Opinions please-> C230 , C280 95,96, 97 ,98, 99
 

These are what I am looking at far as budget ( around $2,000.) for replacing my 2000 Saturn 5 speed. Not comparing this to these except I want a Mercedes that gets fairly decent mileage (mpg ) and looks nice.

I do not know much other than reading some online owner opinions, a few posts here on forum. You can see the MBs I've owned in my signature below, so aside from maybe my 93 300E 3.2 one of these C classes would be an upgrade as far as comforts.

Seems in '97 the C280 worked out some kinks, and also for some reason is rated 1-2 mpg better than other years. ( 28 hwy ) .

I also do not know how the C230 compares to the C280.

All input is appreciated as I am looking to get into one within this week. Other model input I am interested in as well. Sunroof is a must.

Thanks again. Austin

The W202 cars have almost as much legroom up front as the W124's. The C280 through 1997 will have the same M104 as your 300E 3.2, so they can have the same head gasket oil leak issues.

The 1998-2000 C280's have the V6.

As you've read, the C230's get better gas mileage, but the engines have less power and less refinement.

Hey Paul , Long time no "see". What about reliability comparison on the 230's vs the 280's overall and engine / wise ?

I did see that in '97 MB may have stopped using the older wiring harness that my '93 came with.

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Bump for any suggestions on reliability overall comparing models.


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I think the C280's got the new engine wiring harness in 1996.

If it were my money, I'd get a late C230 Kompressor or a 1998-2000 C280. I don't think I'd like to go through the head gasket replacement again.

My opinion is that the W202 cars are among the most trouble free Mercedes ever built.

The 98 W202s were the last "refresh" however the "lifetime transmission fluid" was in effect at the time.

Not sure how much car you're going to get for $2k.
Around here, that's only going to get you a needy car.

As usual, that later, the better.

Best of the breed would be the last couple of years, with the interior updates, but these don't fall into you price range without intergalactic mileage or lots of problems.

We have a C230, and the engine is disappointing from a refinement standpoint. Quite rough, not at all like the 6 cylinders. Lots of power, and we've bested 30mpg on the highway with the C230.

While the 190 always felt tight for me, the C-class, W202, feels much more comfortable, closer to our W124s. With my 190D, I had the front seat back so far, you could not fit behind me comfortably.

Most any MB at $2k is going to be a nightmare.....

If you've read these boards at all, you'll know to avoid any 1995 anything unless it has had the harness replaced.

Based on the recommendations from this board I bought some late model w202s as a replacement car for us and first cars for the kids.

I bought a 2000 C280 with 36m, now 110m. Everything about this car is an improvement over the w124 we had. Steering and handling is light and nimble, HVAC is electronic, AC ice cold and still flawless, very much like a Japanese AC with very little drag on the engine, electronic tranny is flawless (so far), again like a Japanese tranny. Mileage is OK not great, about 20 mpg in town, freeway is much better at 27mpg.

Daughter has a 1999 C280 bought at 84m now at 106m. Small leak in AC but so far fine car.

Son has a 2000 C230K, bought at 88m now at 102m. This one has super gas mileage because of the 4 cylinder. Only problem we are facing with this car is sooner or later will need a new SC. Older knob style HVAC. Same nice tranny.

A 1998-2000 w202 would be best but I don't think you can find one for $2000.

I bet that's usually true but my 98 C280 with 130KMs on it has been great...only paid 1900!

The only thing has been the replacement of the trans cooler lines a few months ago, but that was after 2.5 years of ownership, so I cant fault the P.O.

My '95 C280 had to have the wiring harness replaced at 60K original miles.

The vacuum element behind the dash went south so the vac pump in the trunk area makes noise unless I keep the EC function ON.

Water pumps are a hassle. They last 2 yrs for me so far with low miles !!!

nobody seems to make good replacement pumps, not even GRAF.....
now has 80K miles and has had like 4 pumps.

otherwise ok

I'm closing a deal on a 97 C280 168 k ish miles for 1K. It has been in non salt states for all but a few years so it is rust free. Owner says car was parked due to bad throttle actuator, during the 3 year storage a mouse ate through the engine wiring harness. I can't hear it run but they had car shipped cross country _after_ the actuator failed as they intended to fix the car.

Visually it is in good shape showing some wear but nothing overly bad. I'll hang parts on a rust free body all day so not hearing it run is worth the risk. The trick to having a trouble free car is to replace parts when they are at the end of their life cycle, this way you are planing downtime rather than having the car fail at random.

Get a six-speed. :D

Hey for $1K you have room to play.

hope the water pump is OK.

I bought my wiring harness at fastlane (peachparts) and had an indie install for about $250.
Harness was about $900/$1K I think.

just get it going and enjoy !:)

The wiring harnesses on 96 and up cars don't fall apart so it is a salvage yard item. ( I'm expecting $ 50 - $ 100 )

Water pump is no big deal ( same motor as my SL 320 )

I'm fully expecting to put a min of $ 1,500 of parts in this car to tidy it up and don't care if I have more than "book" in it. With all the cars I've built for myself plus Mom and Dad in the past 40 years, I might have sold 2. I keep them going until they are too rusty to be worth repairing. As a result of this we have had something nice to drive and never had a car payment.