Originally Posted by sixto

Since you have dealer connections, can you get a history report? Maybe a VMI?

It’s easier to determine whether a car is worth a certain price such as when haggling down from an asking price. In this case you need to determine how much to bid.

This seems comparable and it has the Sport package (does the auction car?) - https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/d/2000-mercedes-c230-kompressor/6688035909.html

That asking price caps my interest in the auction car at about $1200.

Make sure it has at least 2 working key fobs. The kind with no exposed blade is $3-400 and only available from MB regardless of Craigslist seller claims that they just need programming. If it only has one fob, factor the cost of a spare into you bid.

The rest of what I’d check is generic including -

That car might be from the era with VIN decals on all body parts (doors, hood, bumpers...). If a VIN decal is missing, painted over or from another car, the car was probably in a collision.

Check that all ACC functions work, windows, locks, lights, etc.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon