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#1
11-01-2008, 09:52 PM
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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
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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa 
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#2
11-01-2008, 09:54 PM
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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.
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2015 ML350 4Matic. Wifes DD 2015 GLK350 4Matic. My winter DD 2012 E350 4Matic. Road Trip car 2009 CLK350 Coupe Designo.Kleemann Tune For nice days/DD 2006 CL600. V12.Eurocharged Tune. Enough said 2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe.Kleemann Tune. For the sound and style 2004 CLK320 Cabriolet. 2005+ Interior swap. For the sunny Florida days & beach days
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#3
11-02-2008, 12:51 AM
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Quote:
 I'm never going to own a newer/gasser model unless I have plenty of cash and time to throw at it.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-  '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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#4
11-02-2008, 07:02 AM
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Quote:
 . Also, what would you be checking for if you were testing one to buy?
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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa Last edited by tobybul; 11-02-2008 at 08:15 AM.
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#5
11-02-2008, 08:25 AM
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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?
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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa
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#6
11-02-2008, 09:44 AM
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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.
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#7
11-02-2008, 11:18 AM
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Quote:
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.
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the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa
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#8
01-08-2009, 10:53 AM
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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.
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#9
01-08-2009, 01:23 PM
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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
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#10
01-08-2009, 03:52 PM
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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
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#11
01-08-2009, 04:29 PM
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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.
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 Gone to the dark side - Jeff
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#12
01-08-2009, 04:45 PM
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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.
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