New to MB - C240 Estate (2002)

[AnthonyUK]

Hi All,
I've recently bought locally a 2002 C240 estate in very nice condition for the year with only 78000 miles as it was at a price too good to ignore. I've spent more on services in the past.

It needs a few cosmetic jobs such as the alloys recoating and a couple of rust bubbles on the rear arches but otherwise very little else.
I'm changing the brakes disc and pads as they were an MOT advisory last year. I'm using Brembo which I think are OK?
I'm also replacing the audio 10 CD player with a COMAND 2.0 mainly for the AUX in which I'll be using Bluetooth.

I've already found some useful info on the forums so I send out my thanks for that.

 

[JBell]

Hi and welcome.

Rust is a well known issue on that year MB, check the boot lid round the number plate surround and bonnet as well.

Brembo are good as are Pagid Brake components

Stereo wise why not put a double DIN Kenwood / Pioneer in, much better functionality than COMAND, easy to do with adapter plates, loads of "how to" videos on YouTube, it is what I did to my 2001 car.

 

[LostKiwi]

Hi and welcome. Older MBs can be excellent used buys and that 240 engine is built like a battleship. Not the most torquey engine in the world nor the most frugal but they are wonderfully refined and smooth and last forever.

 

[AnthonyUK]

Hi and welcome.

Rust is a well known issue on that year MB, check the boot lid round the number plate surround and bonnet as well.

Brembo are good as are Pagid Brake components

Stereo wise why not put a double DIN Kenwood / Pioneer in, much better functionality than COMAND, easy to do with adapter plates, loads of "how to" videos on YouTube, it is what I did to my 2001 car.

Cheers all.
I have checked both boot and bonnet which are both clear thankfully.
I wanted to stick with an OE part as it is easy to fit with just an adapter cable required and I don't really need the additional functionality. COMAND 2.0 units are also really minimal cost. I found one on ebay in reasonable condition for £100.

 

[JBell]

I wanted to stick with an OE part as it is easy to fit with just an adapter cable required and I don't really need the additional functionality. COMAND 2.0 units are also really minimal cost. I found one on ebay in reasonable condition for £100.

Didn't realise they were that cheap, last time I looked they were over £300 so it was cheaper and easier and cheaper to replace with a Kenwood single DIN

 

[A.J.]

Hi Anthony, welcome to the forum. That looks nice and sharp

 

[umblecumbuz]

It's a 'keep forever' motor.
And those double spokes seem to suit it best.
Wish I hadn't sold mine.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome Anthony - looks very neat!

 

[AnthonyUK]

It's a 'keep forever' motor.
And those double spokes seem to suit it best.
Wish I hadn't sold mine.

Many thanks again everyone.
I estimate I'll only do 2000-3000 miles /yr in this car so it should last me a while
I like the wheels too but I was torn between replacing and refurbing. I'm going for refurbing though to keep it as original as possible. It would be a shame to change anything now after it has been kept so well for 16 years.

 

[Chrishazle]

If you do think of replacing, think of changing from 16's to 17's. I did not do it to my S203, but have done on the S204, it improves the feel and handling of the car without sacrificing ride comfort. Car feels more planted and does not wallow so much when cornering.

Small wrinkle with 203 wheels - they use 12mm wheel bolts where many MB's (like my 204) use 14mm. OK, you can buy adapter bolts to fit 14mm wheels to your car (www.alloywheelsdirect.net).

 

[JBell]

If you do think of replacing, think of changing from 16's to 17's. I did not do it to my S203, but have done on the S204, it improves the feel and handling of the car without sacrificing ride comfort. Car feels more planted and does not wallow so much when cornering.

I went up to 17" on my W203 8x17" all round fitted with 225/45 front and 245/40 rear tyres

 

[AnthonyUK]

I have a quote of about £275 to refurbish the current wheels assuming they find no other issues with them so I'll have a look at what I can find online as I've seen single wheels on ebay of the type I have in decent condition for around £50.

The 17"s look nice. Are there any issues with clearances, offset etc?

 

[JBell]

The 17"s look nice. Are there any issues with clearances, offset etc?

No clearance issues at all, fitted straight on ET35 all round

 

[AnthonyUK]

If you do think of replacing, think of changing from 16's to 17's. I did not do it to my S203, but have done on the S204, it improves the feel and handling of the car without sacrificing ride comfort. Car feels more planted and does not wallow so much when cornering.

Small wrinkle with 203 wheels - they use 12mm wheel bolts where many MB's (like my 204) use 14mm. OK, you can buy adapter bolts to fit 14mm wheels to your car (www.alloywheelsdirect.net).

Thanks for that info. What do the 14mm adapters consist of, a collar on the bolt?

 

[LostKiwi]

Thanks for that info. What do the 14mm adapters consist of, a collar on the bolt?

No they are special bolts.
The standard earlier thread is M12 with a bolt head which has a 12mm radius (M12/R12)
The later wheels are M14 with a 14mm head radius. (M14/R14)
The special ones you'd need to fit later wheels to your car are M12 with a 14mm radius head. (M12/R14).

For future reference you cannot fit earlier wheels to a later car (i.e. M12 wheels to an M14 car).

 

[JBell]

No they are special bolts.
The standard earlier thread is M12 with a bolt head which has a 12mm radius (M12/R12)
The later wheels are M14 with a 14mm head radius. (M14/R14)
The special ones you'd need to fit later wheels to your car are M12 with a 14mm radius head. (M12/R14).

For future reference you cannot fit earlier wheels to a later car (i.e. M12 wheels to an M14 car).

There are so many wheels with 12mm bolt holes in around I wouldn't worry, just make sure you check they will fit a W203 series car

 

[LostKiwi]

There are so many wheels with 12mm bolt holes in around I wouldn't worry, just make sure you check they will fit a W203 series car

True though sometimes a really good deal comes along on M14 wheels that you can't walk past.... like our free 17" W211 wheels we fitted to our 210 using the adapter bolts.
(The wheels even had enough tread that two of them have done 30k miles since and are still on the car!)

 

[AnthonyUK]

Thanks. I guessed you could go one way but not the other at least not without drilling out the bolt holes.

 

[Chrishazle]

That was the option facing me when I swopped the S203 for the S204, as I had a 1 year old set of winter wheels and tyres for the 203. Didn't fancy trying to drill the holes straight and accurate to 14mm, so offered them on here and t'other side and sold them quite easily for a decent price, then found a decent set of 204 winter wheels on eBay.