A Hello and quick question

[Ibby]

Just posting to say hello as a new member and first time MB owner.

Just bought an 03 plate (UK) C220 CDi manual and so far i like it. Its the first time i have ventured to buy a MB (have had 2 bmw's in the past) so its a new experience for me (with the parking brake and so on).

I just have a quick question which may seem as a silly one for some of you. My car currently has 80,000 miles on the clock and I was wondering what the recommended mileage is to change the belt? I say this may be a silly question as my previous car (a bmw) was driven by a chain which was guaranteed to last along with the lifetime of the car - are MB also driven by chain, and if not at what kind of mileage would i need to change it?

thanks for any help in advance!

 

[alexspurs61]

Hi Ibby - the answer is not to fret at the mo - as per the beemer it's chain not belt. See one of my first posts:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=89841#post89841

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

My Audi was a belt, not a chain and cost about £800 every 60k which is why one of the first questions I asked was about changing the belt too. As the previous reply says it's a chain and, in theory, doesn't need changing.

Having gone from and Audi to the Merc (also an 03) I have been disappointed by the finish of the Merc so I'd be interested in your opinion on the finish compared to the beemer. I've had Beemers too but not for a while.

 

[Topboy]

Having gone from and Audi to the Merc (also an 03) I have been disappointed by the finish of the Merc so I'd be interested in your opinion on the finish compared to the beemer. I've had Beemers too but not for a while.

Before my C270 CDI Estate, the 'best' cars I'de ever owner was a Volvo and a newish Honda Accord.

Although I love my Merc, a couple of things just bug the life out of me. I think that when the doors and the boot close they sound very tinny.

The Honda build seemed so much better and far 'more together' if that makes sense.

Still love me C Class though.......

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Actually one of the things I am happy with on my C-Class is that the front doors make a very satisfying "thunk", a bit like old train doors. The boot sounds a bit cheap though.

I get a nasty buzz/rattle from the rear-view mirror that means I keep having to re-adjust it.

Still looks really nice though. I think the estate is one of the nicest looking estates around. How is your gearbox? I find mine gets "confused" and can be very clunky some times (is you'r new enough to be the 7 speed, mine is still only 5 - Auto)?

My Volvo was nicely bolted together but I had some "interesting" mechanical problems. Had most of the front end replaced and that was on a brand new car. To say Volvo's attitiude (this was all done under warrantee) was blunt would be a major understatement. I had BBC "Watchdog" phone me up after I sent them the details and ask me if I wanted to go on TV to talk about it.

 

[television]

Hello Ibby, yes your car has a duplex chain which are normall good for 125+miles, when its time to change it, it will rattle on start up and idle.

Malcolm

 

[Ibby]

thanks for the replies folks.

i have only had the car a week, but i have to say it does not come up to scratch compared to a bmw.

i previously had a 5 series on a 51 plate and it the build quality was rock solid along with all the switches - the cabin was whisper quiet and you would rarely hear any rattles or clunks. My bmw was also a manual and the gearbox on it was bulletproof (the best i have ever used) and the drive fantastic.

The MB is a very good car dont get me wrong - it looks brilliant, and drives great - it is of a very high standard, just not quite to the standard of the BMW.

 

[Rory]

Before my C270 CDI Estate, the 'best' cars I'de ever owner was a Volvo and a newish Honda Accord.

Although I love my Merc, a couple of things just bug the life out of me. I think that when the doors and the boot close they sound very tinny.

Is your July car a facelift one (although not sure that would make any difference)?

I have exactly the same car as you, but mine is Oct 04, and I'd say the side doors close with a thunk. Maybe the rear door is a bit tinny, but I think that's the number plate vibrating.

 

[mstar]

does anybody know if my 1998 c250 td is a cam belt or chain?

 

[television]

does anybody know if my 1998 c250 td is a cam belt or chain?

You have a duplex chain young man, thay last a long time.

Malcolm

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

The MB is a very good car dont get me wrong - it looks brilliant, and drives great - it is of a very high standard, just not quite to the standard of the BMW.

That's pretty much how I feel having come from the A6 and I'm just a little surprised that MB, which is pretty much at the top of the tree in the prestige German saloon stakes, doesn't have the build quality I was expecting. I'm not SERIOUSLY disapointed, just not as happy as I thought I'd be with the car.

enjoy yor car Ibby, welcome to the forum. There are some very helpful people here should you have any problems.

 

[Ibby]

That's pretty much how I feel having come from the A6 and I'm just a little surprised that MB, which is pretty much at the top of the tree in the prestige German saloon stakes, doesn't have the build quality I was expecting. I'm not SERIOUSLY disapointed, just not as happy as I thought I'd be with the car.

enjoy yor car Ibby, welcome to the forum. There are some very helpful people here should you have any problems.

yep same view as myself mate.

thanks for all the replies this looks to be a very friendly and informative site

 

[hawk20]

thanks for the replies folks.

i have only had the car a week, but i have to say it does not come up to scratch compared to a bmw.

i previously had a 5 series on a 51 plate and it the build quality was rock solid along with all the switches - the cabin was whisper quiet and you would rarely hear any rattles or clunks. My bmw was also a manual and the gearbox on it was bulletproof (the best i have ever used) and the drive fantastic.

The MB is a very good car dont get me wrong - it looks brilliant, and drives great - it is of a very high standard, just not quite to the standard of the BMW.

I think in fairness you should compare the C class with the 3 series BMW of the same year as yours and many are the reports of the flimsy finish on the Beemer. I tried a 1.8 3 series and didn't think the finish a patch on the C class so I bought a C class saloon and had two trouble free years. This subjective impression of "finish" and "quality" is odd. Go to other threads and I've just been reading an ex Audi A6 owner saying how much better he thinks the quality and finish of the Merc. And on "Mercedes is for Ladies" the guy who thought he was going to buy an A4 Cabriolet ended up choosing the CLK. You like Pepsi; I like Coke.

 

[television]

. You like Pepsi; I like Coke.

My elder brother has a E46 BMW 5 serries loaded, it was his wifes company car and he got it for a silly price, And yes, the doors open and close like a BM, and not an MB, the lay out is BMW and nothing like the MB. competition is a good thing, in this case, both nicely made, but different. MB has a higher image status than BM, but not by much.

malcolm

 

[hawk20]

My elder brother has a E46 BMW 5 serries loaded, it was his wifes company car and he got it for a silly price, And yes, the doors open and close like a BM, and not an MB, the lay out is BMW and nothing like the MB. competition is a good thing, in this case, both nicely made, but different. MB has a higher image status than BM, but not by much.

malcolm

Yes I agree with all that Malcolm. I spent ages hovering over E class or 5 series a few years back when neither had been out very long. Drove both and so on. The clinchers for me were a) I found the inside of the beemer very bland and loathed the i-drive. But I loved the sweeping walnut, proper switches and command system on the E class
b) I couldn't convince myself I could enjoy a car who's looks I found really odd almost to the point of ugliness
and c) Although it was nice to drive as everyone had said, the ride was frankly awful. None of the magic carpet ride of an E class. None of the 'drive me 300 miles and arrive fresh' that you get from a Merc. Instead every ridge, bump and pothole intruded roughly and harshly. OK, some people like it or put up with it because they think it is "sporty". Frankly, I don't race round airfields with Clarkson; I drive on overcrowded, badly maintained UK roads subject to speed limits at every twist and turn. So I bought the E class and loved it.:grin:

 

[Topboy]

Is your July car a facelift one (although not sure that would make any difference)?

I have exactly the same car as you, but mine is Oct 04, and I'd say the side doors close with a thunk. Maybe the rear door is a bit tinny, but I think that's the number plate vibrating.

Rory,

Mines a July 04 facelift model.

I have actually had a look at my doors since posting and have found the passenger wing mirror to be slightly loose (possibly some barsteward has hit it when I've not folded them in) and that seems to be the cause of my very slight dissatisfaction. Don't know if it can be reset or something?

The drivers door is fairly solid but the boot still just seems a touch tinny.

 

[Ibby]

Yes I agree with all that Malcolm. I spent ages hovering over E class or 5 series a few years back when neither had been out very long. Drove both and so on. The clinchers for me were a) I found the inside of the beemer very bland and loathed the i-drive. But I loved the sweeping walnut, proper switches and command system on the E class
b) I couldn't convince myself I could enjoy a car who's looks I found really odd almost to the point of ugliness
and c) Although it was nice to drive as everyone had said, the ride was frankly awful. None of the magic carpet ride of an E class. None of the 'drive me 300 miles and arrive fresh' that you get from a Merc. Instead every ridge, bump and pothole intruded roughly and harshly. OK, some people like it or put up with it because they think it is "sporty". Frankly, I don't race round airfields with Clarkson; I drive on overcrowded, badly maintained UK roads subject to speed limits at every twist and turn. So I bought the E class and loved it.:grin:

ah the old run flat tyres problem! The new shape 5 series (or E60) comes with run flat tyres as standard and they on the whole cause the main problem regarding ride and so on. Many BMW E60 owners I know changed the run flats for normal tyres and the ride was then perfect.

I get what you mean though the 5 series does have a slightly more stiffer ride than the C Class which is pretty smooth really. Also regarding the 3 series obviously it depends on what spec you have, if you drive a classic spec mercedes you are not going to get the same feeling in an elegance and so on etc