MB C230K - Anyone have input?

[andycook]

I am looking at a 2002 C230K with 25k miles. Does anyone have any experience with these? Good, Bad, etc... I know it is not a Porsche, but I need a new daily driver. Thanks.

[osidak]

It is a Mercedes - Run away from it unless you like endless electrical issues and blown head gaskets at low miles

Don't get me started on how piss poor Mercedes has become.

[andycook]

osidak, How do you really feel? ) Don't sugar coat it for me! )

Have they really gotten that bad?

[andycook]

Are the Kompressor models that bad as well? I figued being supercharged, they may be better design wise than the regular 4 cylinders.

[osidak]

Yes they are that bad but if you really feel the need make sure you get an extended warranty and dump the car before the warranty expires.

I used to be a diehard MB fan. I would not own one if you gave it to me these days.

[stevepaa]

Went looking at a two year old C wagon with 6 cylinder. Very disappointed in quality of interior. Cracks in the "wood". More wear and tear than I expected.
Heard nothing but bad comments on the new cheap MB. My mom's 83 360SL is still quite the car though.

[project935]

DO NOT buy any C-class from 00-02 ... asking for trouble.

www.mercedes-benz-usa.com

In '03.5-05 they made decent strides in improving the quality, but they still have a lot of minor issues ... depends on how picky you are.

[singpilot]

Hmmmm. I bought a daily driver '99 C230K 4 years ago. Used.

Has been flawless. Idling hot (120F ambient) in LAS it dropped a cylinder at idle. Read the codes, changed a coil ($127 and 10 minutes including removing the covers), and back on the road. It had 88K on it when I bought it, it has 198K on it now. Regular maintenance is the key!

Sorry to be the discordant one here. My S/O drives it, and I doubt I'll ever get it away from her.

Michael.

[osidak]

97 E320

Blow head gasket at 48,000 miles
Transmission stopped shifting at 56,000 miles
A/C puked 2 times in the first 60,000 miles
Cluster failed at 70,000 miles
Air Mass Sensor puked at 68,000
Coolant level sensor failed twice (35,000 and 65,000)
Washer fluid sensor failed 75,000 miles
O2 (rear)sensor at 54,000
Radiator fans failed at 80,000 miles
Goes through light bulbs like a kid eating Halloween Candy
Control stalk broke

There is more but I don't feel like going on.

The body has held up great, the interior is spotless, drives like a dream and has the reliability of a Yugo. The car has been maintained by the book.

The dealer is useless and are crooked as well. Wanted $800 to replace the AMS ($275 in parts and 5 minutes of work) and $1900 to replace the cluster (which I repaired myself for free)

[singpilot]

The early versions of that E class were trouble. Seems to me there were questions about the entire wiring harness, and some were completely changed out.

Andy is asking about the C class. I am sorry to hear you've had bad luck with your E class. But the fact is that I've been very happy with mine, and there are a lot of the 230Kompressor engines out there.

The tractor and vibrating comments are likely attributed to the NA 4 cylinder C220 engine. I do not see many of those at all here on the left coast.

Michael.

[osidak]

Cousin's C-Coupe has been through not 1 but 4 transmissions and 2 head gaskets. I forget the year but it was one of the first two model years. Her electrical system is just looking for ways to let the "smoke" out

MB is no where near what they used to be. I don't usually put much into what Consumer Reports say but when they list EVERY single model of MB as less than reliable that is something to notice.

I am very happy your C has been trouble free. Oh and the wiring harness issue was supposed to resolved by 1994