C250TD - What to be aware of?

[DaveT]

Hello All, I'm new to this game, but here goes.

I've just bought a 1996 C250TD auto Elegance saloon(59k miles). Sadly the Service Book is with a dealer at the moment, but I have spoken to both previous owners to verify mileage and check for horror stories (none). The price reflected the lack of service info btw.

What I need to know is what to be looking for at this age/mileage and any general comments on this apparently less common model. First impressions are very good, everything works and the machinery seems fine. Oh,will it start if one of the glowplugs fail?
How easy is it to get another remote/key?-it only came with one ; only complaint really.

 That's it for now, but I suspect I'll be back.
 Regards & thanks in advance,    DaveT

 

[Andy]

C250TD

Hi Dave

Can't say there is any major problems. Except there not the fastest on this planet. But you already know that!!

Yes it will start up if a glow plug is out. A little lumpy but it will. With 2 out if 3 it strugles a lot. But you will know. The glow plug light will come on while driving to indicate trouble.

As for the remote. From MB they come with 2, so somebody has lost one. Go to your local MB dealer with your log book and they will order another for you. With out the log book you have no chance. Security you see. Should be with you within the wk. But they will quote you 5-10 days.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[DaveT]

C250TD

Thanks Andy. I guessed that might have been the case but it's nice to have confirmation! Dave.

 

[fuzzer]

C250TD

From past experence , if the locking system is the one with the two lights below the interior mirror  .... be very careful with your keys , in fact have a few spares as the keys are not the best and the wee black button has an expected life of somthing stupid like 10,000 or 15,000 presses which means you can half that because you have to use the same one to open the car and lock it. Now the reason i know this is being stranded ourside the car with all 120+ DB's of alarm going waiting on the mercedes mobilo or service type thing to arrive from the local dealer. Now thir solution to the key no longer working was an ingenious contraption made up with the board from the key , and some black inculating tape . IT worked !!! but , im just warning you to have a few keys and at £50 a pop that might sound extravagent , but its up to you , the process is deleberately slow to stop people nicking your keys. If anyone has seen gone in 60 seconds they will know why .. !!! Hope im not puting a downer on things , but im only passing on my advice..

Enjoy the car!!

 

[R10RGT]

C250TD

Jason

I assume you are talking about a previous car? Surely a 1998 C Class has the later model alarm and "Chunky Key"?! (Mine does) Or was that when the change took place?

And knowing someone who runs a Fiat (No, I don't know why either...!) £50 a shot for a key is NOTHING! Those emotional Italians wanted £300+ for a replacement!!!

And it was only then that she found out the insurance company made replacement of lost keys a specific exclusion on her car...

 

[fuzzer]

C250TD

Yeah , between my father and i we have had 4 c classes.

1993 C180 manual ( one of the first )
1995 C180 Auto
1998 C240 Auto
1999 A160 Auto ( im allowed one mistake )
2000 C220 CDI Auto

Yeah , the c240 and the c220 both have the new keys which are a lot better

Its the 1995 C180 that had the chunky jobs .

and the fiat key you are talking about .. is that not the red master key that thew manual tells you to keep in a safe place ?

 

[R10RGT]

C250TD

I don't think it was the "red key", but she wasn't too impressed with the delay at getting a replacement - I guess every second counts when you run a car that is rusting away Fiat style?!!

With some experience of the C Class do you have any thoughts on pros/cons of different engines or trim?

 

[fuzzer]

C250TD

C class trim , well  ... our first two were classics which are really good and make you wonder why you would from new buy an elegance or sport .. if it was my money from new , I would go for the bigger engine than opt for the elegance or avantgarde . What dad and I have just now are the best combinations . I would never buy a manual one again unless I become Jake the peg with the extra leg. Anyone who has driven the manual and has come to a hill will know what I?m talking about . Engines I have driven : C180 a good starter engine has good motorway cruising ability and nice and smooth . C200 A lot better to drive than the C180 purely because it just seams to be more willing I feel you had to push the C180 a lot more .      C240 nice and silky smooth to drive always willing to go when you want it to c280 is similar I imagine..   C220 CDI, Amassing, very torquey and good to drive , great MPG  . I would love to drive one of the AMG versions . And if I win the lottery I will get Brabus to put a 6.0 V8 into my engine bay with those lovely racing brakes ..  anyway , whatever one you get its nice as most people will know ..  The more you spend , the nicer it gets .. but I?m sure I don?t have to tell anyone that  . Just now , if it was my cash I was spending on a brand new car . I would buy a new E220 Cdi classic , put in leather , command  , telephone , Bose sound system and heated seats and be a very happy man.

 

[Matt Crooke]

C250TD

Juts before i got my 190, i had the use of an N plate C180 for a few days....i felt it was a bit underpowered. Not that my 190 2.0 litre is a rocket my any means. but i think 1.8 is a little too small for a car of that size.

I would like to point out though that the one i had use of had seen better days!!!

 

[fuzzer]

C250TD

Don't  get me wrong , the C180 is a great car , i would not have bought two if i through there was somthing wrong with them . Its all down to budgets and the C180 does 100% the same as the rest of them . If you de chromed the c180 and a C280 , it would take a freekie wee weirdo with too much time on his hands like myself to spot the diference just visually. Better than most any mass market car any day of the week.. !!

 

[Andy]

C250TD

Sorry to interupt you boys.

Just on the theme of remotes. I am not so sure on having many remotes just in case. But I would have a couple of spare set of batteries.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[fuzzer]

C250TD

Not to Disrespect your knowledge . Spare remotes is a very good idea unless you are handy with pliers , a stanley knife  . the batteries do not help the useless micro switches on the key fob that i refered to earlier. When the remote stops working , the car is useless and there aint nothing you can do till you get the new key unless you butcher the fob as the chunkey keys don't work the same as the new transponder type , if you put the key in the ignition , the alarm won't stop . The only way around this is to switch the siren off with the key that came with the car. Failing that , i recon its an imobilised car for the 10 days till you get the dealer to order the key.

 

[Matt Crooke]

C250TD

Stick with the old fashioned way and use the key!!!

much easier.

i had my fill of Remotes a few years ago!!!

 

[Martin]

C250TD

My first Mercedes was a C180 new in Jan 1995 (auto and Imperial Red). Very pleased apart from some trim rattles, chunky key gave no problems, did 60,000 miles and averaged 35mpg. Part exchanged in Sep 1999 for an E220CDi (auto, xenon lights, Brilliant Silver). C180 had retained 50% of its value. Even more pleased with E Class, very quiet, esspecially now zizz from centre console / air vent area has been cured, spacious, smooth and comfortable. Done 38,000 miles, averaged 43.1 mpg, only needed 2 "B" services (at 18,000 and 36,000 miles), so economical to run. Acceleration from a standing start is a bit sluggish before the turbo gets up to speed (a bit unnerving when joining a fast moving roundabout or junction) but very good once on the move, still pulling well at 110mph! ESP keeps all that torque and the back end under control, as I've found out once or twice! Only complaint is that windscreens and paintwork seem to be getting softer, resulting in more stonechips than expected. Sorry this is so long, but it's my first time and I've really enjoyed reading the site.

 

[simon]

C250TD

(Edited by Ernest Sidesman at 8:59 pm on Feb. 5, 2002)