New Mercedes C-class thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Poverty
  • 38 comments
  • 1,783 views
The 328i replaced the 325i in MY2007 as the entry level 3 series in the US. It has a detuned version of the 3.0 liter N52 making 230hp. The US market 325i had the same motor but detuned further more to make 215hp.


M
 
Okay, I see there. I forgot that the previous 330i had 255 BHP, not 230 BHP. That is kinda disappointing that they didn't keep the old 330i around, I quite liked it, and it would have made sense in the lineup. Or at least I think so...
 
YSSMAN
Okay, I see there. I forgot that the previous 330i had 255 BHP, not 230 BHP. That is kinda disappointing that they didn't keep the old 330i around, I quite liked it, and it would have made sense in the lineup. Or at least I think so...
Click to expand...

The problem with keeping the old 330i around was that it would have played havoc with the pricing structure.

The entry level 3 desperately needed a power boost. At $32k to start, it was dog meat in the G35 and IS350's crosshairs. The move to 230hp does two things: a) allows it not to look downright silly when car is cross shopped with competitors similarly priced and b) allows MY2006 330i owners to retain some sense of dignity (not to mention resale value.. BMW North America cares about this too, since it leases LOTS of cars). You should have heard the crying and moaning when E90 330i drivers heard about the 335i/328i. I mean people were talking lawsuits. No joke.

The 335i needed to be introduced with a minimal price increase. Let's face it; the 3 series was looking very overpriced and underpowered in MY2006. A $50,000 3 series that didn't wear an "M" badge wasn't going to fly no matter how good it was. Thus, the 335i sedan wears a very reasonable base MSRP of $38k. For this price, it includes a lot of standard goodies like power seats, Logic7 premium sound and Xenon headlights.

So a MY2007 330i slotted between the 305hp 335i and 230hp 328i would simply be counter productive. It would be priced at around $35k and the 20hp difference between the 330i and 328i would make both models seem redundant to each other and make buying a 3 series unnessessarily complicated.

I think BMW made a good move with the 2007 cars. I would like to see them pull a Porsche and slowly bump up the 328i's power over time to keep it competitive by MY2010, it should be making 250ish. There's no reason the basic engine can't produce up to 275hp with refinements over the years.

Meanwhile, the 335 can be easily retuned for 340hp, 360hp, whatever the market ends up wanting.

As an aside, the 535i will completely reinvigorate 5-series sales. I would get one if I didn't really, really want an M Coupe.

Anway, back to the topic at hand. The new C-class will completely destroy the 3-series, be the best thing since bratworst, lederhosen and David Hasslehoff, blah, blah, blah. I heard it even cures herpes. Really.


M
 
///M-Spec
Anway, back to the topic at hand. The new C-class will completely destroy the 3-series, be the best thing since bratworst, lederhosen and David Hasslehoff, blah, blah, blah. I heard it even cures herpes. Really.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the navigation systems in the C-Class will come pre-set to Poland or to France. It would be interesting to find out...
 
Im starting to have my doubts about this c-class being the car to finally topple the 3er because some chrysler dude has been doing the cost cutting thing axing such things as foldable headrests etc. Makes me rather angry that MB is cost cutting sacrificing such things. Its not what Mercedes are about. You DO NOT cost cut with a Mercedes.
smh.gif
 
It looks a lot classier than the current C and at the same time, uglier to an extent too. I don't like the taillights, they resemble a Volvo too much.
 
The C-Class is also longer, wider and taller, with most of the extra length concentrated in the wheelbase. Increased dimensions improve interior room, further distancing the C-Class from its tighter rivals. Stuttgart insiders say it now has more rear seat space than the E-Class. Trunk space is biggest in class, sources say.

Inside, the cabin adopts a less cluttered look with new switchgear and a more modern dashboard that takes its cues from furniture design with either wood or aluminum finishes.
 
Poverty
Im starting to have my doubts about this c-class being the car to finally topple the 3er because some chrysler dude has been doing the cost cutting thing axing such things as foldable headrests etc. Makes me rather angry that MB is cost cutting sacrificing such things. Its not what Mercedes are about. You DO NOT cost cut with a Mercedes.
smh.gif
Click to expand...

Heh, that is the entire basis of the C-Class though; cost-cutting. It was arguably the first Mercedes to be engineered to a price point, basically signifying their current idea of hitting (or even creating) every conceiveable niche!

As for the new car... something tells me it'll keep the current C's image in the entry-level luxury class. Boring, staid, it has the star and for some people that's enough. People who want a nicely designed interior and a matching (if fussy) exterior will go to Audi, and those wanting something sporty will head to BMW.

Interesting to hear about the 330i and the 328/335. Seems kinda pointless that they made such a big deal about the record-breaking engine, only to knock it's power down and take it out of the lineup in North America a year later. I'm assuming Europe still gets the myriad engine options?
 

Latest Posts

Back