W202 C280 Praise ...... for a change !

[sirobert]

Hi Everyone
Browsing these forums is always fascinating .......... but sometimes a bit
depressing ........... soooooo many problems ! But the fact we're all
still here reading and posting must prove that Mercs offer so much more
than the problems we're so interested to read about.

So here's my twopenneth (?) for what it's worth. I run two Mercs (well ...... and an Escort van ! ) and my own experience of the marque has been totally positive. I've owned my '96 SL280 for nearly four years.
80K on the clock .......... garaged but used most weekends throughout the year. Not F1 but more than fast enough for me and beyond the odd
battery charge at 'slack' periods has never done anything but delight me.
To slip behind the wheel even on a (dry ! ) November day with the hood
down and wind deflector up is for me a priceless experience. Beyond routine servicing nothing but pleasure and pride to report.

My '02 E320 ( petrol ) was bought in 03 . I can hear the groans starting
now ! Rust ? Mine has absolutely none. Electrical problems ? Maybe I'm
lucky ............ and the more I keep to the scheduled service intervals
the luckier I get. 50k of trouble free motoring. And she has to live outside
unfortunately. ALWAYS starts ' on the button ' ........... can return up
to 34mpg on a long run ............ and goes like a rocket when necessary.
Absolutely effortless sumptiously comfortable motoring. And NO .........
she is NOT for sale ............. absolutely NOT. Hmmmm ......... my partner
on the other hand ..................................

Which brings me to the real reason for this post. My nephew is as impressed by my Mercs as I am and although not much money after
university then post grad stuff he has now got himself a pretty good job.
At last ! 27 ........ but heigh ho ....... . His Citroen Saxo recently
disintergrated ............ well .......... the driver's door dropped ....... then
fell ........ in a shower of rust. And looking to replace it he saw a C280
being sold with no reserve on E bay. '96. What did I think ? He's in
Chelsford but the car was local to me in Weymouth ............ so I went to have a look. The chap selling it seemed very genuine .......... he'd just
bought a newer Merc .......... so he obviously didn't read a lot on these forums ! The car seemed lovely to me ........... newish MOT pretty well
complete service history nearly all main dealer 112K ........... everything
worked .......... and it drove faultlessly. Then I looked up C280 here !
Hahaha ............ from some posts it was amazing the car actually moved
............ wiring looms ........ headgaskets ......... immobilisers ...... not
a good word anywhere ! But it somehow felt good to me. So I gave my
nephew my experience and feelings ........ and what some people were saying on here ......... his decision.

To cut a long story short (ish) he decided to ' risk ' it. We bid ....... and
bought it for £648. I've been driving it around down here for a few weeks now ......... had it checked out .......... faultless. Only problem was that today he finally came down by train to pick her up .......... talk about
reluctant to part with her. I've got withdrawal symptoms. She was breathtaking. Someone said Mercs are like crisps ......... one is never
enough. I've just had a call from him to say he's arrived back in Chelmsford ........... the car is ' awesome ' ........... I wasn't surprised.

Sorry if this post a bit long winded ......... but just had to defend the
marque we all know ......... and most of us love ........ really.

Anyone know a good indie in Chelmsford ?

And I promise to post again about how the W202 is doing ........ but not for a few months !

 

[Sonny Burnett]

Hi Everyone
Browsing these forums is always fascinating .......... but sometimes a bit
depressing ........... soooooo many problems ! But the fact we're all
still here reading and posting must prove that Mercs offer so much more
than the problems we're so interested to read about.

So here's my twopenneth (?) for what it's worth. I run two Mercs (well ...... and an Escort van ! ) and my own experience of the marque has been totally positive. I've owned my '96 SL280 for nearly four years.
80K on the clock .......... garaged but used most weekends throughout the year. Not F1 but more than fast enough for me and beyond the odd
battery charge at 'slack' periods has never done anything but delight me.
To slip behind the wheel even on a (dry ! ) November day with the hood
down and wind deflector up is for me a priceless experience. Beyond routine servicing nothing but pleasure and pride to report.

My '02 E320 ( petrol ) was bought in 03 . I can hear the groans starting
now ! Rust ? Mine has absolutely none. Electrical problems ? Maybe I'm
lucky ............ and the more I keep to the scheduled service intervals
the luckier I get. 50k of trouble free motoring. And she has to live outside
unfortunately. ALWAYS starts ' on the button ' ........... can return up
to 34mpg on a long run ............ and goes like a rocket when necessary.
Absolutely effortless sumptiously comfortable motoring. And NO .........
she is NOT for sale ............. absolutely NOT. Hmmmm ......... my partner
on the other hand ..................................

Which brings me to the real reason for this post. My nephew is as impressed by my Mercs as I am and although not much money after
university then post grad stuff he has now got himself a pretty good job.
At last ! 27 ........ but heigh ho ....... . His Citroen Saxo recently
disintergrated ............ well .......... the driver's door dropped ....... then
fell ........ in a shower of rust. And looking to replace it he saw a C280
being sold with no reserve on E bay. '96. What did I think ? He's in
Chelsford but the car was local to me in Weymouth ............ so I went to have a look. The chap selling it seemed very genuine .......... he'd just
bought a newer Merc .......... so he obviously didn't read a lot on these forums ! The car seemed lovely to me ........... newish MOT pretty well
complete service history nearly all main dealer 112K ........... everything
worked .......... and it drove faultlessly. Then I looked up C280 here !
Hahaha ............ from some posts it was amazing the car actually moved
............ wiring looms ........ headgaskets ......... immobilisers ...... not
a good word anywhere ! But it somehow felt good to me. So I gave my
nephew my experience and feelings ........ and what some people were saying on here ......... his decision.

To cut a long story short (ish) he decided to ' risk ' it. We bid ....... and
bought it for £648. I've been driving it around down here for a few weeks now ......... had it checked out .......... faultless. Only problem was that today he finally came down by train to pick her up .......... talk about
reluctant to part with her. I've got withdrawal symptoms. She was breathtaking. Someone said Mercs are like crisps ......... one is never
enough. I've just had a call from him to say he's arrived back in Chelmsford ........... the car is ' awesome ' ........... I wasn't surprised.

Sorry if this post a bit long winded ......... but just had to defend the
marque we all know ......... and most of us love ........ really.

Anyone know a good indie in Chelmsford ?

And I promise to post again about how the W202 is doing ........ but not for a few months !

hey i enjoyed your post a lot.. i myself run a few benzes.. and i can vouch for 202's id rather have a 95 c180 classic over a new mondeo or vectra ect. i did 156,000 on my 97 c180 problem free with 0% rust.. granted my 210 had rust but it dident cost much to put right and now its 100%

i love the Benz M112 V6 so much, in my opinion its one of the best engines ever made...so smooth, love to travel in it, in the 240 every mile is a pleasure..

also try Waterhouse in Chelmsford i use them in braintree and the guys their go out of there way to make me happy.. its also drasticly cheaper than a main dealer.

 

[Honey Bear]

I love w202's. I do not really understand why but I do. I keep pouring money into mine and nothing ever changes. But I've promised myself I would run her till she dies. Even then I would be reluctant to part with her. It's come close though.

Even when my mum had an E500 (which I would drive regularly), I still loved and enjoyed the drive of the 95 202. Don't get me wrong the E500 was a blast, but even in my mums possession that was all it ever was a blast. It's life in my house hold was a short blast. The 202 has always been a constant. And I'm sure it will also be a constant in your nephews eyes too. Even if he does move on from it the relentless motivation that car has and its sheer never give up attitude is something to be admired, and a good benchmark for future cars.

 

[Grahamcol]

Yes, 202's are fantastic. I've got two. The C280 V6 (M112 engine) is totally effortless, smooth & refined and has plenty of zip + the economy's quite good too for a 2.8 auto. I've also got a C200 mid facelift with one of the first 5 speed auto boxes. It's done 129k miles and runs beautifully and absolutely no rust. Finished in Azurite blue and it glistens when washed. These are definately the best cars I've ever owned.

 

[219]

202's are nice cars - lots of them still running around .

I do see some in breakers yards with no apparent damage and always wonder why people scrap such nice cars .

I bet they regret it after a month or two in a pacific rim replacement .

 

[MB Novice]

Siroberts Sl280

Sirobert

I was interested to read your comments on your SL280. I am considering two now - a 1998 V6 and a 1995 straight 6. Also thinking of a 500.

Do you ever find it does not have enough power on hills and do you ever feel that the engine and you, as the driver, have to work too hard to get performance out of it?

My limited experience in one has been a pleasant surprise but I did not have a chance to try any hills. Also, i found it to be not as relaxing a drive as the 500. A combination of engine noise and high reving engine left me feeling rather hyped up at the end of the drive. Maybe it's just me but I would liketo hear your opinion.