[.anshuman]

^^ I am sure most BMW owners must be buying comprehensive maintenance packages with the car.

What about Mercedes? I mean do they also have maintenance packages on offer? If yes, Which is the longest duration package available?

[joshguy]

Originally Posted by GTO

Well, you do make a valid point. Up until this year, I spent only 30K (20K for the sensor that was shot in Goa, and 10K for the service) and thought it's going to be a good year. However, with the compressor replacement, we are back to the 1,00,000 rupee a year figure.

As things stand, I'll retain the car only because it was a replacement for the 2003 C180 petrol. Thus, the acquisition cost was a lot less.

So this car was a replacement for the C180 and what was the reason behind it? have you mentioned it here and have i missed the thread ?

[Anand123]

Originally Posted by joshguy

September is the right month for purchasing a automobile.You will have lots of offer/discount

Can you please elaborate on that 'September' part. What's so special with this month? Isnt it during the end of a year when lots of discounts are offered to clear stocks?

[FlyingSpur]

@ Anand : I don't know about Josh, but in Mumbai it's discounts galore because of Ganesh Chaturthi. Also in Diwali, which is usually Oct / Nov. Discounts aren't only year-end affairs, in fact they're easy to grab during the festive season. Kolkata must be having a nice discount scene during Durga Puja, for example (just guessing).

Originally Posted by joshguy

So this car was a replacement for the C180 and what was the reason behind it? have you mentioned it here and have i missed the thread ?

Have you missed this?

[evo]

September has another benefit for companies and professionals like Docs, Lawyers etc.

If they buy a car before 30th September then they can tax deduct depreciation for the entire year even though they are buying it only now.

For example, lets take a Fiesta acquired at about Rs.600,000. The depreciation rate is 15 or 20% I think. Lets take it to be 20%.

So if someone buys a car before 1st Sep, then he`ll get 20%*600,000 i.e. 1,20,000 as depreciation as per Income Tax Law, while after 1st of Sept he`ll only get (20%*600,000)/2 i.e. 60,000 as depreciation.

So the additional savings made by the person are 30% (assumed tax rate) * 60000. i.e. 18000. Thats Rs. 18000 of lower tax outflow. Thats about 3% off.

(This is very OT, please change to a more relevant thread if necessary)

[GTO]

Originally Posted by flyingspur

If you're going to stick to Japs, I don't know what else you're thinking of buying next.

Plenty of options, starting with Accords & Landcruisers.

Originally Posted by ajmat

Saying that am waiting to hear actual running costs of BMWs. All the cars on forum are too new to judge at the moment

True.

But the only other German brand I'll consider - as things stand - is BMW. If my C had 5 year / 100,000 kms coverage, this air-con compressor would have been my first expense. I wouldn't be anywhere as dissatisfied.

Originally Posted by .anshuman

What about Mercedes? I mean do they also have maintenance packages on offer? If yes, Which is the longest duration package available?

3 year packages, tops, though some dealers are offering a 4th year option (themselves, not manufacturer backed). Hardly a match for BMW's 5 year packages.

[SmartCat]

After a few years, sell the Merc and go for an used BMW X1 (if you can stomach its looks). Since X1 will already have 4WD and a diesel, you could ditch the Fortuner plan. Then you will have a proper highway car that does well on the twisties.

I have personally started reading some reviews of X1 on the net - for my long term (6 years perhaps) car buying plans! BMW X1 looks quite good if I close one eye with my hand.

[GTO]

Damn'ed white elephant strikes again!

• ESP Malfunction : Steering sensor busted. Cost Rs. 22,000.

• Engine mounts shot again. Apparently, replacing them every 40,000 kms is usual stuff (when Japs & Koreans last atleast twice, if not thrice, the distance). About Rs. 7,000 odd for the mounts.

• Air-con compressor replacement pending. Rs. 70,000

History:

• ESP Malfunction within 2 years.
• Defective suspension balance rod.
• @ 30,236 kms : Air-con compressor & expansion valve.
• @ 32,000 kms : Brake pads worn out. Rs. 22,030.
• @ 41,425 kms : Replace V-Belt & suspension bushings. Rs. 9,026.
• @ 42,605 kms : Air-con evaporator.
• @ 50,000 kms : Replace Intercooler pipe. About Rs. 12,000.
• Feb 2009 : Changed the clutch, engine mounts & front shocks.
• Jan 2010 : Air-con sensor conked off. Cost = 20,000. Car off the road = 1 month.

Owning the Civic & Jeep are far more satisfying. The C220 is at the bottom of the list, sharing a spot with the Tata Indigo.

[anandpadhye]

Hi GTO,

Thank you for running this detailed and fact based thread.
Any idea if this engine mounts issue is seen with all Merc's in general or just a few?

Also, curious about the intercooler pipe replacement at 50,000KM. What was the reason in your case? My Tucson's intercooler pipe developed cracks and holes and started a slow oil leak and had to be replaced at around 88000KM. I am wondering if this is regular with all vehicles with turbo???

Thank you!

[sidindica]

Originally Posted by GTO

Damn'ed white elephant strikes again!

• ESP Malfunction : Steering sensor busted. Cost Rs. 22,000.

• Engine mounts shot again. Apparently, replacing them every 40,000 kms is usual stuff (when Japs & Koreans last atleast twice, if not thrice, the distance). About Rs. 7,000 odd for the mounts.

• Air-con compressor replacement pending. Rs. 70,000

History:



Owning the Civic & Jeep are far more satisfying. The C220 is at the bottom of the list, sharing a spot with the Tata Indigo.

Maybe time to look at an infiniti? ACI April issue reporting that Shreyans is planning to get infiniti also to India.

[bhojraj]

GTO, What a precession made write up about one of the leader
in the segment, Allways I anticipate your reviews and test
drives. Nice writing.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by anandpadhye

Any idea if this engine mounts issue is seen with all Merc's in general or just a few?

Diesel Mercs, including all Cs & most Es.

What was the reason in your case?

As I posted earlier, that wasn't the cars fault. A rat made my pipe its meal!

Originally Posted by sidindica

Maybe time to look at an infiniti?

Dunno. But what I do know is, the next luxo-car has to be Japanese or Korean. I'm FED UP of the Mercedes.

[FlyingSpur]

Originally Posted by GTO

Dunno. But what I do know is, the next luxo-car has to be Japanese or Korean. I'm FED UP of the Mercedes.

Not even a BMW with BSI?

Anyway, with Japs, I still don't see where you're going with this unless you're going to downgrade a segment and buy a new Accord. Of course, in terms of space and reliability it's definitely an upgrade. Your problem is, you won't buy a car that's not fun to drive which eliminates most of what is available.

A used LC100, perhaps. Or a nice Lexus LS.

[benzinblut]

I know that high-end cars are complex and have many and complex parts. Damn! one wouldn't believe just the number of motors that these cars come with. Strangely, many parts in your car have failed much earlier than their service life. An AC compressor, for example, would work more then the life of the car on most cars.

As an owner of an expensive German sedan, I would expect my car to be extremely reliable. Is this a one-off case or are there more cases that are not being reported? Comparing this with BMW: As far as my experiece with BMW service goes, irrespective of the Extended Warranty, BMW seems to be more reliable of the two.

PS: If I am not wrong, this is your second Merc and the earlier one did not have a good history as well.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by benzinblut

As an owner of an expensive German sedan, I would expect my car to be extremely reliable. Is this a one-off case or are there more cases that are not being reported?

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...rman-cars.html