With a used car, maintenance is everything.

A car that has only 60,000 miles with a poor maintenance history would probably be less reliable than a car with 100,000 miles that has been maintained perfectly.

Plus, highway miles are much less stressful on a car than in town driving in stop and go traffic.

I would avoid the Lexus. It is one of their earliest examples.

Between the two C280's, for me it would be a toss-up. It would come down to condition. Even with less mileage, the 1995 model could have the same problems as the 1994 model with the head gasket and the wiring harness. You need to have your mechanic inspect these cars to see what they need. They might be fine and need very little. They might need a lot. You'll never know until they are inspected. If they need a lot, you can offer a lot less. I still think the $6,000 C280 is a helluva good deal.

Last, parts for Mercedes are not more expensive than other cars. It is generally understood that Japanese car parts are among the most expensive in the industry, especially Lexus and Acura parts.

You can do your own research by getting price quotes on similar parts. Call the dealers (Lexus and Mercedes) and get a price quote on a water pump, alternator, etc. and see for yourself.

I Have been looking at Mercedes Benz, BMW, Lexus, and Infiniti for the months past, and I'm really probably most comfortable with Mercedes Benz and BMW. My parents have owned the older Mercedes Benz's in the late 1970's to the 1980's and from their experience "Mercedes Benz is built to last". I believe them too but ever since I've been reading up on this Head Gasket and maintenance I've been getting second thoughts. I also like BMW because my friends have a 325is from 95' and a 740 from 97' and they are both very wonderful cars. The reason I mentioned Lexus is I heard the parts for a Lexus are interchangeable with a Toyota Camry because Lexus is basically Toyota and having rode in an 94' LS400 I thought it was a pretty nice car inside and out. But overall I want the 1994 C280 because when i was first browsing it It was beautiful, I didn't test drive it yet because I was unsure how my parents would react if I told them of my plans to purchase a Mercedes. My parents don't want me to be "spoiled" by a Mercedes Benz even though I'm a 3rd year college student.

Why not a 4 cylinder C-Class?
 

Have you considered a 4 cylinder C-Class? I believe in North America the only one you got was the C230. In Australia we got the C180, C200, C220 and C230, all 4 cylinder. The fours offer much the same car as the C280 except for the performance of the six, and importantly, without those annoying faults that the six suffered. Here the fours way outnumber the sixes, and they have a good reputation. The other option is the later M112 V6 available from 1997 in the C240 and C280 that replaced the M104 inline six C280.

Ok.

gilly, I clean 'em, never had a recourance.

Lexus? Bah, overpriced junk. Front drive (ES300), pictures of wood, poor quality hides/treatment, sorry excuses for insturment clusters, history of gummed up oil eating v-6's, Trannys that slam reverse, too many motor mounts and a history of breaking them and so on. Not to mention higher costs of regular maintence. (based on the volume of consumables)

C220 or C230? Great little cars, kinda like the 240d of old. The things just go and go and go. I've got several customer with over 200k on 111's that run perfect. Little annoyances such as a/c compressors that click, belt tensioners that rattle and the worlds second noisest air pump. (the late model 112 being the loudest)

The dealer wont let you take it off the lot for a PPI? Ok, fine..... time to locate another car. Someone is hiding something. (probaly pours oils from the head which really is not that big a deal) On a personal note, I think there is enough gold paint in the world anyway:D , I like the c's in black or white sport trim.

As far as reliability goes, finding something that is tougher than a c is kinda tough.




Joe

There IS something to be said for that!

I think (and I know this is a GROSS generalization) that too many younger kids get spoiled these day. It's like every generation wants THEIR kids to have it "better" than they did. But the end result is a real cushy life. I had so many "character building" experiences by driving total JUNK beaters around, we're talking cars I got for $100 or $200, and one car I got for free from my parents (see, I guess I was spoiled too, but that free car was worth every penny, ie see-through outside door panels, and a leaking accelerator pump, so every time you left a stop sign you could just "barely" accelerate or it'd stall).
But I can't see the sense in being "given" (and I'm sorry Jenny if you're buying this yourself) something like a Mercedes to drive in college. OK, OK, they're real safe cars, no doubt. But hey, the car I drove to tech school I could see the road through the holes in the floorboards, and other than these reoccurring episodes due to carbon monoxide fumes, I turned out OK! AND it makes you appreciate cars without holes in the floorboards later on!

Gilly

You have chosen a fine automobile for purchase, it has the potential of crossing the 500,000 mile mark! Engine, body and suspension won't give you any problems but the components will require some attention.

My experience stems from a 94 E320. Interior and exterior is designed very well. Very good ride, low NVH and very good fit, finish and build quality, 50/50 weight distribution and RWD give it very good driving chracteristics. Again, time is required to deal with the eccentric nature of this car, but thats what gives it character and separates it from transportation devices like the Toyota Camry. Having said that, I am selling mine as I do not have the time to deal with the eccentric nature of this car and some of the engineering did not meet my expectations but an average consumer does not notice such things.

Plan on spending about $10,000 and a lot of time maintaining the Benz over the next 100,000 miles. Does not make any difference if the car has 60,000 miles or 120,000.

If you do not work on the car yourself, here are some costs at the dealership

Headgasket $2200
Wiring Harness $700
Brakes $1000
60, 000 mile service $800
AC evaporator $3500
Engine Control Module $2200

I would not consider a Lexus ES300; it is more or less a Camry. Their is no comparison. A BMW is a driver's car but you will find a lot of suspension problems and dated interior/exterior design. W124 is the timeless classic.

To summarize, I would recommend a W124 or a W140 MB, if you have the time and resources. You will be rewarded with a fine automobile.

If you are on a budget (college student), I would not recommend an MB, Lexus or Infinity. In that case, a Toyota Corolla will serve you better or if you like speed, the crude and primitive TransAM/ Firebird will take you to 150 MPH for the least amount of money.

I agree with Joe P.

The C230 is probably a much better choice from a maintenance standpoint.

They are also less expensive.

I think that BMW has an even worse reputation for parts cost and expensive maintenance. If you think a Mercedes is expensive, a BMW will spank you all the way to the bank.

I know you are concerned about the head gasket and wiring harness on the C280, but they are a once-in-a-lifetime repair. If they've been updated, then you are set. If not, then budget those two items in the cost of your purchase (about $2,000 for the two), and then you can be happy for the rest of your ownership experience for the car.

I just want to pipe in here onthe C230/280 debate. I've got the C220 (real similar to the 230) and I love it. Not the fastest thing off the line, but it cruises so nicely on the highway, it's real easy to maintain, feels like a real Mercedes (unlike the new C), and has given me largely trouble-free service so far (I am a bit of a maintenance freak, though). Bought it at 58K miles, Have about 82K now, and plan on having it for at least another 100K. Just such a well put together car. No harness/head gasket problems, the tranny is just fine, oil changes are easly, as are all of the other fluids/filters (Cabin, air, p/s, tranny). Good luck.

First of all I would like to thank all those who posted on this topic to help me, Thanks :)

Second Question: Would a 1995 C220 Sedan have less problems than it's C280 brother? i.e. Head Gasket, Wire, etc...

Thanks :)

I want a Benz real bad :D

The head gasket on the C220/C230 is of a different design than that of the C280. The wiring harness is different as well. One caveat, though, on both the 220/230 and 280 is that from 97 on, they have the electronic 722.6 transmission, which some people have had problems with on the early production models.

The C220 from 1994-1995 and the C230 from 1996-1999 never had problems with head gaskets or wiring harnesses. I don't think they have any inherent problems whatsoever.

There was a discussion a while ago about the most trouble free Mercedes ever built, and many of the dealer technicians answered that the C220 / C230 was the best in their opinion.

The C220 and the C230 are the same engine. The C220 is just a 2.2 liter engine, and the C230 is a 2.3 liter engine.

I don't know if you'll notice any differnc in power.

My mother had a 1994 or 1995 C220 and put about 150,000 trouble free miles on it. She traded it in on a 1999 E430.

Whether you buy a C220, C230, or C280, The C classes are very nice cars, and feel more like a Mercedes than the current ones.

I have done ONE head gasket on a C220.

Gilly

Hope for a PPI
 

Hi it's me again :)

I've been doing my research on PPI's and I found a Mobile PPI around my area willing to do it for about $200 and they'll come to the area of the vehicle. My question is since the dealership told me "No PPI's", should I bring the mobile PPI to the dealership anyways without informing them? I mean they told me "You are more than welcome to bring someone along to look at the vehicle...."

I'd tell the dealership you're bringing a guy to look at the car for you. That is all.

If the dealer says no, then he's obviously hiding something!

so I shouldn't even say "PPI", Just say "I'm bringing someone to inspect the vehicle?", Because what if I bring the Mobile PPI guy and they don't let him use the instruments in his van?

His exact word were:

"We do not do PPI's, however you are more then welcome to bring someone with you to our lot to inspect the vehicle with you"