Potential New C Class Buyer

[willowbob]

Morning all and thanks for allowing me on this forum. I like 'older' cars (2006 - 2012'ish); presently I own an older Jaguar Diesel estate but, I have always hankered after a Mercedes C Class manual estate (I like an estate, long story!). I am looking for some tips please, which year, model, fuel etc., and anything to look out for (for example on older diesel Jag's the clutch is a £1k+ job so always buy one with a good clutch!). I prefer a manual gearbox. Whilst I like a C Class, any other suggestions welcome. Budget would be around £7k maximum. Thank you all.

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

Don't buy a manual, that is all

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

^ Ditto

 

[Chrishazle]

2006 would be the last of the S203 model (I had a S203 C270Cdi as my first MB), 2007 saw the start of the S204 which IMHO has a much nicer cockpit than the 203 (I have a 2008 S204 C220Cdi). 2011MY saw the start of the facelift S204, so your age range covers 3 different C class models.

Manuals are very rare, far less popular than autos so often cheaper than an auto. Having said that, like the responses above, I would not buy a manual. The 5 speed autobox on the 203 and early 204's is fine, the 7 speed box on later models is even better (I have that in my 2008 SLK but do not know when it came in on the 204) and can, like my SLK, have flappy paddles on the wheel! 5 speed box is, according to MB, sealed for life, but an occasional change of ATF and filter is a good idea, how often gets various opinions from every 40k miles to less frequently - I had my 203 done at 70k miles and the 204 at 100k! The 7 speed box ATF/filter change is supposedly only at 37.5k miles/5 years (whichever comes first) but again subsequent changes are recommended on here 0 had my SLK done at 65k as I don't think it had the 37.5k mile change (at the supplying MB main dealer!!). Box and TC on a 7 speed cost me £300, box only on the 203 and 204 was about £175, getting the TC done at the same time is a bit of a mission so ups the cost considerably.

Best engine/fuel depends on your anticipated use/mileage, maybe a 204 C250Cgi would be a good starting place, but they're not common, diesels are far more common. More info needed to flesh out a fuel/engine choice!

 

[willowbob]

2006 would be the last of the S203 model (I had a S203 C270Cdi as my first MB), 2007 saw the start of the S204 which IMHO has a much nicer cockpit than the 203 (I have a 2008 S204 C220Cdi). 2011MY saw the start of the facelift S204, so your age range covers 3 different C class models.

Manuals are very rare, far less popular than autos so often cheaper than an auto. Having said that, like the responses above, I would not buy a manual. The 5 speed autobox on the 203 and early 204's is fine, the 7 speed box on later models is even better (I have that in my 2008 SLK but do not know when it came in on the 204) and can, like my SLK, have flappy paddles on the wheel! 5 speed box is, according to MB, sealed for life, but an occasional change of ATF and filter is a good idea, how often gets various opinions from every 40k miles to less frequently - I had my 203 done at 70k miles and the 204 at 100k! The 7 speed box ATF/filter change is supposedly only at 37.5k miles/5 years (whichever comes first) but again subsequent changes are recommended on here 0 had my SLK done at 65k as I don't think it had the 37.5k mile change (at the supplying MB main dealer!!). Box and TC on a 7 speed cost me £300, box only on the 203 and 204 was about £175, getting the TC done at the same time is a bit of a mission so ups the cost considerably.

Best engine/fuel depends on your anticipated use/mileage, maybe a 204 C250Cgi would be a good starting place, but they're not common, diesels are far more common. More info needed to flesh out a fuel/engine choice!

OK, thanks all for the updates to date, much appreciated. I get the message regarding box's, auto it is then! I have had a (manual) 2L Diesel estate since 2013, as the kids were in University (I am in Swansea, they were in Birmingham and Nottingham), but that is well behind me now. It was/is a great car for motorway travelling long distances fully loaded with adults, bags etc. Never let me down. My only reticence now is that, even without a DPF, things like clutches, injectors etc., are all expensive and more complex on a turbo diesel. I am not adverse to having another, but, if the information I got back from you guys were that the DPF's are a nightmare, the clutches (DMF's) cost thousands to replace etc., then I am not adverse to a decent (less complicated?) petrol. I am not doing anywhere near the mileages I was, say, 3 years ago; plus lockdown has curtailed us all.

 

[Blobcat]

I'd be looking at a Petrol due to the proliferation of low emissions zones popping up all over the place

 

[willowbob]

I'd be looking at a Petrol due to the proliferation of low emissions zones popping up all over the place

What is the best 'compromise' petrol model (i.e. not too underpowered, but not too thirsty either). Thanks.

 

[A.J.]

Hi and welcome to the forum, as said above buy petrol because of the Low Emission Zones that keep appearing and definitely not a manual. I am interested to know what is meant by underpowered. My previous MB was a C180 and has a 0-60 of 8.5 seconds which for me it was OK, albeit I am no boy racer I have had my moments but that is way behind me now.

 

[Blobcat]

What is the best 'compromise' petrol model (i.e. not too underpowered, but not too thirsty either). Thanks.

C280 or C350 gets the same M272 engine as my SLK - I'm averaging over 31mpg for ~50K miles - early ones can have balance shaft issues, but that's easy to check online
Having said that a C63 is always a good choice...

This thread is one of may on here that adds weight to why Diesel isn't what we're recommending anymore

 

[willowbob]

Hi and welcome to the forum, as said above buy petrol because of the Low Emission Zones that keep appearing and definitely not a manual. I am interested to know what is meant by underpowered. My previous MB was a C180 and has a 0-60 of 8.5 seconds which for me it was OK, albeit I am no boy racer I have had my moments but that is way behind me now.

Thanks for the reply; I an no 'boy racer' too these days Just referring to whether the smaller engined petrol's were sufficiently powerful for the size/weight of an estate. The C180 you mention sounds fine from that perspective.

 

[willowbob]

C280 or C350 gets the same M272 engine as my SLK - I'm averaging over 31mpg for ~50K miles - early ones can have balance shaft issues, but that's easy to check online
Having said that a C63 is always a good choice...

This thread is one of may on here that adds weight to why Diesel isn't what we're recommending anymore

Thank you. Interesting thread. On the Jaguar forum, there are always stories regarding similar issues, in particular DPF's and 'regen' issues, which, if I am going to get a 'newer' car (2008 at the moment), I really don't want to get involved with all the hassle of post 2010 (ish) TD's, as they just seem to be more hassle than perhaps, they are worth (for my needs these days). I have had some really good pointers from this forum today, thank you all. I am now considering (if I can find one) a C250CGI 7 speed S204 or similar.

 

[A.J.]

Thanks for the reply; I an no 'boy racer' too these days Just referring to whether the smaller engined petrol's were sufficiently powerful for the size/weight of an estate. The C180 you mention sounds fine from that perspective.

Plus you could easily achieve 40mpg

 

[willowbob]

Last question, are there any issues with any of the, say, S204's, with timing chains/belts?

 

[A.J.]

Last question, are there any issues with any of the, say, S204's, with timing chains/belts?

I didn't have any issues at all, but then I did buy a very low mileage example and P/X'd it at 31,000 miles last year. It was a 2012.

 

[willowbob]

I didn't have any issues at all, but then I did buy a very low mileage example and P/X'd it at 31,000 miles last year. It was a 2012.

Thanks Andy; are there many threads on timing chain(?) issues you have noticed previously?

 

[Blobcat]

Thank you. Interesting thread. On the Jaguar forum, there are always stories regarding similar issues, in particular DPF's and 'regen' issues, which, if I am going to get a 'newer' car (2008 at the moment), I really don't want to get involved with all the hassle of post 2010 (ish) TD's, as they just seem to be more hassle than perhaps, they are worth (for my needs these days). I have had some really good pointers from this forum today, thank you all. I am now considering (if I can find one) a C250CGI 7 speed S204 or similar.

The M271 can suffer timing chain issues as it's a single row chain and has stop start - having said that, good quality oil, regularly changed and listening for adjuster wear means 90+k miles without issue - have a search but do remember that forums are generally filled with issues, you don't get many coming to a forum to say how good their vehicle is. Also the amount of cars out there compared to the number of issues on forums needs to be taken into account. If you just read forum's you'd never buy another car...

The diesel engines are generally very good, however the Euro 6 emissions equipment that's been added to all (Not just Mercedes) diesel engines don't appear to be as well thought out or designed for the journeys that people are actually doing. Ad-Blue, Nox and DPF issues abound when reading forums

 

[A.J.]

Thanks Andy; are there many threads on timing chain(?) issues you have noticed previously?

If you enter 'Timing chain' into the search box at the right of this page it should bring up quite a few threads on the subject. It should be remembered that there are millions of MB engines out there with timing chains and a dozen problems are a very small and incalculable amount. It is not something I would waste too much time worrying about

 

[willowbob]

Cheers chaps; its a bit like the IT guy in work (forums), nobody ever rings to say their PC is working fine

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome