Picture update: Mercedes Benz C180 Avantgarde

In 2011, the Mercedes Benz C-class (introduction: 2007) has received a Facelift, called "Mopf" (Modellpflege) in German. Beside minor changes in the tail- and headlight units and the front spoiler, the major improvement is the interior section. Another change was that the standard trim, which has been known under the "Classic" name, has lost its name and usually is referred to as "standard" or "basis". Apart from the basis trim, the Elegance and Avantgarde package are still available for the C-class.

In the pictures below, you can find a  Mercedes Benz C180 in the Avantgarde trim:

Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEFFICIENCY: €33.052,25

Engine specifications:

Engine: M 274 DE 18 AL red (4-cylinder / petrol / turbocharged / 1595 cm³)

Performance: 156hp (115kW)

0 - 100km/h: 8,5 seconds

Topspeed: 225km/h

CO2-Emission: 136–149 g/km

Transmission: 6-speed "Agility Control" manual gearbox

Avantgarde Package: €2.201,50

Avantgarde Exterior

• Three-louvre radiator grille with central star
• Chrome accents
• Agility Control sports suspension
• B-pillar high-gloss black
• Exterior lighting in the rear-view mirror
• 17-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels

Avantgarde Interior

• Lighting package
• Trim brushed aluminium
• Attention Assist
• Avantgarde-badgje below the automatic airconditionin
• Multifunction 3-spoke steering wheel with a 11,4cm multi-function display in the instrument panel
• Instrument panel with 3 analog instruments with chrome rings and a silver clock face

Standard black non-metallic paint: €0

Trim brushed aluminium: €0

Cloth/Artico artificial leather upholstery: €0

• 2-Zone automatic airconditioning "Thermatic": €0
• Front seats heated: €380,80
• Through loading rear seats: €309,40 
• Telephone pre-wiring with hands-free facility: €523,60
• Comfort Telephone: €416,50
• Becker® MAP PILOT: €892,50
• Parktronic: €833,00
• LED daytime running lights: €351,05
• Audio 20 and 6-disc CD changer: €357,00
• Media Interface including Consumer-Cable Kit (iPod-, USB- and Aux-cable): €261,80 

Total price: €39.279,85

Prices are for the German market, January 2013

Some pro's and con's on the Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEFFICIENCY Avantgarde:

Pro:

• Petrol engine runs smooth
• The Avantgarde Package is an excellent upgrade of both the exterior and interior
• The Mopf (or Facelift) was a major quality upgrade for the interior, which gives it a more refined and luxury feeling

Con:

• Parktronic only sounds when the object is near, otherwise only a visual warning is given
• The engine consumes too much fuel even when driving at moderate speeds
• Becker® MAP PILOT does its navigating job satisfactory, but its interface seems outdated and not the most user friendly

For more about the Mercedes Benz C-class W204 Facelift look here:

Mercedes Benz C180 Avantgarde Calcite white:

• For videos of this particular Mercedes Benz C-class: Video update Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEfficiency Avantgarde
• For more pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C180 Blue Efficiency Avantgarde
• For a full car review of this particular Mercedes Benz C-class: Car review Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEfficiency Avantgarde

Mercedes Benz C200 CDI Basic Black uni:

• For pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C200 CDI Blue Basic

Mercedes Benz C180 Basic Black uni:

• For pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C180 Blue Basic

Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Basic Palladium Silver Metallic:

• For pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Basic
• For videos of this particular Mercedes Benz C-class: Video update Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Basic

Picture update: Mercedes Benz C180

In 2011, the Mercedes Benz C-class (introduction: 2007) has received a Facelift, called "Mopf" (Modellpflege) in German. Beside minor changes in the tail- and headlight units and the front spoiler, the major improvement is the interior section. Another change was that the standard trim, which has been known under the "Classic" name, has lost its name and usually is referred to as "standard" or "basis (basic".

In the pictures below, you can find a  Mercedes Benz C180 with the basic trim:

Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEFFICIENCY: €33.052,25

6-speed "Agility Control" manual gear box: €0

Standard trim: €0

Obsidian black metallic: €916,30

Standard 16-inch 7 spoke alloy wheels: €0
Cloth black: €0

Comfort Multifunction Steering wheel: €178,50

3-zone climate control "Thermotronic": €702,10

Heated front seats: €380,80

Through loading rear seats: €309,40

Becker® MAP PILOT: €892,50

LED daytime running lights: €351,05
USB-connection : €?

Total price: €36.782,90

Prices are for the German market, September 2012

Mercedes Benz C-class W204 Facelift

For more about the Mercedes Benz C-class W204 Facelift look here:

Mercedes Benz C180 Avantgarde Calcite white:

• For videos of this particular Mercedes Benz C-class: Video update Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEfficiency Avantgarde
• For more pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C180 Blue Efficiency Avantgarde
• For a full car review of this particular Mercedes Benz C-class: Car review Mercedes Benz C180 BlueEfficiency Avantgarde

Mercedes Benz C200 CDI Basic Black uni:

• For pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C200 CDI Blue Basic

Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Basic Palladium Silver Metallic:

• For pictures of this Mercedes Benz C-class: Picture update Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Basic
• For videos of this particular Mercedes Benz C-class: Video update Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Basic

Comparison: Audi A6 - BMW 5 - Mercedes Benz E-class

In the class of the executive cars, the German car manufacturers fight a fierce battle against each other. Audi pitches its A6 against BMW with the 5-series and Mercedes Benz with the E-class. This blog is aimed at making a small comparison between the contenders accompanied by a short text.

In its nomenclatura, Audi calls its 4th generation A6 the "C7 or 4G". It was launched in Europe in April 1011, while it is produced in the German city of Neckarsulm, but also in Mexico and several Asian plants. Its new design featured an increase in wheelbase by 76mm (3 inches) and width by 18mm (0.7 inches). Apart from that, the redesign also reduced the drag coefficient to 0.26 Cd.



In March 2010, BMW introduced the 6th generation of the 5-series, called the F10 (or F11 for the Touring). The wheelbase was increased with 100mm compared to its predecessor, while the car is 4cm longer. BMW produces the 5-series F10 in the BMW-factory in Dingolfing, but it is also produced in the Chinese city of Shenyang.

Mercedes Benz has introduced the current generation E-class in March 2009. It is built in Sindelfingen in German, but also in Egypt and in several Asian countries. With a drag coefficient of 0.25 Cd it is amongst the lowest in its class.

Exterior design

In these pictures, the headlight units of the cars can bee seen, which are all fitted with xenon headlights. As LED daytime runnings lights have become a popular feature, each manufacturer has incorporated them in their own style.

BMW was the first (of this three manufacturers) to introduce daytime running lights on the 5-series E39, when this car received its facelift in 2000. Informally called "angel eyes" or "corona rings", they are two rings per headlight unit that serve as daytime runnings lights. Although often attributed to BMW, this technology was actually developed by "Hella" and was called "Celis-Technik". As the years progressed, this technology was also introduced in other BMW-models.

In order to develop their own design feature, Audi introduced LED daytime running lights on the Audi A4 back in late 2007, while the A6 followed suit when it was facelifted in 2008. Audi has taken a different approach, using many small seperate LEDs in order to create a line. However with the introduction of the new generation Audi A8 and A6, they switched from small seperate LEDs to a fluent LED "glow stick".

And in contrast to Audi and BMW, Mercedes Benz has decided not to incorporate the LED daytime runnings lights into the headlight units, but to replace the foglights with a row of seperate LEDs. This was first introduced on the E-class in 2009, only being available for the Avantgarde models. Currently they are available as an optional extra also for the Basic and Elegance line. 

Interior design

Driver information system

Audi A6 standard display

Audi A6 extended display

BMW 5-series standard display

BMW 5-series extended display

 

All three cars have a driver informations display in or around the speedometer. Mercedes Benz has the simplest one, with only a standard one color display showing both information about the car or the arrow for the navigation system.

In contrast, both Audi and BMW offer a standard display and a display with extented features. In the Audi A6 the coloured driver information system includes a bigger screen with many colours in the center. BMW has moved the extended display downwards, using the blackpanel technology, in order to offer more information compared to the standard display. 

Navigation System

BMWs "Navigation Professional" and Mercedes Benz' "COMAND" navigation system both employ a fixed screen on top of the center console. Although Audi has located its MMI Plus screen also on the center dash, it folds out when the ignition is switched on. All the satnavs are able to display extra information next to the map, while the graphics of the Mercedes Benz COMAND navigation seems to be outdated. Apart from that, all satnavs combine the map with (optional) exta information in the speedometer.

Gear shift lever

Audi A6

BMW 5-series

Mercedes Benz E-class

When fitted with an automatic gearbox, the gear shift lever is often located near the center armrest. Mercedes Benz is an exception, as only the 4-cylinder engines had its gear shift lever located in this position, while the 6-cylinder engines had a gear shift lever that was located next to the steering wheel (which now is incorporated in almost every type E-class).

Multimedia connection

Audi A6 MMI

BMW 5-series USB-connection

Mercedes Benz E-class AUX-connection

All three cars offer connection for multimedia devices. Audi offers a Multi Media Connection with cables to attach a range of different units (iPhone / iPod / USB stick) in the center arm rest, while Mercedes Benz offers a similar interface in the glove compartment. When connecting a phone to the car this might cause some nuisance, as the phone will be out of reach in the glove compartment, as opposed to the center arm rest where Audi and BMW locate their connection. BMW only offers a USB-connection, but with a adapter cable every unit can be connected to the cars entertainment system.

After having attached the phone to the car, usually the music list can be scrolled by using the cars system. However, Audi and Mercedes Benz are not able to distinguish between different folders in the (Blackberry) smartphone, hence the music only can be connected by using the bluetooth connection (for both phone conversation and music tranfser). Only a standard USB-stick that only has music files on it is recognized. Yet all three cars charge the phone when it is connected to the car.