Times up on the C240 10yrs on 20yrs old "an Ode "

[tjamesbo]

The day has finally come where we or more particularly the wife is parting company with the W202 C240 we bought it 10 years ago with 66K on the clock its now at 135K of her gentle miles and an occasional italian tune up from me Mechanically its A1 and drives just the same as the day we bought it I remember when we bought it on the test drive i took it up to 100 on the M6 ( salesman just said heres the keys off you go ) and the wife never guessed the speed that M112 V6 was turbine smooth & very quiet and the ride was compliant but felt planted ( it was on AMG 17 inch monoblocks ) Its been a joy to own she loved it and we both loved the colour combo of vivianite and cream interior Over the years its required very little other than a few water pumps (ECP pattern ) then when the second failed i opted for the merc OEM one = solved , few minor oil leaks ,Oil Cooler , Oil pressure tap off plate ( that took some finding ) and the Cam /valve / Rocker Covers not a quick gasket replace but remove clean and then reseal with the high temp sealant . Couple of Crank Sensors on the way. Often my vehicle of choice for short urban journeys as it was nippy off the mark at urban speeds had a lovely V6 growl , where the 210 or the VITO was a bit big and the CLK 430 a bit thirsty .
Overall a pleasant experience . Shes had her eye on an X-type since a friend arrived in one and we both remarked how nice looking it was ,i was initially reluctant, but shes had the car 10 years now and the've both been good girls , and whilst it was not suffering from the rust the same as some 202's ( solid in the sills ) it was starting to surface rust again at the wheelarches, couple of perforations on the front wings requiring a bit of fibreglass and filler for now, but really new wings in the near future and the Bootlid around the lock and being metallic touching in is a nightmare and as I already own a 1993 W124 and a 1999 CLK 430 3 old cars is too daunting a prospect so I indulged her on the basis we're only here once - enjoy it So it went on the W202 facebook generated small amount of interest and then on Ebay at £550 with the old W124 15 inch Ronals on it ( these alloys are 25 years old never been refurbed - but have been kerbed a few times but as said 25 years and 229K on the 124 they dont make alloys like that anymore ) anyway on Ebay it was gone in 10 minutes just waiting for the buyer to come and collect ......... hopefully but sounds ok so far ..... "he says" so as it goes here are its final pictures after touching up and a polish " it done us well " hopefully it will receive some TLC and will go On and on
1997 C240 so one out of 4 down 3 to go

the replacement 2007 V6 2.5 Sport Premium 77k

Boyd

 

[LostKiwi]

I've had 2 of them in the past - first was a 1998 Esprit C240 picked up from the factory new and the second was a 1999 C240 Elegance. Both were as you say turbine smooth, planted and quiet.
Overall probably one of my favourite 4 door MBs.

 

[JBell]

So you replaced a Merc with a Mondeo in a pretty frock

 

[turbopete]

So you replaced a Merc with a Mondeo in a pretty frock

theyre based on the mk3 Mondeo platform. many parts (wheel bearings for example) are shared. they feel TOTALLY different to drive though. the Jag feels much more compact internally.

 

[tjamesbo]

So you replaced a Merc with a Mondeo in a pretty frock

Clarkson rated the mondeo but it suffered from car snobbery he said it was a great car but your neighbours would stop talking to you as you had gone down in the world . Yes a mondeo isnt a merc but in terms of classy interiors the jag takes some beating, the cabin is a very nice place to be , which is nice when most of the mileage is a 3 mile round trip to the grandchildren or the shops
handling and performance dont come in anywhere from her point of view ,I had my concerns namely the Autobox and the transfer Box ,and would have preferred her to have a merc but the c classes of the same age interior wise were no match for the jag , and in terms of colour they seemed to be 90% silver or solid blue none of which was inspiring and mostly black leather interior where both of us have a preference for a light interior .

 

[tjamesbo]

cant get link to work trying later

 

[turbopete]

being 4 wheel drive, it should be better than the C class was in the winter too (if we see any snow, that is!)

 

[LostKiwi]

One of the first X types I saw was on a snowy road in the peaks.... although to be more honest it was in a ditch next to the road..

 

[tjamesbo]

One of the first X types I saw was on a snowy road in the peaks.... although to be more honest it was in a ditch next to the road..

Yes in winter all the people with 4 wheel drives suddenly get the chance to show off and justify their 4WD steeds and abilities (move aside plebs let me through cant you see i m in a 4WD ? ) and revel in the belief that 4 wheel drive allows you to overcome the laws of physics grip & momentum etc especially the momentum in a large 4x 4 a set of good winter tyres on a FWD probably more use than 4 wheel drive, but 4 wheel drive with 4 winter tyres should crack it onUK roads

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes in winter all the people with 4 wheel drives suddenly get the chance to show off and justify their 4WD steeds and abilities (move aside plebs let me through cant you see i m in a 4WD ? ) and revel in the belief that 4 wheel drive allows you to overcome the laws of physics grip & momentum etc especially the momentum in a large 4x 4 a set of good winter tyres on a FWD probably more use than 4 wheel drive, but 4 wheel drive with 4 winter tyres should crack it onUK roads

I did chuckle as I went past in my (quattro) Audi S3....
Mind you I cam unstuck a year later - went out in the snow and decided to head down a hill that goes around the Higger Tor end of Stanage Edge.... it was ice under snow. Kept it together but it was pretty heart stopping. Got to the bottom of the hill and realised there was no way back up. Decided to turn along Stanage and head down to Hathersage that way (the other way being very steep and had a section of road that was always wet - even in dry weather) coupled with some nasty drop offs. All was going well till I went over the cattle grid... and started down the next hill. I never knew Audi made quattro toboggans! The only way I could get any control was to run the left side wheels down the grass verge, which was fine till the verge became a drystone wall! Parked the car and started to walk back home. Got picked up by a guy in a Suzuki Jimny and my god - the difference in ability on the icy snow was astonishing. The driver got a 6 pack of beers for his trouble!
That event proved to me that not all 4WD systems are created equal.