w203 C220 Cdi 2002 coupe - Rattling/Air con/ESP/BAS problems

[kooli9]

Hello all,

I've had my merc for about a year now and have had too many problems with it. From parking brake broken twice, front SAM changed, fuel pump replaced, 2 injectors replaced, starter replaced, anti roll bars replaced twice, etc.

I'm totally disappointed in the MB build quality, but I love the car, what can I say.

My most recent problems are:

Parking brake gone again

Strange rattling noise when driving along and sometimes when braking. noise appears to be coming from centre console and front wheels when braking

When last at the garage hey said something is wrong with my flaps for the air-con. to which the air-con switches do not work correctly and sometimes cut out. I remember my mechanic saying the diagnostic saying its using using too much current or voltage to open the flaps and they might be seized.

And last but not least, sometimes when i start the car up I get ESP & BAS visit workshop warnings. But it I switch the car off and start it again they clear.

Can anyone advised on any of these problems please? I would very grateful.

Also I have been toying with the idea of getting rid of the car for a newer facelift one (something with warranty). Problem is my car is still on finance. Any ideas?

 

[kooli9]

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[IDMerc]

You have my sympathy. Your car is from the period when Mercedes builds quality was at it's worst. They say quality is much better now - I don't know.

Like you I really like the cars - I have had six different Mercedes cars (my wife still drives one of them, perhaps the most reliable (latest A-class)). The first a W202 C class was by far the best. The two E220 Cdi's (W210 & W211) were appalling as was the C200 W203. The poor quality is compounded by the fact that the dealers are arrogant and unable to fix the problems - assuming you can convince them that a problem really exists!

As for the litany of problems you are experiencing, they sound typical to me. Roll bar link bushes, injectors etc are typical faults. The ESP/BAS light faults will invariably be due to a faulty wheel sensor, nothing more but a dealer will charge you a fortune to fix. As for the air con - I beleive that is a dashboard out job which if so will be expensive.

Sorry to be so negative, great cars, terrible quality and even worse dealers. So after 9 years of Mercedes ownership (and when the UK MD of Mercedes Benz couldn't fix the problem with my car or reply to my letter) I bought a Toyota. Everyone in the dealership knows me by my first name (and no not because I have been in there a lot) I have not paid more than £170 for a service (now up to 50,000 miles) and the car has been totally reliable.

Call me a snob but I still miss the Merc's!

 

[kooli9]

Thanks for your very honest answer IDMerc, I think I'm gonna cut my losses and just trade up for an '05 model. I'm like you, i like the Mercs, was thinking about a porsche but i'm not liking the insurance quotes so far.

I'm gonna sort the ride out and give it a lil spray and sell it.

Does anyone know the optimum tracking setting a c class coupe should have? Not the manufactures setting as I am aware they pull to the left slightly

 

[jberks]

Sticking vents are a known problem on the 203 - not sure how big a job it is to fix. ABS/ASP warnings are normally the brake light switch (£8). Again very common but also very minor to fix.
Look carefully at the costs and if you can, then change it. Nothing insurmountable to fix on yours but no point putting more money in if you don't have to. Yes a 2005 one will be a lot better. I can only compare my late 2004 211 to my Dads early 2003 211 and mine has been fault free in comparison. A friend has a 2005 211 and he's had no problems whatsoever so yes, things have improved. This is also backed up by the JD Power surveys.

 

[television]

Actually the brake light switch does not apply to the 203, the cars are plagued with ESP sensors that fail and get corroded connectors.