C280 Buying Question
 

I'm hunting for a C280.

Any member familiar with these cars? Any known issues to keep in mind? Are there particular Model years that are better than others? I was thinking of looking at model years from 1996 to 2000.

I have a 96 C220. Is the only main difference between the cars just the engine?

Thanks

They say the best ones are the newer ones. Like a 99-2000 model C280. Personally My 2000 C280 has been trouble many many times. Its very reliable and always starts and runs but it very very high maintance. Its been in the shop more times in 2 years of ownership then my E320 AND 420SEL combined.

Yikes. Its been over 2 years SINCE my car has seen a shop. :D I'm never going to own a newer/gasser model unless I have plenty of cash and time to throw at it.

ok, then lets hear what type of isues you had. Don't just go off talking about "trouble" and not expalin:eek:. Also, what would you be checking for if you were testing one to buy?

C280Sport, I finally did a search on your various posts on the C280. First question is did you buy this car new or used?

If new, you must have had the opportunity to have a dealer look at your problems. If so, what did the say and do about it?

If used, do you know what kind of maintenance has been done on this car? Or where it came from?

Lots of drivetrain changes in that era - 96s were straight six with 722.4 transmission. Then 97 got 722.6 electronic transmission, then 98 got V6 112 motor. The later ones might be better but they are also less DIY friendly. If you're looking for DIY friendly there's probably no reason to eliminate 94-95. 95s were fully OBDII compliant.

Thanks, I needed that!:) Very good points. There are in fact a few 95s around me for sale right now. I just thought maybe thta the later ones were further improved. So, I guess I won't eliminate the earlier models.

96 c280
 

I've got a 96 c280 w/165k miles. Head gasket @ ~100-130k miles is a VERY common, and expensive problem. Look for one that has had it replaces already. Also the EGR tube (replaced mine at ~150k miles) is a bear and was fairly expensive.

The only other problems I've had are minor - MAF sensor (easy DIY) and lots of brittle/broken vac lines (also DIY friendly). A couple of minor fit-n-finish issues like the antenna mast - simple and cheap fixes.

Otherwise I've been quite happy with mine (I'm the original owner).

Overall, given you can pick one of these up for ~$4-5k right now I think they make EXCELLENT daily drivers.

94 c 280
 

After a year of ownership I had the "pleasure" of replacing the headgasket which is a common problem with these cars also replaced the throttle body which eliminated the check engine light. Current mileage is 162K currently for sale for $3600 (San Diego craigslist) looking to buy a W203 C230 Kompressor 6 speed.

97 C230
95 C220
94 C280
98 ML320

Here are my notes from when I was comtemplating the exact same purchase:

97 C230 eng/chassis 111.974/202.023

Negatives- first 722.6 tranny

98 C230

Advantages- first keyless, no antenna, FSS, HVAC

94-97 C280 eng/chassis 104.941/202.028

96 negatives M104 head gasket
97 negatives M104 head gasket, first 722.6 tranny

98-2000 C280 112.292/202.029

98 advantages keyless,no antenna, FSS, electronic HVAC
2000 touch shift, electronic HVAC, sorted out 722.6 tranny
Negative M112 harmonic balancer

I decided on a used 2000 C280, purchased 6/2005 w/ 35m now 65m and I think it is a very nice dependable car. I think of it as a Toyota-fied Mercedes. Light handling, light P/S, quick, modern electronic tranny and electonic HVAC.

Besides maintenance, this is what has been done to the car:

35691 purchased car

44,436 bank 2, sensor 2, driver rear o2 sensor ($86)
44,715 thermostat
45,250 camshaft position sensor, old one OK ($78)
fuel pump relay, old one OK($17)
45,550 crankshaft position sensor ($80)
59,850 change plugs, all have sticky varnish on threads, 2 plugs closet to driver side fouled
62,550 check plugs 1&2, dry but oily threads, bit of carbon deposits on #1, change wires #1&2
62,641 change rest of wires ($133)
63,254 o2 sensor bank 2, sensor 1, driver front ($79), code P0150
clear codes P0170, P0173 fuel trim bank 1&2 ==MAF
63,422 MAF insert ($150), fuel filter 35

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280
1990 LS400

I've seen a couple here in the $2500 range (asking), and noticed that like the early 210s, they seem to rust around the top of the plastic cladding.

The W202 is one of those Mercedes chassis where there were substantial changes during the production run and it seems to be a better ideal to get the ones made at the end rather than the beginning, particularly those made after the last revision, the 1998 - 2000 models.