Finally!
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2016 C300
Finally!
It's been a long, strange trip but my S550 is no more and my brand new custom order Palladium C300 is in the garage. It's got the AMG Kit, rear spoiler, light package, pano roof. Crystal leather and the resulting interior package, black open pore, multi media, AirMatic, Drivers Assist, Park Assist, air balance, HUD. MSRP was $60k and I got 10% off.
I have to say the AirMatic was worth waiting for. I'm on the stock 18" and while the run flats are a bit firm (and loud) the Air does a nice job of keeping things smooth and comfortable in most conditions.
Not planning much in mods, other than replacing the run flats with Michelin Pilot Supersports. They're my go-to ultra high performance tire. Great ride and very quiet. (I'll get a seal and fill kit).
That and I'll get my Audison Prima DSP Amp and Focal KRS 100 speakers installed in the existing Burmester system. Nothing wrong really with the stock system but the Audison can take things up a level or two. The Focals cost me $750 so they're going in the front doors. I'll do a separate write up on the audio upgrade.
That should keep me busy. Meanwhile I'm finding every excuse to take it out. Just such a blast to drive, especially with all the toys on it.
I have to say the AirMatic was worth waiting for. I'm on the stock 18" and while the run flats are a bit firm (and loud) the Air does a nice job of keeping things smooth and comfortable in most conditions.
Not planning much in mods, other than replacing the run flats with Michelin Pilot Supersports. They're my go-to ultra high performance tire. Great ride and very quiet. (I'll get a seal and fill kit).
That and I'll get my Audison Prima DSP Amp and Focal KRS 100 speakers installed in the existing Burmester system. Nothing wrong really with the stock system but the Audison can take things up a level or two. The Focals cost me $750 so they're going in the front doors. I'll do a separate write up on the audio upgrade.
That should keep me busy. Meanwhile I'm finding every excuse to take it out. Just such a blast to drive, especially with all the toys on it.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8
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From: Jakarta, Indonesia
X253, F25
Congrats on the new car! My white C250 have the same exact options as yours with the exception of the Airmatic which is not available in my country.
I'm interested to learn more of your audio upgrades. Which Audison Prima DSP Amp will you be installing? Also, the Focals are going into the front doors only? The other speakers are unchanged?
Thanks for your time, and congrats again on the car.
Bram
I'm interested to learn more of your audio upgrades. Which Audison Prima DSP Amp will you be installing? Also, the Focals are going into the front doors only? The other speakers are unchanged?
Thanks for your time, and congrats again on the car.
Bram
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by bukusuma
Congrats on the new car! My white C250 have the same exact options as yours with the exception of the Airmatic which is not available in my country.
I'm interested to learn more of your audio upgrades. Which Audison Prima DSP Amp will you be installing? Also, the Focals are going into the front doors only? The other speakers are unchanged?
Thanks for your time, and congrats again on the car.
Bram
I'm interested to learn more of your audio upgrades. Which Audison Prima DSP Amp will you be installing? Also, the Focals are going into the front doors only? The other speakers are unchanged?
Thanks for your time, and congrats again on the car.
Bram
That'll eat up the eight powered channels. The unpowered 9th will go to a small JL sub amp and a 10" JL sealed box enclosure in the trunk.
(The small center surround and rear deck surrounds remain on the factory amp. I'll use the Prima's time correction, equalization and level controls to blend the orphaned speakers in seamlessly.)
That will allow me to treat the footwell subwoofers more like traditional woofers and using the new sub to handle the really low material. The lack of any conventional mid bass drivers, like a pair of 6" anywhere in the car creates a gap.
Four 4" midrange drivers makes the mids over represented. The lack of any mid bass drivers means the footwell subs have to play extra high into midbass territory to cover the gap. When they do so, the low bass gets boomy and loose.
I had similar issues with the S's Harman/Kardon. The Prima's digital signal processing capability can work wonders, even on a system that's already pretty decent to start out with.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Jakarta, Indonesia
X253, F25
Ah ok... Thank you for the in depth reply. For me any amps or speakers will be new, so I need to know what and how much I have to invest before committing.
Looks like your C300 will have a well thought out sound set up.
Thanks a lot and enjoy your new car!
Bram
Looks like your C300 will have a well thought out sound set up.
Thanks a lot and enjoy your new car!
Bram
Thread Starter
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by bukusuma
Ah ok... Thank you for the in depth reply. For me any amps or speakers will be new, so I need to know what and how much I have to invest before committing.
Looks like your C300 will have a well thought out sound set up.
Thanks a lot and enjoy your new car!
Bram
Looks like your C300 will have a well thought out sound set up.
Thanks a lot and enjoy your new car!
Bram
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Jakarta, Indonesia
X253, F25
Yup... after googling their prices, I don't think I can really bring myself to spend that much additional money on the car's sound system.
I'll stay with the Burmeister. And thank you for suggesting the EQu. This is the second time someone mentioned it. I'll give it a try.
Thank you and have a great Sunday,
Bram
I'll stay with the Burmeister. And thank you for suggesting the EQu. This is the second time someone mentioned it. I'll give it a try.
Thank you and have a great Sunday,
Bram
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Member
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Magnolia Texas
2015 C300/ 2014 Ford Expedition 2012Ford F205 4x4
Looking forward to how the DSP works out. I have the PS8 setting in my closet along with the Focal KX33, beryllium tweeters and some Brax amps I've been wanting to install.
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by RixC300
Looking forward to how the DSP works out. I have the PS8 setting in my closet along with the Focal KX33, beryllium tweeters and some Brax amps I've been wanting to install.
I don't think the issues with the Burmester have to do much with speaker quality. More the physics of trying to tune a set of subwoofers so that they play up into the mid bass range without getting sloppy, overloading the cabin with seven 4" midrange (one in each door plus three surrounds) speakers and no proper woofers anywhere.
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From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
Mike, she's a beauty! Congrats and may you drive in nothing but happiness and the greatest of health. I've had mine for 5 months now and it's simply been flawless in every way. Not a single issue at all.
I hope yours is trouble free too!
I hope yours is trouble free too!
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2016 C300
My initial thoughts are that the C has a huge design advantage over the interior of the 221, and a huge tech advantage. I can just sit in the C and marvel at all of the beautiful textures, finishes and contours. I think the exterior 221 in full AMG trim has more presence.
For local driving the C is much more fun and engaging behind the wheel. It's like an eager puppy where the S was an old lumbering Basset Hound. I love the different drive modes. The AirMatic was definitely worth waiting for. No regrets there at all. My Individual drive mode is basically Comfort across the board with the engine on Sport, but I'm still playing with it.
Ironically the C is the most expensive car I've owned. All three S Class were CPO and cost less up front, although the ownership costs on an S are brutal even with CPO.
On the highway at 80+ the C produces a lot more road noise. I think it's a function of the C being lighter, with less sound deadening, and maybe the run-flat tires. The Burmester really could not get on top of it without getting brassy and loose either. Granted my wife and I were both exhausted from two days straight of driving so fatigue may account for a lot of that highway driving impression.
The seat bottoms felt a good deal stiffer and my butt had two dead spots on it by the time we got home. But despite my gripes from me just being too old and soft for a sport sedan I do really like the car and I think we're going to get along fine. Next Tuesday I'll get the audio sorted out and I think I'll get a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports and a flat kit.
So me and the C are off to a good start.
For local driving the C is much more fun and engaging behind the wheel. It's like an eager puppy where the S was an old lumbering Basset Hound. I love the different drive modes. The AirMatic was definitely worth waiting for. No regrets there at all. My Individual drive mode is basically Comfort across the board with the engine on Sport, but I'm still playing with it.
Ironically the C is the most expensive car I've owned. All three S Class were CPO and cost less up front, although the ownership costs on an S are brutal even with CPO.
On the highway at 80+ the C produces a lot more road noise. I think it's a function of the C being lighter, with less sound deadening, and maybe the run-flat tires. The Burmester really could not get on top of it without getting brassy and loose either. Granted my wife and I were both exhausted from two days straight of driving so fatigue may account for a lot of that highway driving impression.
The seat bottoms felt a good deal stiffer and my butt had two dead spots on it by the time we got home. But despite my gripes from me just being too old and soft for a sport sedan I do really like the car and I think we're going to get along fine. Next Tuesday I'll get the audio sorted out and I think I'll get a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports and a flat kit.
So me and the C are off to a good start.
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by cleankutazn
Very nice!!! The wheels match the car. Can't wait to see the stereo install.
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2016 C300
Well, remote start via MBrace is kind of a joke. It takes forever as it goes through its various "security checks", any one of which cancels the start sequence. I've had two successful starts in a dozen attempts. It was probably faster and easier to get a space shuttle launched.
The real deal is the MidCity Engineering SmartKey Starter paired with a Drone Mobile unit. Start up is a matter of seconds whether the doors are locked or not, and I had a zero failed start rate with mine. It's available for the 205, install is simple since it's just plugging into the car's CAN bus. Around $800 for the pair and the Drone premium plan is $50 for a year. Your car has to have Keyless Go though.
The real deal is the MidCity Engineering SmartKey Starter paired with a Drone Mobile unit. Start up is a matter of seconds whether the doors are locked or not, and I had a zero failed start rate with mine. It's available for the 205, install is simple since it's just plugging into the car's CAN bus. Around $800 for the pair and the Drone premium plan is $50 for a year. Your car has to have Keyless Go though.
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From: Mass
2026 GLE 53 Coupe
The real deal is the MidCity Engineering SmartKey Starter paired with a Drone Mobile unit. Start up is a matter of seconds whether the doors are locked or not, and I had a zero failed start rate with mine. It's available for the 205, install is simple since it's just plugging into the car's CAN bus. Around $800 for the pair and the Drone premium plan is $50 for a year. Your car has to have Keyless Go though.
My car DOES have Keyless GO...and I have keyless start as well.
I'll have to look into this, thanks!
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2016 C300
Thread Starter
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2016 C300
So as the last few S Class cobwebs are being cleared from my brain, I'm starting to "get" the C more. It wants to be Driven, capital D. The S, while very quiet and smooth, is not a driver's car (unless you get into an ABC car or the AMG variants. Even those aren't really "fun" to toss around).
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by inhartwetrust
Congrats dude!
How long til this one goes back and you're back into pondering mode?
How long til this one goes back and you're back into pondering mode?
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
Nice car, Mike. I'll bet it is a refreshing change from the S.
I've always respected the C and its ancestors, since having a W201 from 1988-1996. That was a fun car, and was very solid.
I've driven a new C300 as a loaner, and at first I was underwhelmed. After a day or so, though, the little guy kind of grew on me -- to the point where I'd consider one once my E400 is "consumed." The tough choice would be which C variant I'd want at that time. I can only imagine how the C450 would feel, being the "little brother" to my E400 in stature, but having more power and torque. Could be dangerous. . .
I've always respected the C and its ancestors, since having a W201 from 1988-1996. That was a fun car, and was very solid.
I've driven a new C300 as a loaner, and at first I was underwhelmed. After a day or so, though, the little guy kind of grew on me -- to the point where I'd consider one once my E400 is "consumed." The tough choice would be which C variant I'd want at that time. I can only imagine how the C450 would feel, being the "little brother" to my E400 in stature, but having more power and torque. Could be dangerous. . .
