Hey guys and gals I am doing a little research for my brother on the C class. He is interested in an 03 to 06 C class. What I need to know besides the normal items associated with buying a used Mercedes Benz are there any particular issues associated with this year range on the C class? Thanks

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

W203 chassis right?

Two things that I would advise:

1. If the car is from up north, check for rust on the rear suspension components and brake/hub parts. The undercoatings seem rather cheaply done on this C class chassis and era.

2. Parking brake adjustment, make sure the parking brake engages and holds that car, but also fully disengages and does not drag. There is a little door accessible from in the car underneath the rear seats that exposes the important parts of the linkage, all cleanable and re-greaseable with little effort.

Wish I could tell you more, try MBworld.org and Benzworld.org as well.
There are a lot of owners of these cars on those forums too.

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

Thanks for the tips.

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

Get a 2004-05 car with a M112 engine....best year models

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C-Class

C240
2.6L 18V M112 V6 168 hp

C320
3.2L 18V M112 V6 215 hp

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

Thanks guys!!

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

My experience may not be typical, but my "certified" 2002 C320 had lots of issues. I bought it with 32K miles. During the time I had it, the following items were replaced or repaired: new transmission, lower control arms, new steering rack, rear differential re-sealed, motor mounts, window switches, rear control arm spring (was sold to me with a snapped coil spring), various climate control electronic motor flaps, A/C condensor, purge valve, squeaky seats, etc. I also found the materials used inside to be much inferior quality than what should be found on such a car. While the dealers were good about trying to diagnose and correct the problems, it was a very maddening experience, especially as the dealers charge premium money for their cars under their "no haggle" pricing scheme. Also, I found that the paint, especially in the front, chipped and scratched very easily. Overall, I found it was built like a Chrysler. I drove a number of 2006 through 2008 C280 loaner vehicles when they were new. They seemed to be better quality both inside and outside. I now own a 2006 CLK and find it a much better car.

Brian
'06 CLK 500
'85 300SD

Our 05 230K has been fairly trouble free so far. Had a blower motor replaced under warranty, a vacuum line went bad (not covered under warranty), and the passenger side rearview mirror motor replaced under warranty. There were a handful of service campaigns early on related to the m271 but those were taken care of before we purchased the vehicle.

Other than that, annual service will cost a couple two three bills unless you do it yourself. If more than 50K miles look for transmission fluid and filter change and if more than 5 years look for new spark plugs. DIY brake pads and discs will run $500+ish using OEM parts if you've got the sport package.

Right now our sunscreen is stuck up and the button that lowers the rear headrests is non-op (though I took one rear headrest out to make room for a car seat and wonder if that might be a reason).

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

What MB Doc says should be listened to. I had one of the first 2001 C240's that came to the US. The car was a DISASTER. The problems were almost all electronic. I LOVED driving the car, but ended up giving up on it with less than 40K miles.

I fully expect that after a few years they would get them sorted out and it sounds as if MB Doc is confirming this.

Why does he want one?

He likes them...need there be any other reason?

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

Seems there's several others in it's class/category that would be a greater value for the buck. Why does he like them?

Well only he can aswer that with certainty; but I would speculate that it is body style and MB reputation. He has seen me own four Mercedes E Class with pretty good success so I imagine he wants to try them out. He is not a technical person so he cannot offset the repair and maintenance cost like I can so he has to drop down in model to be able to afford the car and maintenance. I would have to move to different make and models if I had not spent the last 30yrs in the vehicle repair business. That was a promise I had to make to my wife prior to buying our first used MB that I could do at least 90% of the repair and maintenance.

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

You have your ducks in a row for sure. Your wife's a smart, informed woman. That impresses me. The rationale of dropping down to the affordability level makes 100% sense in a used car. I am returning to that practice instead of throwing tens of thousands of dollars away on new ones. Looking for the right '08 E320 Bluetec right now. I totally lucked out on my 1st MB an 8 yr. old used '83 300SD that I travelled 1/4 of the country in for 8 years. In Baton Rouge every 6 weeks to 8 weeks for years.

Why would you need a G suv in Baton Rouge? It's flat, and except every 10 years, it doesn't ice over in BR?

I have absolutely no good reason to have one other than I just like the body style a lot. If I have to reationalize it; I am planning to get another fishing boat one day and will need to pull it...hows that. Yes, I can buy a perfectly good Chevy crew cab and accomplish that task but the G has so much more character. And with some of the crappy boat launches through out coastal Louisiana the AWD would come in handy. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat and watched a regular pick up smoke the tires while sliding down the ramp trying to pull a 23+ foot center console out of the water. its actually fairly entertaining

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles