C220 CDI BlueEfficiency Advice please

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'm seriously considering a C220 as my daily driver as I fancy something bigger, more comfortable and with a bit more luxury than my current Mini Cooper. I've had a test drive of a 60 plate and I like the way it drives and feels.

Is there anything I should be aware of with these? Any known problems? Anything I should make sure I ask before buying?

Am I right to be going for the 220? The 250 I'd guess would be a bit quicker but probably a bit more expensive on insurance and the 220 felt perfectly quick enough. I ruled out the 200 and especially 180 as being slower and less economical. Have I got that about right?

And tips & advice would be much appreciated.

[DiscoSINGH]

Good choice - I have a 57 plate C220CDI Sport, mines the pre blue-efficiency model.

There were a few C200/220/250's with problematic injectors when these cars first came onto the market - hopefully the car you are looking at has got the revised injectors. A visit to an MB dealer with the reg/VIN should confirm.

The C200/220/250 all use the same basic 2.1 diesel engine - the difference is the bhp. From memory the 200 pushes out 136bhp, 220 pushes out 170bhp and the 250 pushes out 204 bph.

Worthwhile finding a car with some decent options fitted, such as full leather, COMAND, parktronic etc.

Owned mine for 3 years, only costs to date have been servicing and consumables. Standard MB wheels nuts rust - blame hand carwashes for that!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Thanks for the reply.

I test drove a nice one on Saturday. 60 plate C220 CDI with black leather, sat nav, parktronic etc. Very nice. I was impressed by how quiet it was and how well it drove. Should have just bought it there and then as when I called back on Sunday it had gone already. It had only been at the dealer (Imperial Cars) for a day!

I have plenty of time to find another one though and pretty much the same spec as that one would be nice.

I also tried an Audi TT TDI on Sunday, just to please the Mrs. Didn't actually drive it but did sit in it and start the engine. It sounded like a bus with very noisy diesel clatter. I wasn't much impressed by the interior either. The dash all looks nice and the seat are grippy but the A pillars and roof line are very thick and low and made visibility pretty rubbish. I've pretty much ruled one of those off my list now

[davethebunny]

go for the facelift version if possible. 11 plate and up

[MarsellusWallace]

I've driven various c220's and they go quite well but over the last couple of weeks I've had the use of a c250 and there is quite a performance difference.Ive actually found it more economical too-an average of just under 55mpg over the circa 1000 miles I've driven it.The c250 is a lot rarer but worth seeking out if you can.

[MarsellusWallace]

Just another thing I have found-although the elegance model does not look as good as the sport,it rides nicer and the seats are more comfortable if you are a bit on the porky side(like me!)-they are normally a bit cheaper than the sport too.

[eldar]

I've got a 250. Drive both before I bought, and the 250 is noticeably faster than the 220. The auto box is excellent, foolproof, really. There was an injector recall for cars up to 2011, but that was sorted and shouldn't be an issue now, the injectors went tits up fairly quickly, so just all about all cars should be covered.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I think it was an Elegance model that I drove and it felt very comfortable. Not a sporty drive but much better than I expected with no real roll at normal speeds.

My budget allows up to around £12k so that looks like around 2010 with around 80k miles. I don't think miles is a problem with any of them and I'll be doing around 10k miles pa.

I've already decided it'll be either C220 or C250 and not fussed if it's auto or manual. It's the interior spec I'm more interested in. What I'd like is full leather (heated if possible), sat-nav, parktronic. Is there anything else I should be looking for? Sun-roof would be nice but is it something that should be on my tick-list?

[MarsellusWallace]

Real leather interior is rare on these-most are pleather.

Sunroof or pan roof likewise.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I've seen that on a few adverts. What is pleather? It certainly feels like leather so it must be a fair bit better than the old days of PVC seats!

[MarsellusWallace]

Pleather- 'plastic' leather.

Many people try to pass it off as genuine leather because either they don't know the difference or they hope you won't.