Maybe my new car

[nath69uk]

Maybe my new car *Updated

Hello,

New to the whole MB scene and this site. I have been offered the following car.

I am Nath 23 years old, Day to day car ATM is a Ford and I have a '91 MK5 RS2000 restoration on the go too. I'm looking for something newer than my current daily driver (K) plate.

Then a lad I know well, asked me to take pictures of his Merc for eBay. Ended up really liking it myself and plan on buying it to give me a break from my 1.6 escort Ghia and project car. Keep my RS for weekends and shows.

I liked the car how it was and started asking a few mates what they thought, few said yeah like it a few said no.

Corect me where I go wrong please

Decided to sign up here to see what I was planning on buying and if it was a good price. Asked a few rushed questions so I could let the lad know I was serious about buying it and to check insurance and the likes of. I didnt know what it was I just liked it, so needed to find out where it compared to other MB models out. You'll probably kill me for this but the way I have worked it out so far,,,,,
Ive been looking at a MB c200 (w202) Sport so thats just like the RS series of Ford. RS2000 lets say. The AMGs are like the Cosworth of ford. And the numbers just replace the model name with numbers.

Just Fords. in the last 4 years of driving hence me knowing bugger all about many other cars.

And the novelty of fixing your own cars is running out very fast indeed. And will now become a hobby rather than needing to do it done to half an half decent motor (in the ford scene) Dont know how many of you actually know about fords so have to explain a little.

Thats it I ended up here.

As for the c200 ive been looking at the lad must have 10 cars. AMG 4x4 dont know which one, EVO 6 ralliart, Saphire Cosworth the list goes on and on. All his cars are clean straight cars. This is what has put the idea into my head this one must be the same. After shedding some light on here I see it differently now. Its actually quite "Chavish". I'm going to weigh things up tomorrow when I goto see it again, buying the bloody thing werent really in my interest when taking pics of it so didnt pay too much attention to it.

After all its still a good backbone to have, it has done 81k no doubts, full merc service history all stamps and some receipts for work carried out on it like a £500 service when it was motd in beginning of Feb this year.

And I still think its worth £3k, not only that hes going to buy my escort off me for a work car so its less money for me to find to pay for it. If I look at it and its not as clean as expected like ecerything working and everything where it should be then I am not paying the £3000 asking for it. If I believe the car is A1 Mint apart from a few easy fixes like bumper adjusting. Then I'll quite gladly have it off him.

Seats have probably been added along the lines like the wheels and badge on the back, hence the high mileage looking seat bolsters.

I think it just needs tidying up with some subtle mods, I know not many of you are going to be happy about modding but afterall I am 23 and I promise no bodykits or vinyls with a hint of NEON. :bannana: Some of the w202s ive seen on here upon researching are not to my taste either guys but I'm going to do what I think will look good and very Factory.

Hope this helps rather than all these questions.

 

[Howard]

W numbers are the cars model number , your potential car is a W202 ...

Some of the panel gaps look a bit questionable , but I like the colour ....

Unfortunately, i don't think you'll find there's anything AMG about the car .. there is no bodykit, wheels , exhaust , dash etc etc ..... I think he's probably telling you porkies and the badge is an Ebay special....

The wheels aren't to my taste, but they look in good nick .... and its fairly low mileage , which is nice too .... check the wheels are the correct offset and size and haven't been put on to sell it without checking.

I realise that the bonnet is on its first catch in picture one, but the gap between the nearside headlight and the bumper is bigger than the other side, which suggests a knock at some time

Also, in the fifth picture the gap on the bumper gets wider as you go round from the side to the back of the car ....

The car is indeed listed as a C200 Sport Auto , first registered in August 1996.

Someone else will be able to give you an idea of price better than I , but i guess a couple of grand tops ....

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[nath69uk]

Thanks for the reply, very thorough too.

I was actually meant to be taking the photos to sell the car on ebay for the owner. However I quite fancy buying it myself now.

A few people have mentioned the amount of fuel this car is going to consume on a daily basis, what is the estimated MPG on this model.

Thanks again
Nathan

 

[Howard]

Actually , i tell you a lie .....

It appears to have the C43 wheelarch extensions on it those tiny little black strips that you can see on the inside tops of the arches ...

£50 each they are !! but thats about it !!

 

[nath69uk]

Thanks again Howard, I dont think that having these justify the need of the AMG badge. :bannana: Did they come with leather as standard?

The car is up for £3,000 and after looking around I think its a good price for its condition.

 

[Shude]

Did they come with leather as standard?

Back then practically everything was an option, leather included!

The additional AMG badge is pretty comical considering the car came from the factory with 15" AMG wheels on it as standard and they've been swapped for some aftermarket rims

 

[R2D2]

I think £3000 is too much. I've seen facelifted W202s under £3k. The wheels are not to my taste either and the ET or offset might be a bit out. The car looks lowered. The front looks lower than sport settings and I would imagine that the ride might be a touch firm. I agree with the others, it looks like it may have had some paint done at the front which needn't be a problem if the work was well done. Can you see any make or numbers on the shocks or springs.

It looks in good condition overall and might make a reasonable buy at a lower price. Do you know someone who can check it over for you and does it have full service history and MOTs to confirm the mileage?

 

[Shude]

The car looks lowered. The front looks lower than sport settings and I would imagine that the ride might be a touch firm.

Either that or the bottom coil has cracked on the front springs

 

[nath69uk]

The mileage is correct and it does have a full MB service history. As for the gaps in bumpers and paint, I dont think it would have been painted as the lad selling it only usually has prestine cars really. Not just MBs but all kinds.

I dont think it has been lowered maybe those black arch strips make it look lower????

I was actually thinking if I did buy it then I may lower it a tad, I think it sits a tiny little bit too high above the wheel.

But hey what do I know it seems like you guys are the MB experts.

Thanks again for you input.

 

[scousetechie]

I'm not sure that it's a sport. My C200 sport has white dials.

 

[Shude]

I'm not sure that it's a sport. My C200 sport has white dials.

Facelift only mate.

 

[nath69uk]

Came up as a sport when I did my insurance quote online. How bad are these on petrol?

A few ppl have said its a tad expensive but looking at similiar availible its miles better than any of them and cheaper too.

 

[R2D2]

Facelift only mate.

Beat me to it! And this one looks like it has the earlier "non carbon" effect B pillars ie. small rectangles rather than plain black or sawtooth design on facelift sports.

 

[Shude]

Came up as a sport when I did my insurance quote online. How bad are these on petrol?

Driven sensibly you should get 25-35mpg out of it.

 

[R2D2]

20-30mpg range say 24mpg average. If you put its star back on the bonnet and promise to not lower it anymore it might be a nice car.

It should ride like a Mercedes Benz (albeit a sporty one)- it shouldn't be slammed like a Corsa with no shocks! IMHO

 

[Seamster15]

20-30mpg range say 24mpg average. If you put its star back on the bonnet and promise to not lower it anymore it might be a nice car.

It should ride like a Mercedes Benz (albeit a sporty one)- it shouldn't be slammed like a Corsa with no shocks! IMHO

LOL my thoughts exactly!

 

[gina2201]

I would say about £2500, thats what I paid for my '96 230k sport so going along those lines, similar mileage, leather, full MB history. Mine is a manual and it does at least 30mpg if you're sensible, probably 35! My last mercedes auto was a bit less than this though. Depends how you drive it!

 

[nath69uk]

LOL

I will replace the badge and not lower it. Im sorry for even considering it.

 

[Will]

IMHO £3000 is too much if it's a pre-facelift C200.

FWIW, it looks as though it's a factory sport, and I'd bet that those wheel arch extensions were fitted in combination with a set of larger (17") AMG wheels.

Although the you say that the listed mileage of 82K is correct, did it actually have that grey leather interior from new? Reason I ask is that there seems to be more wear on the driver's seat than I would expect at that mileage, and grey leather is unusual for a sport.

As others have said though, it looks like a nice enough car, although there are plenty of W202s out there and I'm sure you could do better with a little looking through autotrader/ebay etc

Main +ves (value wise) to look for would be facelift spec, auto, air con, leather trim.

If you can get the VIN for the car you have been offered we can tell you more about it's history and it's original spec

Good luck,

Will

 

[Dieselman]

That car looks generally tidy but I agree with Howard about the n/s headlight. It's higher thaan the wing leading edge and appears to sloe upwards towards the grille.

The rear bumper isn't an issue, it's how they fit, nice and snug at the ends but variable along the back. This is adjustable by nuts inside the boot panel.

search www.wisebuyers.co.uk for a price.