Does the W204 C-Class have the heater booster?

[Jonny_]

I can't find any reference to it in the literature (brochure, M-B website, etc) but have been told by a Merc salesman that all the current W204 C-Classes are fitted with the PTC heater booster which produces warm air for demisting/defrosting before the engine has warmed up.

Can anyone confirm this? It would be a definite plus point in the Merc's favour; a colleague has a 2004 C-Class with the booster and speaks very highly of it.

Ta,
Jonny

[Deva Link]

I think it may well have, but booster heaters on MB's is a bit of a foggy subject, and it's not helped by MB doing different things in different markets. Many people confuse them with auxiliary heaters but they're not fitted to UK models now.

I have a 2005 C270CDi and that basically uses a kettle element in the block (common on many diesel cars) but it takes so much power that it's not allowed to work unless the car is moving. On a very cold day air is starting to get warm after a mile or so.

I've had courtesy A & B Class and they do use PTC heaters in the air vents - so warm air is pretty instant. I know PTC heaters have come in on other models and it would make sense for them to be the latest W204.

[Jonny_]

Cheers Deva

It does seem to be a bit vague; I tried calling the number listed on the UK Mercedes website, but was told that the technical info was only available from a dealer. So I called a different dealer to the one I previously visited and asked about the heaters; the salesman said he didn't know for certain but that he had a W204 C-Class himself and that during last winter he found it produced warm air almost instantly following a night of standing in sub-zero temperatures. He took my number and said he'd find out and let me know, although as this was Tuesday and he hasn't been back in touch I suspect I've been "forgotten"...

I don't suppose any M-B staffers frequent this site and can state for certain...?