mrjazz

I have a chance to buy a 1995 C280, or is that 280C? It's in excellent condition with leather upholstery. It has 67,500. The price is $15,500.

Please let me know how you like this car. Has it been a pleasant experience? Any major problems. My readings tell me that people have problems with head gaskets and thermostats. Any other known problems with this car? Is that a good price? I'm really just now getting a little education on the Mercedes since this car came available. I 'm not that educated on the different models. C-class, 300, 500, etc. I want it to have that classic Mercedes look. I'm not that crazy about the smaller ones.
Were those 190s?

I can afford between 15-20 thousand. Any recommendations on other models would be appreciated. How 'bout an older 300 or 500 series? What's the highest mileage car I should consider buying?

Your help is appreciated.

Cheers
mrjazz

MBKid

I have a 95 C280 and they are great cars however this is my advice: Look for a 97 C280 or a 99+ C230. Both should be within your price range if you really look. A little under $16K for a 95 is not a great deal, but if it has been well kept then I say go for it. The 97's however have a 5 speed instead of the 4 speed auto in 95 and 96.

J__

im a lil hesitant now on the reliability of mercedes c-class. they dont seem to be very reliable, and costs a **** load to fix if any problems arise. if u only have 20g's take into consideration of the cost of ur insurance, and plus the cost of future trips to the shop. Since mercedes wont even let u purchase extended warranty on 97 or older models, all the problems u'll have to dig outta ur own pockets, i bought a 96 c220 and its been 10 days and noises have begun in the engine compartment, im assuming its sumthing with the brakes or suspension or steering columns, but i have to get it checked next week.. remember buying a car is not expensive but maintaining it is!

bruce_hyman

very unhappy with mechanical reliability.
2 head gaskets in 52k miles. rear axle bearings. all 4 disks at 25k. instrument panel. feuel senders. driver seat motor. fan clutch. then there are the minor items too numerous to count.

David C Klasse

I have a 95 C280 with 126k miles on it... and I drive the SH*T out of it! I have had nothing more than an occasionally minor repair, usually having long outlived it's expected use. Head gasket was replaced once under warranty.

In my experience, I've had nothing but a great experience.

babtahi

i just bought a 96 C280 and took it to the head mechanic at Autohaus in Dallas. he is a friend of the family and assured me that the car was going to last me a long time... he did a very detailed check up before i bought it... i suggest before you buy yours you get it checked out at a dealership it may cost you $150 but it will be well worth it... the life of these cars depends on how well the previous owners maintained them.... my 2 cents

J__

why does the head gasket need to be replaced? what r sum symtoms that will show if the head gasket is busted???

bruce_hyman

i found oil on the garage floor. by the time you see that, its been leaking for a while.
if you are very diligent about things, and check stuff more regularly than i did, you might first see traces of oil in the coolant, or froth on the oil filler cap.

hubert

I have a 1997 C280 sport with riegier body kit 18" wheels for sale. m asking $20000 for it has every option like leather bose sound cd changer sun roof power seats. The wheels are chrome 3 piece and they 2 weeks old paid $3500 for them.

M3AMG43

I Will Sell You My 2001 C320 With 36000 Miles On It For 19000, It Has A Salvage Title Though.

MichaelB43

Sounds high. I paid $16,800 for a '99 C280 Sport with 66K miles. If you can afford between 15 - 20K, I would look elsewhere, because the Benz will more than likely need repairs which will quickly push you over that. Things add up quick on these cars. If you don't mind the repairs that will likely be needed, I'd try looking at other deals on eBay or Autotrader.com to get a gauge on price. For example, Autotrader had a '95 with 49K miles for around $13K. If the potential repairs scare you, go with a used Toyota or Honda. You can get a used Accord with low miles for that price, and the cost of ownership will be much easier to take. Another idea is to go with a used Passat. They are a fun to drive and roomy European sedan that would fit the budget. Also, if you like modifying your cars, there is a huge aftermarket for the Passat and Audi 1.8T's. My other car is a Passat 2.8 with a 5-speed manual. It's a phenomenal car and has been completely trouble free for 60K miles.