Used 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Consumer Reviews
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I love this car.
I was hesitant at first about changing over from BMW after 16 years and giving up my inline 6 300hp twin turbo for a 4cylinder turbo because i thought it would be slow. Well I am very impressed with what I bought and it is black with grey/black interior with all the bells and whistles and I must say I will never go back to BMW.I am hooked on Mercedes Benz.The car exceeds all my expectations that I could have ever imagined and I totally agree with the last reviewer this car is amazing and the only thing I wanted on the car I did not get and that was the Zenon lighting package because there were only a few to go around to each dealer and I do not regret not having it now because I am loving it
Slick Machine !!!
Just picked up my new 2012 C-250 coupe yesterday. I can say that the photos of this vehicle do not do it justice. This car looks beautiful. Way better in person. The interior materials are top notch. picked blk/blk with harmon stereo, nav, heated seats etc. Some of the reviews i've read while doing my research talked about this vehicle being slow or sluggish of the line. NOT TRUE. The car defults to (E) or economy mode every time you start it. You have to push the sport mode button. (E) mode starts you in 3rd gear for fuel economy. sport mode starts you in 1st with higher shift points. In sport this car is a rocket. Plenty of power. So if magazine car testers are reading this. PUSH (S)!!
- C250 Sport SedanMSRP: $3,9958 mi away
- C250 Sport SedanMSRP: $3,40026 mi away
- C250 Sport SedanMSRP: $2,99022 mi away
C300 Not Worth It
At 24K needed a transfer case, at 58K needed a drive shaft. Just got my car back from the drive shaft repair and now coolant level warning light came on and a new grinding sound is coming from underneath the car. My warranty is over August 2017 and Mercedes will not extend the warranty. I'm so disappointed I'm going back to Lexus. I had 2 Japanese cars before the C300, I put 180K on each of them and between both of them I had to replace only 1 alternator. The alternator was replaced at 170K. Shame on Mercedes for not offering to extent the warranty and stand behind their car. Shame on Mercedes for putting a car on the road with such inferior parts. Never again!!!!
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Better than I expected
I concur with the other reviewer, this is one fun car. I started my car search wanting a V8 engine and a lot of horsepower. I'm not wealthy so I couldn't justify buying a $60+ thousand dollar AMG when the $40,000 C250 had an adequate, even surprising, amount of power. And reasonable gas mileage to boot. I suggest the Lighting Package, I love the techno looking LED and bi-xenon lighting. I almost never carry more than one passenger so the coupe body style was great for me. But I tried the back seat and fit just fine, plenty of leg room, adequate head room. I just picked mine up about 6 hours ago and I didn't want to get out of it.
2012 C350-a great choice in this category
I bought a new C350 sedan this week after looking at Volvo S60, infinity G37, Audi S 4 and BMW 3. Never considered a Cadillac because I didn't want to get divorced. I turned in a leased BMW 528 and I wanted to downsize a bit to accomodate my 16 year old son who is a new driver. I could not be happier with my choice. Build quality, interior, engine, handling and design are all excellent. The car makes me happy to drive. The other cars I tested were good in their own way but the Benz offered the best combination of power, handling, interior appointments and safety.
If you can't afford the Millennium Falcon
I always wanted to be a fighter pilot, but couldn't qualify thanks to defective eyesight. So I compensated and bought a C63 sedan. The raison d'etre of this car is the its bellowing, angry, demonic V8. Lay into it and the thrust is unreal; life-affirming if you're into that sort of thing. Much more low end torque than a non-turbo 911 (my former car,) an M3 (which I test drove,) or almost anything else south of $100k. An M3 is more lithe and a better track car, but for day to day driving, I think the C63 is near perfect if you enjoy a T-Rex under your hood. I picked the sedan over the coupe for practical and aesthetic reasons. Note you pay the inevitable mileage tax for the insane power
2012 Mercedes C300 Sport 4matic
I recently purchased a 2012 CPO C300 Sport 4 matic from Holloway MB. The build quality is evident from the exterior finish to the interior quality. The 2012 had a lot of refinements. The 3.0 liter engine has excellent pick up. Its very smooth when accelerating. The C300 is pretty much bullet proof. Gas milage is 24-27 mpg with high test. Interior quality is second to none. The controls are quirky and take some time to get accustom to. Especially the heat controls and cruise control. The 4 matic is excellent giving you sure traction in all weather conditions. The radio and navi are all controlled by a center knob. I would prefer a touch screen.The c300 is a perfect commuter car.
Reliable but minor problems
Got it brand new at the dealer and it has been amazing since then. At first had the dealer do the maintenance but realized I could do most of the services myself without spending $300-800 each time. Currently at 120k miles and only issues are leather seat has ripped on drivers side, window button stickers peeling up, belt tensioner was squealing but replaced belt and tensioner and no issues since, sometimes when stepping on the gas there’s a thud beneath that could be the transmission. Overall a good car the only thing I would like is a little more power without spending 60k plus for an AMG. Many other V6’s can easily beat this car but so far a reliable car.
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Used to love the car, but so unreliable...
I used to love my car, but not anymore. It is the perfect small size for me, and easy to navigate. However, I clearly got a defected car with a bad ignition system. In this April, all the sudden I was not able to turn on the engine on the street parking, and MB Roadside Assistance told me that the key didnÂt recognize my car. I had to wait for 3 hours to get my car towed, and it took 2 weeks for MB to replace the ignition. The first day I drove after the repair, again the key didnÂt recognize my car, and I spent another 3 hours to get it towed. The car is at MB for repair now, but I am so afraid of driving it anymore. I am very surprised that MB manufactures such an unreliable car.
Solid upgrade
I just traded my 2009 C300 Sport in for the new 2012 C250 Sport. In many ways, I thought this would be a downgrade, but in fact there is only one aspect of performance that was better with the old V6, and that is responsiveness in high-speed passing. Everywhere else, the new turbo 4 with the new 7GTronic + transmission seems to do a better job of keeping the less powerful though torquier engine in the meat of its powerband. The exterior of the car is subtly improved, while the interior received a major makeover, not that anything was wrong with the old one. The new COMAND nav/stereo is incredible.
Perfect mix of sportiness and luxury
Just upgraded from a 2010 Acura TSX which is an amazing car, however my only complaints were that the 4 cyl offered too little torque (only 170 lbs/ft) some road noise and despite the handling was pretty good I had to battle between the FWD and its heavy nose while cornering. While looking for more torque I made the resdesigned C250 my choice. 201 HP, 229 lbs/ft torque, RWD and 7 speed blend decent performance and a quiet cruiser. This is not sluggish, it's fast enough for all around driving. It's not a performance machine like the 2012 328i, S60, Regal GS or G37, not as powerful as the TL but not boring as the A4's CVT tranny or the IS and CTS floaty ride. A perfect blend for me.
Luv my Mercedes
Gave up my Infiniti G37 for the C300. Narrowed down my choices to four vehicles. MB was the last dealer I went to. Turned out to be the best deal. Love this car!!! I have about 1000 miles on it and it has been an absolute pleasure to drive. The transmission is smooth as silk, and it is quiet. I now understand why people buy one Mercedes then end up owning them again and again.
extremeC350
I have been a BMW owner since 1979. traded in a 2003, 325i with160k miles for the benz. I tried very hard to buy another 3 series BMW, but they were no match to the C350. The c350 is a 302hp direct fuel injection super car with AMG suspension, never ending torque, smooth shifting 7 speed transmission is as good as stick shift. HID lighting is super, don't buy car without it, the harmon cardon logic 7 has incredible sound. I bouth the car in November 2011, have 10k on it, have had no issues. I you live in Northern Virginia go see MB of Arlington, have never dealt with a better dealer.
After 50K miles ( end of warranty ) is unreliable
Right after the 50K miles started the expensive repairs. already changed the lock unit control, ABS unit control and just one week ago was a full electrical pane caused by water on the wiring...terrible quality and expensive repairs ( almost $6K in recent repairs), resale price is also very bad...very low...everyday i start the car and i hope that it will not show any light for repairs.
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Electrical Gremlins
Mercedes-Benz just bought back my 2012 C250 because of untraceable electrical issues. I do accept that this was just luck of the draw, a fluke, the random lemon, etc., and don't believe that my car was indicative of the model. I would have random electrical issues like non-functioning buttons, seat controls and warning lights, that would magically correct themselves the next morning. Dealer and even MB regional tried to identify the problem, but failed, ultimately just buying back my car. That said, the C250 was a blast to drive, smoother, more powerful and efficient than the C300 it replaced. Still highly recommended. I replaced my car with a certified 2011 C300.
Good, could be great
Have has this car for 8mo/8K mi and overall I'm pleased, but there are a few things holding it back from being truly exceptional. The car is stunning. It looks like a much higher end model than the rest of the C-class. I get people stopping me all the time. It is also the most comfortable highway car I have ever been in. The ride is dialed in perfectly for highway commuting, it gobbles up miles by the hundreds in quiet, ease, and refinement. It is not without it's problems however. I have had many interior quality problems, a persistently squealing brake problem, and frankly, it's not all that sporty to drive. If you can tune out creaks and rattles, this will still be a great car for you.
Great drivers car
I bought my 2012 C 4 matic sport model new in 2011. The car has been fantastic and still drives like new at 40k. I just made my last payment in oct and the mercedes dealer called trying to get me into a new one. I have driven the new ones when mine has been in for scheduled maintenance. The only thing I like better about the new models is that they have more power but I prefer the 2012 in every other way. Drawbacks are back seat room, not usually an issue for me, and the awkward climate controls. I also wish it had a keyless start and cooled seats as my previous Lexus did. The car drives superbly though and is enjoyable on curvaceous roads.
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So far so good - complain to Mercedes biz practice
We bought the car when it's brand new since early 2012 and so far we have about 40K miles on it. So far no big problems (fingers crossed), so W204 does seem to be a bit more reliable than the W203. However, there is a passenger side airbag recall which Mercedes notified us about two years ago and it is NOT yet being addressed. This is very disappointing, especially from a company who claims "nothing but the best"... Other than that currently this C250 is working fine and seems to be more reliable than our previous W203. However, if Mercedes does not address this airbag issue our next car definitely would not be another Mercedes
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Odometer reads 38,000 miles now..................
September 2014 CPO purchase. No issus to date. Impressive Interstate/freeway MPG. 36 calc'd on 1600 mile trip. Coupe is very good looking, comfortable and well built (tight).
Best first car ever
The cars engine is amazing, no faults just runs through oil very quickly. Besides oil maintenance ive had 0 issues while putting 25,000 miles on this car that already had 100,000 when i bought it. Highly suggest this beauty of german engineering
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CPO: MB certification/extended warranty: a $ saver
The CPO certification has over 150 elements: a buyer should review this visually and with the Service Director. I did (and am sin problemas to date (18 months). The CPO route got me a C250 1.8 liter turbo 4 coupe - Iridium/Ash - with the odometer showing 23,000 careful miles. Plus I paid 2/3 of the MSRP and the first two payments were on the house (as were the first two 10,000 miles service appointments. Beautiful well-maintained vehicle. Fuel efficient (450 mile trip from our state capital to Monterrey (CA) and return calc'd just under 35 MPG in 85% Interstate driving
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2012 MB C250 Coupe (CPO)
6 months/2500 miles ago I drove home from the dealer. Using the CPO approach, my cost was 2/3 the original owner's cost. Fuel efficiency (29 MPG since purchase), Reliability (Zero problems to date) and design (Both the exterior and the interior really appeal to this sailor. And that is part of my reason to buy this car. The other reason was CR ratings for the 2012 C250. IIRC, all red dots really got my attention. 02/02/2016: 5000 mile update: Fuel economy average since purchase is 28.4 - with all time best (mostly Interstate 34.8. First (complimentary) 10,000 service - courtesy of M-B Financial - showed no problems. This - MHO - is a beautiful little coupe (180 inches long) in Iridium Silver. September 4, 2018 update: Purchased CPO early September 2014. After agreeing to use MBFS, - - the first two payments and first two 10k service appt's were comped. Car still looks like just off the showroom floor. Iridium Silver/Ash interior (MB-tex) highlights the simple, uncomplicated coupe design. Two long distance trips confirm great MPG potential....(both calc'd out to circa 35 MPG). Over 13,000 miles later, no repairs have been needed. Did I mention this is a beautiful little coupe. My better half loves it.....so I don't get to drive it too often.
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it is so fun to drive!
it's a K.O.! when i test drove it for the 1st time,i was so impressed the way it drives and hugs the road. pretty solid!i didn't bother to go try it’s rival counterparts. it makes a solid thug noise every time i close the doorto show how well it was made! it's sporty but too low! beware...didn't realized that until i hit a parking concrete barrier just few days after getting the car and if you or have a passenger that has a problem getting up on a seat that low, it's going to be a little hard for them to get in and out of the car. my only gripe on this car is the storage,it's really small.it's a struggle to fit my golf clubs on the trunk and i just lay it on back my passenger seat.
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2012 C350 Coupe
My GMC 4WD Envoy was approaching 10 years and 125,000 miles and it was time for something different, much different! After months of research, a visit to the annual auto show, and many test drives later, I purchased this beauty! I was looking for the same thrill when getting behind the wheel that I experienced years ago with my 1999 RX-7. This car comes close - given that it's an automatic. It fits me like a glove, looks great, and drives like it's on a rail! Excellent build quality (except for a few rattles from the rear shelf deck) and a blast to drive, I'm always disappointed when I reach my destination! Would I buy it again after having driven it for 9,000 miles? You bet I would!
'12 C250 unidentified groan
Hello: I have a '12 C250 luxury sedan with 12K miles. I occasionally hear a groaning sound that occurs intermittently. It's usually noticeable when the car is downshifting to a lower gear. I've taken it to the dealer twice. Though they've reproduced the sound, and not been able to positively identify it, they say that the car is operating "normally." I'm doubtful. Has anyone else experienced this. If so, what was it and how was it corrected. Thanks.
Sexy and Fun!
This car never fails to excite me! I've enjoyed each and every of the 34,000 miles I've driven it over the past 3 years (I purchased it in 2013 with 9,000 miles on the clock). One word of caution though - if you need to drive it in the snow you'd best get winter tires or look for a C350 4Matic. It's a great road trip car, commuter car, or a back roads car. No matter where I take it I always have a blast behind the wheel! It's been extremely reliable with no warranty issues, although I did buy a 3 year, 75,000 mile extended warranty just in case. Would I buy it again? You bet I would!
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Perfect Car
My 2012 C350 is the perfect car. Solid, comfortable, quick with fine steering and handling and excellent brakes. The car has been very reliable and gets decent gas mileage. It is now 8 years old and feels brand new. I have no plans to replace it anytime soon. The newer C Class Mercedes cars don’t come close. The 300 horsepower 6 cylinder engine makes all the difference! It is a true driver’s car.
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Seriously surprised myself
So I used to be all about BMW and nothing else. I came into some money and started looking at these a little bit because I was getting tired of the same old design with BMW. So far this car has lasted way longer than all of the BMW's Ive had, there has been no major mechanical issues so far. My BMW would have been out of commission by now hands down, I get compliments on the car all the time, and after I installed my Amp, Sub, and Apple CarPlay I pretty much lived in that thing! I can't wait to hear what the whole driving experience is like after im done sound deadening it. Anyway, this car is a total must buy!! It has the take-off power you'll need (and even a little extra with the sport option), the flashiness to keep everyone looking, and is very reliable. To all BMW owners out there, you will not be let down if you decide to make the switch like I did trust me!!!!!!!
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Terrific Ride, but no excuse for plastic seats
The performance, comfort and style of this vehicle are delightful, and my friends are jealous. I love the responsiveness of the accelerator, the way the transmission holds the car back going down a steep hill, and the traction and stability on curves. Best yet, long drives are not a problem with the C-class. It's a joy to be behind the wheel of this thing.
Engine Problems-cam shaft adjuster
Costly repair popped up right after 50,000 miles (right after the warranty expires). Repair is going to cost over $4K. MB has problems with this issue. It seems similar to the issue in the class action from 2012 in Northern District of California.
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Excellent Car
I bought a CPO C250 black sport sedan with 9000 miles a year ago. This is an excellent car. Fun to drive and the 1.8 turbo charge engine has lots of power. I've done an extensive researched before I decided to buy this car. I'm impressed with all the options I got, Navigation that has directions you can read on your speedometer, Harmon Kardon speakers the best on the class, Bi-Xenon - lighting package, back up camera and 18" AMG wheels. This is a beauty inside/out.
wow what a car
sold my Mustang as soon as I drove the C350 Coupe. The C350 coupe is fast, nimble and very fun to drive. Interesting how this model is in very short supply. I have already been offered $5k more than I paid for it. I love the technology in this vehicle.
Fun ride
C300 is a great car for those looking for a little speed and a lot of comfort. Smooth ride with lots of pep. Some quality issues with the door fabrics but nothing major.
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So far so good
We used to own a 1993 300E 2.8 (the legendary W124) and really loves it. However the steering wheel was too heavy for my wife so we had to sell it and replaced with this 2012. The 2nd day of the ownership (new car with 15 miles) the SRS warning light went on for no reason. Dealer did a lot of diagnostic and couldn't find the problem. However, that problem later one just disappeared. I guess that again too many complicated electronics made the car less reliable. That said, after that incident, it's been about a year now and we didn't have any other trouble. The car drives great. Just wish that the build quality and reliability can be on par with the old school W124 though.. (sign)
Fantastic purchase!
Excellent quality and an exciting driving experience. I don't doubt the Audi A4 or BMW 328i may have superior performance numbers, however Mercedes, as always, provides the best all around comfort and driving experience. This is an exciting European sports sedan with plenty of low end grunt and top end power. Handling is fun, predictable and safe. I purchased this car in 2015 as a CPO with 47K mi for $22K. It came with a bumper to bumper 17 month warranty - still in it for 2 more months. I recently took to dealer with a check engine light and they updated all software. One of the updates was a new transmission software update. Smoother transmission now and quicker shifts. I do admit the transmission sport performance was a weak point - not terrible - off the assembly line. SOLD. Loved this car but needed and SUB. Purchased first BMW. Like it, but still have soft spot in heart for C250 and Mercedes products.
Great car
My car is great, I love it
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C350 Coupe Hits the Mark ..... Almost
Ordered my C350 Coupe in November and took delivery in February 2012. I love my coupe and I have not seen another one in Dallas as they are pretty rare. I must say, lots of heads turn and take a look when I drive by. The overall build quality inside and out feels very solid. I tested both the C250 and C350 and the C350 is far superior in handling and performance. I would not have been happy with the C250. The performance quality is slightly lacking versus the 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe that I replaced, but the build quality feel and high end electronics make up for that shortfall. Biggest disapointment is the seats which differ from the sedan. They are very firm and uncomfortable.
Nice car to ride but very unreliable
I liked the C250 because its interior and sporty ride, however, is very unreliable, mainly on its electronics controls, which fail and leave you with very expensive repairs ( key start does not function or the transmission control, etc) I decided to sell mine because I lost confidence in the car and did not know when was going to be the next costly repair. I had also an MLB320 and that was worse in reliability. I am done with Mercedes.
Practical, beautiful, slim and luxurious
Despite the fact that this is the shortest luxury car available, it is extremely luxurious and refined, with very good handling (excepting steering), ride, and impeccable fit and finish. It is very refined, the most refined car I have owned (and I also own a BMW and a Porsche). The configuration of the car: length; visibility; practical trunk, folding back seats and 4 doors; coupled with perfect proportions and 4 wheel drive make it a car for all seasons, both figurative and literally.
Love this car and everything about it.
Great car. Love driving this C250. It's missing only one thing 4Matic AWD. Other than that It's a wonderful car and fun to drive.
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Mercedes C350 fully loaded
Great car , safe , comfortable , beautiful Love it , always drive Mercedes.
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Turbo Boost-Fun!
Great option to drive in eco mode or sport. Reliable and dependable along with fashionable style. It's my best accessory! I'm 5'4 and love compact style.
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Mickey the Mercedes
I purchased my 2012 C250 certified with only 9,000 miles in 2014. It now has 32,000 miles and is tamely driven by me in the summer months, and it is the best Mercedes I have owned. Previously I had a 07 C280 4matic and a 98 C280K, and this one is my favorite hands down.
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2012 MARS RED C250 is sporty and moves about nimby
I love my C250 but it has not been problem free. Going on six years with the car and there is ALOT of plastic under the hood that is subject to engine temps and will have you replacing the parts. Maintenance is not cheap; I do what I can and let my Mercedes specialist do the rest. Do not deal with any dealership unless you personally know the mechanic or service manager. Find yourself a good Mercedes specialist that works on Mercedes only is the best way. Otherwise some place that only works on European vehicles. 1.8 turbo is very quick and the car handles the curves nicely. It shakes once you get over 125 mph so a V-8 will walk you down eventually. I am 6'2 so it is not the best vehicle for a long road trip but far from the worst. Gas mileage is excellent. Two door coupe with glass roof ...backseat is only there for decoration and groceries. Car is very quiet but place it in sport mode and you will hear it roar.
Spari
Make sure you get heated seats!
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An amazing car - better than expected
The c300 Sport is one of the best in class in my opinion. I test drove the Audi, Infinity, BMW, and Lexus in the same class, and while they all are excellent cars in their own right, the Mercedes is just it for me. The car feels solid, the handling is superior, the interior is top notch and includes so many things it took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to turn on the radio (J/K). The looks I get when driving around are nice, but the overall performance of this car has been everything I expected and more. I've read some articles that the Benz is not what it used to be, but I don't see it. In fact, the reason it may not be what it used to be, is because it's better than it ever was
Great buy
Make sure breaks are good
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Review my "Sadey"
My 2012 "Sadey" is a great car! Still has original brakes with 51,000 miles! I'm an old lady and I don't use the brakes very often! hahahaha! I am hoping for good resale price since I am planning to replace it with a new Mercedes soon.
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