Newbie - Looking to buy a B Class

[dmu]

Hello all.

I'm normally found lurking around the Toyota owners club but I'm out to buy a new B Class 2.0 diesel for a mate of mine.

Can anybody tell me if there are any skeletons in the cupboard that I need to look out for or are these things pretty bomb proof.

Also, what kind of discounts are avilable when buying brand new?

Cheers

 

[Rory]

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=923&

The 4cyl diesel drone /noise really gets to some people in B Class (it's fine in other MB models). I know someone who gave up and returned his, it irritated him so much.

It's also not a car that has sold well in the UK (although it has elsewhere) so make sure the deal is right. There are currently no official MB offers on B Class - which is a surprise.

Make sure the ride is OK, and avoid anything sporty like sports suspension and big, low profile tyres.

MB have service packages, called Service and ServicePlus which you may want to look into. ServicePlus is especially useful once the car is out of warranty.

 

[mastereng]

Presumably you are aware a face lifted version has just been announced? Will probably reach UK sometime after July. I guess they might be more generous with discount for any remaining pre facelift cars.

 

[hawk20]

Hello all.

I'm normally found lurking around the Toyota owners club but I'm out to buy a new B Class 2.0 diesel for a mate of mine.

Can anybody tell me if there are any skeletons in the cupboard that I need to look out for or are these things pretty bomb proof.

Also, what kind of discounts are avilable when buying brand new?

Cheers

I had a B 200cdi from new and loved it. Did 5,000 miles or more before I fell in love with the S class and bought a nearly new one of those instead.

The B class is a staggeringly good car. Legroom front and rear is about the same as the S class. No other modestly sized car equals it. And the boot is as big as the S class boot too. Lots of miles per gallon.

At 80 mph the engine is only doing 2,000 revs and is virtually inaudible. I had the CVT which is smooth as silk (gearchanges are as smooth as the old S class and smoother than the new one). I had absolutely no droning noise from the engine at all and I now have two A class diesels (same engines and no drone there either). Maybe it was on some very early ones and got corrected but it is not there now.

Very popular in Europe and is one of the few Mercedes models which has no programme to assist its sales in UK. You may get 5/6/7/8 per cent if you push but not more unless they are taking off more for the pre-face lift ones.

Sadly I need two cars now instead of one dear one. If the B was not 5k more than an A class, I would happily have two B's.

 

[Brett]

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=923&It's also not a car that has sold well in the UK (although it has elsewhere) so make sure the deal is right. There are currently no official MB offers on B Class - which is a surprise.

Interesting - when I asked my dealer about sales of this model he said that it was initially slow but now they "have no problems" selling any that they bring in, both new and used.

 

[Rory]

Interesting - when I asked my dealer about sales of this model he said that it was initially slow but now they "have no problems" selling any that they bring in, both new and used.

Thanks for that - I did think it really ought to catch on, and I was quite concerned (as a C Class owner) that it might take over from C Class. I really haven't seen many around though.

I did drive one as a courtesy car, although it was a B150 manual. I think that just goes to show how misguided dealers can be when it comes to courtesy cars - the engine and gearbox combination was just horrible! A possible sales opportunity lost.

 

[stumpy]

Thanks for that - I did think it really ought to catch on, and I was quite concerned (as a C Class owner) that it might take over from C Class. I really haven't seen many around though.

I did drive one as a courtesy car, although it was a B150 manual. I think that just goes to show how misguided dealers can be when it comes to courtesy cars - the engine and gearbox combination was just horrible! A possible sales opportunity lost.

That's a good point about loan cars. Mind you, I suppose it's not an unusual thing to have a small hatchback with a small engine and manual gearbox. That is the market it competes in. Interesting though that in your view that's not a particularly successful combo. I had a VW Toerag loaner for a few days when the Bentley went in. I didn't like it at all. Got it nice and muddy though

 

[hawk20]

Having driven several different versions of the B class, I agree with most reviewers that the diesels are best. Once warm they are quiet and the low down torque makes for relaxed long range driving. Economy is excellent.

I think the A class can get away with a 1500 engine but the B needs 1700 in petrol or more. I liked the 2 litre petrol which does 0-62 in around 10 seconds, which is my chosen benchmark for a car to feel nippy. The B200cdi has the same performance as the 2 litre petrol on paper but the torque makes it so much more driveable without high revs.

By the way the B200cdi diesel auto has virtually identical performance to the manual. Liked it.

 

[Dinnie]

0-62 in around 10 seconds, which is my chosen benchmark for a car to feel nippy.

I agree

 

[dmu]

I've been away from the forum for quite a while but would like to thank you all for replies. The B200 CDi is now ordered and will be delivered in May. WE drove the B180 CDi and as stated it was noisey from cold but soon quitened out. The smoothness of the gearchange was astonishing and unless you watched the tacho carefully you could not detect it change. Another thing that struck me was just how quick it warmed up. The car was parked inside the showroom and all we did was get it outside and before we got off the retail park (at Macclesfield) it was up to temperature and the heater was blowing hot - not warm. The spec was metalic paint, auto box, reversing sensors, half leather (read that as leather effect). They eventually allowed £1150 discount and threw in mudflaps and carpets for me to fit. I don't know if that is good as it is the first Merc I've negotiated on but to be honest I was expecting a bit more.

Anyway, thanks again for your comments.

 

[hawk20]

I've been away from the forum for quite a while but would like to thank you all for replies. The B200 CDi is now ordered and will be delivered in May. WE drove the B180 CDi and as stated it was noisey from cold but soon quitened out. The smoothness of the gearchange was astonishing and unless you watched the tacho carefully you could not detect it change. Another thing that struck me was just how quick it warmed up. The car was parked inside the showroom and all we did was get it outside and before we got off the retail park (at Macclesfield) it was up to temperature and the heater was blowing hot - not warm. The spec was metalic paint, auto box, reversing sensors, half leather (read that as leather effect). They eventually allowed £1150 discount and threw in mudflaps and carpets for me to fit. I don't know if that is good as it is the first Merc I've negotiated on but to be honest I was expecting a bit more.

Anyway, thanks again for your comments.

Your impressions are very similar to mine. The discount you got is pretty good. They don't give away much on the B's as they don't need to. You say delivered in May. Will that be the new facelifted one. Here is a good link: -
http://benzinsider.com/2008/03/mercedes-benz-b-class-facelifted/

 

[cj...]

Interesting - when I asked my dealer about sales of this model he said that it was initially slow but now they "have no problems" selling any that they bring in, both new and used.

They did start of slow but this was because the price was deemed expensive in comparison to contemporary models ie: vauxhall zafira etc etc.
In quarter 3 and 4 of 2006 daimler chrysler finance subsidised the pcp deals with low rate finance and then they flew out of the showroom door.

 

[hawk20]

They did start of slow but this was because the price was deemed expensive in comparison to contemporary models ie: vauxhall zafira etc etc.
In quarter 3 and 4 of 2006 daimler chrysler finance subsidised the pcp deals with low rate finance and then they flew out of the showroom door.

Yes but sadly no such deals since. Have you read up on the facelift. Interesting indeed. See link I posted earlier.

 

[Brett]

Congratulations - I hope your new car brings you many hours, days and years of happy trouble free motoring!

 

[dmu]

Short answer is I don't know. I think the sales woman said it was an existing model that was early enough to be caught in production to add the options. If it coincides time wise with the face lift I guess that all cars leaving the line will be so equiped? The one in the article is the same colour - quite nice I think. I will let you know what happens.

 

[ElegantSpoon]

My uncle took delivery of his new B180 diesel about two months ago and is really liking it. The sound proofing is brilliant with minimal road noise and plenty of legroom. He has also said the MPG is a million times better than his C180 he had before it, however he did tell me he prefers the c-class interior.

I personally thinking it is a really nice car with plenty of boot and interior space and I think the price is the only thing that keeps the numbers down.