Looking at buying a 2000 C230k Sport
07-27-2004, 02:57 PM
#2
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2000, C230 kompressor sport,
I like mine
I bought mine Starmarked from the dealer with 32,000 miles on it. I like it because I think the w202 body style has more steel and is more solid than the newer body cars...it has a more german feel....The car has good excelleration for a 4 cylinder and saves gas. I had to bring it back two times for minor problems but it was still under warranty. Overall, I think it's a well designed vehicle for the money. I paid $18,500 for mine and it's the sport addition with the carbon fiber trim. 
07-27-2004, 08:54 PM
#5
Buy one with a build date ofter 06/98 (pretty assured with a 2000MY, but I have heard of a few 2000's with quite early dates...) as you get the updated 722.6 transmission.
Look for...
Good service history. Some FSS cars have HORRID oil change histories. Look for one with frequent oil/filter changes.
Other than that, a good used car check is all that is really required. The 2000 W202's are very well sorted out cars, and have no major troubles. Verify mileage, check for collision damage, and the other usual stuff and you're off to the races.
Look for...
Good service history. Some FSS cars have HORRID oil change histories. Look for one with frequent oil/filter changes.
Other than that, a good used car check is all that is really required. The 2000 W202's are very well sorted out cars, and have no major troubles. Verify mileage, check for collision damage, and the other usual stuff and you're off to the races.
07-29-2004, 05:45 PM
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C280
Originally Posted by blackmercedes
Buy one with a build date ofter 06/98 (pretty assured with a 2000MY, but I have heard of a few 2000's with quite early dates...) as you get the updated 722.6 transmission.
Look for...
Good service history. Some FSS cars have HORRID oil change histories. Look for one with frequent oil/filter changes.
Other than that, a good used car check is all that is really required. The 2000 W202's are very well sorted out cars, and have no major troubles. Verify mileage, check for collision damage, and the other usual stuff and you're off to the races.
Look for...
Good service history. Some FSS cars have HORRID oil change histories. Look for one with frequent oil/filter changes.
Other than that, a good used car check is all that is really required. The 2000 W202's are very well sorted out cars, and have no major troubles. Verify mileage, check for collision damage, and the other usual stuff and you're off to the races.
What's updated with the transmission?
07-29-2004, 06:08 PM
#7
The 722.6 was updated as of 06/98 build dates. That is how you tell. All production past that point has updated internal components (significant for V-8 models) and different software.
Many earlier cars are updated as well, if the car had a transmission replacement. My own C230 is a 10/97 build, but had the tranny and ETC updated as at 09/03.
BTW, all 2000MY MB's have the "touch shift" 722.6, which is the most reliable of the 722.6's.
Many earlier cars are updated as well, if the car had a transmission replacement. My own C230 is a 10/97 build, but had the tranny and ETC updated as at 09/03.
BTW, all 2000MY MB's have the "touch shift" 722.6, which is the most reliable of the 722.6's.
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07-29-2004, 07:28 PM
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C280
Originally Posted by blackmercedes
The 722.6 was updated as of 06/98 build dates. That is how you tell. All production past that point has updated internal components (significant for V-8 models) and different software.
Many earlier cars are updated as well, if the car had a transmission replacement. My own C230 is a 10/97 build, but had the tranny and ETC updated as at 09/03.
BTW, all 2000MY MB's have the "touch shift" 722.6, which is the most reliable of the 722.6's.
Many earlier cars are updated as well, if the car had a transmission replacement. My own C230 is a 10/97 build, but had the tranny and ETC updated as at 09/03.
BTW, all 2000MY MB's have the "touch shift" 722.6, which is the most reliable of the 722.6's.
My build date is before that I believe. Did your tranny fail and you got a new one or did you just have some parts replaced?
I've already had some tranny issues. My Control Unit and Vavle Gear have been replaced. Would that put me in the clear, I'd like to keep this car a few more years, but I've read a bunch of transmission horror stories...
07-29-2004, 10:00 PM
#9
The major problem is the valve body and the ETC (Electronic Tranmission Controller). The ETC is party responsible for burning up the original versions of the 722.6, and if you replace the tranny and not the ETC, it usually lasts 6 months or so, and then you're done again.
MB Canada has taken the approach that cars under warranty will not have transmission repairs performed. My car needed a pressure control spring, which is a $3 part! Since my car was under warranty, they replaced the entire unit, including converter and ETC. Who was I to argue? My car had 148K on it and I got a whole new tranny.
Now, earlier 722.6's can last for 300K or more without updates. Who knows why some are bullet-proof and others are not? No one. I have seen 722.6's in some 97's and 98's go huge distances and others fail right out of the gate.
With a new valve body, new magnet in the pan (absent in 97-98's) and valve-caps (installed with new valve body...) and new ETC (holds all the software) the "old" 722.6 is very close to the new 722.6. There are some other internal differences, but I'm not sure what they are. In the V-8 722.6 versions, there were some major changes in making the trans stronger, but these mods are not (and not needed) in I-4, I-6, and V-6 versions. This is why C43 722.6's are quite failure prone.
Once sorted out, the 722.6 seems to be bullet-proof. It makes me P'O'ed that MB, now that the five speed is FINALLY a great tranny, replacing with a new seven speed design. GOOD GRIEF! Here we go again. Another three years of broken cars? Probably.
MB Canada has taken the approach that cars under warranty will not have transmission repairs performed. My car needed a pressure control spring, which is a $3 part! Since my car was under warranty, they replaced the entire unit, including converter and ETC. Who was I to argue? My car had 148K on it and I got a whole new tranny.
Now, earlier 722.6's can last for 300K or more without updates. Who knows why some are bullet-proof and others are not? No one. I have seen 722.6's in some 97's and 98's go huge distances and others fail right out of the gate.
With a new valve body, new magnet in the pan (absent in 97-98's) and valve-caps (installed with new valve body...) and new ETC (holds all the software) the "old" 722.6 is very close to the new 722.6. There are some other internal differences, but I'm not sure what they are. In the V-8 722.6 versions, there were some major changes in making the trans stronger, but these mods are not (and not needed) in I-4, I-6, and V-6 versions. This is why C43 722.6's are quite failure prone.
Once sorted out, the 722.6 seems to be bullet-proof. It makes me P'O'ed that MB, now that the five speed is FINALLY a great tranny, replacing with a new seven speed design. GOOD GRIEF! Here we go again. Another three years of broken cars? Probably.
