C class C220 CDi

[iiyama]

Thinking about getting one for the Mrs. She does a lot of short distance trips though so whats a realistic MPG. Car would need to be an auto but I guess it wouldn't be a Merc if it had a manual box!

Budget, (circa £5k-£6k), would dictate a higher mileage car, any issues to look for?

[mad4amanda]

I have a 2004 w203 estate excellent family barge around town about 30 mpg but 47 on a run .
To look for cracked springs ( done all 4 of mine )
Thermostat Improves mpg too( should run at 80-90 on the guage in the digital display when warm.
budget £200 for a gearbox oil and filter change including draining the torque convertor. Makes a huge difference at higher miles.
Check if it has a valeo radiator on it before 2004 as they leak water into the gearbox oil cooler trashing the gearbox.
rear wiper motor (check it works) as they rust through.
rust on rear tailgate.
check handbrake fully disengages (easy fix)
Look for the glow plug light coming on after starting as this means it needs some glowplugs cheap but the hamfisted can snap them off in the head causing major grief. Check no one has done this if the light comes on .
Mine has now done 122K and has been very good , paid £3k a year ago at 100k Avantgarde spec with full heated leather etc

[iiyama]

Thanks for the info. only just started looking and would have to move on the existing motor. Found this one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013... but first things first, find one local that she can have a drive in. After all, she may not like it!

[mad4amanda]

looks lovely and being later wont have many of the issues I refer to above.

[iiyama]

Excellent info, thanks muchly!

[DennisTheMenace]

Check for Diesel Particulate Filter also, They don't like short trips. Code 474 on the build sheet. Easiest way to tell is a sensor attached to the rear (nearest the bulkhead) of the air filter housing.

[iiyama]

Check for one or check the one that's fitted?

When you say they don't like short trips, does this mean the engine/transmission or just the DPF?

[eldar]

iiyama said:

Check for one or check the one that's fitted?

When you say they don't like short trips, does this mean the engine/transmission or just the DPF?

Just the DPF. If she does a 20 mile run every couple of weeks, it shouldn't be a problem. If an earlier car (pre 2008)it would have been an option, so fairly unlikely.

[iiyama]

Longer runs at the weekend or every couple of weeks won't be a problem.

To be honest I'm looking for alternatives to the three door RAV4 she has at the moment. 20mpg is a bit of a pi$$ take from a two litre petrol auto! I've managed 36mpg but that was on a one hundred mile round trip and driving like I had an egg between my foot and the accelerator pedal!