Proposed new purchase

[Millhouse Kid]

Hi, I am looking at buying a 2012 C220 CDI Blueeffeciency Sport Auto with AMG pack. 36000 miles and full MB service history.
Anything I should be looking out for?
Andrew

 

[sl500amgsport]

Hi, I am looking at buying a 2012 C220 CDI Blueeffeciency Sport Auto with AMG pack. 36000 miles and full MB service history.
Anything I should be looking out for?
Andrew

I know little about this model, however as with all diesels check that the DPF is ok with no warning lights on the test drive. They normally only give issues if previous owner has used it for local short runs....

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[bembo449]

should drive pretty much as a new car at that miles , 36k is low for a 2012 MY , check the tyres match and the general appearance of the car matches the low miles

 

[Tony Dyson]

I drove company cars for a long time until I retired and bought my current car which has been a huge learning experience of the developments since I last worked on any motor vehicles and while at the time of purchase I felt confident that I had been diligent in the purchase of my car, there were a few surprises I had yet to discover. Looking from the outside, taking a test drive and kicking the tyres will tell you a lot about the car but the devil is in the detail and if I were buying another car today I would ensure I included the following;

1. Run the VIN through a decoder and confirm the vehicle Datasheet exactly matches the vehicle as advertised.
   
   
2. Scan the vehicle for historic and or current fault codes and analyse live data for anomalies, pay particular attention to all exhaust emissions cleaning technologies.
   
   
3. At 37,500 miles I believe the first ATF change will be due, not a straightforward task if not yet done.
   
   
4. You will find on the forum and in the media a great deal of information about an ECU “Emissions Software Update”, if already completed, it should be noted on your service history, if not listed, research the subject and decide if you want it or not, it is optional in the UK.
   
   
5. On your test run, ensure the Stop/Start feature is enabled and the dash indicator turns from amber to green during the test run, this function is in fact a good indicator of battery condition as well as several other operating parameters.
   

 

[Exp21]

Hi, they gave you already some good info. 36k miles seems too low. If it has been use for short trips they were for sure the worst 36k miles of the life of that engine. Major faults of that engine are:

- timing chain wear and rattle
- water pump leaks and frequent thermostat failures
- water leak from diesel filter housing
- injectors (solved under MB warranty)
- engine mounts that last about 5-6 years at the most
- alternator
- sway bar links failing at about 50k miles
- castor hydraulic bushings in the front upper arm failing at very low mileage and making popping and cracking noise while maneuvering especially making an 8 in rear
- oil filter heat exchanger failing and mixing oil with water so check for traces of oil in coolant reservoir
- lack of lubrication in cylinders 3 and 4 with failure of the engine rods (check the wear of the camshaft opening the oil cap)
- some jerkings in 7g+ in low gears, especially shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear with low gas pedal pressure (very very annoying)
- dpf differential pressure failure (not a big issue)
- cracking air intake manifold at high mileage
- other minor things not to worry about

Try to check with a professional diagnostic all the Ecus for matching with the mileage. If you can look at the airbag total amount of hours working and estimate a mileage from that.

 

[Millhouse Kid]

Well, well, well. Given that I have a 2014 S60 Volvo S60 RDesign that is performing perfectly (famous last words), I saw this Merc and thought why not? I have chopped and changed cars over my driving life of nearly 50 years but never owned a MB. The dealer selling this assures me it is in perfect order with full MBSH. Well he would, wouldn't he but from what I find on the net the dealer seems to be as reputable as car dealers can be so thought why not have a look. This C220 seemed too good to be true hence my question to people that know. The last thing I would want is a massive bill a few thousand miles in. Given the answers I will retire my interest and keep plodding with the Volvo.
Thank you one and all for your responses.
Andrew

 

[Exp21]

It's probably the best choice, above all if you know well your Volvo and you kept it with cure. The w204 in my opinion is on average a reliable car but it's really expensive to maintain, engine requires frequent oil changes to avoid timing chain issues and every time something breaks it's at least 500 £ bill for repair. Obviously if you buy the wrong C-class prepare for thousands £ bills like happened to me and many others. On the other hand if you're prepared to this go ahead. Anyway I only enumerated the most known defects, I didn't want to scare you. It could also go well. I gave you enough info to google them and make you an idea. The fact that the dealer told you it's in perfect shape it's like words in the wind: counts nothing, they always say that. Good luck

 

[Millhouse Kid]

Hi. Thankfully I don't scare easily and am quite happy taking the odd risk two. But the more you dig the more problems surface regarding some of the MB range. On top of that is the ability of the cars to rinse out your wallet at regular intervals. I will stay where I am with the Volvo. Really appreciate your input.
Andrew

 

[Exp21]

Glad and Happy to know I've helped you. After owning 4 Benz I can tell you made the right choice, it's not worth it. Good luck

 

[Craiglxviii]

The OM651 engine in this car has a few known issues, mainly related to the simplex timing chain. This became exacerbated when Auto Stop Start was introduced in the early 2010s- I forget when, but have a feeling it was part of the Eur6 emissions reduction package known as BlueTec.

The W204 platform isn’t known as a hangar queen, they’re pretty bulletproof and reliable cars in general. It’s worth noting that “reliability” is a nebulous concept; the chances are that that particular C220 has been used for short trips and so hasn’t had a chance to warm up properly, which may lead to DPF or EGR problems further down the line. However they’re not usually costly to fix.

Depending on exactly what you’re used to- I came to MB from Audis- there is a quantum leap in ride quality, handling and all of the “soft touches” that makes one think, ahhhh Mercedes, as one drives along. Maybe that’s just me.

Worlds most reliable? No, go to Honda/ Toyota/ Nissan for that.

World beater? Yup every time.