Dangerous? Yes. But you can't knock the build quality of a 202!

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

adam87

Active Member
Joined
May 2, 2010
Messages
252
Location
Portsmouth
Car
C200 Sport
[YOUTUBE]vX23cZ1dShU[/YOUTUBE]
 
I can really knock the build quality - I had one - you just haven't let me try!
 
Contrary to popular conception the W202 was not a particularly safe car in its day. If you don't believe me take a look at the EURO NCAP ratings. This was IMHO due to mistaken policy decision at the design stage where it was decided to concentrate more impact resistance lower in the overall body shell structure than previously. Numerous modifications were made over the life of the car however and later versions had a better record. Having said that it was only with the introduction of the new W203 series that fundamental design could be changed for the better----- the same might not be said for the build quality which is a separate issue. Mercedes Benz C Class | Euro NCAP - For safer cars crash test safety rating
 
Ratings or not, I lost my first 202 due to a pillock pulling out in front of me, and I still thank the guy in the sky for being in the 202. A 40 mph crash (minus a few for some panic braking that was useless in the short distance I had), a near head on impact into the other vehicle, and we all walked away scot free, not even a bruise or neck injury.

I think if I was in another car of the time (say a late escort or early focus), the car would have been mashed along with some injuries to me and the passengers.

They are pretty tank like for the age. Okay, maybe not super safe, but I'd rather be in one of those in any potential future crash than a most other cars of that era.
 
Bimey, the road surface must have suffered a great deal after that,

interesting point, since the w202 and the 124 have similar traits would the above safety issue be deemed the same then for the 124 - or not?
 
If you go by objective test figures then at the time 1997 you would be better off in a Volvo S40,S70,Rover75,Vauxhall Omega or Saab 95 , or dare I say it a W124 :dk:
 
A rover 75! I never realised they were so tough :D

I can understand those other vehicles, they are all pretty large and well built cars from my experience. I was run over by an old volvo 740 estate when I was a kid - did zero damage to the car lol.
 
Another vote against the ratings...

I had "several" incidents in my W202; including (but not limited to...)
- Side impact from a bandit
- Frontal impact with a people carrier
- Side impact with an articulated lorry
- Frontal impact with a wall

and the only injuries sustained were from the articulated lorry... and then, the injuries were due to my limbs being outside the car... both passengers inside were unscathed.

I'm sure there are safer cars out there - but personally, I adore the W202...

M.
 
Bimey, the road surface must have suffered a great deal after that,

interesting point, since the w202 and the 124 have similar traits would the above safety issue be deemed the same then for the 124 - or not?

Interesting question- the w124 front suspension incorporates a MACPHERSON STRUT arrangement which requires the provision of substantial upper mounting/body structure high on the inner wing/secondary bulkhead. It also provides a substantial "tether" for the front hub and wheel/tyre assembly in the vent of a collision.:thumb: This I feel provides a greater protection from front assembly intrusion into the front passenger compartment-- the cause of many lower limb injuries. That's just my gut feeling:dk: ---that and the fact the W124 was simply build of better materials.;) Where the W124 really loses out in comparison to more modern designs is in its very limited ability to protect its occupants adequately in side impacts.:(
 
I can really knock the build quality - I had one - you just haven't let me try!

By that, I wasn't referring to safety (though my first-generation pre-facelift didn't feel too safe) but to overall built quality. Everything rattled, underpowered engine (C200), quite a long delay when pressing the throttle, a nice clatter when shutting any of the 4 doors, VERY light steering (overly so!)
 
Ratings or not, I lost my first 202 due to a pillock pulling out in front of me, and I still thank the guy in the sky for being in the 202. A 40 mph crash (minus a few for some panic braking that was useless in the short distance I had), a near head on impact into the other vehicle, and we all walked away scot free, not even a bruise or neck injury.

I think if I was in another car of the time (say a late escort or early focus), the car would have been mashed along with some injuries to me and the passengers.

They are pretty tank like for the age. Okay, maybe not super safe, but I'd rather be in one of those in any potential future crash than a most other cars of that era.

Were both cars in this head on W202s...or was the other car equally good considering you all walked away?
 
The other car was side on (the cab of a flat bed van), it was written off. The occupants were much higher up though so they were never in as much danger anyway and so were also fine. I was able to drive the car home, they couldn't budge an inch.

I actually put everything down to the seatbelts. They gave such a perfect amount of give that even the next day there were no aches.
 
Last edited:
There was a thread on it under my old username (Inkyskin - Lost the login details for that account and couldn't recover them) but I don't think the pics are there any more. The damage looked a lot less than what I'd expect from a collision at that speed.
 
The only picture left is your old avatar:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/driving-incidents-roadrage/56136-one-less-w202-road-sniff.html

And a nice notice telling you not to advertise in your signature!

The sad thing is you hardly had the car when it happened:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/members-gallery/50803-first-mb-c180-w202.html

Anyway, it came out quite well from the accident but you had quite a few faults with it judging by your other threads. The W202s weren't Mercedes' best creations IMHO
 
Oh yes, there were faults lol, but as for being in an accident it performed admirably. To be fair, I did get it cheap at the time so the niggles were't entirely unexpected.

Lol, they must have done that to my sig after me losing the details, I don't remember seeing that :D (I freelanced back then, was prob a link to my site).
 
I had "several" incidents in my W202; including (but not limited to...)
- Side impact from a bandit
- Frontal impact with a people carrier
- Side impact with an articulated lorry
- Frontal impact with a wall
I'm sure there are safer cars out there

Certainly safer drivers... :crazy::D:D:D
 
To be fair, I did get it cheap at the time so the niggles were't entirely unexpected.

Mine was a 1994 C200 Elegance, 76000 miles when I bought it in 2007 (I think). The car dealer claimed it was his own car, and that it was perfect. True it was the only rust-free W202 I had ever seen (before or since) but it turned out the radiator and water pump needed replacing, the central locking was just about to die and the steering was weightless. Also it needed new ignition coils and spark plugs. Now, I paid £2500 for the privilege of such a car - guess what... the ECU went on it just under 2 years later after which it sounded like a tractor, ran on 2 cylinders and couldn't go above 30. It also misfired a lot. Apparently the gearbox was knackered when I limped it to my garage, and the catalytic converter may well have been damaged. It ran for 4 days like this before I sold it for £300 or so when it was picked up by two guys and towed from a Transit. Fate unknown, was registered M260 YWL for anyone curious. It looked perfect, but had many problems. I would hope it was re-engined but can't be sure at all. May well be scrapped or broken up. Apparently ECU failure is very common at low mileages on this model/the W202 so replacements are rare and VERY expensive. When this happened it could seldom get into 3rd gear, never into 4th.
 
Sounds like yours was worse than normal! Your's is still insured, askmid shows:

Vehicle Make/Model: MERCEDES C 200 (93-95) 4D/AUTELEGANCE

So someone is still enjoying/regretting it lol

I paid less the 1k for mine at the time. There were rust issues, and the heater blower, but she ran well indeed. Of course it was a manual so there was no auto box to have problems with. On my second 202 the only drive problem was the Maf needing replacing at one point. A rear window didn't operate and there was a bit of rust (not much though). The last point was the boot lock barrel was fubar'd, however it was like that when I got it, god knows how the prev owner screwed that up lol
 
Well, sounds like the manual box is more reliable - I'd love a W123 300D manual as a second car, but I just don't like the whole handbrake=footbrake=handle arrangement. I prefer a normal handbrake on your left!

Sounds like I was quite lucky with some bits of mine (heater worked fine), at least it was in better nick than my C124 I sold in October which the Polish buyers still have on the road (rolling restoration project?) which could go at 100mph but was terrifying at that speed!

Sorry to hear your W202 crashed, by the sound of it you were quite keen on that series, but the one photo left shows how well it held out. I mean - writing off an Iveco flatbed!

The W123 is even stronger, I wouldn't like to be crashed into by one of those:

mercedes w123 crash - YouTube

"Alas 'tis but a scratch"! It hardly got dented, can't say the same for the other car
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom