what is more reliable W202 or W203 and why ?

[anyweb]

hi guys, well I have a 12 year old W202 and i'm considering a W203, but before I dive into the deepend I'd like YOUR opinion on which car is more reliable in every way and why.

for example

* electrics
* engine
* rust
* toys

and whatever else you can think of,

I know the W202 gotchas because mine has had some of them, but I'm not that sure of the W203 (apart from the MAF/MAS failing)

To me the W202 is the most reliable car I've ever owned (had it for over 2 years, never a problem apart from the 10 year old battery needing changing)

cheers
anyweb

 

[Phil D]

what a good question ! not one that I can answer directly, but I do have an interest in the answer
in a previous life I had a w202 company car - c200 petrol - no flier but 70000 flawless miles over 18 mths
reading posts here there's plenty to suggest that there may well have been problems just round the corner
now I have (my money!!) a w203 54 plate c220cdi - plus points - never failed once in 30000 miles ) on top of the 10000 it had on the clock before I bought it)
negatives - loads of visits to the dealer to get rid of the orange warning light - don't know what they did but it seems fixed
now I'm going through the process to get the bits changed to get rid of smelly air con - various posts from many people on this topic
verdict? I'm possibly being more fussy on the current car because it's mine, it's better to drive than the 202, and I really hope it's got many more good years under its belt
other views / opinions very welcome
Phil

 

[Blobcat]

There are quite a few 202 C250 TD Estates around me and they are really starting to take on a classic qulaity (IMO). Three that I see regularly (1998 cars) really do look good.

 

[anyweb]

thanks guys,

anyone else got either car (or had either) and would care to make a comment ?

 

[Myros]

I've had our c280 202

for 6 years and 75kmiles, and it's only let me down with one thing, and that was the ovp relay. The headrests have stopped folding back ( do I care?) and the headlamp vacuum adjuster has stopped working. and a new duovalve, and I had that funny sparkplug. and that's it. everything else normal wear and tear

 

[anyweb]

interesting, i bet that the headlamp adjusters (vacuum) and folding head rests (also vacuum) are related in some way, probably a loose tube connecting (or rather disconnected) from one of the vacuum connectors on either of the front headlights, worthwhile checking if you havnt already

cheers
anyweb

 

[poseidon]

Hi,

My c220d w202 is over 11 years old but has only 77k. I do every day commuting with very short distances.

It has been reliable in general, although I did not expect that many faults.
Some problems that came as surprice
1.) clutch replacement (judder) at 67k
2.) corroded brake pipes at 9 years
3.) clutch cilinders at 73k
4.) sump oil gasket at 75k

I would say that reliability is worse than on good old w123 or w124.
It never died on the road though.

The fuel consumption is excellent (around 39-40 average). No rust whatsoever (garaged every night). i like that the engine is simple (no sensors). I am not planing on replacing it in next 5-10 years. If wacuums start failing or a serious mechanical fault, I will probably replace it, however.
regards,
Pose

 

[philharve]

Hi All

I cannot comment on the W203 (never owned/driven one), however, I have owned a W202 for the past 30 months and know it fairly well. I'm the second owner and I've carefully maintained a full FMBSH and therefore know its history from new. It's just passed the 114kmiles mark.

Apart from the usual service items (plus: dead cell in battery; windscreen wiper motor gearbox failure; steering/stability issue) it has not missed a spark in almost 7 years. There have been no electrical gremlins and the engine, gearbox and tranmission are obviously built to last. You wouldn't think it was a 100kmiler: it feels almost new.

It did until recently have an Achilles Heel but that cannot be blamed on the model itself. MB failed to paint the exterior chassis properly resulting in a the familiar corrosion problem, recently fixed under warranty.

It's comfortable, quiet and pleasant to drive. It's not a sports car, it's too softly sprung and is easily upset by fast uneven road surfaces. It's a 'Sport' model (lowered, stiffened) but this is a relative term.

It's the first car I've owned with recirculating ball steering. Being an engineer by training, I prefer rack and pinion which the W203 has. I therefore tend to believe reports that the W203 is, as a result of rack and pinion, better to drive.

I actually prefer the lines of the W202 but maybe that's because I'm a traditionalist. The W203 has more curves but whether this is done for style or aerodynamically efficiency, I cannot say. What is the Cd for each model?

Is the W203 a better car to drive than the W202? If it is, then it is probably due to things like the adoption of rack and pinion steering which will make it feel and handle better. I think these models probably have a great deal in common and a W202 owner upgrading to a W203 will find much that is familiar.

But is the W203 a better built car - overall? Does it use cheaper components? Is its technical sophistication its Achilles Heel? My feeling is that Mercedes-Benz has built some of the finest vehicles in the World but just maybe recent cost-cutting exercises has robbed the marque of its reputation for engineering excellence.

Maybe the question should be,'Has Mercedes-Benz improved the quality of their cars so that they are now better than ever?' That's much more difficult to answer.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[benzo]

Have had a W202 for over 4 years now. It is now 7 years old. Can not fault it in any way.

I Have driven a couple of W203s as courtesy cars -yes they are nippier to drive and steer, but the 202 feels a lot better put together.

I really do not look forward to the day I will have to change my W202.

 

[jberks]

I've not had a 203 personally but I have had a 202, 210 and 211 so I've some experience of how things have changed.
A new 202 and a new 203 - the 202 is better built and more reliable - no question. It doesn't handle as well, have as many toys or get as good MPG but its more solid and dependable.
However, there are no new 202s.
So, a 12 year old 202 or a 5 year old 203 - probably the 203.
The only problems I had with 202 were generally down to age. Seals, odd things like the fuel pump corroding, washer bottle giving out etc. That said, by 5 years old, my 202 had had a new water pump, ignition barrel, diff seals and a wiper motor so things weren't 'that' rosy.
A 203 will suffer from other niggles, electrical and computer gremlins etc and you'll probably see faults at 8 years on a 203 that you never saw on a 12 year old 202 (suspension arms etc) but with the age difference as a factor, there shouldn't be that much in it and I'd go for the 203.

 

[duncanh]

W203 reliability

I have a 2002 W203 C220cdi classic estate manual, factory options metallic paint, alloys, self-levelling rear suspension.

I have had it from new.

Problems were:

First 4 weeks - all 4 injectors changed (under warranty). One dealer changed one after 2 weeks, another dealer changed another 3 days later, then changed the other 2 a week later.
40,000 miles - rear shock absorbers - one had a slight leak (both changed under warranty).
75,000 miles - new automatic lighting control unit (under warranty)
78,000 miles - new front disks and pads (About £100 for parts - did work myself)
85,000 miles - gear lever gaitor worn (relaced with a leather one, £12 on eBay)
92,000 miles - new front anti-roll bar bushes and drop links (£50 for parts - did work myself)
now approaching 121,000 miles, rear pads will need replacing before the next service. Will probably change disks at the same time.

MOT test last month (5 years old) - sailed through, no advisories.

Tyres - front every 25K, rear every 20K.

Servicing (based on assyst) comes up between 17,000 and 19,000 miles.

No sign of rust yet. A few stone chips on the body, I touch them up when I get round to it, no spidering of paint around the chips.

Interior of car is like new, no sign of wear anywhere.

Alloy wheels are becoming a bit of a mess, mostly around the rims where balance weighs have been hammered on, and around the bolt holes where the lacquer is peeling.

I have been very happy with the car - it averages over 45mpg.

Would I buy another? Yes, but not yet, still getting good service from this one.

(Let's hope I have not tempted fate!!)

 

[anyweb]

85,000 miles - gear lever gaitor worn (relaced with a leather one, £12 on eBay)

hmm i'm interested in this !

the gear lever plus the 'gaitor' (material around it ?) on my W202 is worn out and the actual gear lever (plastic/rubber) is cracked,

any idea of where on ebay i'd find a replacement ??

thanks for all the info above

 

[anyweb]

never mind, searched myself on ebay and found this ! thanks for the tip though way cheaper than what the dealers wanted for gear knob plus surround, they quoted me 1000 swedish kr (approx 100gbp ?)

 

[television]

never mind, searched myself on ebay and found this ! thanks for the tip though way cheaper than what the dealers wanted for gear knob plus surround, they quoted me 1000 swedish kr (approx 100gbp ?)

Sadly £71.42 at todays rates, I know my pension or part of it comes from there

How is your search going Niall

 

[anyweb]

the search is continuing malcolm, and dunno if the missus will let me get the 203, but i can live in hope at least

 

[television]

the search is continuing malcolm, and dunno if the missus will let me get the 203, but i can live in hope at least

Cars are a waste of money if you are just buying for the sake of it, yes a new one is nice, and not as expensive as a new wife, its early days for you in life, one day it will all fall into place