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Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2008 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2008 Mercedes-Benz B-Class? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2008 Mercedes-Benz B-Class issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2008 Mercedes-Benz B-Class in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Mercedes-Benz B-Class review: 2005-2015

From time to time you may have read my mutterings that fashion takes precedence over function in cars far too often. Which is why I admire the Mercedes-Benz B-Class so much, it's a major case of function pushing fashion aside. It is immensely practical, with a spacious interior (you need a large Mercedes S-Class to get more rear legroom), a tall seating position that provides good visibility, and variable luggage space that can be tailored in many ways.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class is smaller on the outside than most compact SUVs so easier and safer to drive, as well as being lighter and therefore more economical and cleaner.

Access to the rear seats through wide opening doors is excellent. As befits any mover, the Merc has numerous stowage areas including a handy centre console and sensible door pockets.

The B-Class was launched in Australia in May 2005. Some are getting on in years, but with good maintenance and sensible driving should still have plenty of life left in them. As befits such a sensible vehicle it remained on sale for almost seven years, albeit with upgrades and a mild facelift until April 2012 when an all-new model was launched.

Petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines are on offer, with the turbo-petrol units providing performance that can almost be called sporting in the latest, 2012, generation.

There's a solid, quiet, refined feel in the Benz B-Class that belies it size. It's not quite as quiet and smooth to ride in as the larger Merc sedans, but it comes impressively close.

Handling is pretty good for a mid-sized front-wheel-drive car, with decent balance, and minimal understeer at normal speeds. Exceed sensible cornering efforts and it remains controllable, with electronic aids moving in to help when required.

These small Benzes aren't cheap in absolute terms, but you do get some excellent engineering and good build quality. Many owners are happy to pay thousands extra so they can be seen sitting behind that famed three-pointed star.

Mercedes-Benz is well represented in almost all areas of areas of Australia, even in the far outback as diesel Mercedes cars have been a favourite with Aussie farmers for decades.

Many owners get all their work done at Mercedes-Benz dealerships. These cars generally fetch higher prices than ones serviced elsewhere. You may pay more in the first place, but recoup your cash when it comes time to trade-in time.

This isn't really the sort of car you should attempt to work on yourself, though a good home handyperson can do some of the routine service work.

A correctly driven and maintained Mercedes B-Class should have plenty of life left in it, but it's still best to have one inspected by a Mercedes mechanic.

If you find what appears to have been major repairs to the body either pass it up altogether or book it in for an after-crash inspection at a reputable panel repairer.

Check the interior, particularly the rear seats and the luggage area for signs of rough and ready use.

Before going for your test drive try and arrange for the engine to be completely cold, after an overnight stop is ideal. Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly within a few seconds of kicking over.

Check the engine never shows any signs of hesitation to your push on the throttle pedal. Also, that it pulls easily and strongly even on hills and with a load on board.

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Used Mercedes-Benz B-Class review: 2005-2012

The Mercedes B-Class is an exceptionally practical vehicle built on a stretched version of the Mercedes A-Class platform. The release of an all-new model in March 2012 has generated added interest to those on the used-car market.

A taller than average five-door hatchback, the B-Class has a huge amount of interior space, with almost as much legroom in the rear as in the big S-Class Mercedes. The B-Class’s front seats are large and well shaped and provide good support. There's plenty of space for two big Aussie males in the rear and three children will have stretch out room.

The boot is bigger and more useable than that of many much larger cars. Not only is it huge, the luggage area is very versatile, and you can even create an almost van-like interior by removing every seat but the driver’s. The removable seats are an extra-cost option so may not be fitted to the one you’re examining.

We wouldn’t go as far as to call the B-Class a ‘sports tourer’, as Mercedes has tagged it at times, but it does have a reasonably sleek style in its class.

Petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines are all on offer, with the turbo-petrol units providing performance that can be called sporting without using too much imagination.

The manual gearbox comes as a five or six-speed unit, but isn’t particularly common. Mercedes also gives you the choice of a continuously variable transmission that has seven manually-selectable preset ratios for use in specific driving conditions.

There's a solid, quiet, refined feel in the new Benz B-Class that belies it size. It’s not quite as quiet and smooth to ride in as the larger Merc sedans, but it comes impressively close.

Handling in the B-Class is very good for a mid-sized front-wheel-drive car, with decent balance, and minimal understeer at normal speeds. Backed up by Mercedes' inbuilt electronic stability program, this is one of the safest cars in its class size.

These aren't cheap cars in absolute terms, but you do get some excellent engineering and there are a host of luxury and safety features. Of course, you do pay several thousand extra dollars for the privilege of sitting behind that three-pointed star, but many think it’s worth the money.

Mercedes-Benz is well represented in almost all areas of areas of Australia, even in the far outback as diesel Mercedes have been a favourite with Aussie farmers for generations.

This isn’t really the sort of car you should attempt to work on yourself, though a good home handyperson can do some of the routine service work. It’s common for owners to get all their work done at authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships and these cars generally fetch higher prices than cars serviced elsewhere. You may pay more in the first place, but recoup your cash when it comes time to trade in your ‘serviced by Mercedes’ car.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

A correctly driven and maintained Mercedes B-Class is unlikely to have any faults, but it’s still best to have one inspected by a senior engineer at your motoring club.

Take a good walk around the car checking for signs of damage to the bumper corners, the wheel rims (the front left is the one that generally suffers at the hands of poor parkers), and the door panels at their widest sections.

If you find what appears to have been major repairs to the body either pass it up altogether or book it in for an after-crash inspection at a reputable panel repairer.

Check the interior, particularly the rear seats and the boot for evidence of harsh use.

Before going for your test drive try and arrange for the engine to be completely cold, after an overnight stop is ideal. Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly within a few seconds of kicking over.

Check the engine pulls easily and strongly even on hills and with a load on board. And that it never shows any signs of hesitation.

CAR BUYING TIP

Cars with prestigious badges can be driven just as badly as those from the lowliest on the image stakes. Don’t fall for the fancy badge, have it fully inspected.

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Used Mercedes-Benz B-Class review: 2005-2009

If the Mercedes-Benz A-Class suited young singles and couples without kids starting out in life along with older couples at the other end of the journey whose kids had fled the nest, the B-Class was the car for couples in the midst of family life.

The B-Class was a logical extension of the A-Class concept, a larger version of the small peoplemover capable of hauling a tribe of kids to school, sports days or wherever they need to go.

Outwardly it looked like an A-Class, there was the same upright stance, the same sloping front, and the same sweeping roof, but it was longer. That extra length was used to create a roomy and versatile interior that was perfect for its intended use.

At launch there were two models, the B200 and the B200 Turbo, but they were joined a few months later by the B180 diesel. All were five-door, front-wheel drive hatches cum wagons capable of accommodating five adults and packed with features and safety equipment. Mercedes offered a choice of two 2.0-litre petrol engines, one of them turbocharged for extra zip, and a frugal 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

All engines could be had with a Continuously Variable Transmission, CVT, which was the auto choice, or that could be with either five or six-speed manuals. The manual 'boxes were generally praised for the their ease of use, but the CVT copped some flak for being sluggish and unresponsive.

On the road the B-Class demonstrated good grip and nice chassis balance, but for a more sporty drive there was a sports suspension package available as well. All models were well equipped with all the standard features wanted in a car today, including air, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, cloth trim, fog lamps, alloy wheels, central locking and CD sound.

IN THE SHOP

Anyone buying a Mercedes-Benz needs to do so in full knowledge that servicing and parts come at a premium, which makes it important to seek out a specialist who can service your car, and source parts, at a more economical rate. When checking a car prior to purchase test all the gadgets to make sure they work, fixing them later can cost a motza. If you're unsure get a mechanic to help you.

Check for a service record, as like all engines, Mercedes-Benz powerplants suffer when forced to run on dirty oil. Also check for panel damage, particularly around the front, which is hard to see and can make it hard to judge when parking. Also check the interior for the damage that can nat
urally occur when transporting kids.

IN A CRASH

Five stars from ANCAP say it all. The B-Class is well geared for a   crash with front, side and curtain airbags, plus ABS brakes and ESP stability control.

UNDER THE PUMP

For economy the diesel delivers to the tune of 6.2 L/100 km on   average and the pick of the B-Class bunch. The petrol engines deliver 7.2 L/100 km (non-turbo) and 7.9 L/100 km (turbo), and what's more 'Benz says they can handle E10.

AT A GLANCE

Price new: $47,400 to $51,400
Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 80 kW/250 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 100 kW/185 Nm; 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, 142 kW/280 Nm
Transmissions: CVT auto, 6-speed manual, 5-speed manual
Economy: 6.2 L/100 km (B180 CDI), 7.2 L/100 km (B200), 7.9 L/100 km (B200 Turbo)
Body: 5-door hatchback
Variants: B180 CDI, B200, B200 Turbo
Safety: 5-star ANCAP

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