Hallo Guenter,
sorry for stepping in late, but had to wait until my sister got her B200 CDI (W245.208)
Although the quality impression of e.g the dashboard is better than with the (new) A-Class I find it to be clearly below what I expect from such an expensive vehicle (29.000 Euro base, can easily reach 40.000, German prices, include 16 percent German VAT).
Rear view (especially to the sides) is close to zero, means you _have_ to order the PARKTRONIC, front view is not really better with the lower parts of the car so as a consequence DC only offers front and rear PARKTRONIC.
Overall quality impression is not that good, some parts like the seats or door panels (close to) adequate for a 30k EURO vehicle, other things like paint (slight difference between metal body parts and plastic parts like bumpers; colour is 748 comete grey metallic, a colour here in Germany very poular with W245) are sub-par and engine hood is really catastrophic:
1970's style hood support strut, has to be pulled out of it's retainer and then to be swung upwards to be inserted into an yellow recess on the underside of the hood - no hydraulic lifts which hold the hood, no springs like in the old W123, just a simple hood retainer... ===:-(((
...and shall I mention there's also no sound insulation pad under the hood?
To say it nicely: That shabby for such an expensive car!
Due to the sandwich floor e.g for elder people it may not be convenient to climb onto the seats, but once reached it gives a nice overview over many other cars as the B-Class is 10 to 19 cm (4 to 7.5 inch) higher than normal cars like C-Class etc.; DC labels the B-Class as Multi Purpose Vehicle - a bit far stretched IMHO.
The standard trim level of the B-Class is not bad, the B 200 CDI includes things like 6-speed man trans, parameter steering, selective damping system, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, front fog lamps, 12 Volt socket in passenger compartment, manual air conditioning, front centre armrest, height adjustable driver's seat, illuminated and air conditioned glove compartment, luggage compartment cover, MB audio 20 radio w/CD, multi- function steering wheel, outside temperature gauge, electric front windows, ABS, BAS, ESP, ASR,
6 airbags, active headrests, steer control, tyre pressure loss warning system, remote central locking, seatbelt tensioners etc. - not bad, really.
BUT on the other hand even metallic paint costs extra, as well as Xenon headlights, navigation system, sunroof, leather upholstery, easy vario system and storage package (Did anybody say _Multi Purpose vehicle_?) as well as tempomat (cruise control for man trans vehicles) or AUTOTRONIC auto trans, automatic climate control or rear electric windows or telephone pre- wiring or...
B 200 CDI engine is ok, fast enough, but of course a bit loud (at least on the outside - CDI...).
AUTOTRONIC: depends on, some like it, some not.
In the glove box compartment were connections for an Apple iPOD (an option, iPOD interface kit), but the software to show the ID3-tags on the radio (here: Audio 50 APS) is not ready yet, only a later DC software update will give that, so long one has to live without it... ..and what puts even more shame on DC is the fact that the iPOD interface kit from Dietz _does_ show the ID3-tags... ==:-(
All-in-all: Very high price, even higher with with AUTOTRONIC, auto climate, metallic, sunroof, Xenon and navi. Quality level not on level with price.
Would I buy it? No. But YMMV.
Juergen P.S.: Sheeeesh, don't tell my sister, she likes the car and that's fine ;-)