Mikemcn

Just agreed to a deal to trade my C300 for a new M3.

No more worries about the interior swap out (and ham handed dealer service people)

No more tire recalls

No more squealing brakes

No more poor service at the local dealer

No more using a body shop, no matter how competent, that treats its customers like ****.

Unfortunately, in spite of the above, I really liked the C300. But it wasn't worth the hassles and poor relationships.

I hope your experiences are better than mine!

floridadriver

Good luck to you as well. Unfortunately, as cool as this car is, it obviously has more than it's share of quality control issues and hopefully the higher ups are at the factory as we speak sorting it out.

Mikemcn

Thanks, and I agree with your sentiments. This was an expensive lesson/mistake for me, but that's life!

StanNH

The only saving grace for me has been the excellent dealer service I've been getting. My C300 has been one of the best, and most troublesome, cars I've ever owned.

mdsbuc

I don't quite get the comparison between and M3 and a C300, that's quite a jump. BMW builds great cars, but they aren't perfect. You'll even find a lemon in the batch of fine fruit there. BMWs do have their quirks and faults too. Service although usually exceptional, can vary from dealer to dealer, just like I'm sure it does in the MB chain of dealers. Best wishes with the new bimmer, it should be a total blast.

icycrazydesi

wow c300 to m3 is a big jump...not only in terms of the engine and the price but overall that car is a beast. congrats on your new M3. I have a c400 and luckily out of all the problems listed in the forum I only have the taillight issue.. nothing else, which i can live with.

Mikemcn

I've lived in a lot of cities, and for me it always comes down to the local dealer and service network. Here, the BMW dealer is excellent and I've learned that the Mercedes dealer is less so. Elsewhere I had bad experiences with BMW.

You're right that it is quite a jump. The 3-series is generally more expensive than the C class, and equipped the way I wanted the 335i was pushing the M3 prices, so I made the jump. (My C was pretty well equipped except for MB-Tex) If I had confidence in the local Mercedes dealer, they might have been able to get me into an AMG C instead, but they blew any chance of selling me another car.

miketc

What city are you in Mike?

Mark's M

Their loss, your gain. A brilliant car the M3, you won't be disappointed!! Besides, the new C63 will be coming off the line within weeks. Sounds like it too is going to be brilliant but if MB thinks the ruckus over C300/400 issues was loud, wait till they hear it from AMG owners paying $20-40k more for their misaligned bumpers, etc, etc. Unless of course the problems in Alabama have all been fixed.....yeah, right!!! Think you made the right choice.

Sportstick

Good luck and best wishes! The F30 platform has been well-sorted after three years of production, so things should go well. Even with a great dealer, resist the temptation to trade for the first year of the F30 successor if and when the time comes!

npa201

What % hit did you take for the trade in relative to your purchase price?

PeterUbers

I can't blame the op, I dumped my lemon 2014 e550's as soon as I convinced Mbusa they were garbage... I really wanted it to work out but the trans was so bad in two back to back vehicles

Good luck with the m3

dreamerak

Wow, that is quite a step up. Good luck with your M3, though they are having some teething problems too.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1040921

Edo81

I'm doing the same thing, the other way around, changing my BMW for the W205 (it will be delivered to me on monday). I have to say I've been really disappointed with BMW for its poor quality (interiors, paint, plastics), for the problems I had (clutch, belts) never solved, and for the real incompetence and laziness of their service (I'm talking about BMW Italy)

rakaye47

dumbass BMW has problems too. you want a car without problems? your only choice is to get a lexus

turt

I'm pretty sure we could find some Lexus owners who'd disagree

Mikemcn

Lexington, KY

Mikemcn

No car mfgr is perfect. I hoped for a better experience but was very disappoinged. I know the BMW service here is good (sales is lacking inventory, so I'm going 400 miles to get the M3). Lexus may be better, or not, here.

I expect M3 problems but am confident I can work through them with the dealer here. Like I posted above, if I had the same confidence in the Benz dealer I would have gone to an AMG. But they failed the test so back to BMW for me, here. That's all there is to it.

Bill-W221

Best of luck with the M3, it is a great ride. I just bought my S class over the competition based on the dealers in my area. The MB dealer really stood out over the Jag-Audi-BMW dealers in my area. I'd be happy in any of their cars but having the right dealer is priceless.

miketc

Mikemcn,

I'm in Philly/S Jersey area, the MB dealers here are great. Maybe because it has a lot of good dealers (not just MB) here and they have to stand out. I just pickup my car this Monday and the dealer and my salesman especially are wonderful. So far, knock on wood no quality issue.

Good luck with your M3 my man, you're going to love it.

chutak

Good move man. Bimmers do have their own issues, but they are incredible machines. Especially the //M models. The M3 in manual was actually the car I really wanted. Getting the C400 was a bit of compromise for my spouse, inclimate weather driving, and price of course. I still want an F80 M3 for myself someday. Best sports sedan ever made.

Rone803

What dealership did you use?

miketc

Fort Washington but Cherry Hill is good too.

Mikemcn

You never can tell precisely since both the trade and the new car prices are negotiable - I always just negotiate the difference.

I estimate the Mercedes cost me $13,000 for 4 months and 6 days, and 8,000 miles. Original MSRP was $51,250 ish. But since I also traded in to the Benz I can't calculate an accurate percentage hit.

Mistakes are always costly, not fixing them promptly always costs more.

MJ50

once warranty is out, MB > BMW...