Anyone got a C class Merc 220 Diesel

[rswift]

After spending hours shortlisting the next shopping car, the Mrs quite fancies a Mercedes C Class diesel, the slightly newer shape 2001 on. We will be looking in the high mileage/cheap end of the market. Just wondered if anyone has experience of what they are like 150k onwards. Anyone running one ?

[IceBoy]

We have a 2006 auto avantgarde-estate and they are great for wafting in and will not be great in traffic light grand prix.

Having said that on the motorway they really come into their own.

Fairly decent build quality, some nice options and touches.

I would definately recommend the auto over the manual.

The negative is that mpg is not great.

Our car has average 39 over the last 6000 miles of mixed driving.

On a long motorway cruise at 70 you will get approx 42-45mpg.

Good cars, I like them.

IceBoy

[leeb]

maybe not quite what you are looking for, but i have a 2008 C220 sport. it has nearly 80000 miles on in just under 3 years, and has never failed me yet.

Mercedes have been fantastic any time i have been in there for service etc. As you would expect, but it is always refreshing to see.

Car wise, i would have another one tomorrow, only issue, if you can call it that, is that the back seats dont go down, and space inside isnt that great. Fine for kids in the back, but adults is a struggle. (well not for me, im driving the thing)

dont know what they are like at proper high miles, and wont find out, as im replacing mine next month.

[turbopug]

I had one for a while. The only bother I ever had with it was a copper washer at the bottom of one of the injectors.

[Yachtworker]

I ran a W202 model 220CDI on a W plate for many years, I got it with 150k on the clock and put about 40k on it with very little bother, only sold it as I moved overseas, otherwise I would have kept it for as long as possible. Great car really and I prefered the square lights.

[Jem0911]

I have a new one 2011MY
Highly rate it.
Don't know about the older units.
Has changed my opinion massively.

[Mr serge]

I had a 2005 c220 diesel with 95k miles on it, it drives very well and will give you 45-50 mpg on a motorway, i averaged 37 mpg around town over 1300 miles, the downside is if anything goes wrong it very expensive to fix, mine was in the garage 3 times in the last year i had it the first thing was the ball joints/bushes £350, secondly the heating element went which made the car keep losing all electrics that cost over £650 and that was with me getting a cheap part not from mercs, also my turbo was working intermitently the garage told me to get rid of it as the bil would be over £1000 to fix.
as long as you don't pick up a pig you will be ok though. try and get the facelift model if your heart is set on one, 2004 onwards

[nobrakes]

We've a'56 plate 180 Komp auto - gets just over 40mpg @ 80-85. You'd get a newer one for the same money as a 220cdi , and it should be cheaper to service. Probably not as good residuals though.

[sawman]

I had a 2001 c class estate - it was a complete lemon, I think the early noughties were a bad spell in merc quality. either buy older or newer!

[911Ads]

I have a 2002 c220 (w203)...it's got 153,000 miles on it and still returns an average of about 45mpg (calculated) - no major issues apart from the rust.

If you can...try and buy a 2005 onwards as apparently they sorted out the rust issues on the facelift w203.

[Dog Star]

Same as 911 Ads - the OH has a 2002 C220 CDi Sportcoupe, panoramic glass roof and evo pack (I think this is wheels, zorstage and lowered suspension?). 150K and gives an overall 40mpg (mixed use, will give high 50s on a long run).

It is a really nice car, and the interior is in amazing condition given the mileage - it looks new. Cheap as chips to keep in tip-top shape with GSF.

However - RUST I cannot stress this enough - utter disgrace. We're biting the bullet this month and replacing both front wings (and potentially the bonnet) as well as having rust spots repaired on the drivers door and both rear arches. By the time this has been done I suspect the car will be just as well having a full respray.

It's a shame as it's otherwise a really nice car.

[daemon]

Dog Star said:

However - RUST I cannot stress this enough - utter disgrace. We're biting the bullet this month and replacing both front wings (and potentially the bonnet) as well as having rust spots repaired on the drivers door and both rear arches. By the time this has been done I suspect the car will be just as well having a full respray.

+1

I had a 2003 Merc C220CDI saloon at the start of the year. There wasnt a panel on it that didnt have some sort of rust issue - usually stone chips that had started to 'spider' out.

Its easy to ignore them / not look for them during the heat of the moment when buying a car, but pricey to repair.

Otherwise a great car.

[Helicopter123]

Build quality around that time was pretty poor and that generation performs poorly in crash tests.

Above all else, AVOID THE MANUAL.

[toon10]

My brother ran one a while back althouh it was in 2.6 petrol guise I believe. It was a lovely car, very nice interior, good to drive and the auto box was quite good if you like cruisers. It was mega thirsty and really gutless for a V6 so the diesel would make much more sense (cheaper fuel and more torque for overtaking.) They're not very dynamic but are really good at the practical, comfy cruising thing. I liked it better than his current (and more dynamic) 5 series diesel.

[Deva Link]

rswift said:

.. the Mrs quite fancies a Mercedes C Class diesel,

What kind of journeys does she do?

These cars take a lot of warming up - I've got a facelift (2005 model) C270CDi and in cold weather I reckon it takes 20 miles to get it warmed through.

Also, as ohers have suggested, the MPG comes into its own on long flowing runs - stop/start in a diesel auto murders the MPG.

If you live on a main road then it might be OK, but the other thing to think about is these vehicles are pretty useless in snow & ice unless you fit winter tyres. Some Merc owners run winter tyres year round.