C270 CDI Estate - any good?

[tray1664]

Hi I'm thinking of getting my first Mercedes and having a test drive tomorrow. It's a C270 CDI Elegance SE estate, automatic with Parktronic, leather, climate control and cd changer. It's an 03 plate

It's up for 14k but with a trade in (old Zafira worth 2750 trade in) and some negotiating looking at £9.5k

Is a decent price?, looking around it seems to be. It's from a main dealer and one previous owner so has 12 month Warranty. I'm keen on it but a number of people have warned of bad build quaility on this age of mercs and even independant merc dealer says I should go for audi A6.

What should I be looking for when testing? I've heard of a 30 year warranty on bodywork is this right? Sorry for the long post - new to mercs, previously had a volvo S80 - want to make sure I get the right one.

 

[Rory]

I think the general feeling is to try to get the facelift (from mid 2004) version - quite a lot of steering / suspension changed under the skin. Body was fully galvanised and nano paint used.
2003 cars can have "valeo" issue where valeo radiators mix the coolant the atf fluid. Do a seach for Valeo - not all cars are affected and even if it was it may have had the radiator changed.

 

[tray1664]

Thanks Rory

Getting a bit nervous about this one, for the spec and looking around at what's about thought I was getting a good deal. Worried about the potential for this to go bang after the year warranty is up.
Does anyone have an idea about how many of these cars were affected or how common the rust and Valeo issues were? How do I tell if this car has been or is likely to be affected by a major issue like this. Only 3 services (at MB dealer) on logs and only thing of note was previous driver put petrol in instead of diesel, but that was fixed and has run ok since apparently.

Testing tomorrow and have a deposit down so doesn't get sold. Haven't seen any 04 models around at the prices I'm looking for. Having said that I'm not in a hurry so is it worth leaving for now until a decent 04 comes up or as suggested go for an A6 Avant instead. (Never felt happy with the s80 so a V70 out of the question really especially with such boring interior)

 

[colechelle]

Valeo issues were mainly on the 211 but have seen a couple of 209.s with the same fault, as Rory said if you can go for the 2004 model you will be in for a lot less chance of fault, i still think the c,class is still a good car, picking my 2nd one up sat, let us know if you buy it!

 

[racall]

I would stick out for a facelift model,i bought one last year with all the goodies.but it took a bit of finding.
Hasnt missed a beat.

 

[tray1664]

Thanks all, Still all a bit confusing. Can someone let me know what the 211 and 209's mean? Seen a lot of reference to numbers like this on the forums but how do they relate to the model number like c270 to a leman like me.

 

[whitenemesis]

Check this out, bottom of the page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C-Class

 

[outsmartsmart]

I have to say I'm wary of this "pre 2004 cars are rubbish" view that some people take. I accept its a fact the later one's are better (and earlier one's have some certain inherrent 'risks') but if you hold that view and keep hanging on you'd never buy anything (especially PC or electrical goods)

Its a dealer car with warranty and sounds a nice spec'. I think you'll be doing well to get them to take your Zafira in AND negotiate another £1750 off as well. If you can I'd say take it. Personally I'd have thought high £12's was a realistic price to buy it at if stickered at £14k, only you know what the Zaffy is worth.

 

[tray1664]

Thanks Outsmartsmart, I needed a little reassurance. It seems a tidy car and I think I've got a good deal it's just the unknown quantity of the issues that people have raised i.e. the rad problems, dodgy electrics and bodywork. Hopefully test drive will go well and we'll see from there

 

[outsmartsmart]

tray' - EVERY forum has more bad news than good, they're here to help so by default its discussing a 'problem' usually. Do all the checks you should with cars and big lumps of cash and let destiny follow. Every manufacturer builds lemons/'bad years' (I've been involved with many in last 28 years automotive manufacture).

 

[Jasper Blue]

I would strongly suggest you hold out for a facelifted car. I have had both, and the difference in the latter one is huge. The quality, steering and suspension are MUCH better in all aspects. There are loads of old model (W203) nearly new C classes around - it is very much a buyers' market. Buy a pre-facelifted one at your peril!

 

[britnordic]

Fact...the facelift model is a better car! BUT....I couldn't afford it at the time. I've done 30k in the last year and apart from one service I've had 4 tyres, glow plugs and a new alarm, hardly big bucks. Yes, I'm concerned about the Valeo rad, but had advice from both sides of the camp, do I replace or ignore? Paint has been fine, as good as 2 previous Golfs. No rust so far. All estates were made in Germany which I'm told is a good thing.
Check out the forums for Lexus, BMW and Audi, you'll find scary stories there too.

You pays your money etc etc, but £12k seems a more realistic price in the current climate. Good Luck.

 

[tray1664]

Thanks for all the advice, must say it's really tricky but I suppose I was never going to get a definitive answer.

Had the test drive this morning and was very impressed with the car, it won me over. Discussed the issues I'd found with the dealer (mercs in cambridge by the way) and was reassured by the 30 bodywork guarantee - there were a couple of dimples appearing inside the rear arches, has 12 month warranty and also when I mentioned the rad problem sales guy hadn't heard of it, but said that a major malfunction such as that or gearbox failure would be covered by mercs as a manufacturing fault - taken with a pinch of salt. So I decided to go with a little bit of trust, reckon I've got a good deal with the trade in etc and if the car turns out to be a nightmare I'll trade in after 1-2 years rather then the 4 or so I was planning. As Brit' says you'll get horror stories on any car - my volvo s80 played up for the 4 years I had it, and I'd be vary wary of Volvo again - plus volvo dealerships, well inchcape in Norwich and Cecil's in Bury are pretty dismissive of buyers like me. If you're not 70 and exchanging your car every year they don't want to negotiate.

Thanks makes me officially now in the club I suppose, Will be hunting the other posts for tips. Thanks again All.

 

[colechelle]

nice one tray and i dout if your regret it, seen a lot of the early 203s with over 100000 mile on em and still going strong, as said on this thread theres some good and bad ones, just enjoy it!!!!