C220 CDI under £14,000

[sdg111]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum but am looking for some advice. I've around £12-£14K to spend and am looking for a C220 CDI saloon/estate. I've been down to the local dealer (who didn't seem that informed about their own cars) and am wondering what's the best year to go for? Is the '04 facelift a better car? And if German built cars are better how can I tell a German built saloon or is it just the estates that were built there?

Sorry for asking so much but I really want a MB but some of the stuff I've read on here is pretty scary - I just want to make sure I make the best choice.

Thanks.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

Quite a difference in price between saloon & estate, you will always pay more for a similar spec & age estate.

I wouldn't worry too much over what you read on the forum. The reality is that members generally come here because they are having issues not because everything is fine. Those owners just enjoy their cars

 

[hawk20]

Fully galvanised from 2003.

Saloons made in South Africa (not sure if it was all of them) but estates made in Germany. Dealers can tell you where it was made when you look at a particular car.

I had a 2002 C class and kept it for two years and had no problems.

Facelifts usually make some pretty worthwhile improvements in my experience.

 

[hawk20]

Try the MB website which has a really good search engine for Approved Used on which you get a full 12 month MB warranty. Estates for 2003 start at around £11k
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....3678676,13766460,13757514,13757496&vidindex=0


And a low mileage 2005 one can be had for an asking price of £14,490 (get a grand off at least if no part ex).
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....678676,13766460,13757514,13757496&vidindex=11

Make sure you get an auto IMO Over 90% of Mercs are auto.

Lots more there.
IMO the best ones tend to be with dealers. Many trade in for another MB and dealers keep the best ones to retail themselves. Poor ones get pushed out to the trade.

And check the prices yourself, but I find MB dealer prices (especially with a bit of haggling) not much higher than others.

 

[jberks]

aside from a better interior on the facelift models, they allegedly made a vast number of hidden improvements in both design and quality. Personally if I was looking for a 203 and had the choice, I wouldn't buy a pre-facelift.
The same allegedly applies to the 211 with huge under the skin improvements (though there was no facelift when I bought mine and it's fine...have I lost my own argument ;-))

 

[sdg111]

Thanks for the replies. It'll definitely be an auto and probably from an MB dealer - worth the 12 month warranty for an extra few hundred.

I hadn't really thought about an estate as I've only two kids but the fact they're built in Germany and not SA might persuade me.

 

[hawk20]

Good luck with the search. Let us know how you get on.

 

[sdg111]

hawk20,

Was your C class a saloon or an estate?

 

[hawk20]

hawk20,

Was your C class a saloon or an estate?

Mine was a saloon. It was a 2002 2 litre petrol Classic SE automatic. No extras. Did about 30k over two years and it was faultless.

 

[sdg111]

Thanks. That's intersting to know as you get a really negative vibe reading forums as people do generally come here to try and solve any problems and you forget about the thousands of others who are happily motoring.

Out of interest I went on to a BMW forum, and it was exactly the same. The highly regarded 320d was getting some real stick due to a faulty manifold or something. Just goes to show..................

 

[Dinnie]

You're right, BMW have their own set of problems.

I'm registered with bmwland (also a very friendly forum) as I had E46 320ci for 3 years. In that time, I had snapped rear coils (about £150 each side fitted at main dealers) and twice front arm suspension bushes replaced (about £200 each time although the second was covered by warranty). These items are common failures on E46s.

Although the 320d is a great engine for performance and economy, it had turbo problems on pre 2003/4 cars and manifold problems. I don't ever recall seeing many posts about high mileage BMWs, whereas Mercedes owners appear to have cars way above 150k and everyone here says they have just "run in". BMWs are on their way out by that time. I've seen some ex-taxi E220 Cdi on autotrader with 300k miles and yet they still go for £6k (ish) because there's still plenty of life in them.

 

[sdg111]

Also, I know Nano paint came in on vehicle's built after April 2004 but what's a sure way of knowing if a vehicle has this coating. Is there some way you can tell from the vehicle's VIN or do you have to find out the date of manufacture for a 2004 model and if so how do you go about that?

I now realise that only the last of the 2004 models are facelift and I just want to be 100% sure my facelift model has the Nano paint.

Thanks.

 

[citroennut]

hi,

if you are still looking for a c220 i am selling mine, black, estate, 54 plate, heated leather, phone prep, sports suspension and a full years mb warranty inc and not too far from you.

cheers
simon

 

[sdg111]

Mmmm, tempting but to be honest I was looking for a saloon, in silver! However, black is my second choice. Is yours a facelift model and does it have the all important Nano paint? Perhaps you could let me know the mileage, owners, price etc. as I may be interested.

 

[citroennut]

hi,
drop me a pm with email address or phone no.

cheers
simon

 

[sdg111]

Simon,
Sorry to say that I've just checked your previous posts and see that you've had a lot of problems with the car. I appreciate they've now been resolved but I'd rather not take a chance with a 'problem' car.
Thanks anyway.

Back to my previous post - I know Nano paint came in on vehicle's built after April 2004 but what's a sure way of knowing if a vehicle has this coating. Is there some way you can tell from the vehicle's VIN or do you have to find out the date of manufacture for a 2004 model and if so how do you go about that?

I now realise that only the last of the 2004 models are facelift and I just want to be 100% sure my facelift model has the Nano paint.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[hawk20]

Simon,
Sorry to say that I've just checked your previous posts and see that you've had a lot of problems with the car. I appreciate they've now been resolved but I'd rather not take a chance with a 'problem' car.
Thanks anyway.

Back to my previous post - I know Nano paint came in on vehicle's built after April 2004 but what's a sure way of knowing if a vehicle has this coating. Is there some way you can tell from the vehicle's VIN or do you have to find out the date of manufacture for a 2004 model and if so how do you go about that?

I now realise that only the last of the 2004 models are facelift and I just want to be 100% sure my facelift model has the Nano paint.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Any MB dealer can tell you the build date if they have the registration. And a lot more detail besides is on their computer nowadays.

 

[sdg111]

Thanks hawk20. So any C220 built after April '04 should have Nano paint?

 

[hawk20]

Thanks hawk20. So any C220 built after April '04 should have Nano paint?

Isn't that what you said in your posting number 12?

 

[citroennut]

hi sdg111,

that's ok. the car had one problem and all the issues stemmed from that. it has now been fixed and is probably the best car on the market with all the new, but mostly uneccesary parts fitted as well as coming with the mb warranty.

cheers
simon