Looking to purchase a Merc B Class

[Kingdom35]

Hi All

Keeping it simple...looking to buy a B-Class Petrol. Year 63/14.

Is there a guide to help check various angles when I'm looking at the car?
Anyone with similar experience?

I'm going to start to look at the Sports version (ive heard about the 18's being too large and affecting the ride).

Also am I right that services are every 2 years/15k as we will probably only use the car for 8-9k miles per year.

Is there anything major that goes wrong with them or to look out for tale tale signs?

Any help is much appreciated

Thanks
Dan

[CraigyMc]

Kingdom35 said:

Hi All

Keeping it simple...looking to buy a B-Class Petrol. Year 63/14.

Is there a guide to help check various angles when I'm looking at the car?
Anyone with similar experience?

I'm going to start to look at the Sports version (ive heard about the 18's being too large and affecting the ride).

Also am I right that services are every 2 years/15k as we will probably only use the car for 8-9k miles per year.

Is there anything major that goes wrong with them or to look out for tale tale signs?

Any help is much appreciated

Thanks
Dan

Out of interest, why did you end up settling on that car?

[Kingdom35]

Its this or a Sportage.

Practibility, finish, equipment, styling, cabin size, leg room etc

We haven't 100% settled on it by any means

[SkodaIan]

Having driven both the Sport and SE models a couple of years back, I'd suggest avoiding the 18 inch wheels at all costs, even if it means buying a replacement set of 16s.
The ride with the 18 inch wheels is terrible, to the point of having to drive really quite slowly on bumpy B roads to keep on the road. I think being a fairly high boxy car makes it worse on this than on say an Astra or Focus. The other problem is that the 18 inch wheels stick out significantly beyond the tyres making them very prone to damage from potholes (which you can't always avoid) as well as curbing (which you can).

With the smaller wheels, it has quite decent ride and handling for a boxy upright MPV. My general view was that it was a fairly decent car, which if it were several thousand cheaper with a Hyundai badge on it would have made good family transport. It didn't really feel like a Merc though. I don't think they've held their value particularly well so may well be an appropriate price for what you get when buying secondhand.

The cars I had (hire cars) were both diesels and less than a year old so can't comment on the petrol engine or longevity.

[Kingdom35]

Thanks makes sense.
Were looking at the Sports trim for both the B180 and B200 on Friday.
I have my opinions and predictions that the ride will be harsh.
I have a bad back as well at present so this will highlight how bad/good the ride will be so this shall be interesting to experience.
Any experience with anything going wrong at all?

[Kingdom35]

Picking up the B Class tomorrow after test driving 2. I'm not sure what car people are coming from but the suspension myth is making me laugh. Its firm but that's it. Perhaps ive been lucky and the car has comfort suspension, but I'm not sure if people are coming from a luxury cruiser and the trying out a firm sports suspension or just clutching at straws but some of the reviews are very biased to say the least.

[CDALY]

Kingdom35 said:

Picking up the B Class tomorrow after test driving 2. I'm not sure what car people are coming from but the suspension myth is making me laugh. Its firm but that's it. Perhaps ive been lucky and the car has comfort suspension, but I'm not sure if people are coming from a luxury cruiser and the trying out a firm sports suspension or just clutching at straws but some of the reviews are very biased to say the least.

Hi mate, digging into the past here haha but there is little Information on these Bclass cars.

Do you have any advice on them? How are you getting along with your car? B180 or b200? Auto or manual? Good to hear the suspension isn’t that bad, I had a feeling they were all exaggerated. During this covid era I am struggling to get a test drive, finally got one tonight in a manual b180D (1.8 not the 1.6).
Might have to go diesel as the petrol sports are hard to find in decent spec.

[Kingdom35]

CDALY said:

Kingdom35 said:

Picking up the B Class tomorrow after test driving 2. I'm not sure what car people are coming from but the suspension myth is making me laugh. Its firm but that's it. Perhaps ive been lucky and the car has comfort suspension, but I'm not sure if people are coming from a luxury cruiser and the trying out a firm sports suspension or just clutching at straws but some of the reviews are very biased to say the least.

Hi mate, digging into the past here haha but there is little Information on these Bclass cars.

Do you have any advice on them? How are you getting along with your car? B180 or b200? Auto or manual? Good to hear the suspension isn’t that bad, I had a feeling they were all exaggerated. During this covid era I am struggling to get a test drive, finally got one tonight in a manual b180D (1.8 not the 1.6).
Might have to go diesel as the petrol sports are hard to find in decent spec.

Hi, 3 years in now with the B200 Top Spec. Suspension was a little crashy but nothing like some reported, ive changed the tyres to Uniroyal Rainsports and i think a bigger profile (Cant remember).
I picked the petrol top spec so that it had some power behind it, its been very good performance wise, averaged 38mpg so far since ownership, mainly probably 30miles local ie small trips of 3/4 miles x 5/6 in the week. Then a few 30/40 miles at weekend and a few longer holiday trips where ive seen late 40s/early 50s.
So much room for what looks like a smaller car, its not, its just sportly/low down. Big Cabin, im 6'3 and a big bloke.

We use an indi-Merc garage for our services who have been great and mich cheaper than the main dealers and still its FSH as theyre approved.
Also the B200 has the Merc engine whereas i think the smaller ones has a Renault. Why buy a merc and have a renault engine i say.

Anymore questions just let me know, Manual Transmission here also. But i did get a chance to drive the newer auto diesel and you cant really tell its an auto when it moves up or down so smoothly.
Really happy with it, really nice drive too.

[CDALY]

Kingdom35 said:

Hi, 3 years in now with the B200 Top Spec. Suspension was a little crashy but nothing like some reported, ive changed the tyres to Uniroyal Rainsports and i think a bigger profile (Cant remember).
I picked the petrol top spec so that it had some power behind it, its been very good performance wise, averaged 38mpg so far since ownership, mainly probably 30miles local ie small trips of 3/4 miles x 5/6 in the week. Then a few 30/40 miles at weekend and a few longer holiday trips where ive seen late 40s/early 50s.
So much room for what looks like a smaller car, its not, its just sportly/low down. Big Cabin, im 6'3 and a big bloke.

We use an indi-Merc garage for our services who have been great and mich cheaper than the main dealers and still its FSH as theyre approved.
Also the B200 has the Merc engine whereas i think the smaller ones has a Renault. Why buy a merc and have a renault engine i say.

Anymore questions just let me know, Manual Transmission here also. But i did get a chance to drive the newer auto diesel and you cant really tell its an auto when it moves up or down so smoothly.
Really happy with it, really nice drive too.

Thanks for taking the time to reply! We tried a manual, and an auto - she chose the auto. And we got a B200 AMG Line premium plus - as you say, get the best they have taken a huge hit on depreciation so it’s an absolute steal. Misses loves the auto park too!

I hope we enjoy ours for years to come like your self.

Cheers

Ps
Agree with you, nothing wrong with the sport on 18s! What are the journalists taking when they put the car down due to the ride!!??