W204 C250 buying advice for a newbie please

[cheapshots]

I don't want to take any chances with this and seeing I've only had the keys for 12 hours I contacted the dealer.

I email them my concern and called just now too, making sure they log everything down. They were helpful and said in their experience it could be condensation or something more sinister. They've booked me to see an engineer next Thursday, so in the meantime I will buy a bottle of Wynne's/ STP / Cataclean and take her on a 1hr motorway run which should help clear out any 'condensation'

 

[Craiglxviii]

Try Cataclean, very good on petrol cars, cleans the entire fuel and exhaust system.

My fathers car also "smokes" on cold start up (same engine), perfectly normal, on a petrol car short journeys are no problem at all so you have nothing to worry about.

K&N make an air filter for it as well ;-)

No no no placeeeeebo!!!!!!

 

[Yugguy]

Yeah, dont waste money on a 50 quid K&N, just get a genuine MB filter at half the price and change twice as often.

Paper filters flow the SAME as K&N etc. when clean, it is only when dirty that the K&N flow better.

Plus you don't bugger your MAF.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Yeah, dont waste money on a 50 quid K&N, just get a genuine MB filter at half the price and change twice as often.

Paper filters flow the SAME as K&N etc. when clean, it is only when dirty that the K&N flow better.
Plus you don't bugger your MAF.

That's pretty dubious too nowadays Yug depends on the age of both, the biggest benefit of K&N filters from what our studies show seems to be the profit margins on them

 

[JBell]

I don't want to take any chances with this and seeing I've only had the keys for 12 hours I contacted the dealer.

I email them my concern and called just now too, making sure they log everything down. They were helpful and said in their experience it could be condensation or something more sinister. They've booked me to see an engineer next Thursday, so in the meantime I will buy a bottle of Wynne's/ STP / Cataclean and take her on a 1hr motorway run which should help clear out any 'condensation'

You have nothing to worry about, people are commenting on the assumption you have bought a CDi which would suffer on short journeys but you have a CGi which won't, fuel system cleaner will sort it but the vapour is nothing irregular

 

[cheapshots]

Thanks JBell. I'll pop some Cataclean inside and take it for a motorway run, just as a precaution.

For now I'll keep my dealer appointment for next Thursday, just in case

 

[Vehementi]

Not on the W204, the only pre facelift cars with 7g were the C350CDi and the C63, all others had the 5g 'box

And lesson learnt!

Good to hear you've gone with the 2012 C250, aside from the little niggle you're having. I hope you enjoy it.

Also, get some pictures up be nice to see what you variant you got! (Estate, Saloon etc etc)

 

[JBell]

Thanks JBell. I'll pop some Cataclean inside and take it for a motorway run, just as a precaution.

It is good stuff, I use it and if you stick to the instructions i.e. put it in a 1/4 tank full and run it for 40 odd miles then fill up.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cataclean-...d=1484737476&sr=8-1&keywords=cataclean+petrol

The best is supposed to be Archoil AR6400 Pro PEA

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Archoil-AR...e=UTF8&qid=1484737284&sr=8-3&keywords=archoil

 

[cheapshots]

I'll upload some pics up very soon

RE the Achoil AR6400 - I used Archoil products (AR6200) in my old car BMW 520 diesel, due to the fact I do short trips which kills the DPF, turbo etc... I used the AR6200 for almost 2 years and did notice improvement with mpg and well as a healthier DPF.

I ran monthly diagnostic checks myself by accessing the on board computer to record pressures, regeneration dates and exhaust temps etc.... I have to say the AR6200 is a good product.

Now this car is a petrol so I'm not as concerned about it as much, however I do think I will be using the AR6400 that JBell mentioned every now and again.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Archoil-AR...ie=UTF8&qid=1484737531&sr=8-1&keywords=Ar6200

 

[SunnyDee]

My C250 2013 car was debadge as well, including the Blue Eff... badge too

Good choice of a car and glad you went for the face lift too. Personally I would of went for the Coupé, you would of got the sexy Coupé seats.

Mine is 7 speed auto with start stop too, I guess that known as 7G+? But noticed today my rev counter was at 2 RPM when driving at 70MPH I swear its usually below 2RPM?

 

[cheapshots]

Hi guys,

As promised (although very very late) a few pic's of my new c250 cgi. I'll probably be heckled for this but I think I'm going to add the C250 & CGI badges on either side of the boot.

Really enjoying the car so far, the engine certainly packs some punch, however I do sometimes wish it would sometimes shift to a lower gear quicker (usually on inclines)... but this just gives me an excuse to use the sports button

I purchased a Carsoft i980 diagnostic tool just to put my mind at ease and good news - no errors picked up

High res:
http://i.imgur.com/piwwA7r.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oB1AdRb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KgFt4er.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vAMvnqz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/csGJFcb.jpg

 

[John Laidlaw]

Lovely....but yes please don't add the badges...look how smooth it is without and very cool

 

[JBell]

Looks lovely, nice colour

I'll probably be heckled for this but I think I'm going to add the C250 & CGI badges on either side of the boot.

Don't ruin the nice clean rear

 

[ernieh]

I don't think anybody mentioned it, but do check that the running temperature is in the late 80s - early 90s range as these thermostats can be dodgy and there have been a few on here. I had one go on a C180, the 1.6 M274 engine, and it triggered the EML because it apparently affects the emissions.

Ernie

 

[cheapshots]

Thanks for the compliments, I would have preferred a light coloured interior (beige leather) but you can't have it all!

The coolant temp sits comfortably at 90 so not concerned at the moment

I'll update you all if I decide to stick a badge or two on her rear

 

[aybracers]

According to the build sheet, your car was specified with SA code 260 - Elimination of badges on the rear. It also has Black Ash wood and through loading/folding rear seats as extras along with a CD changer - nice spec, well chosen.

There is a serious shortage of choice for petrol engine late W204 C class cars - by December 2013 the 250CGI disappeared from the price list. Only the 1600cc engined C180 was available as a petrol (Apart from C63, naturally)