Opinions on mercedes C180 Kompressor BlueEFFICIENCY (A)

[Steptronic]

The sales guy told me that there is no discount on C180CGI at the very beginning when I told him that I'm considering to purchase or C180K or CGI.

 

Last year COE was lower, that's probably the reason why they still could afford to offer a discount.

You are right, C180K is with a premium of 38% where as C180 CGI and C200 are with 13 and 20% respectively. C180K has the maximum margin!

[Civic6228]

The sales guy told me that there is no discount on C180CGI at the very beginning when I told him that I'm considering to purchase or C180K or CGI.

 

Last year COE was lower, that's probably the reason why they still could afford to offer a discount.

 

I bot the C180K with the 1.6 L Kompressor Engine in Y2010 and IMO it is good enough for local use ... driving at the speed limit on the expressway - 90km/h is comfortable enough...

 

At the time, they did not have the C180 CGI but I was comparing the price again the C200 CGI... and the price difference was 20k .... for the CGI engine, 28 BHP (more), parktronic, electric seats etc. It is up to the individual on whether he/she wants to pay for the "extras" and I decided to "spend less" the 20k.

 

Not to mention that if the car is sold in the future, the price difference between a same YOM used C200 CGI and C180K is unlikely to be 20k.

 

Enjoy your ride ....

Edited February 28, 2012 by Civic6228

[W210k]

They offer $8000 discount on the 1.6 version (listed price $176.888). There is no discount on 1.8CGI.

On top of that they offer lower trade-in price if you buy 1.8CGI. In my case it's $70K if I buy 1.6 or $63K if I buy 1.8CGI.

And no, there are no other freebies.

 

So in my case I need either pay $98,000 for 1.6 or $128.000 for 1.8CGI.

I know for sure that C&C gives $10K off the C180K's list price of $176,888 (up to last weekend), and another $8K overtrade for your trade-in used car.

 

Your used car trade-in price is thus $70K - $8K = $62K.

Am I correct?

 

Thus your net purchase price for the new car (only) = $158,888.

Didn't you negotiate for even more?

 

[Civic6228]

You are right, C180K is with a premium of 38% where as C180 CGI and C200 are with 13 and 20% respectively. C180K has the maximum margin!

 

I agree with your comment, See and See is getting a fatter margin selling the C180K compared to the C180 CGI or C200 CGI. The C180K - OMV is about 32k and the C180 CGI is 38k and C200 CGI is 45k. The C180 and C200 CGI offer "better value".

 

However, the price difference between the diff CAT of COE is 20k. Consumer has to pay additional 20k more which will effect the buying decision. It is the netted buy price that consumer has to look into at the end of the day.

 

 

[Cklasse]

Thanks! By the way, they gave me free parktronics also. as well as solar film. I never cared electric seats. it's not like I will be adjusting them on daily basis. Last time I had to adjust the seat on my current car was more than two years ago.

 

Do note that there is no Parktronic in the C180, this is an optional item and factory fitted. What you are getting is a local fitted reverse sensor with a tiny display at the rear windscreen.

 

[Steptronic]

Basically I'm paying $98,888

$176,888 - $8,000 (discount) - $70,000 (trade in). The deal was done two days ago.

 

So you say they could have actually given $10K discount? Could be...but initially they offered $68K for the car and pushed it to $70K.

Overtrade is what they offer in addition to the market value of your old car. This overtrade is sort of additional d/c over and above the discount given on printed cost.

[Civic6228]

yep, I know. But I didn't know about the display thingie. They did mention that a reverse cam will be installed as well.

 

By the way, servicing credit of $2000 is this a standard amount that every buyer gets?

 

That is not parktronics ..... that is a reverse camera ...

 

There is no "standard" deal that See and See will offer, it is up to the individual to negotiate and get the best deal. If the deal is "sweet" enough for you .... it is good enough.

 

 

[Soya]

By the way, servicing credit of $2000 is this a standard amount that every buyer gets?

 

 

nope. many get $3k and some even $4k if bargain hard enuf.

[Soya]

Well too bad. The papers have been signed already. May be the next time :)

 

 

yeah, once signed better dun ask. nothing can turn back the clock. if you tink u got a good deal, good for u and enjoy the car.

[Knighthunter]

Well too bad. The papers have been signed already. May be the next time :)

 

 

Bro you get correct one 2k service credit, if you booked about last year it will give you 4k service credit. Anyway enjoy your car C180K is quite fun to drive, the engine power is decent for 2 ton car but it mated with sloppy gearbox so it always feel sluggish. If you want power change to "S" and just kick down the accelerator, the power is there. I am not surprised that CGI now no discount since Cat B hit 78k last week, yet C&C still maintain the price.

 

Regarding reverse sensor, you will given 4 visions reverse sensor with local fitted distance display attached to rear windscreen (you have to see it via rear view mirror) and reverse cam it may integrated to Ausio 20 display since I heard now the new version it comes with multimedia adapter (you can plug in your iPhone/iPod via MB consumer cable). But if you are get the older version C&C may install small display next to rear view mirror, which is bit unsightly.

 

Parktronic only for C200 model and higher.

[W210k]

nope. many get $3k and some even $4k if bargain hard enuf.

Got $10K discount, $8K overtrade, $8,888 additional negotiated discount (including $2K workshop credit), rear view camera, Huper Optik tinting.

 

With all these C&C's gross margin for C180K reduces to that of the C180 - based on 2H Feb COE.

Cat A $57K @ OMV of $32K for C180K

Cat B $78K @ OMV of $38K for C180

 

[W210k]

Oh locally fitted reverse sensors too.

The rear view cam is connected to the Audio 20 screen om the dash

[Astrid]

Got $10K discount, $8K overtrade, $8,888 additional negotiated discount (including $2K workshop credit), rear view camera, Huper Optik tinting.

 

With all these C&C's gross margin for C180K reduces to that of the C180 - based on 2H Feb COE.

Cat A $57K @ OMV of $32K for C180K

Cat B $78K @ OMV of $38K for C180

Wow! So you got a net price of $150K for your C180 Kompressor?

176,888-10,000-8,000-8,888 = 150,000

That's fantastic!

 

Better than buying a VW of equivalent price.

The nearest German that you could consider I'm that price range, with equivalent bragging rights on branding is the BMW 116i. That's 1.6L too, but a TC hatchback.

For me, I did not consider the 116i cos it's electric power steering and has auto start/stop engine. Heard valvetronic motor not so reliable too.

[Mecontle]

all bmw r valvetronic mini included except m series , do u see bmw & mini ever stranded on road? all modern cars r variants of electric power steer, the top end r electric-hydro & performs better than hydro alone , u must be driving a bb car for too long

 

 

[Astrid]

all bmw r valvetronic mini included except m series , do u see bmw & mini ever stranded on road? all modern cars r variants of electric power steer, the top end r electric-hydro & performs better than hydro alone , u must be driving a bb car for too long

Valvetronic motors generally fail between 60k and 120k km and when that happens, BMW cars go on limp mode, but can still crawl at low gear to the workshop. The whole Valvetronic stepper motor module will need to be replaced. Go to bmw.sg forum to read all about owner comprains.

 

Which is still not good, and best avoided, AFAIAC.

 

But still, it ain't as bad as VW's DSG MU failures, whereby cars go on free gear (if already on the move), or cannot come out of car park slots (if stationary).

 

No you are wrong.

Top end Mercs - e.g. C300/C350 are full hydraulic power steering.

 

Only bb cars like the one you're driving are electric, or electro-mechanical.

 

BTW, the C180 has parameter steering, which is electro-mechanical PS (in MB speak).

Your "so-called" top-end - thus still better than the 116i's full electric PS!

Edited February 28, 2012 by Astrid

[Tuna_seng]

I have two BMWs with the N52 engines and both are over 100,000km. Neither ever had Valvetronic failure. Honda has the VTEC, Toyota has VVTi, Porsche has Vario Cam. They are all variable valve timing systems similar to Valvetronic. How often do those break down? Why single out BMW for variable valve timing failure?

[Astrid]

I have two BMWs with the N52 engines and both are over 100,000km. Neither ever had Valvetronic failure. Honda has the VTEC, Toyota has VVTi, Porsche has Vario Cam. They are all variable valve timing systems similar to Valvetronic. How often do those break down? Why single out BMW for variable valve timing failure?

Different lah!

VTEC, VVTi-L (not VVTi - which is timing only, no lift) etc have high-cam profiles NOT activated by a separate electrical stepper motor.

Jap technology uses hydraulically-activated actuators that shifts to high cam above a cutover RPM. More importantly, they share the SAME time domain as the engine's reciprocating, harmonic cycles.

 

Valvetronic on the other hand utilizes a standalone, electrical DC stepper motor to turn an eccentric cam in order to alter the cam profile. But that is an external interference based on a totally segregated time domain that may suffer from synchronic phase shifts (e.g. lead, or lag) over time.

When that happens, the TDC (top dead centre) of an out-of-phase valve(s) of a particular cylinder may not correspond to the full valve closure.

Diagnostic tools will then report cylinder no.x valves are out of phase.

Many BMWs encounter these phase issues - ask any mechanic at the PML Alexandra workshop.

 

Worse happens when the electrical stepper motor kaputs. Car the go on crawl mode, with alarm on.

Still not good lah.

[Astrid]

BTW I own the M54 IL6, but am never convinced to switch to the N series Valvetronic