Looking at purchasing a 2002 C Class Coupe 220CDI

[cookci]

Hi im looking at buying a 2002 C Class Coupe 220CDI with around 90 K on the clock.

Can you tell me if I should look for anything specific when purchasing the car for example when the timing belt needs changing or do the cars just explode at 100K? lol

Hope i manage to find one and become a permanent fixture here

Thanks
Christian

 

[verytalldave]

Welcome to the forum.....................

It has a timing chain. No belts to replace.
With good regular servicing and proper Mercedes spec oil used, 90K is not a high mileage. I fact it sounds a reasonable and believable mileage for that year. Mercedes Diesels go on forever given regular attention. Many do 300K and more..............
Check for small bubbles of rust. Ideally, it shouldnt have any.
Check for a good service history, preferably FMBSH.
Make sure any car you buy comes with 2 keys. Spares are expensive.
Try to buy one with a few toys.
I have listed a few desirable "extras" worth seeking out.
Leather seats.
Either the Aventgarde or the Elegance model. Dont buy a classic.
COMAND satnav unit.
Sunroof
Sports Pack (bigger/fatter wheels and brakes.
Xexon headlamps
Front/rear parking sensors (Parktronic)
Rain sensing wipers
Auto gearbox is a must.
Avoid cars which have been smoked in.

Thats about it from me. I dare say others will be along to add their comments.
Good luck.

 

[cookci]

Hi thanks for the reply.


Can you tell me what the auto box is like? I have driven a smart car (tiptronice) and supra auto both were VERY different.

The supra was a joy and the changes were instant and clean however the smart car was a nightmare... the changes took about 3 secondss. I was left fed up in situations with no power and nothing seemed to happen then all of a sudden jolt it would change!

Would you say the auto box in the coupe is a good one and i guess you dont rate the manual?

 

[verytalldave]

How can I put this?

Auto gearbox on Mercedes cars are THE BEST. Even BMW acknowledge that fact. They perform faultlessly and smoothly. Manuals are best avoided as resale is a problem - although to be fair, a very few do prefer the manuals. However 99% dont and go for the auto.
There is simply no better.
At 90K mileage changing the auto fluid is advised even though MB say its not necessary, many do have a refill around that time. I had a refill at 50K and changes became smoother and quicker.
Coupled with the slightly awkward hand operated "footbrake", running an auto is a must.
Its a 5 speed box and changes are quick and sometimes seamless. After a short while you will soon appreciate the auto box. Even if you normally prefer manuals.

 

[cookci]

Sounds pretty impressive! Its hard to beleive any auto box could be as good as the one in the toyota supra i drove! Have you ever experienced a smart car coupes tranmission? I certainly am looking forward to test driving the c class.

I dont suppose you know what MPG i could expect out the different model coupes... c180k, c200k, c230k, c220Cdi?

Appreciate your help

 

[verytalldave]

I haven't driven either a Smart or a Supra - so I cant help with comparisions - sorry.
All I can say is this - I would bet you a score the MB auto box is as good or better than the Toyota's.

Loads of useful info here..............

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W203#W203

MPG figures are difficult to predict but in order of your list I would guess the following AVERAGE MPG figures...........

35, 32, 29, 45.

ADD 5-10 for cruising and DEDUCT 5-10 city stop/start driving.

 

[cookci]

the figure you gave for the c230 is pretty disappointing!

I dont suppose there is any simple way of increasing the BHP in the c180 as 143bhp for 1.8 S/C is pretty low also

I guess i will be going for the diesel as suggested earlier!

Thanks for all the help

This is the car i am upgrading from and waiting for the insurance to pay out still!

Im lucky to be alive really! i think i was getting a bit cocky having not had an accident in 9 years!

 

[verytalldave]

Judging by the damage, it looks like another yet case of being hit by a rogue lamppost.

BTW, if you want more BHP than a C180K, then buy a C200K. The only difference is a bigger supercharger. The engine size is the same.

Also, you must take a test drive before getting too enthusisatic about buying a Mercedes C Class coupe. Dont expect it to feel or drive like your last car. Its NOT a sports car. Its basically no more than a 2 door saloon. I fear you may not be happy with one after having a drive. Don't get me wrong, they are great cars and many love them, but sports cars they ain't. If you want a sporty Merc then you must look at either an SL or an SLK. I don't think even a CLK would appeal either as again they are not true sports cars, more a gentleman's express - if you get my drift.
Take a test drive and either prove me right or wrong.
As much as I hate to say this - and it goes against every fibre of my very being for saying it, but I think a BMW 3 series may fit your criteria better.
Something like a 325 or a 330 if you have deep enough pockets.

I cant believe that I have just recommended someone to buy a Bemmer on a Mercedes forum..........God help me......

 

[Corrado]

-- snip --

As much as I hate to say this - and it goes against every fibre of my very being for saying it, but I think a BMW 3 series may fit your criteria better.
Something like a 325 or a 330 if you have deep enough pockets.

I cant believe that I have just recommended someone to buy a Bemmer on a Mercedes forum..........God help me......

For your own good VTD, I've a good mind to report the above .

 

[cookci]

Im a pc field engineer and i have going to have to start using my car as a work car hence me needing a car with good MPG.
I used to have a supra and a laguna estate 120 and i was happy with way it drove... i thought the torque from the turbo diesel pulled it along nicely!

is the c230K 1.8 not the same as the c180 with a bigger charger also?

 

[verytalldave]

Im a pc field engineer and i have going to have to start using my car as a work car hence me needing a car with good MPG.
I used to have a supra and a laguna estate 120 and i was happy with way it drove... i thought the torque from the turbo diesel pulled it along nicely!

is the c230K 1.8 not the same as the c180 with a bigger charger also?

Depends what year car you buy.
C230K are indeed 1.8 supercharged.
C230 (without the supercharger) are 2.5 litre V6.
I cant recall when they changed engine. You would have to check under the bonnet or documents.
If you NEED good MPG, then really diesel is the only logical option, even though the stuff costs more, it still works out better financially.

 

[st4]

IIRC the celica is a front drive car, the C class coupe a RWD so there may be less in it than you think.

Strictly speaking the smart car isn't an automatic but a robotised manual. These have a reputation for jerky gear changes. The autobox's in all the mercs (bar the A class) are conventional torque converter automatics (like the one in the Supra cookci liked) so it will be very good.

Mercedes Benz do make the best torque converter automatics in the world. Having had a BMW with one, driven a VW group one the Mercedes one is much much better.

 

[cookci]

Sounds good. Are the torque converters designed to last for the life of the car unlike clutches? If i did get a manual would the clutch need doing around 100K? how much would it cost to fit a new clutch? also is it possible to DIY service?

I was also thinking of getting one of those things to boost the fuel pressure. Ive heard very good things about them on most other TDI cars but not sure how they would fit in the mercs?

Do mercedes do a "tiptronic" on the c class also? So i can avoid it?


Thanks for all the help guys and sorry for firing so many questions... i just dont want to regret purchasing this car but by the sound of things i dont think i will (touch wood)

 

[st4]

Tiptronic is a manual instruction to the automatic gear boxes, where you tell it to change up and down. IIRC all Auto mercs have this. The gear box is so intuative (in my E class) that you hardly need use this function.

I imagine a manual car would need a new clutch @ 100k, but it may have already been done. Automatic gear boxes should have the transmission fluid chnaged @ 40-50k mile intervals. A main dealer may charge £200-300 for this, but its a DIY job if you know how. Torque convertors, like the gearbox should last the whole life of the car.

An auto box is a very expensive item to replace so when on a test drive make sure the selector lever travels smoothly thru the gate from P to R to N to D. There should be no jerkiness in the shifts, if there are; walk away. Autoboxes are tougher than manuals in general (mate who worked in F1 confirmed this) but when they do fail, its usually a bigger repair.

Ask about the transmission fluid changes and when it was last done. BMW seal their gearboxes for life and about 100k they have been known to fail as the fluid was never changed.

 

[mattml500]

cookci
i just bought 2003 model c220cdi coupe spent weeks looking

holding out for all the toys
worth the wait though
70000 miles
leather seats
heated memory seats
and the evo panoramic roof
i think the car looks so much bigger inside with it .
there wasnt that many with comand quite hard to find but it make's the dash look better not as good as the newer model but better.mine also came with the phone pre-wiring just got to get a bluetooth cradle now .

i paid well over the odds for it but i love it

 

[st4]

Pre wiring is a really nice option IMO. Well pointed out.

 

[cookci]

do some coupes not come with the evo panoramic?

 

[mattml500]

do they all come with the cradle in the armrest am i being an idiot lol

 

[stevesey]

Car transporter instruction manual rule 1: Always apply the handbrake and leave car in gear after reversing it onto the load area.

 

[cookci]

Driving rule number 1:

test brakes before accelerating!