c280 overall impression?
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From: NJ
c280 overall impression?
hey, im new to the forum and i am considering purchasing a 1998 C280. it is mint condition, has 60,000 miles, and the previous owner took great care of the car.
1) what is your general impression of the car?
2) are there any significant known problems (engine, tranny, electrical, etc.)?
3) is the car more of a sporty car or a car designed for comfort?
4) will the car be reliable in the long run?
thanks ahead of time for your help.
1) what is your general impression of the car?
2) are there any significant known problems (engine, tranny, electrical, etc.)?
3) is the car more of a sporty car or a car designed for comfort?
4) will the car be reliable in the long run?
thanks ahead of time for your help.
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2016 BMW Z4 sDrive35i M Sport
1.) General impression of the car is "it's a Mercedes". I mean, Mercedes, regardless of the Chrysler merger and quality issues, is still a well known for their "wow" effect. PLus their designs are timeless.
2.) As far as I know the 98's have only tranny rebuild issues with their electronically controlled transmission, but I'm not an expert on that.
3.)I will say that it handles better than an Accord or Camry, but it's defnitely not a BMW when it comes to handling. These issues can be addressed with a set of sport shocks and performance springs as well as other engine mods. On stock equipment, low end acceleration is a bit lacking, but it will get up and move and it's smooth and sturdy on any road.
4.)It's a pre Daimler-Chrysler model you're looking at, so yeah, the reliability will be good, not great or outstanding like an 87 260 or 300E, but not bad either.
2.) As far as I know the 98's have only tranny rebuild issues with their electronically controlled transmission, but I'm not an expert on that.
3.)I will say that it handles better than an Accord or Camry, but it's defnitely not a BMW when it comes to handling. These issues can be addressed with a set of sport shocks and performance springs as well as other engine mods. On stock equipment, low end acceleration is a bit lacking, but it will get up and move and it's smooth and sturdy on any road.
4.)It's a pre Daimler-Chrysler model you're looking at, so yeah, the reliability will be good, not great or outstanding like an 87 260 or 300E, but not bad either.
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From: Madrid, Spain
1996 C220 (W202) and E320 (w210)
the 280 is a veteran engine. designed and built for the first time near the 60s, it has its age. and there might be common problems with oil consumption and refrigeration. but dont let me put you down. it is a great engine! with its 6 cylinders.... it is quite reliable too.but if your primary concern is reliability and longetivity, i'd recommend the 230K. that is the most reliable engine fitted in the W202 chassis. it has a nifty 180 hp. the post '99 230k cars have the common head gasket problem solved, so you wont need to worry about failures in the head gasket.
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From: Birmingham, Alabama
2008 SLK-280
The only thing in common between the engine of the 1960's and the 1998 model are the 2.8 litres. 1998 was the first year for this V6 engine, not I6. The Daimler Chrysler merger has nothing to do with anything of Mercedes so disregard any statements that say so. Mercedes controls their own quality demands, not Chrysler.
180 HP??? Try 194
180 HP??? Try 194
Last edited by DougandhisC280; Aug 29, 2003 at 12:39 AM.
Member
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From: Madrid, Spain
1996 C220 (W202) and E320 (w210)
Originally posted by DougandhisC280
180 HP??? Try 194 [/B]
180 HP??? Try 194 [/B]
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Originally posted by merclover
the 280 is a veteran engine. designed and built for the first time near the 60s, it has its age.
the 280 is a veteran engine. designed and built for the first time near the 60s, it has its age.
1. Harmonic damper failure.
2. Air Mass Meter failure
The driveline issues include potential 722.6 tranny problems, as these trannies are the earliest of the mass production (1997-) 722.6 units.
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Originally posted by merclover
well for 14 miserable horsepower you get the newest 230k and with a new exhaust which he may want to install sooner or later and a better filter, hes up to 190-195
well for 14 miserable horsepower you get the newest 230k and with a new exhaust which he may want to install sooner or later and a better filter, hes up to 190-195
-s-
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From: Madrid, Spain
1996 C220 (W202) and E320 (w210)
yeah, sorry my fault guys 
i was thinking about the inline 6, i didnt know a v6 came out... sorry.
but at least agree with me guys that the inline 6 engine HAS its age!! i read somewhere that the 230 k engine was the most reliable engine. i think i read it in benzworld.org.........
anyways...ricerocketsforlife....ur gonna buy a DAMN good car!!! i am a complete mercedes nut! and i really dont mind fixing any problems the car may have...the driving experience and the fact of owning one is just priceless!!!
good luck
i was thinking about the inline 6, i didnt know a v6 came out... sorry. but at least agree with me guys that the inline 6 engine HAS its age!! i read somewhere that the 230 k engine was the most reliable engine. i think i read it in benzworld.org.........
anyways...ricerocketsforlife....ur gonna buy a DAMN good car!!! i am a complete mercedes nut! and i really dont mind fixing any problems the car may have...the driving experience and the fact of owning one is just priceless!!!
good luck
Thread Starter
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From: NJ
my cousin had a 97 C280 sport when it was still new. he was a hard, aggressive driver and had 2 main problems: funny idle and broken moonroof. it was a nice car though; C36 AMG kit, K&N filter, those 3 spoke 17" Brabus wheels, some type of power injector (?? or something), bilstein shocks, H&R springs, renntech exhuast
what kind of transmission problems are you guys talking about? ones that are really bad (i.e. ones that require you to replace the tranny)?
what kind of transmission problems are you guys talking about? ones that are really bad (i.e. ones that require you to replace the tranny)?
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2016 BMW Z4 sDrive35i M Sport
Transmission rebuild is what I'm talking about, which is a severe problem, but not too commonplace after 98. At least that's the impression I get from this board. I hear the 97's have it mainly because it was the first year for the electronic five speed.
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The M111 is a cousin of the M104 in it's twin cam design and other shared elements. However, the M111 has some advantages that (partially, at least) outweigh it's hp deficit.
1. Easy to work on. Changed the poly-v-belt on a 2.3L M111? Two minutes. Look at all the engine accessories. Nice.
2. Durable. Headgaskets are rare instead of common-place. Talking to techs, they rank the M111 and M119 as two of the toughest MB engines ever made. I've seen M111's with 300K on them and they're tight and strong.
However, the M111 in supercharged from has the wild-card of the M62 Eaton unit, but the engine itself is bullet-proof.
As to the trannies, the 1997 and 1998 model years are suspect. The earliest 722.6 boxes have some flaws and later boxes are better.
That said, there are some remedies for 722.6 problems:
1.Harsh shifts, especially 1-2 and 3-2 are usually cured with a new (updated) ETC.
2. Slipping off the line can often be cured with a new pressure control spring. $3.00 part.
My own tranny is suffering both of these problems, and instead of fixing it under my extended warranty, MB is opting to replace the entire unit, torque converter and ETC. $$$$.
Over time the 722.6 problems will go away as the boxes are replaced with updated units, parts, or software. It's just not funny being the test pilots.
1. Easy to work on. Changed the poly-v-belt on a 2.3L M111? Two minutes. Look at all the engine accessories. Nice.
2. Durable. Headgaskets are rare instead of common-place. Talking to techs, they rank the M111 and M119 as two of the toughest MB engines ever made. I've seen M111's with 300K on them and they're tight and strong.
However, the M111 in supercharged from has the wild-card of the M62 Eaton unit, but the engine itself is bullet-proof.
As to the trannies, the 1997 and 1998 model years are suspect. The earliest 722.6 boxes have some flaws and later boxes are better.
That said, there are some remedies for 722.6 problems:
1.Harsh shifts, especially 1-2 and 3-2 are usually cured with a new (updated) ETC.
2. Slipping off the line can often be cured with a new pressure control spring. $3.00 part.
My own tranny is suffering both of these problems, and instead of fixing it under my extended warranty, MB is opting to replace the entire unit, torque converter and ETC. $$$$.
Over time the 722.6 problems will go away as the boxes are replaced with updated units, parts, or software. It's just not funny being the test pilots.
