C class W204 - pitfalls?
Discussion
Hi
I'm looking at a new car and a C series ticks a lot of boxes. I'm looking at a couple of W204 (I think, late 60 plate) cars. One a C200 with 87k on the clock, 5 speed auto and one C220, 99k and 7 speed auto (and an extra £1000).
At high mileage, what are these cars like? I don't want to have to spend thousands a year replacing big ticket items. Fuel economy both look to be around the mid 40s and both have full service history.
I'm looking at a new car and a C series ticks a lot of boxes. I'm looking at a couple of W204 (I think, late 60 plate) cars. One a C200 with 87k on the clock, 5 speed auto and one C220, 99k and 7 speed auto (and an extra £1000).
At high mileage, what are these cars like? I don't want to have to spend thousands a year replacing big ticket items. Fuel economy both look to be around the mid 40s and both have full service history.
If Diesel, Adblue system seems pretty rubbish. Mine is still under warranty. Twice in for Adblue sensors after going to limp home EML on, twice in due to red EML, reset worked again, EML came yellow, DPF fault, another Adblue sensor, another red EML home on a flatbed, new sensor hadn't been connected, though car was out of Adblue (you get so long before it does that from 'empty').
Lease car, so not out my pocket fortunately or my convinience as MB always pick up and give me a variety of other MErcs to try before I buy, but has the feel of a Friday afternoon car. Funny thing is, due to it being a manual, I was told there would be a delay in ordering, of around 2 months to deliver. At 6 months I started to loose my rag and it suddenly turned "up". Nice new car. Registered in a November. Next June 12 month duration Service Light comes on, meh not yet one year - I route around in the glovebox and find it was delivered to UK June 12 months previous, a month before I every ordered my 'new car'. Wonder if it sat somewhere for four months getting damp dried out or something? When did that car ferry capsize at Southampton? Needless to say MB when challanged became very apologetic and I suspect that is why I'm getting all these pick ups / drop offs and top of the range courtesy cars and attractive future lease prices - haven't let on yet to the local dealership (not the one bought from) it is through fleet and we're dropping MB for reliability issues (actually mainly reliability in services - too many times cars go for a service, something is found that needs fixing under warranty and takes 2 or more return visits until all parts are in).
Nice enough car, decent economy, nice ride. Bit of a farce will all the return visits, higher specs are "fancy without class or function over form" I've found and the auto box is awful, feels like a cat dancing on your knackers in slow traffic with the jerk and judder.
Lease car, so not out my pocket fortunately or my convinience as MB always pick up and give me a variety of other MErcs to try before I buy, but has the feel of a Friday afternoon car. Funny thing is, due to it being a manual, I was told there would be a delay in ordering, of around 2 months to deliver. At 6 months I started to loose my rag and it suddenly turned "up". Nice new car. Registered in a November. Next June 12 month duration Service Light comes on, meh not yet one year - I route around in the glovebox and find it was delivered to UK June 12 months previous, a month before I every ordered my 'new car'. Wonder if it sat somewhere for four months getting damp dried out or something? When did that car ferry capsize at Southampton? Needless to say MB when challanged became very apologetic and I suspect that is why I'm getting all these pick ups / drop offs and top of the range courtesy cars and attractive future lease prices - haven't let on yet to the local dealership (not the one bought from) it is through fleet and we're dropping MB for reliability issues (actually mainly reliability in services - too many times cars go for a service, something is found that needs fixing under warranty and takes 2 or more return visits until all parts are in).
Nice enough car, decent economy, nice ride. Bit of a farce will all the return visits, higher specs are "fancy without class or function over form" I've found and the auto box is awful, feels like a cat dancing on your knackers in slow traffic with the jerk and judder.
Draculaw said:
Hi
I'm looking at a new car and a C series ticks a lot of boxes. I'm looking at a couple of W204 (I think, late 60 plate) cars. One a C200 with 87k on the clock, 5 speed auto and one C220, 99k and 7 speed auto (and an extra £1000).
At high mileage, what are these cars like? I don't want to have to spend thousands a year replacing big ticket items. Fuel economy both look to be around the mid 40s and both have full service history.
I have a 2008 C220 with the 5 speed, and 156k on it. It's needed a suspension refresh, the water pump, alternator pulley, few bits and bobs like that. Oh and the electronic steering lock left me stranded once. I'd go for the 7 speed if possible as the 5 speed whilst OK once moving is a bit lumbering in the lower gears, and could do with another gear on top on the motorway.I'm looking at a new car and a C series ticks a lot of boxes. I'm looking at a couple of W204 (I think, late 60 plate) cars. One a C200 with 87k on the clock, 5 speed auto and one C220, 99k and 7 speed auto (and an extra £1000).
At high mileage, what are these cars like? I don't want to have to spend thousands a year replacing big ticket items. Fuel economy both look to be around the mid 40s and both have full service history.
It's almost like posting on the interweb makes fate happen!
Failed again yesterday, red EML and power loss straight to hard stop on hard shoulder. MB very good to recover quick (25 mins) and now have a Smart car as replacement. The most terrifying and underwhelming and bizzare thing I have ever driven.
To be fair to MB, they did say that if I can put up with a coupe rather than an estate for the next few months of my lease until completion they may let me have a courtesy coupe FoC of lease charges (manual estates are rare as rocking horse s
t, strangely, for medical reasons, I actually need a manual, - restricted nerves in left leg which if not used every few minutes goes dead like serious cramp only Maunwel they have is coupe).
Might be tempted esp as offered coupe is 350 vs my weakling 200!
Failed again yesterday, red EML and power loss straight to hard stop on hard shoulder. MB very good to recover quick (25 mins) and now have a Smart car as replacement. The most terrifying and underwhelming and bizzare thing I have ever driven.
To be fair to MB, they did say that if I can put up with a coupe rather than an estate for the next few months of my lease until completion they may let me have a courtesy coupe FoC of lease charges (manual estates are rare as rocking horse s
t, strangely, for medical reasons, I actually need a manual, - restricted nerves in left leg which if not used every few minutes goes dead like serious cramp only Maunwel they have is coupe). Might be tempted esp as offered coupe is 350 vs my weakling 200!
Draculaw said:
Hi
I'm looking at a new car and a C series ticks a lot of boxes. I'm looking at a couple of W204 (I think, late 60 plate) cars. One a C200 with 87k on the clock, 5 speed auto and one C220, 99k and 7 speed auto (and an extra £1000).
At high mileage, what are these cars like? I don't want to have to spend thousands a year replacing big ticket items. Fuel economy both look to be around the mid 40s and both have full service history.
I would say given my experience of owning 5 Mercedes not good unless the big ticket items have been changed. I cannot say with any degree of confidence you won't have a trouble free life with these. At best they will feel a bit tired, at worse you'll be fitting new injectors, shocks, sorting timing chain rattles etc. I'm looking at a new car and a C series ticks a lot of boxes. I'm looking at a couple of W204 (I think, late 60 plate) cars. One a C200 with 87k on the clock, 5 speed auto and one C220, 99k and 7 speed auto (and an extra £1000).
At high mileage, what are these cars like? I don't want to have to spend thousands a year replacing big ticket items. Fuel economy both look to be around the mid 40s and both have full service history.
Edit - an old pre 10 plate old non blue efficency car might be a better find. Sure it will have the EIS issue but the older engine and gearbox are pretty tried and tested. The money you'll save you can put into renewing tired components and generally giving a 10yr old car a spruce up. My old specialists spoke very highly of the old 220cdi and 5g but never had a good word to say about the OM651.
Maybee a 205, not savvy enough to say.
Anyway this time it was a collapsed DPF leading to failure of DPF pressure sensor, possibly as a result of previous Adblue system failure.
Boss did have a 2009 one which he spent 3x £100+ on EGR valve sensor before eventually the EGR valver gave up and had £1100 bill for that, plus it was the big service, so that was bye bye. He has had a 2014 Bimmer since, without putting a foot wrong apart from a wiper blade.
Anyway this time it was a collapsed DPF leading to failure of DPF pressure sensor, possibly as a result of previous Adblue system failure.
Boss did have a 2009 one which he spent 3x £100+ on EGR valve sensor before eventually the EGR valver gave up and had £1100 bill for that, plus it was the big service, so that was bye bye. He has had a 2014 Bimmer since, without putting a foot wrong apart from a wiper blade.
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