Hi all!!

New to the forums. Spent a few days browsing about though. Im 21 years old and from Ireland.

I bought my first car a week ago. Its a 1998 Mercedes C180 Black. Since this is my first car let alone Mercedes , I have a load of questions.

Its hard not to notice that the key is not a key. Its more like a fob that I have to stick into the ignition. Is there any way of getting a spare key somehow?

Also, the alarm on the car is a little strange. I think I have to hold the armed buttton in and the windows wind up. Then when opening it, the unarm button opens the driver door, then press it again and the entire car opens. Could someone please explain to me how this works? I don't know if Im doing it right.

I got new tyres from the dealership that I bought the car off. So I was thinking of putting this chemical in them which makes them impossible to puncture. Has anyone ever used this stuff? Is it worth getting?

And finally, are driving schools any good? Im thinking about taking a few lessons.

Thanks,
Darragh

Hello, Darragh, and welcome to Mercedesshop!

My most recent Mercedes was the same chassis as yours, a slightly larger 4-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. It didn't have the key fob instead of key setup, or the arm/unarm arrangement; somebody with a '98 or newer C-Class will have to address those issues. I think an authorized MB dealer is the only source for spare keys: You give them the VIN and your proof of ownership, and they run you up a new one.

The W202 (that's its chassis designation) was the most reliable and economical MB of the three I've had. My '97 was the first year for the electronic 5-speed auto transmission, a unit with known glitches, and I got caught. Yours may have the updates MB added, or you might have a manual 'box and it won't apply.

The car was easy to change the oil on, always started except when the battery died (and MB came right to my door, sold me a new one, and installed it), kept me cool in summer and warm in winter. A very good car, all around.

And yes, driving school is always a good idea. Anything you learn in that line will put you well ahead of all the "punters" (if I'm using that UK term right) out there who can barely manage to steer and chew gum simultaneously.
.

__________________
* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

Thanks for the information!!

I'll go into a Mercedes dealership and find out about getting a spare key made then.

I took it for its first big drive yesterday. Even drove it through an industrial estate where the road was more like a dirt track. It handles corners and bumps really well. Very comfortable. I noticed that it doesn't like being in low RMP while in high gears. It gets a bit shuddery. But this is probably normal right?

Well I booked my first driving lesson. Hopefully I'll pick up some good habits from it. If I like the guy I'll block book a few lessons.

Hello, Darragh,

Your dirt track in the industrial estate sounds like the kind of roads I deal with every day here in The Great Swamp, also known as "New Orleans." The C-Class will handle those things well.

Is yours an auto transmission, or a manual? I know nothing of manual boxes, but I don't think low RPM in a higher gear is a good thing to do with 'em. Is this what is known as "lugging"? Anybody know?

__________________
* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

Lugging, as benzadmiral correctly stated, can be hard on the bearings. Low oil flow and poor engine balance can wear on the bearings.

__________________
95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Oh right.. I'll have to stop letting her get into the low RPM then.

It's a Manual alright. I have to say, I've only driven a few Toyotas and VW Golfs now, but the gear box is really nice. It really feels solid.

I'll be picking up a user technical manual this weekend. I adjusted the accelerator a little so that I no longer have to press the pedal down 2inches before it does anything. Its more like 1inch now.

So can the steering column/wheel be adjusted up and down? I don't seem to see anything on the car for this. Although it was dark when I checked last night.

My '97 had only the tilt feature, actuated by a little lever on the left side of the steering column. (Since you're UK, that might well be on the right side -- between the steering column and the driver's door!) The lever was behind the turn signal/cruise control stalk.

A telescoping wheel, in contrast, was an option on the '97, but probably only seen on the higher-spec models like the C280 and C36.

It's a fun car and eminently sensible too, esp. with a manual transmission, in these times of high petrol prices.

__________________
* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino