'New' 98 C230 - Advice?

[90mbenz]

I've gone and done it now. After my experience with the '90 300 SEL, I just bought a '98 C230 which my wife will mostly drive. 66k miles and appears to be in excellent shape. I have to get a replacement key (already know the drill on smartkey thanks to this forum), owner's manual, and floor mats.

I've scoured the board to read up on this model. Any advice as far as things to check that are particular to this model (flex coupler wear, engine wiring harness, shifter bushings for examples), ? How about particularly handy after market doo-dads?

[skiier3_9]

I'd consider replacing all the fluids (if you have no records) 60k is about time for new transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant (way overdo if never changed), differential fluid, etc.

I would consider an Audio 10 CD player (german and/or uk ebay)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7998506052&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

[90mbenz]

Originally Posted by skiier3_9

I'd consider replacing all the fluids (if you have no records) 60k is about time for new transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant (way overdo if never changed), differential fluid, etc.

I would consider an Audio 10 CD player (german and/or uk ebay)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7998506052&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Thanks....good stuff. It comes with a changer, so should be good to go with that. Fluid change and overall inspection is pretty much SOP for me and a new car.

Does this model have any issues with timing belt/change, or oil leak trouble spots?

[anthonyb]

I don't believe it has a belt, should be a timing chain. The service interval is pretty long for those things (if ever). Yours may leak a little oil, my dad has a '97 that does, but the engine is a good one.

Front ball joints and/or control arm bushings are something to watch out for.

[mpolli]

Do a search. There are a couple of threads on this exact car and subject I think. Off the top of my head I can tell you a few things:

If it squeaks when you go over a speed bump then that is front sway bar bushings which are cheap but a little tricky to install yourself.

If the electric seat adjustments stop working, that is a bad relay in the trunk area.

If the headrest only stops working, that is a bad solder joint on the motor (I have a thread on that)

Watch your electrolyte (water) level in the battery (trunk). General advice but easy to forget since you never see the battery.

Dealer sells mats for fairly cheap. I got the carpet ones and also the rubber ones that are very nice and were about 50.00 as I recall.

Many questions people have are answered are answered in the owners manual. It is very thorough. So get one and read it. Lots of specific info there.

One common question not answered in the manual is: Is it OK to leave the trans switch set on "W" all the time? Answer: Yes, many people like it that way and it is not a problem.

Another common problem is the display on the climate control module starts to "lose segments" like 77 degrees looks like 17 degrees etc. I have not seen a definitive answer about this other than "it has gone bad". I just tap on mine and it comes back, for a while...

The engine air filter cover is a little unusual, seems normal until you try to put it back on and then it seems trickier than it should, and more than 1 person has said that the air filter was too big for the housing (including me). Some have actually suggested that the housing shrunk!! I bought a Mann and it was over 1/4" too large so next time I will try a different brand.

Oil filter is on top and the cap uses a special "socket" that you can get cheap at WalMart supposedly (of course they will then close the place where you work and you will be unemployed but hey, cheap stuff is great, especially when you are unemployed right?)

Some (including me) had "wandering/wallowing" steering and needed a new center link assembly. If you jack up the front of the car, grab the tire at 9 and 3 O'clock and "rock" the wheel back and forth. If there is a clunk clunk then something is worn.

These engines are notorious for burning NO oil. Some have described it as "spooky". Best I can figure, mine uses about 1 Qt every 30,000 miles, and some of that is leaked. And that is with synthetic 0W40.

That's all I can think of!!

Mike

[90mbenz]

Thanks, Mike. Very good overall review. After I actually get the car and look into it a bit, I'll dig up this post and tell others what was found.