Mercedes Benz C Class 180 Review

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Mercedes Benz C Class 180
3.5 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.5 out of 5

From 10 ratings and 14 reviews

Thumb up 79% of users recommend this product

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McCoy's Review of Mercedes Benz C Class 180

8th Dec 2005

Overall Rating

3 stars
  • Value for money
    2.5 stars
  • Length of ownership
    18 months
  • Performance
    3.5 stars
  • Reliability
    2.5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    1996
  • Doors
    4
  • Practicality
    4 stars
Good Points

Solid feel, very comfortable cruiser.


Bad Points

Reliability issues - see below


General Comments

Traded in my practically bulletproof 150k miles 190E for 86k Mercedes Benz C Class 180. The 190's lines are gorgeous but dated, and the C has a more confident (taller), contemporary presence.

First weekend away the bonnet started to lift on the motorway, due to (apparently not uncommon) release mechanism fault. Trying to drive the catch home, I exerted pressure on the bonnet surface, and now have a tidy dent from the heel of my hand next to the star badge (thanks, Merc.). Double skinned bonnet, so very difficult to repair.
Other problems: horn mechanism under the airbag unscrewed itself somehow, and sounded intermittently - fixed by supercilious dealer at great expense (of course); lights-on alarm buzzer doesn't work, which has caused many flat batteries - dealer says it needs a computer diagnosis - my brain diagnosed that jump leads were much cheaper; wiper motor clutch had to be replaced (190 unit lasted nearly twice the mileage); horn died (the actual noisy bit) - a first for me in 22 years of driving all sorts of cars; the in-car air circulation (exhaust blocker) knocks itself off after about five minutes, which means breathing fumes several times during each morning's commute; and of course the bulbs - most have been replaced, some often, in the year and a bit that I've had the car. Now the right indicator lamp is flickering wildly, indicating a fault somewhere in the offside winker circuit.
Mercedes Benz woke up one day and thought 'I want to be Gucci!'. Well, Gucci looks fab on the catwalk, and uses the best of materials, but the buttons fall off and the stitching goes in no time. Metaphor for Merc - you decide.
By the way, don't try racing anyone away from the lights!

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