Got a seemingly excellent deal on a leftover….produced 6/23. Ready to pick up the car tomorrow. Will all of the issues I’ve been reading about been eradicated as of 6/23? My salesperson mentioned that the new C class cars have a history of computer issues….which were mostly caused by water leakage from the rear window into various system computers in that area. Is that true? Any other concerns I should have? Smarter to go with the 2024? All help is greatly appreciated.

 

the leakage issue was resolved from production date 9/22.
I have a C300 made on 1/23 and it's been good so far (12k miles now), apart the little noises around the cabin that sometimes drive me crazy.
Check carcomplaints.com for all the recalls and issues related to the car.

 

That was mainly caused by tinting, later model years have a cover to address that but there is a recall for the 2023 to install the cover, check if the recall is performed, like the other forum membered mentioned, it might not affect a certain batch of cars and it might not affect the one you are purchasing.

 

I own a 2022 and a loaded out 2023.

There's a few things to look out for:
- As others have mentioned, the display and several systems shuts off when moisture accumulates in the rear SAM (leaving you without A/C and voice control). MB has issued a recall for 2022 w206 models installing a felt cover for the rear SAM. I had it installed, but it didn't seem to fix the issue. My main display has died several times since, but always comes back on, so something to note. (Dealer has to remedy recall before sale, but it didn't solve the issue for me, only reduced the frequency.) ~1th a month where I have to hold power button to resolve the issue
- Insist the dealer does a software update for the MBUX, not over the air, but on their computer. Many people complained that wireless CarPlay would suddenly drop, but an update fixed it. Same for the rarer 48v battery issues.
- Look out for a thumping/clanking noise or jolting when braking. A few people had this issue and had the dealership remedied it, but it's super rare (I didn't have it).

After my experience driving a base 2022 and a fully equipped 2023, I believe packages make all the difference. If the 2022 in question comes with AMG line and Burmester, those are upgrades well worth it. They make all the difference between the 2022 and 2023. I had sport+ coded on the 2022 and the engines are the same, so as expected, the max acceleration and speed have been identical. However, the braking and handling are superior on the 2023, since it has the AMG line including upgraded brakes and sports suspension. Otherwise, the cars are identical.

I believe if the 2022 has upgraded equipment at a good price and included warranty (SUPER important in long run since the 2022 w206 is the first of its generation in the US and basically a beta car), it's a better value than a 2024 base model at a similar price. Even then, the issues with my 2022 have been around once a month, where I can't drive with A/C, the main display (including rear camera). I love the car, and it might be a lemon suit in the making since continued dealer visits haven't resolved the "critical" issues

 

Thank you, 818! Great info. I took delivery of my new 2023 two days ago….so far, so great! And yes, the Burmester is rather incredible, especially when custom setting the “profile,” exactingly, spelling out my specific needs. I managed exactly $7,100 behind the MSRP, totaling $41,700 before fees. It was actually manufactured in July, 2023. Separately, I felt that the “C300” lettering was way too large and out of scale. I did a “debadge” yesterday….transforms the car…at least to me. Now has “LBF” (Look Back Factor). Pictures, upon request! Thanks again.

 

I am actually in the market for a 2022 or 2023 W206, and have a "potential deal" on the table for a 2022 with 4K miles, loaded with Burmeister, heated & cooled seats, heated steering wheel, Pano roof, upgraded lighting, plus a few other goodies... for $43,7K + TTL (Original MSRP was $50.5K). Hearing you paid $41,7 + TTL for your 2023 makes me pause... How exactly did you manage that price? Will be great if you cann more context to yours before I get to pull the trigger. Deal scheduled for tomorrow EOD.

Thanks

 

So I went in this week for a test drive to check out the car. My first C-class drive, so nothing to compare with. Overall, it is a fine product from MB. I noticed a couple quirks... the base model C300 appears to not have the S+ mode, while the AMG-trim does. How so? Does it mean the AMG trim is also AMG-tuned? It baffles me that the exact same car with exact same engine will have such different tranny modes. Second thing I found is that the car has no buttons anywhere... while this isn't a deal-breaker, it boggles my mind that MB will mostly allow drivers to use the capacitance wheel-mounted controls while driving bcos to use the touch screen in motion will be very distracting and dangerous...

What do owners think of these?

 

I've adapted to them quite quickly, especially the steering wheel mounted ones. The capacitive ones do take a bit of getting used to, for sure.

 

It is complicated, as what you said is not all wrong as in the past (W205) the C 300 amg line gets different brake hardware than the standard C 300. the suspension is tuned to be more sporty as well. Now, certain W206 in North America with amg line also is lower than the non amg-line one. If you go to the mbusa configurator, the amg line also adds (?) sport sound if you put it in sport+ mode. You don't get more performance in an amg line C 300 versus a standard C 300, no. Additional of sport+ mode is one of those that help a buyer justify amg-line is the way to go (other than the obvious syling differences of course). Hope that answers your question.

 

The sport+ is just another driving mode for the c300s locked behind the AMG line option. It has a louder fake engine noise as @W205C43PFL mentioned and a slightly different engine mapping from sport which lets you hit higher revs before the gear upshifts. It also alleges to alter suspension and steering, but they're just barely noticeable so I wonder if it's in my head LOL. I am also unsure how the suspension modes change since w206s are not currently offered with airmatic in the US.

Basically, it's a driving mode in all c300s that is switched to "off" if the vehicle doesn't come with AMG line. I had a coder switch it back on in my non-amg line 2022. Here's a picture, you can even see the base car without the AMG line star grill:



The AMG-engine tuned driving mode is called RACE, one step above sport+. RACE is not available in models without an AMG engine.

Also, the touch buttons took me a while to get used to, especially since I have fat fingers. MB claims this capacitive touch technology is actually more expensive than the buttons we all prefer...

 

How much did the coder charge you to switch Sports+ “on” in your non-amg line.

 

Thanks for the clarifications.

On my W213, I find the S+ mode too antsy, while the S mode offers enough spirited driving that I don't ever need to put the car in S+. On the W206 test drive, the S mode also had a slightly better driving feel than the C mode, and I think the car drives great on S mode... so shouldn't feel the absence of S+ that much impactful for most non-AMG trim owners.

Will see what happens on this purchase process... Still learning lots about this model and reading as much as I can...


Fascinating that MB will de-function their bread-n-butter C-class depending on the trim level.

 

Good luck on your purchase : ) Ya, I personally drove many W205 C 300 both pre-facelift and facelift when my vehicle was in service, drove the W206 only once and for a short while, it was an amg line as well and also found the sport+ mode a little too much, car jerks way too much and impossible to accelerate smoothly, sport is really good enough for a more spirited drive on the C 300.

 

250 euro through PayPal, however I also had a ton of other stuff activated. In addition to sport+, @_simon_benz_ in IG activated the AMG super sport cluster, AMG cluster goodbye animation, remember last driving mode, lane keep assist, traffic sign assist, factory alarm (still don't know what it does but he had me send a video to make sure it works like all the other functions he activated), and two other driving modes: curve and off-road. He also increased the top speed to 220mph.

He's coded both my 2022 and 2023 and I've had 10/10 experience twice with Simon.

 

Update.

Finally pulled the trigger on a W206 today. Car will arrive this Friday. Details below

Polar white/Black interior
2022 C300 4MATIC AMG trim
14K miles, CPO
Original sale date = June 2022
Original MSRP = $52,350
Purchase price = $39,425

Options
MBUX Sound pkg (22U, 32U, 810)
Burmeister Surround sound
AMG PKG (486, 5U4, 772, LSC, P29, P31, P55, U26, U29, U34)
Night package and AMG stuff (see option codes above)
Parktronic 235
Surround camera 501, P47
Heated Steering wheel
Side mirror logo projection
Illuminated door sill
Enhanced ambient lighting
Rear spoiler

very nicely loaded..l but strangely No NAV!!! Don’t understand that one, but I figure one can get this via Mercedes Me software purchase. So no biggie… after all it has CarPlay

One sour note. MB dealer tried scamming me with $295 “nitrogen tire protection” and $795 “Doc fees”. I was pissed… but bcos the dealership want these crap money, all I could get was a $550 off the purchase, so while I am not happy, I suppose I can live with it… bcos the purchase price was decent and fair… the dealership gotta make money after all…

So what do u all think of the deal?

Dealer pics for now…







Pictures to come when it arrives…

 

I don't like the sunroof. That's not available in Europe, we got the full panorama which makes the whole roof black. Anyway, about the car, I got almost a fully loaded 6/2022 (no energizing package which is just a gimmick, no ventilated seats because they weren't available with AMG pack for some reason, only advanced sound system instead of the burmester (at least it's not the basic) and none of that semi-selfdrive crap. Everything else is there - HUD, panorama, AMG pack, night pack, light pack, digital lights, navigation, 360 camera with park package, 19'' black gloss wheels, sport front brakes, upgraded seats, 4 zone AC... Honestly, the car feels cheap and I expected more. Plastic around the bottom part of the door. Door bins don't have a soft liner so if you have a bottle there you'll hear a rattle while driving. Plastic around the interior. No airmatic option. No soft close option for the doors. No massage option, only seat kinetics. No heated windshield option. So far I've had the steering wheel changed because the leather cracked, rear left light was faulty so they had to replace that and, worst of all, that plastic/rubber thingy on the side of the door got loose so they had to order a new one and replace it. What really pissed me off this winter is that issue with the fog in the sensors and camera in the front - literally every time I turned on the car, and outside temperature is <-2C I have to scroll through a bunch of messages telling me that the distance sensor is not working, HUD is not working, digital lights are not working... Just because no one thought of something like that happening. Have they even tested that car in the winter? Anyone went skiing with it? Literally, like I bought a tesla or a similar electric toaster from a company which started to produce cars ~10 years ago so they don't have any experience with stuff like that. The car, as a car is not bad, looks really nice, sits firmly on a highway at speeds over 220km/h but no one can convince me that it's normal for a door rubber to get loose on an 80k € Mercedes. Would I buy it again? Sure, but only if it comes with a 30k € discount. I think yours for $40k is a great deal.

 

My new W206 arrived home on Friday to hang with its bigger brother, the W213. Both are needing a bath which they will get this week, but it is fun to put them side by side for comparison. Maybe first changes will be matte black badging to give the back some punch. This is my very first MB 4-banger car, and my initial driving impression (100 miles since it arrived) is that the car moves pretty good for a 2L turbo-4. I am impressed… S+ tranny isn’t as jumpy as in the W213, and I can see myself enjoying the tightness of the transmission and sport suspension while in this mode. My most annoyance is the overtly sensitive and intrusive sensors always beeping at me. If there is a way to turn some of these off, I’ll do it… else, loving the car so far. More owner experience to come for sure. Will post pics in the dedicated picture thread when properly clean and in show form.

 

The sensitivity of the sensors could be adjusted I think, at least it was true for COMAND NTG 5.5 and MBUX 1.0 gen I don't see why they would remove that option in MBUX 2.0, the one the W206 have.

The mild-hybrid might be why the pickup is quicker than you expected for a four cylinder.