1st Mercedes purchase

[turbominor]

I am about to purchase my first Mercedes, a 1995-99 c180 or c200 auto.

Any tips on what i should look out for, as this will be my first modern car for several years. I have read that some c-class can rust and that the autobox's sometime have problems


Been forced to sell my beloved 1953 Morris Minor (www.turbominor.co.uk) and go automatic as i smashed my knee up and it is taking a long time to repair .

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[marc777]

I had to get an automatic following a knee operation - and just never went back.

My first MB was a 97 C180.

My advice would be to aim for the lowest mileage and owners you can afford and make sure it has a full service history.

Good luck

 

[Alfie]

I am about to purchase my first Mercedes, a 1995-99 c180 or c200 auto.

Any tips on what i should look out for, as this will be my first modern car for several years. I have read that some c-class can rust and that the autobox's sometime have problems


Been forced to sell my beloved 1953 Morris Minor (www.turbominor.co.uk) and go automatic as i smashed my knee up and it is taking a long time to repair .

Thanks in advance for any advice

Welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place.

I've had a few C class cars all of which have been great. The auto box is in my opinion supurb. Go for as low mileage and owners as you can afford. The original C class was facelifted around S registration. These newer cars are more stable at speed than the early ones.

There are many others on this forum who have or have had C classes so expect quite a response!


Good luck

 

[turbominor]

Well I have done it.

1996 C180 auto, full mb service history, all mot's and tax disks. 78,000 miles in a silver/champainge colour.

£3000 with 12 months tax and test from a old gent in weston super mair. Big culture shock coming from a moddifed morris minor to a c180

3 little problems, :-

one blown brake lamp bulb, (sorted now)

one dead original Blaupunkt, now swapped for eol pioneer

exterior temp does not light up!


Any thought on the out side temp display?

also Sterling MB in worcester will do a full service inc fluids for £139..

 

[GRAV888]

Well I have done it.

1996 C180 auto, full mb service history, all mot's and tax disks. 78,000 miles in a silver/champainge colour.

£3000 with 12 months tax and test from a old gent in weston super mair. Big culture shock coming from a moddifed morris minor to a c180

3 little problems, :-

one blown brake lamp bulb, (sorted now)

one dead original Blaupunkt, now swapped for eol pioneer

exterior temp does not light up!


Any thought on the out side temp display?

also Sterling MB in worcester will do a full service inc fluids for £139..

Hi and welcome to the forums.
Your car probably won't have this as standard.
Have a look in the 'How To' section.
HERE

 

[andy_cyp]

Well I have done it.

1996 C180 auto, full mb service history, all mot's and tax disks. 78,000 miles in a silver/champainge colour.

£3000 with 12 months tax and test from a old gent in weston super mair. Big culture shock coming from a moddifed morris minor to a c180

3 little problems, :-

one blown brake lamp bulb, (sorted now)

one dead original Blaupunkt, now swapped for eol pioneer

exterior temp does not light up!


Any thought on the out side temp display?

also Sterling MB in worcester will do a full service inc fluids for £139..

Welcome to the forum,

I also use MB Sterling in worcs as i live in malvern, there a great bunch up there.I gather you have spoken to Richie already then "service Mgr"I f you have any queries dont hesitate to contact him on 01905 450200 to sort any issues you may have.

Enjoy your new C.

 

[pluggers]

Hello and welcome.
Sounds a nice car you've bought,Dont forget piccys,we like piccys .I see from your web site you like modding your motors,Its not going to be any different here as there is always something worth doing . Are you a member of the moggie club? A mate of mine is a member,just curious as you might have met him.

 

[del boy]

thankyou grav now i know why my temp gauge doesnt work, any tips on a dodgy fuel gauge?

 

[turbominor]

see from your web site you like modding your motors,Its not going to be any different here as there is always something worth doing . Are you a member of the moggie club? A mate of mine is a member,just curious as you might have met him

.

Oh yes like my moddified cars.. long list of them from my past, but the moggie was by far the best.. ultimate 'q' car.. I am still a member of the club even though i cannot drive one at the moment!

 

[GRAV888]

thankyou grav now i know why my temp gauge doesnt work, any tips on a dodgy fuel gauge?

Probably a faulty sender unit mate.
Had my one changed under warranty.
HTH

 

[CE300]

.

Oh yes like my moddified cars.. long list of them from my past, but the moggie was by far the best.. ultimate 'q' car.. I am still a member of the club even though i cannot drive one at the moment!

Theres a Morris Minor around Bedford do you know it, it had a lower roof, I have seen it accelerate its an animal apparently its running a TVR engine in it.

 

[GRAV888]

When I was 18 (a few years ago), I used to have a Vauxhall Firenza with a droop snoop front end, rover V8 engine, solenoid door opening (no handles), MK1 capri door lipping down the sides.
I used to go to the Chelsea Cruise every month and race over the bridges.
Not a lot could keep up with me apart from this poxy Moggie with a V6 and Nitros.
Beat me every time

 

[Pietre]

Used to have a local dealer who was bored one winter, so they got a moggie and a Rover SDI and shortened the SDI chassis to take the moggie body and parts. It needed 3 bags of cement in the boot to stop the wheels from spinning. Caught out quite a few of the local speed merchants.

 

[mickl]

Used to have a local dealer who was bored one winter, so they got a moggie and a Rover SDI and shortened the SDI chassis to take the moggie body and parts. It needed 3 bags of cement in the boot to stop the wheels from spinning. Caught out quite a few of the local speed merchants.

wouldn't they have had to narrow it to as the SDI chassis as well as shorten it?

 

[Pietre]

They did all sorts of things to it, but it couldnt be driven in the wet as it just spun the wheels and sat still, but a dry road....... well that was fun to watch.

 

[sportyreptile]

I love these mad conversions, I once came across a Moggie van that had a twin cam Alfa engine in it, you can guess how it went.

 

[turbominor]

the moggie that i have had to sell due to the knee injury was originally called TURBOminor...... running a 1340 MG Metro turbo engine with intercool and Ital crank to turn it 90deg to fit an inline car was pushing 120bhp and good for any trafic light confrontation as it was running the standard 4.22:1 Minor diff and gearbox that maxed at 90...........

later it was running the same 1380 minus the turbo and a heavily skimmed head + 3.7:1 diff as i could not keep it in hd clutches and toughened half shafts as the rate i was blowing them.


there is a nameless associate of mine that has a spaceframe moggie with a complete escort costworth under it... I can fine photo's for the non belivers

 

[andy_cyp]

911 Beetle

Oh well...

Imight as well confess my sins since this topic has come up.

I bought a std 1974 beetle back in 1990 and spent over £15k on it.
Mods included are porsche 911 flat 6 3.3 ltr engine,brembo disks all round.adjustable front axle " for height ride ",911 dashboard,full leather recaro seats and door cards and of course the 911 body kit.

Please dont ask why on earth i done it as 15yrs ahead i still have no idea.

I must admit it was frightening to drive because every time you floored it the front end had a tendacy to lift The solution.........wait for it......................................................................................................................................... We half filled the front with cement...lol.

The results were quite impressive... a sub 5.0 sec 0.60 with another 4 taking it too 100. wouldnt go further than 110 due to the gearing.thank god,as i probably would not be here telling you this story if it did.

Time to recieve the grief from you all know