Taxi drivers in Germany insist that there is no workhorse like a Mercedes-Benz. And, in the same breath, add that quality has been on an upswing since 2005. Well, the C220 has recently completed 40,000 kms. And is proving itself to be an absolute workaholic.
Most important upgrade : I switched from the awful Goodyears to a fabulous set of Michelin PP2's (Thanks Iraghava). I didn’t really have a chance to test them until a weekend road trip recently. MAN! What an improvement. The rubber is far more silent, the traction control light flashes much later into a corner and the overall grip levels are "sticky" strong. A+ rating to Michelins.
The 40,000 km has come pretty early, and the car still feels young. Absolutely no rattles, squeaks or any wear that would give the age away. It still feels as solid as day one and feels kinda special each time that you drive it. There is no escape from being in awe at the sheer depth of German engineering. The smaller details amaze while everything else works just the way it is supposed to.
The engine - focal point of the C220 - is par excellence. Been having some "friendly" spins against petrol Mercs, Hondas, Mondeos, RS' and Lauras. Suffice to say that the C hasn’t disappointed. City performance was always good, but the recent highway drive was astounding! On the deserted highway, 5th gear was like an automatic on straights and inclines / declines alike. Its a family rule now to ONLY use the Benz on the highway (safety reasons), and as such....it is munching up a good number of miles. In the last three months itself, the C has been to Goa, Deolali (Nasik) and Lonavla a couple of times. . The suspension maintains it harsh ride quality (at low speeds) as well as splendid grip levels. Above 60 kph, ride quality is not a bother and the suspension simply eats up the worst of potholes. In the city, it is a pain over rough patches (especially when unladen).
Service costs:
2nd Service @ 20,000 kms : Rs. 23,648 (October 2006)
3rd Service @ 30,000 kms : Rs. 27,572. (June 2007)
Brake pad change : Rs. 19,000.
Problems:.
Frankly, I am extremely happy with the overall reliability the 220 has shown. In 40,000 kms, the only “expensive” replacement was the air-con compressor. And that was taken care off under warranty. Parts still remain killer expensive though. A damaged alloy wheel cost Rs. 27xxx (God bless insurance).
1. Front bumper skirts are placed too low and frequently scrape against tarmac. Especially on the less-than-perfect hill station roads. A significant amount of paint has chipped off and a bumper repaint looks inevitable.
2. Of late, there seems to be a new problem with the seat belt sensor. The OBC either doesn’t recognize that the seat belt is buckled in, or gives a "SRS Malfunction warning". Switching off and restarting the car solves it, albeit temporarily.
3. The malfunctioning turn signal light (on the left mirror) seems to be a design defect!! Car has been to Auto Hangar thrice already for repairs, but the light malfunctions in about 2 - 3 months from the visit.
After-sales:
Auto Hangar continues to impress with exemplary levels of service. No complaints at all (despite being a pretty demanding customer). However, my warranty has now expired. Hope there ain't any 6 figure bills coming any time soon.
Next up?:
- A Pete’s power box?
- Detailing for the exterior and interior.
My first impressions remain : The 220 has turned out be a perfect sedan for personal use in India. Here is to the next 40,000 kms of hard driving!