Hey there everyone... it's been a while. I have decided it is time to upgrade to a faster and newer high performance luxury automobile (aka Mercedes).

So, to my questions:

1. I know the '97 C36 is the one to get (5 speed auto), but they are VERY hard to find, should I forget it and get a low mileage '96? I saw a '96 for $31k with 32k miles on it. That is about the only one for sale in northern California right now.

2. Anyone know the production numbers? I heard it was very low, but don't know the exact numbers.

3. I have yet to drive a C class, but I remember from my 190E that it was very compact inside. I'm 6'4" and had a hard time getting comfortable in my 190, is the C class as tough to fit in for taller people?

Guess that's it. Thanks for the help.

I am 1,88m tall (don't know how tall that is in US measurements) and had no problem in my previous W201 190D (after I changed the (manual) seat adjusting system.

In my current C250D (with 1996 C36 power seats) I am able to sit as low as if I were a midget...
No problems in the front, only in the rear (for possible passengers that have to sit behind me).

greetingz,

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1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

I'm not sure on production numbers, but as you say they are scarce. I think if you have decided on the C36 you may want to accept that you may need to travel to find the car you want. Do California emmissions create a problem? I would think that the 96-97 models would be 50 state due to OBD regs, not positive though. I live in Minnesota and have traveled to New Mexico and California for G-wagens and to Florida for my wifes BMW. Buying locally was out of the question on the Gs and a compromise on the BMW, no nice ones around. Look at it as an adventure.

I have driven the C36, a '95 4 spd auto, I was very impressed with the car. I am 6'3" 230lbs, I was comfortable in the car, I'm sure the back would be tight but plenty of space up front. I think you are right to go for the 5 speed, might as well the price is essentially the same. I don't think there is much demand for these either. Asking prices may be in the $30s but I would offer low, maybe 27-28k. Keep in mind that these are the M104 and as such are subject to headgasket leaks. If it has not been replaced yet it will need it eventually. So maybe a Starmarked '97 from a dealer would be the best. I think the car is a great choice, the same day I drove the C36 I had also test driven a Porsche 911 C4, to my amazement the C36 was MORE fun than the 911. Great car, good luck in your search.

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1995 G320
1984 280GE
1971 Unimog 416

Kyle,
As a owner of a 95' C36 for a couple years now I may be able to offer some help. I do not have exact production numbers in front of me but I do recall approx 200 97's and about 400 (each year) of 95's and 96's. The only huge difference is the 5-speed auto which, though nice, is certainly not needed with this car. I've driven both and the only significant advantage I notice on the 5-speed is that it is a bit more refined and can respond a bit quicker. Actual performance is similar enough that particular car and driver sharpness will make the difference. In either case, you can manually shift as your heart desires.

As far as interior space goes...I am 6'4" and about 195lbs. I do not comfortably fit in a W201 (say a 16v) but I am quite comfortable in the W202 C-class. If someone is sitting behind me that is as tall as I am it can be snug, but they can still fit. (enough leg room to sit, but not stretch out) Headroom in the back is also enough for me.

Maintenance is similar to a C280 (and other M104's good and bad...) However, if anything breaks that is AMG specific, it can be pricey. The infernal M104 head gasket is AMG specific (since the engine is bored 1.1mm over a C280) Pretty much, if the part number carries a "WA" prefix, expect a much higher pricetag. The front brake rotors (a maintenance item you could say) are based on the SL600 but are C36 specific (in the case of the 95's) and list (at the dealership) for $175 each. I would advise you to pick up an extended warranty for a car if you can. (or buy one that already has an extended warranty) I've got a warrantech extended warranty on my car and it came in VERY handy when Donnie/Benzmac did the head gasket. Make sure the head gasket (and what else is/isn't covered) before you sign. I'm not 100% sure Starmark covers M104 head gaskets anymore but its worth reading the fine print on if you buy a Starmarked car.)

Overall, they are really a fun car to drive. They have a ton of power (though NOT 500E power...been to the track against a 500E in the C36...trust me, it will not run with a 500E) and feel light/nimble/tossable. The combo of a lots of power and the light/nimble handling make for the driving fun-factor. The quicker steering ratio makes for excellent in-town/parking lot response (not to mention auto-x!!!) Also, having the SL600 based front brakes (320mm rotors) and E420 sourced rear brakes (278mm rear rotors) on a C-class makes braking truly exceptional. (I've measured braking forces of 1.0-1.2 g's with a g'tech under maximum braking) 60-0 distances being in the 100-105 foot range depending on road conditions. In the other direction...0-60 and 1/4 mile you can get 0-60 times in the mid-high 5's in colder weather (35-50 degrees F) and high 5's to low 6's in hot (90 degrees with 95% humidity). 1/4 mile times range from about 14.0 to 14.3 in the cold and 14.4-14.8 in hottest/worst of conditions. Raw acceleration isn't what the car's about...find some twisty backroads and have fun rocketing around. I seem to recall comparing slalom times in the usual magazines (R&T, C&D, MT, etc) and the times of the C36 are up there (some faster, some slower) than 993 911's so G-man's observations are probably right on... The AMG exhaust plays a nice inline 6 tune to boot... The power curve of the engine is a bit different than most contemporary motors. The C36 has excellent midrange (2000rpm-4500rpm) power but lacks the sheer high rpm grunt of the M119's (though isn't too far behind) Unless you are on it all the way to redline you will not notice a difference. In fact, the midrange power of the C36 motor feels better than many M119 V8's I've driven which all seem to have a flat spot from about 2000-3000rpm.

If you have any specific questions let me know and I'll do my best to answer them. I can also probably send you some digital pics of stuff if needs be. The best advice I can give is get in the car and drive it. Your own "butt-dyno" will tell you more about the car than anything I can describe. Just make sure there are some good "twisties" on the test drive...

Hope this helps....Lee

I think the M104 and M119 engines work best with the 4 speed. It's what they were built for. On the other hand, the new M112 and M113 engines work GREAT with the 5 speed because it is what they were built for.

97s are kind of weird. I've got a 97 C280 and wish I had a 96. Not a big fan of the tranny. 4 speed works better in old engine. 5 in new ones.

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1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E