My C230's problems...apprently newer MB's aren't so great? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johnathan1 · #1 07-24-2009, 12:31 PM

So I thought I was doing the prudent, smart thing when I bought my 1998 C230, because I thought that buying a newer car would mean less problems. It's also in AMAZING shape with 141k miles. Well, apparently I was wrong, because I have had more problems with this car in the last few months than I have ever had with an older MB. O_O

Firstly, it keeps blowing light bulbs (three so far) and the check engine light comes on randomly, with a misfire code. Still haven't been able to figure out what's going on with it. Then the AC blower regulator went bad...had to replace it with a new part. One of the flaps just started making an insanely loud high-pitched squealing sound whenever the air is direct at the floor...so I have to have it blowing at the windshield constantly. -_-

The most recent breakdown occurred about two weeks ago, and it was the transmission. It failed catastrophically in a parking lot when I was driving at about 2mph...loud banging noises, and the car came to a stop with a puddle of ATF on the ground. Had it towed to the mechanic, and the bill is now $2500 and rising. Apparently something had broken inside the tranny, and put tiny shards of metal everywhere...damaged just about every gear in the planetary set (I think that's what it's called) and the valve body was loaded with metal shavings. Strange since I had just had the fluid checked about a month ago, and everything looked fine. The fluid now looks black.

Anyway, I have had problems with this newer MB, and my father has had a lot of problems with his 02' C240, and 01' E55...makes me think that the newer MB's just aren't built to the same standards as the older pre-91 MB's. What do you guys think?

MTI · #2 07-24-2009, 01:00 PM

While not defending Mercedes on every vehicle they've made during the past 20 years . . . did you have the vehicles maintenance records to inspect before purchase; did you have the vehicle inspected before purchase by a qualified MB tech; how much did you pay for this creampuff?

DieselAddict · #3 07-24-2009, 01:11 PM

I've had more trouble with the older ones, so I don't really buy this newer = less reliable notion. The newer ones are certainly more complicated and more things can go wrong, but on the other hand I believe the newer ones are generally built to a higher precision, particularly the engine and are less likely to burn oil as they get old. Certainly the previous owner's maintenance & care makes a big difference as does the particular year, make and model. Chances are your car still had the original transmission fluid as MB used to tell people it had a lifetime fill, but that's never been true and MB has stopped saying that.

BTW, my 2004 TDI has been the most trouble-free used car I've ever had.

Kuan · #4 07-24-2009, 01:23 PM

Only an MB addict will call a '98 a "newer" MB.

Hatterasguy · #5 07-24-2009, 01:30 PM

Its 11 years old and has 141k miles on it. Thats not a bad service life from a trans, was the fluid ever changed?

E150GT · #6 07-24-2009, 01:47 PM

I think thats a crappy service life!

johnathan1 · #7 07-24-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E150GT

I think thats a crappy service life!

Me too...

I thought this was one of the models that had "lifetime fluid" or something like that. Isn't that correct? I have no idea if the transmission fluid was ever changed. When I first bought the car, I checked it, and it looked perfect, didn't smell burnt or anything. Then a month later, the fluid is black, and smells TERRIBLE. Seems like something just decided to break, I doubt the age of the fluid would have made much difference.

pj67coll · #8 07-24-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

Chances are your car still had the original transmission fluid as MB used to tell people it had a lifetime fill, but that's never been true and MB has stopped saying that.

So why'd they lie?

- Peter.

DieselAddict · #9 07-24-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

So why'd they lie?

- Peter.

I don't know if they lied. They may have simply lived and learned. I take these lifetime fill claims to mean the lifetime of the warranty. A lot of people probably believe it means the fluid never needs changing, but I don't think that's true on any car.

pj67coll · #10 07-24-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

I don't know if they lied. They may have simply lived and learned. I take these lifetime fill claims to mean the lifetime of the warranty. A lot of people probably believe it means the fluid never needs changing, but I don't think that's true on any car.

I take lifetime to mean exactly that. Lifetime. That means it doesn't need changing ever. If they want to go all lawyer on your ass and explain that it just means the lifetime of the warrantee then they should have done that and not listened to some idiot in the marketing department..

- Peter.

DieselAddict · #11 07-24-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

I take lifetime to mean exactly that. Lifetime. That means it doesn't need changing ever. If they want to go all lawyer on your ass and explain that it just means the lifetime of the warrantee then they should have done that and not listened to some idiot in the marketing department..

- Peter.

It probably means "the lifetime of the transmission" which is true. It all depends on what you want that lifetime to be. The manufacturer is liable only for the duration of the warranty.

Honus · #12 07-24-2009, 05:39 PM

My mom had a 2000 C230 Kompressor which was maintained by the book from new. She got it with about 18,000 miles on it. She had numerous problems with it. Like the other fellow here, she had trouble with light bulbs going out, frequent "Check Engine" lights of unknown cause, and multiple oxygen sensor replacements. I think the oxygen sensor thing was probably a mechanic who started replacing things because he didn't know how to evaluate trouble codes, so that one is not entirely the car's fault.

It was a sweet car and she loved it, despite it's problems. She only gave it up because she was no longer able to drive (which was very sad, BTW).

To each his own, but I haven't seen a Mercedes that interests me since about 1987.

johnathan1 · #13 07-24-2009, 02:09 PM

Oh, I also forgot to mention that the torque converter showed signs of overheating. The metal around the input shaft was completely blue from heat.

pj67coll · #14 07-24-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnathan1

Anyway, I have had problems with this newer MB, and my father has had a lot of problems with his 02' C240, and 01' E55...makes me think that the newer MB's just aren't built to the same standards as the older pre-91 MB's. What do you guys think?

I certainly agree. In my opinion it will take them a very long time to regain my respect for their product. I regard their new ones as ****. This may be unfair. They might have started to make siginificant improvements on the disasters they had since the begining of their decline. But I'm still hearing too many stories like yours to believe that.

My wife had a 2000 or 2002 can't remember exactly which year ML. She loved it apart from the couple of thousand dollars she'd have to drop at the dealership every few months for some or other bizarre problem. Eventually there was a 7 thousdand dollar component in the engine that went out at which point she said **** this and traded it. She's had far fewer problems with her 05 Saturn VUE so far than she ever had with her ML.

In my opinion they are trading on their reputation from past glory which is fading fast.

- Peter.

TylerH860 · #15 07-24-2009, 02:24 PM

Find a good used transmission to install and sell. No point in spending over half the value of the car on a transmission, especially if you don't like it.

I decided to do a PPI on my W124 purchase and it saved my butt. I got the seller to bump of 2k for the head gasket leak. After having it fixed, the car gave me 6 months of trouble free service.