My friend go the same since 4 years,,

really really nice bride, his so satisfied with it, NO doubt..

-;ZAYED;-

 

Currently own a 2000 C280, non-sport. I was turned on to this model by my buddy who's family has gone absolutely ballistic with purchasing these cars over the years. I think they've probably purchased about 6 or 7 over the past 10 years, one for each of their five kids once they got their licenses, one to replace a crashed C280, and one more for personal use for the parents. The reason they keep buying them is that their family friend and Mercedes mechanic vows that this model (C280 specifically, not C230) is the one he sees the least amount of issues with and doesn't come into his shop very often.

The family eventually sold one of their C280s at around 180k miles to a teenage friend who treated it like dog ****, didn't do any maintenance and I don't think ever replaced the oil and it still lasted him til 210k before blowing up. These things are built like tanks and I always see them on Craigslist with 200 or 250k plus miles. Another great thing about them is they've depreciated in value so much that a nice one can still be had for 3-4k used.

I bought my C280 about 2 years ago at 128,000 and have logged 23,000 miles on it since. The only mishap I had was a position crank sensor that would make the car die after driving for a minute or two, was a cheap fix at my local mechanic. The problems with this car are more interior related as opposed to drivetrain. Window motors are known to go out (none of mine have so far knock on wood), the headliner will almost definitely sag which is something you can DIY or get fixed for a few hundred, the cupholder in front is kinda cheesy and mine was broken when I bought it (It just holds one cup instead of two, probably could fix it easily), but nothing really too serious.

I've done a few typical things like brakes, rotors, light bulbs, oil, etc. and nothing that you would avoid on any other car. For the value and the drive, I would definitely recommend buying. I can almost guarantee you'll fall in love with it after giving it a good bath and driving it for a day.

 

 

As far as I can tell, no not really. It's the same engine and transmission although (while I cannot confirm) I think they might've done a slight tinkering to the 2000 model transmission but its the same 722.6 that's found both. It's the goofy "never need to change the fluid" transmission and some people have needed switches over the year because you're not supposed to change the fluid, which is not necessarily the best idea, but for the most part I think it's gotten great reviews.

 

As i know;

2000 always got differ trans. shifter, it should be (tiptronic +/-) shifter while "96-99" came with (1-2-3-4-D) gate shifter,

ECU & TCU most be different as well,,

also 2000 is kinda differ interior wood or even carbon style, and key IR/IF receiver in the doors are way differ than "96-99"..

-;ZAYED;-