The Top Secrets of Owning a Mercedes Benz C Class

Everyone dreams of driving a shiny Mercedes Benz, right? The Benz "C" class, sometimes referred to as the "Baby Benz", put Benz ownership into the reaches of more people than ever before. The C class is the least expensive Benz series, with the C-230 sport sedan starting around $30,000. The C class cars look great but there are five secrets you should know about before buying or leasing one. These are the things Mercedes Benz would not tell you up front.

Secret #1: C class owners are, to put it bluntly, second class citizens. By stepping into the world of Mercedes Benz, one believes that they are stepping up into a world of luxury service and treatment. This is a big misconception. When you call the service department to report difficulties with your C class, as I did with my C230 Kompressor, the service rep's tone noticeably changes when they find out you are a "second class" owner. The service reps jump up and fall all over themselves when they see an expensive S class roll up, but seem to go back to being bored and indolent customer service people when the poor C class owner drives up.

Secret #2: Mercedes Benz sound systems do not recognize CD's that have been burned by a computer. This may sound like a small issue, but after several plays of burned CD's, purchased at Starbucks Hear Music, my sound system tuckered out. The CD player simply reported a "CD error" and refused to play anymore. The 6-CD changer apparently quit in sympathy for its counterpart, so a burned CD caused a major electrical problem with my Mercedes Benz sound system. No one told me not to do this. My service advisor, almost as an afterthought, said "oh yeah, Benz doesn't recognize homemade CD's". The car was already in the shop by then, so that juicy tidbit of information was not exactly front page news.

Secret #3: Sport-style cars, like my C230, have two different sizes of tires. This is a great look for the car and makes it handle like a true sports car. The problem is that tires of different sizes cannot be rotated, and thus have a much shorter road life. So, when I was walking out of the dealer's office to drive my new ride home, he said, "Oh, by the way, those tires can't be rotated. They will give you about 18,000 miles and will need to be replaced." Did I mention that I had already signed the papers, traded in my BMW, and had the keys to the new car? Again, this bit of news was like telling your dead uncle Bob that he just should not have walked out in front of that Greyhound bus. So, if you still want to make this purchase, be sure to find out if your car-to-be has different sized tires. Be careful, because it may just appear that the car is super sporty; the super sporty look could be due to the differing tire sizes.

Secret #4: The cost of maintenance for your second-class C series would make you believe that you are really high in the economic strata. My first service, which consisted of an oil change, fluid checks, and a questionable replacement of windshield wipers, was around $225. For a $225 oil change, I expected to be placed on a velvet throne in the waiting room and entertained by the Benz court jester. To top off this incredible number, the service came at the end of a 13 day transmission problem, in which the part had to be ordered from Hamburg. Let me clarify this: the car was at the service department for 13 days while I drove a cheap rental car. I was so exasperated at the end of this fiasco that I did not even argue for a free service. You would think that customer service for a luxury automobile would be a little more proactive, but that is definitely not the case. If you want the Benz dream, be sure to have that extra money laying around for service.

Secret #5: Mercedes Benz, as an organization, just does not place customer satisfaction high on the priority list. In addition to my transmission problems, I unfortunately had to have a large dent repaired in the front bumper. The body shop, complete with the Mercedes Benz logo on the door, did not do a stellar repair job. They forgot to replace the under-skirting below the bumper during the repair, so I had to duct-tape the bumper of a car that was less than one year old. There was paint overspray residue all over the front of the car, which led me to believe that the repair paint was applied during a Category 1 Hurricane. When I contacted Mercedes corporate to address these issues, I was consistently given the line "I appreciate your concerns, but Mercedes Benz is independent of your dealership and the body shop. I suggest you contact the manager of each establishment." In simple terms, Mercedes corporate does not have an affiliation with body shops or dealerships since they are independently owned. When I pointed out that these establishments have the Benz logo on them, one of the most recognizable brand logos in the entire world, I received the same response. No one took ownership of the issues at hand and the proverbial "buck" was passed among the "no ones" very well.

These are the things that you might not see if you are blinded by the sheer beauty of that hot Benz in the showroom. In addition, consider the alternative entry-level luxury cars offered at BMW, Lexus, and Infinity before making your final decision. For me, the dream of the Benz has been like that old dream in which you show up naked to school. If you have the Benz dream, investigate the options, think clearly, and consider the 5 secrets of Benz ownership.