Looking at used C-Class, top budget £6k...

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As the title says, looking for a C-Class, top budget of £6,000.

Any advice on what cars to look for, any ones to avoid, etc?

I'm looking for one with about a 2.0 litre engine, preferably manual (but maybe automatic if the automatic gearboxes are reliable), and no computer systems or other extra gadgets are really needed.
 

Cole@MBS

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Well great start, no toys wanted, bog standard but please try a auto, much better than a manual box!!

Go for the lastest model you can find for that money, and try to go for a derv lump!!

Rust will be the factor of the age group your be looking at!!

The rest of the forum will give you loads more details!!
 
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Are the automatic gearboxes reliable though? I've been told they break more often.

EDIT: Also, do the automatics use more petrol?
 
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J400uk

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Look for a facelift model with the improved interior and exterior looks. Don't bother with a manual, not as smooth and there is no market for them.
 

BNZ94**

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C Classs question

I can tell you about my C Class W203 (X reg. 2000), it is a 2.0 litre petrol, C200 Kompressor Avantgarde. I’ve owned it from new, bought it at Park Lane Mercedes.

It has been serviced when it absolutely needs it, at non/ex main dealer Mercedes specialists, sometimes with an occasional 2 year interval, it has been 100% reliable, it returns ~38-40 mpg, it is an automatic with an excellent faultless gearbox. It has needed things replaced and repaired when worn out, bushes pads, discs, rubber round the door seal! etc. It has had stone chips which haven’t turned to rust yet, it is quite simply the best, most reliable, dependable car I’ve ever owned. I‘ve had Saabs and Volvos from new and I believe this is better than them.
I would definitely recommend this car to anyone, ….although I’ve been told by those in the know that I’m lucky because it is a German made pre – South African car, with the more reliable 2.0 C200 engine rather than the C200 1.8.

Hope this helps.

I am currently looking at getting a used ( up to ~ 5years old) “sports” car for me and my wife, we would prefer a 2+2 configuration due to having 2 small dogs as well ! and are considering the Mercedes SL (don’t know what year / model yet) , a Porsche 911 or a Jaguar XK8.
We will almost definitely be keeping the C Class as it is too reliable to give up, but selling our Jeep.

Any advice from the knowledgeable folk on here about the potential SL purchase gratefully accepted.

Cheers all
:)
 
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BNZ94** that is a very helpful post, thanks very much! :)

Which year do I have to look for to make sure I get a pre-South Africa car though?
 

BNZ94**

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The gurus who post on here more regularly might know the answer better than me , but I've been led to believe it was only the very first W203 models made for sale in 2000 and very early 2001.
 

gre1591

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Is there a simply way to tell if its German built or South African built ?
 

television

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Any advice from the knowledgeable folk on here about the potential SL purchase gratefully accepted.

Cheers all
:)

What model are you thinking of,,a late 129 or early 230, and the engine size
 

BNZ94**

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my car is petrol, been doing a regular 60 miles plus each way every day for the last few weeks and the computer was showing ~38 mpg
 
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I have one more question too: how much can I expect servicing to cost? I have a Audi A4 2.0 at the moment... Will the servicing for a C-Class be about the same cost as that?
 

Supersonic

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I've just bought an '02 CLK230K Avantgarde in immaculate condition, two tone leather interior, some toys, 74k miles, FMBSH for £5,850 (was up for £6,495).

Had to shop around for a while to find this gem, but well worth it.

One chuffed puppy!
Nige
:D:D:D:D
 

Alex M Grieve

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I've just bought an '02 CLK230K Avantgarde in immaculate condition, two tone leather interior, some toys, 74k miles, FMBSH for £5,850 (was up for £6,495).

Had to shop around for a while to find this gem, but well worth it.

One chuffed puppy!
Nige
:D:D:D:D

Well done you. On the glum side, there is nothing worse than getting less for your car than you think it is worth.

On the bright side, there is nothing helps resolve that disappointment more than finding an excellent buy and securing a bargain!

Any pictures Nige?
 

Supersonic

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Well done you. On the glum side, there is nothing worse than getting less for your car than you think it is worth.

On the bright side, there is nothing helps resolve that disappointment more than finding an excellent buy and securing a bargain!

Any pictures Nige?

Precisely my thoughts! I under-priced my XK8 and sold it private, but the CLK 'find' certainly took the sting out of the tail!

Nige
 

NickP

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I have one more question too: how much can I expect servicing to cost? I have a Audi A4 2.0 at the moment... Will the servicing for a C-Class be about the same cost as that?

If you live in the south of England the cheapest and best place to get your car serviced is in France. Cheap one day ferry trip, and the labour charges are half the cost of MBUK. Also the culture of French garages means they will actually do to your car what they say they will do, and may I say, do it properly. While you are there you can have a nice day shopping and enjoy a really good lunch.
 
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NickP - sounds cool, but I can't say I'm all too certain about going to another country for a service.

Don't parts and labour cost about the same as a Audi from a independant garage anyway? My current car is always taken to independant garages instead of the official dealer.
 

whitenemesis

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C class service ~£200 for 'A', ~£400 for a 'B' but expect substantially more and numerous things are not included but 'required' - yes I know, I don't understand either!
 

whitenemesis

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CLS55 AMG '05
From the first 3 letters of the VIN you can see where the car was manufactured. All estates are made in Germany :cool:

List of World Manufacturer Codes:

3AM Mexico
3MB Mexico
4JG M-Class except Europe
5DH Mexico Bus
8AB Argentina
8AC Argentina
9BM Brazil
ADB South Africa
KPA South Korea vans
KPD South Korea
KPG South Korea
LE4 Chinese production
MHL Indonesia
NAB Iran
NMB Turkey
RLM Mercedes-Benz Vietnam
TAW NAW Switzerland
TCC smart
VAG Steyr cross-country vehicles
VF9 EVOBUS France
VS9 EVOBUS Spain
VSA Spain
WD1 Sprinter
WD2 NAFTA Sprinter
WD3 Sprinter
WD4 Sprinter
WD5 NAFTA Sprinter
WD6 Unimog NAFTA
WD7 Unimog NAFTA incomplete
WD9 Sprinter
WDB Germany
WDC M-Class Europe/203/G-Wagon-USA
WDD Germany DaimlerChrysler
WDF Rest of world (ROW)
WEB EVOBUS Mercedes-Benz
WKK EVOBUS Setra
WME smart
 


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