Mercedes-Benz C180 Kompressor
Long-term Test

Update III: Service... or lack of
There are times when a lack of service can be positive

Forgive our play-on-words heading. The writer did it just to get Mercedes' attention (bet you it works!!!) but it also refers to the fact that almost 8000km into our long-term relationship, 'our' C 180 K hasn't seen the inside of a Mercedes-Benz establishment.

It used to be long-term reports could be filled with verdicts on service costs and service department's conduct. Whether you were charged fairly; whether the car came back clean; whether you 'to do' list was even looked at -- you know the sort of thing… The good and the bad…

Now, even if you have the opportunity to put a decent amount of kilometres under a test car's wheels (and bear in mind Mercedes is unusual letting us tot up this many miles on a press car) the 1000-3000km first service is a thing of the past and regular service intervals are ever-increasing.

Mercedes passenger vehicles feature what the company terms Service Assyst Plus and the C 180 K is no exception. This onboard 'calculator' is part of the engine management system's diagnostic network and 'measures' a number of variables to decide when the car needs servicing.

The parameters it considers are driving style (duration of driving, frequency of driving), oil quality, throttle position when driving and distance covered.

Mercedes claims the first service on a C180 K will typically be flagged somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000km, depending on the above factors. At this stage, with just short of 8000km on the odo, the only things that have been flagged on our C's dash are a couple of fills of the washer bottle.

The car's been fuss-free and a loyal servant. Since our last update it has continued to provide commuter service but we have at least now had the opportunity to take an occasional jaunt into the countryside to blow out the cobwebs.

Our criticisms remain few. The auto box's changes aren't the most subtle in the world and frankly haven't improved. It's the weakest point of the C.

Otherwise we're happy with its onroad manners and especially enamoured with the car's stance and roadholding. No, it doesn't have the purity of steering that that 'other' brand boasts but the big sports kit wheels and tyres possess it of amazing levels of grip. Far more than the supercharged four can tax -- even when it is wet.

The C turns in better than we remember and can be fun on the right road. It's only in this sporty going that we've really found the supercharged four wanting.

The car continues to garner attention despite the fact it is a base model C. Regular site visitors and Benz aficionados will note that our C is effectively a 'runout' model boasting significant additional equipment over the original entry-level model. Bystanders see it as a smart silver Benz with big wheels and brakes.

Since we took delivery of our 180 K, Mercedes has since added even more equipment to the C-Class via what it has called the 'Super Sport Edition.' The Super Sport kit includes new 17-inch alloy wheels, AMG body kit and adds an electric sunroof, Bi-Xenon headlamps (with dynamic range adjustment and headlamp cleaning system), silver and chrome trim grille, aluminium-finish interior trim, metallic paint, silver instrument dials with white instrument lighting and 'Sport Edition' badging.

Priced at the same $58,990 as our C 180 K (which is sans sunroof and with different alloys and interior treatment) the Super Sport is even better buying it seems -- but as they say in the classics, you need to get in quick. Such are the joys of runout mode...

Mercedes has already launched its new W204 C-Class (more here) and it's set to arrive here around mid-year. The more aggressive and angular looks of the new C won't suit everbody and indeed the predecessor continues to sell well.

According to VFACTS new vehicle stats, Mercedes delivered 830 new C-Class (not including Sports Coupe) in the first three months of 2007 -- up from 774 in the same quarter in 2006. Must be our Carsales Network readers getting into the action.

Alas this demand for the C could see stocks exhausted before the new model arrives. This is an ideal situation for Mercedes-Benz but could prove problematic for us! We're expecting the "can we have our car back" phone call any minute.

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