Advice Needed

[The Magician]

Hi all, im a newbie...not only to this site but to MB's. I am currently moving jobs and relinquishing my company car ownership (had a CC for 22 years now...scary!) and am looking at a 55ish C220. Am i making the right choice? I do about 45,000 miles a year, will be covering all cost except for insuring the car. Can anyone offer some advice on service costs, tyre usage, MPG etc. that is true and not MB figures (im in the motor industry and dont trust OE figures!!) I always wanted a C class and now have the opportunity so if any of you know a decent priced C220, Diesel Auto approx. 2 years old then let me know.
Thanks Brad

 

[hawk20]

Hi all, im a newbie...not only to this site but to MB's. I am currently moving jobs and relinquishing my company car ownership (had a CC for 22 years now...scary!) and am looking at a 55ish C220. Am i making the right choice? I do about 45,000 miles a year, will be covering all cost except for insuring the car. Can anyone offer some advice on service costs, tyre usage, MPG etc. that is true and not MB figures (im in the motor industry and dont trust OE figures!!) I always wanted a C class and now have the opportunity so if any of you know a decent priced C220, Diesel Auto approx. 2 years old then let me know.
Thanks Brad

You can get a maintenance contract from Mercedes or can get Service Plus which covers all maintenance plus is virtually a guarantee for everything else. (search for other threads). On a diesel you should get 13-17k between services and an A service will cost about £230 and a B service about £450. That is about 2.5 pence per mile. Then pads, discs etc. See the sticky on Blobcats 320cdi for a good guide.

 

[hawk20]

THREADS ON SERVICE PLUS

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=29948


http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=18621

 

[hawk20]

Blobcats sticky thread is: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=27534

 

[Phil D]

Agree with the estimated service costs - though indies will improve significantly on those numbers, but have to disagree with the service intervals - I cant get beyond 11000 on mine and I'm well past the days of giving my cars a hard life, as my tyres will testify - replaced the rears at 19000 and they're only about half worn 20000 miles later

 

[The Magician]

Thanks people, it seems that owning a MB isnt as expensive as everyone thinks. It seems that alternators and lower ball joints are the main C220 sticking points, if thats the worst of it then count me in!! Looking at the car supermarkets it seems a 55 c220 is about £17k, seems damn good value to me when taking into consideration the residual value of the car when its 4 years old (thats when i'll be looking to change it). Anyone out there know of a 55 reg C220 Saloon Avantgarde thats for sale?
Also, i'd like to say thanks for the posts helping me and this seems like a good site, with frendly people who are up fromt and honest about MB's....Thanks.
Brad

 

[television]

If we were not honest the forum would be impossible, the little suspension links and ball joints that do need replacement from time to time are not expensive, drop link for V70 £70 MB £7

 

[Rory]

I am currently moving jobs and relinquishing my company car ownership (had a CC for 22 years now...scary!) and am looking at a 55ish C220.

I did the same thing a couple of years ago and bought a C270 Estate.

I got mine from MB Direct, although it was only 5mths old with 6K miles. Have a look at the MB Direct website - they usually have a lot of choice and are keen to deal. I paid £23500 for my car (which has COMAND, leather etc etc) and they had it up for £26995. http://www.directmercedes.co.uk/

ServicePlus seems a very good scheme, and by all means get a quote (0870 2426200) but I think the cost for your mileage will be horrendous. It also only covers up to 120K total mileage (or 6 yrs old, whichever is first).

Other people have indicated service costs, for MPG, I really only use my C270CDi auto on long motorway runs and it does high 40's (I can get 50MPG if I'm in the mood). On a 'press on' motorway run it will still do 42-44MPG. Short (sub 5 mile) journeys around town are a bit of a killer and can show 30MPG, but I generally don't use the Merc for those.