I bought a used '96 C280 last summer. My insurance company tells me it's a C280 Sport. When I registered online at the Mercedes web site, they also indicated that it's a C280 Sport, based on the VIN.

My question: Is there a C280 that isn't a Sport, and if there is, what's the difference between a Sport and non-Sport?

 

There are C280's that are not "Sport" models. The sport models include "Sport" badges on the front fenders, 16" Sport wheels, more aggressive looking seats and steering wheel, carbon fiber trim pieces, and white face gauges.

Hope that helps

 

My Sport has 16" wheels vs. 15" and no wood trim inside. That's the most obvious difference, along with "Sport" printed in the body side moulding.

 

also has "sport tuned suspension" but thats not as readily noticable as the other differences in the sport model

 

I believe on 96's, they were still the 15" "monoblock" sport wheels. I've seen quite a few of those. Till they had the "face-lift" on 98 and up (i'm pretty sure it's 98+ from the rear bumper, color-coded side skirts and front bumper), then they put the 16" wheels on.

but aside from that, the seats and steeringwheel should be two-toned color (white down the middle and black trim) and the gauges should be white (tho on the 96 again, I think they were like the AMG style C36 gauges, grey background).

 

More questions regarding the differences between models with and without the sport package...

1. Are the sport packages the same for C230K and C280?

2. What are the differences between sport seats and non-sport seats? Cushion construction differences? Larger bolsters? Pockets on the back?

3. What do the white-faced sport gauges look like at night? What color(s) do they light up?

4. What are the suspension/braking differences between sport and non-sport models? Can anyone say for sure if there is a significant handling difference?

 

1) Yes, sport packages were the same for the C230Ks and C280s. Rims, sport seats (two toned color), white faced gauges.

2) I think the side bolsters may be a little bigger to hold more, but not 100% sure. I know for sure though that it had the two-toned color instead of the same color all around.

3) The white gauges light up the same way as a non-sport would. Amber lighting.

4) Brakes I believe are the same, untouched. The suspension however, the springs are more "sport tuned" or stiffer in that case. I'm sure it has changed the handling a little bit, but it wasn't meant to have the handling of a true sports car. It gives the ride a lil more "sportiness" feeling to it and possibly feel a few more bumps than a stock setup would normally feel.