to plug into the drivers side CAN/BUS but when I did that. all hell broke loose and I had to reset numerous fault codes via my ODBII controller. I spoke with Mid-City and they had never seen that nor my CAN/BUS arrangement in prior W204's so beware of that.
Pelicanparts.com tech articles were INVALUABLE on how to do many of these steps. You will break things (especially on the center console) if you don't know the tricks.
One thing I will warn you about is a lot of the how-to's and video's you will find are earlier W204 vehicles with the 3.0L motor. The 2013 has the new (then) 3.5L motor and there are definitely differences that can get confusing. The oil drain plug is a big one, which I am currently investigating.
The other you will want to note is pay particular attention to how-to's for the C300 vs C300 4Matic. There are more differences than one might think.
So far (and a leather guy talking here) I have been real happy with the MB-Tex upholstery. It looks about as close to leather as anything I have ever seen in other vehicles and looks new so far. Stitching perfect, etc...
Hope some of the above helps as a perspective from another W204 owner.
The first thing I did was put in an Eco-Off override module (here: http://www.midcityengineering.com/pr...s-benz-eco212/) as that Eco-Off crap drove me nuts from day 1.
If you decide to do this AND you have the optional Premium 1 package the CAN/BUS arrangement is different and you need to plug the unit into the passenger side footwell CAN/BUS. It's a PITA and you basically will be taking your footwell completely apart. I powered mine by jumping 12V off the cigarette lighter.
The instructions at that time were to plug into the drivers side CAN/BUS but when I did that. all hell broke loose and I had to reset numerous fault codes via my ODBII controller. I spoke with Mid-City and they had never seen that nor my CAN/BUS arrangement in prior W204's so beware of that.
Pelicanparts.com tech articles were INVALUABLE on how to do many of these steps. You will break things (especially on the center console) if you don't know the tricks.
One thing I will warn you about is a lot of the how-to's and video's you will find are earlier W204 vehicles with the 3.0L motor. The 2013 has the new (then) 3.5L motor and there are definitely differences that can get confusing. The oil drain plug is a big one, which I am currently investigating.
The other you will want to note is pay particular attention to how-to's for the C300 vs C300 4Matic. There are more differences than one might think.
So far (and a leather guy talking here) I have been real happy with the MB-Tex upholstery. It looks about as close to leather as anything I have ever seen in other vehicles and looks new so far. Stitching perfect, etc...
Hope some of the above helps as a perspective from another W204 owner.
Last edited by BobInDenver; 10-01-2017 at 04:17 PM.