2010ish C-Class/A4/3-Series Petrol?

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Half looking for a new, slightly bigger daily to replace my Clubman and these 3 options are on my radar. Have a number of requirements though (to be expected!):

- auto
- petrol (don't do the mileage/do a few shortish journeys like school runs etc)
- nothing bigger than a 2l
- budget of £10k'ish

I've owned an E91 3-series before (albeit a 330i) but I understand the 2l petrols are best avoided. Mercedes seems to offer up a lot of seemingly high specced options for my budget but I have no experience of them. Audi I really like the styling of but they seem thin on the ground with the smaller petrol engines.

Any thoughts? Or other options?

[ESD1711]

If you’re going for a C-Class of that era, makes sure it’s a facelift one which came in around 2011.

Much MUCH nicer place to be inside and more modern looking in general.

Can’t comment on the petrol variants, but I have a C250 diesel and love it.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

ESD1711 said:

If you’re going for a C-Class of that era, makes sure it’s a facelift one which came in around 2011.

Much MUCH nicer place to be inside and more modern looking in general.

Can’t comment on the petrol variants, but I have a C250 diesel and love it.

Is there an easy way to spot the difference?

[ESD1711]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Is there an easy way to spot the difference?

Headlights is probably the easiest way from the outside.

Tail lights are also different.

But the biggest changes are to the interior which is where the most notable differences are.

Facelift also has a 7 speed auto box rather than the 5 speed in the pre facelift.


Facelift:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110078...

Pre-facelift:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105052...

[ZX10R NIN]

Facelift C250cgi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...

Out of the pre facelifts the C230 is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110319...

[georgeyboy12345]

I'd also avoid petrol driven 4 cylinder Audis from that period too, they suffer similar problems to the BMW engines. The gen 1 and gen2 EA888 petrol engines were not great in terms of reliability or fuel economy. The gen 3 EA888 is much better, but didn't come out until late 2012. Best picking a 2013 model to avoid getting a lemon.