Mercedes C220 Review | EDIT: Sold after 9 years and 1.05 lakh km

vinaydas · 4th January 2010, 12:11

maybe the localization is the culprit here? (im not sure if the c220 is a CKD or a CBU)
so MB might be using substandard parts on some of its variants to save on costs? Compared to the CBU's which are relatively reliable?

Mpower · 4th January 2010, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

I don't buy that, Mpower. If you sell your car here, make sure it performs just as well. Also, I've seen harsher driving conditions (road + weather) in a place like Boston.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carboy

- MB's AC's are designed for German weather, hence fail in India.
- MB's Suspensions are designed for Autobahns, hence they fail in India.
- MB's Fuel Pumps are designed for German fuel, hence they fail in India.

They should either design for the place they are selling the car or stop selling it in that place.

Anyway, I absolutely don't believe the fact that AC fails because it's designed for German weather.

Hey, dont shoot the messenger. Usually A/C compressors etc are upsized and ruggedized for tropical markets by many OEMs. Even suspensions/GC is modified for India along with engine tuning for local fuel. Never heard of Merc doing anything like that.

Generally Merc does not do whole lot of local tuning because they feel customers like the 'Germaness' of their cars even though their top markets are China, USA, Germany, Middle-east

I recall a friend with a W140 in the late 90s also had repeated AC failures.

r_subbiah · 4th January 2010, 20:27

As usual an excellent thread by GTO. I regret my self about the desiciion I took to sell my Ikon 1.6 a year back.

Axe77 · 4th January 2010, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

Immortalz, I've seen those corner shops which are not really corner shops.

They have all the diagnostic tools to plug into the ECU for every car model. From there they program the new blank key and test it out. They even give a warranty with the new key.

The place is near mission road in bangalore and the Skoda/Honda/Toyota keys were costing Rs.2,000.

The keys are branded from an italian company Electronic Keys

Can anyone recommend a similar corner shop in Bbay. We just bought a second hand accord and are facing the same issue. I've only got one key (owner seems to have lost other 2). Anywhere I can get the duplicates made reliably? This does not have autocop - simple manual operation key is what I have at my disposal.

Any inputs would be much appreciated.

Zappo · 5th January 2010, 01:37

Many moons back I witnessed a SBK owner addressing a crowd at a local auto rally and display (had all sorts of vintage, new, 4-wheeled, 2-wheeled kinds) that one is not supposed to ask about the maintenance cost of such vehicles. They are owned for style, verve and substance that they carry. It is understandable that ordinary people can not maintain them and hence the exclusivity that arises from it. He even sneered "CD100 kharido bhai".

I found that to be a strange line at that time and gave a shrug and walked off thinking 'talk about walking on the clouds'! Now I wonder whether these luxury brands do try to exploit this warped thinking amongst the owners of such luxury vehicles to milk them and line their pockets?

Its time they started facing the music. And that will happen when owners start asking why I should really have to keep paying for the inferior parts in my luxury vehicle which keep breaking down ever so often when similar parts in a vehicle far down the ranks keep performing flawlessly year after year.

GTO · 8th January 2010, 17:59

Umm, turns out it wasn't the evaporator after all

. My Merc independent specialist - Ajay Parekh - merely took out two sockets (one of which led to the compressor), cleaned the residue and put it back. Voila! Aircons back to its chilly days.

Cost = Zero.

My earlier criticism was probably a tad too harsh. But then, there have been numerous other part replacements too.

issigonis · 8th January 2010, 18:10

GTO,

You jumped the gun, it seems

.
The brand value and image of Daimler Benz lives on to fight another day!

Regards

Jaggu · 8th January 2010, 18:22

Phew that was a close shave! May you have a trouble free merc

GTO · 8th January 2010, 20:07

What kind of residue would cause this? Sulphur? How did it get there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by issigonis

The brand value and image of Daimler Benz lives on to fight another day!

lancer_rit · 8th January 2010, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Umm, turns out it wasn't the evaporator after all

. My Merc independent specialist - Ajay Parekh - merely took out two sockets (one of which led to the compressor), cleaned the residue and put it back. Voila! Aircons back to its chilly days.

Cost = Zero.

So, maybe every two years, this cleaning of sockets is required instead of changing the evaporator ? The dealer, in all probability, will change the evaporator and do the cleaning ??

GTO · 9th January 2010, 12:28

Quote:

The dealer, in all probability, will change the evaporator and do the cleaning ??

Well, I've had a superb experience with Auto Hangar since day one and would not doubt their business practices.

jkdas · 10th January 2010, 12:28

Peace of might is what one would want. Proactive repair/replacement and swift work is what any car owner would want be it Swift or Merc.

GTO's Merc is 5 year. Newer Merc's are better right? That is, they dont have this rate of part failure ? Merc of Germany = Tata of India

Correct me here. Resale value of C/3/A4 is better than of Camry/Accord/Teana.

ImmortalZ · 10th January 2010, 13:27

Uhh, the Camry and Teana have no resale value at all when you consider the prices they are sold at.

GTO · 13th January 2010, 19:56

Sighhhhhhhhhhh.....the air-con has conked off yet again. Evaluation pending, but I'm back to my suspicion of the evaporator conking off.

Sheel · 19th January 2010, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Sighhhhhhhhhhh.....the air-con has conked off yet again. Evaluation pending, but I'm back to my suspicion of the evaporator conking off.

Again! you sure have nerves of steel bro,
this new year hasn't been kind on your Car's a/c, its the second time, (the goa drive back and now) phew!

i know you don't change cars often but just maybe the upcoming 5 series is calling you

4th January 2010, 12:11	#211
vinaydas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,399 Thanked: 148 Times	maybe the localization is the culprit here? (im not sure if the c220 is a CKD or a CBU) so MB might be using substandard parts on some of its variants to save on costs? Compared to the CBU's which are relatively reliable?
	() Thanks

4th January 2010, 20:27	#213
r_subbiah BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 29 Thanked: 10 Times	As usual an excellent thread by GTO. I regret my self about the desiciion I took to sell my Ikon 1.6 a year back.
	() Thanks

5th January 2010, 01:37	#215
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,922 Thanked: 2,699 Times	Many moons back I witnessed a SBK owner addressing a crowd at a local auto rally and display (had all sorts of vintage, new, 4-wheeled, 2-wheeled kinds) that one is not supposed to ask about the maintenance cost of such vehicles. They are owned for style, verve and substance that they carry. It is understandable that ordinary people can not maintain them and hence the exclusivity that arises from it. He even sneered "CD100 kharido bhai". I found that to be a strange line at that time and gave a shrug and walked off thinking 'talk about walking on the clouds'! Now I wonder whether these luxury brands do try to exploit this warped thinking amongst the owners of such luxury vehicles to milk them and line their pockets? Its time they started facing the music. And that will happen when owners start asking why I should really have to keep paying for the inferior parts in my luxury vehicle which keep breaking down ever so often when similar parts in a vehicle far down the ranks keep performing flawlessly year after year. Last edited by Zappo : 5th January 2010 at 01:38.
	() Thanks

8th January 2010, 17:59	#216
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,538 Thanked: 300,845 Times View My Garage	Umm, turns out it wasn't the evaporator after all . My Merc independent specialist - Ajay Parekh - merely took out two sockets (one of which led to the compressor), cleaned the residue and put it back. Voila! Aircons back to its chilly days. Cost = Zero. My earlier criticism was probably a tad too harsh. But then, there have been numerous other part replacements too.
	() Thanks

8th January 2010, 18:10	#217
issigonis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 956 Thanked: 95 Times	GTO, You jumped the gun, it seems. The brand value and image of Daimler Benz lives on to fight another day! Regards
	() Thanks

8th January 2010, 18:22	#218
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Phew that was a close shave! May you have a trouble free merc
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 12:28	#222
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Peace of might is what one would want. Proactive repair/replacement and swift work is what any car owner would want be it Swift or Merc. GTO's Merc is 5 year. Newer Merc's are better right? That is, they dont have this rate of part failure ? Merc of Germany = Tata of India Correct me here. Resale value of C/3/A4 is better than of Camry/Accord/Teana.
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 13:27	#223
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Uhh, the Camry and Teana have no resale value at all when you consider the prices they are sold at.
	() Thanks

13th January 2010, 19:56	#224
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,538 Thanked: 300,845 Times View My Garage	Sighhhhhhhhhhh.....the air-con has conked off yet again. Evaluation pending, but I'm back to my suspicion of the evaporator conking off.
	() Thanks