horrible C280
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horrible C280
ok, so I probably have the worst example of a W202 to ever roll off the mercedes assembly line.... it's a 1994 C280. so far, in the year and half I have owned it, I have replaced: the brakes, water pump, wiring harness, purge overflow valve, front and rear bushings, control arms, o2 sensors, winshield wiper motor, passenger seat (electric motors burned up) alernator, battery, door lock, and just recently, the transmission. Now I have found out it also needs a new head gasket and power steering pump, $1200 to fix them both. It was also recently wrecked in the back, $2500 worth of damage there (duct tape is holding the trunk down, it's a disgrace) I paid $15500 for the car 18 months and 35000 miles ago,(+$10,000 in repairs) in it's current shape, a dealership has offered me $4000 for the car. My question is this: has anyone had a c280 with as many problems as mine? does it's neediness ever end? Should I get rid of this cursed car and get something else, or is there a chance that after I fix it up, it will be a good car..... What else is likely to go wrong if I keep it? Any feedback will really help me make my decision. Thanks.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Maryland
1998 C230
I notice alot of the 94-95 models of W202 (first and second year of when they were made) have alot of early initial problems which never really got resolved until later models.
The most reliable model seems to be the 98 C230, last year of C230 being non super charged. 99-00 C230s only came in the super charged, kompressor, version.
These are quite affordable now, I got mine a year ago with only 50k miles for 16k. You could find it for a bit less. 7k miles later, 1 year, only had my MAS fail (seems to be a common problem throughout all models), and battery replaced (was old).
If you trade out for a 98-00 W202, you wont have that ugly black undercarriage stripe as well as no problems from the early initial release of the W202.
getting your headgasket replaced seems to be common when the car reaches 90-100k miles.
The most reliable model seems to be the 98 C230, last year of C230 being non super charged. 99-00 C230s only came in the super charged, kompressor, version.
These are quite affordable now, I got mine a year ago with only 50k miles for 16k. You could find it for a bit less. 7k miles later, 1 year, only had my MAS fail (seems to be a common problem throughout all models), and battery replaced (was old).
If you trade out for a 98-00 W202, you wont have that ugly black undercarriage stripe as well as no problems from the early initial release of the W202.
getting your headgasket replaced seems to be common when the car reaches 90-100k miles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,119
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From: Maryland
1998 C230
Might want to browse through this previous thread about MB reliability issues...
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...0&pagenumber=1
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...0&pagenumber=1
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 180
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From: Southern California
93 300E
You need to separate the regular "wear" items that you'd be replacing with any car, and the frivolous, unexpected repairs that have drained your wallet.
The regular, expected replacement items would be: the brakes, water pump, front and rear bushings, control arms bushings, o2 sensors, alernator, and battery. All of these items wear out due to mileage or time.
The items you've had to repair that no reasonable owner would ever plan on replacing within reason are: wiring harness, purge overflow valve, winshield wiper motor, passenger seat (electric motors burned up), door lock, and power steering pump.
Head gaskets do wear out on cars, but usually only at very, very high mileage. However, your '94 C280 has the M104 engine, and the head gasket had a poor design up to 1996. The head gasket has been redesigned with steel inserts, and they don't leak. Thus, I will include the head gasket in this case in the "unexpected repair" category.
You didn't state the mileage on the car, but the transmissions usually last well past 200,000 miles on Mercedes cars without trouble. If you read many of the posts on these forums, you'll notice that there aren't many complaints about transmissions. You bought this car used, so the previous owner might not have changed the fluid regularly.
If the insurance company pays for the repairs to the crash damage to the rear of the car, I'd fix the transmission and do the head gasket.
The M104 engine is really bullet proof and will probably last longer than you'll ever want to keep the car.
The regular, expected replacement items would be: the brakes, water pump, front and rear bushings, control arms bushings, o2 sensors, alernator, and battery. All of these items wear out due to mileage or time.
The items you've had to repair that no reasonable owner would ever plan on replacing within reason are: wiring harness, purge overflow valve, winshield wiper motor, passenger seat (electric motors burned up), door lock, and power steering pump.
Head gaskets do wear out on cars, but usually only at very, very high mileage. However, your '94 C280 has the M104 engine, and the head gasket had a poor design up to 1996. The head gasket has been redesigned with steel inserts, and they don't leak. Thus, I will include the head gasket in this case in the "unexpected repair" category.
You didn't state the mileage on the car, but the transmissions usually last well past 200,000 miles on Mercedes cars without trouble. If you read many of the posts on these forums, you'll notice that there aren't many complaints about transmissions. You bought this car used, so the previous owner might not have changed the fluid regularly.
If the insurance company pays for the repairs to the crash damage to the rear of the car, I'd fix the transmission and do the head gasket.
The M104 engine is really bullet proof and will probably last longer than you'll ever want to keep the car.
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