C250 CDI estate automatic

The "improvements" aren't....

I recently swapped my 3 year old C250CDI estate Elegance for a low mileage pre-registered "facelift" one from my local dealer - because I like the power and pick-up of the 250 twin turbo engine, but don't like the brutally hard ride of the "Sport" models on r****** English roads and Mercedes have decided that they will now only sell the C250 engine in the "Sport " trim.
As before, very comfortable and quick (although the engine feels rougher than the last one - particularly under hard acceleration, and the (7 speed) gearbox seems a bit uncertain about which gear it wants to be in at times). The real disaster is the cockpit ergonomics. It has bits of satin aluminium trim everywhere - just like the Lancia I had in the 1970's. Worst is the speedometer, which is the the most cluttered, distracting and potentially dangerous piece of design I've ever come across. Inside the speedometer outer ring is a multi-colour display - horribly cluttered - which , among other things, flashes copies of roadside speed limit signs at you as it passes them. Good idea - but far too bright. In full sun, the display isn't illuminated, and at night, although it's still too bright, you can adjust it to some extent with the instrument panel rheostat. At dusk, though, the inner display has a mind of its own. It lights itself up - fully bright, and it can't be adjusted. I can't find a way of turning it off, neither can my local MB main dealer, and the Mercedes help line - can't. I HATE IT! Completely ruins what would otherwise be a very good car. Far too clever for its own good. I was always a fan of the late-lamented Saab's "black panel" which allowed you to turn off all potentially distracting dashboard instruments unless something went wrong. This is the exact opposite. My advice is to test drive it at dusk before you buy one.....

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