Mercedes C270 thoughts

[simon-spcix]

Evening all.

Long time lurker, frequent reader but infrequent poster here

Looking for a new dog duty/motorway muncher/general tip duties car and I’ve noticed ZX10R_NIN recommended the Mercedes C270 a few times in these parts.

I’ve come across this example on eBay, which looks pretty ideal for what I want it for and is fairly local to me. Is there anything in particular I need to look out for on these? Not sure what the reserve is, but if I could get it for less than shed money (<£1500) does it look ok?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C270-Avantgard...

Cheers

[samoht]

Rust - check wheelarches carefully, but also the rear subframe can rust (and the brake pipes that run behind it). Seller notes one front wing is going, these 2002 ones weren't galvanised so can spread quickly I think.
A clicking from the dash when starting up means a ventilation flap is stuck, dash-out job to fix.

Check everything works - seats, mirrors, windows, CD changer,... lots of electrics to check.

I generally think these are pretty good, I have the V8 version but the car as a whole is nice, even disregarding the engine. Obviously for shed money can live with a few imperfections, mainly need to make sure it'll go through another MoT I guess.

[ZX10R NIN]

As above check everything but for shed money it won't be perfect, the drivetrain itself is bulletproof.

Here are a couple of reliable alternatives:

407SW SE Auto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103140...

Now for a bit of a brave pill then there's the 2.7d 407

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012297...

Saab 9-5 2.2d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102058...

1.9d Astra Design the 8v is as bulletproof as the VAG 1.9d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102239...

[Sheepshanks]

I've got the same car, but 54 reg so the facelift version which is considered to be a lot better as they changed a lot of things - it was much more than just a cosmetic upgrade (in fact form outside it's hard to tell the difference). The body on mine is galvanised but everything underneath is pretty rusty.

That car has similar, but far fewer!, MOT advisories than mine does, Mine normally fails and needs a few hundred quid spending at the indie I use. I think the indie I use is pretty tough on MOTs but oddly it passed last time even though the ABS light was intermittant. I previously had a rusty ABS ring ring replaced and I'm guessing another has gone.

If you're handy with spanners and can change suspension etc yourself then they're considered pretty easy to work on. If you've got to pay people (like I have) then it could get a bit expensive.

Smoke emissions might be iffy if it has a plate value - if not they test at a default value which shouldn't be a problem.

Apart from all that, it'll do the job you want well. Before Covid I regularly did 400 mile per day round trips in mine - the torque makes it pretty effortless to drive. I think lots of short trips would be bad for it - it takes 20 miles of rolling driving to fully warm up.


ETA: The middle rear seatbelt is notorious for jamming when the seat is folded down. I pull mine out first and wrap is around the centre headrest.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Monday 22 March 22:17

[Car Obsessed]

Thanks both. Interesting other options there too.

Spoke to the seller of the Mercedes and I’m hopefully popping to have a (COVID safe) look at it tomorrow. The reserve is £1000 so if it seems alright and I get it for that I’d be very happy.

He also has the same name as me so maybe it’s fate!!

I’ll report back on my findings!

[Car Obsessed]

Update as promised! Went to see the car this morning, and it certainly ticks all of the boxes. The seller gave me the keys and the history file and left me to it, so I had plenty of chance to look over it. Apart from what was described in the advert everything electrical seems to work fine (including the heating and air conditioning which I wasn’t expecting much from!).

The history is impressive, looks like it has had lots of suspension parts replaced in recent years, rear shocks, springs, drop links etc. and it drives very nicely with no nasty knocks or clunks.

I noticed in the MOT smoke test it said ‘No manufacturers plate value visible’ which sounds like a bonus.

And no noticeable rust on the rear subframe either.

I also (rather cheekily) noted the independent garage that has been used for the last 6 years and gave them a ring on my way home on the pretence of having just bought it and wanting them to maintain it for me in the future. The guy seemed to know the car well and didn’t have a bad word to say about it - said the previous owner always had anything done that was needed and he would be more than happy to keep looking after it for me going forward.

The seller wouldn’t entertain my offer of cash today to take it off eBay, so it looks like I’ll have to wait until Friday and hope I’m lucky! I have got a couple of others to look at, but thanks for all of the tips!