German Car Zone

Hi Guys

i am just wanting to know from owners and people in general about the reliability and build off the new c w204

i own one for about 6 mounths and touch wood i have had not a single problem


so i just want to ask how do others find it and also the build quality off the c class as i find it really built well the interior i find really really well built..


also as many off you no the previos c had plenty reliability problems and also poor build quality


so kust want to ask what people think off the new c and new mercs ingenerall as the past few years have been poor

The best place to look is MBWorld.org. Hundreds of owners there from the U.S. and other places too.

M

<<Hi Guys
I am just wanting to know from owners and people in general about the reliability and build off the new c w204. I own one for about 6 months and touch wood i have had not a single problem. So i just want to ask how do others find it and also the build quality off the c class as i find it really built well the interior i find really really well built..also as many off you no the previus c had plenty of reliability problems and also poor build quality. So Just want to ask what people think off the new c and new mercs in general as the past few years have been poor.>>

After foisting some real dogs (W140/W203/W211) on the unsuspecting buyers, MB has seen the light (and the poor sales and huge warranty costs) and has produced two series that put the unpleasant past to rest. According to the experts who are the people who deal with the cars day in and day out, the new S-Class and now the new C-Class models are proving to be the cars that the non-MB owning public thought they were all along.

Speaking for myself, my C300 is the most reliable MB I've ever owned, with not one defect of any kind in the five months and 4000 miles I have owned it. This takes into account that I believe every single feature and component in the car should work flawlessly at all times. And, the very thick warranty claim file on my past (as just one example) 2001 C320 bears this out.

And I am told by the dealer's technicians that the new S-Class is just as reliable and they say all they are coming in for is routine maintenance.

I could now recommend the purchase of a W204 to a friend without hesitation. I could not say the same for the W203.

First time I've heard anyone say the W140 was a dog.

M

I know the W140 had some issues with its drivetrain at the beginning (weight!) but that's all! Even the W124 had issues at the beginning.

I've read that realiabilitywise, the W221 S-Class is the most successful S-Class launch since the W126, or even of all time in MB's history... And it seems the W204 C-Class has very few reliability complaints.

we have a old w140 and we used to have lots off issues withe car even when it was new..

as for the new c touch wood till noall is great

i am a bit dissapointed with my ml320cdi it has only 10000km and its got a oil leak which is using up oil i have to take it for a check but its annoying

<<I know the W140 had some issues with its drivetrain at the beginning (weight!) but that's all! >>

That's ALL? Let's see now.

Front suspension in early models couldn't deal with the tonnage. Neither could the original V-rated tires which in the '92 models were included in the warranty. And they lasted 12K miles so in the warranty period would be replaced four times. The fix was cheaper H-rated tires and that's why MB went to H-rated on other models.

Vacuum door closers and their pump, troublesome throughout the model run.

The 3.5 diesel version's engine was a colossal failure. Know as the "rod bender" in the US because of #1 connecting rod deformities which total the engine. The ONLY fix is a factory rebuilt engine. Any 140 diesel without an engine replacement is unsaleable here.

Oh, and the air conditioning. It's well known that if the AC evaporator has not been replaced yet, it will fail. Typical repair cost in the US is $4-5000. I've seen a 140 or two at my dealer in for evap replacement and the interior looks like a Baghdad bomb victim. The pile of parts outside the car is almost as large as the car itself.

According to CAR magazine, the 140 project chief engineer, as punishment for the model, was sent to Maylasia to run a truck plant.

Issues? The 140 is a catastrophe. Can hardly give them away in the US.

I clearly remember the suspension and tire problems with early models. However I've heard the same thing about the A/C with the R129 and other Benzes from the same era. I don't think I've ever seen a W140 diesel on the road around here.

M

yeah in our w140 we have had suspension problems and ac problems as well as endless problems with the brakes and the electronics.my dad still loves the car its his favorate mercedes

well back to the w204 or the new s class what do you guys think are mb back on track i own both those cars and must say they seem brilliant so far in terms of quality and build obviously the s class is in its own category and its awesome but teh c also has been great so far for me and my cousin who alos owns one touch wood for both off us no problems he had a 3er bmw and changed it for the new c he is so happy he had endless problems with the 320d which he sold with 20000km on .he had ac problems turbo and steering problems i think he used their loan car for about 3 mounths in total

My dads R129 has been very reliable except for the roof mechanism which often jams or fails to work. MB has replaced it twice already. Seems to be a common problem on the R129.

Other than that, no problems with our Mercedes' or our BMW 118i. Our 2002 W211 E320 has been flawless: zero problems.