Hello all. To say first, this is an awsome place and most of you have freaking sweet rides

I currently own 2001 VW Jetta GLS 2.SLOW with luxury package and I am looking to get a C class MB.
My dad has 2002 ML 320 (Canadian Spec) and all I can say is WOW. Level of luxury, ride, looks, status symbol, etc are just amazing.

I've been looking around and came to conclusion that I wanna get 2002/2003 C230 Kompressor or C240 V6

I have couple questions:
1. How is reliability for 2002 models (both C230K and C240)

2. How is reliability for 2003 models (both C230K and C240) - is it better than 2002?

3. My dad had no problems with his ML and he ownded it for almost a year now. Any troubles with C class that pretty much everybody experiences?

4. Does 2002 C230K have 2.3L Supercharged (Kompressor) engine while 2003 1.8L Supercharged?

5. Do 2002 and 2003 C240 have 2.6L V6?

6. From reading some posts people seem to prefer Kompressor engines. Am I right? If so, which is one is better when it comes to performance/modding/reliability (2.3L or 1.8l)?

I hope I am not asking too many questions. I just wanna have my perfect MB :P

 

If you think your Jetta is slow, avoid the C240.

Regarding your questions:

1)c230 GOOD MOSTLY. c240????

2)03 C230's had a different engine. Pano roof was much improved.

3)ML's are clunkers. I wouldn't expect anything near the problem level of the ML. However, Some early cars had BAS/ESP problems. Some early six speeds shift a little hard. Stabilizer links, parking brake, pano roof, and steering wheel button cracking were common problems.

4)Yes.

5)Yes.

6)The Kompressor engines are more powerful than the NA small six. However, both boosted motors are less smooth than the 6. The 2.3L M111 motor, is the most desirable, although the least civilized of the bunch. Its very reliable, very torquey, gets great gas mileage and is easy to mod. Simply changing a pulley makes it considerably more powerful than the 3.2L Six in the 320.

The 1.8 Superchared engine is hard to mod, but is nearly as smooth as the six. It still makes the horrid sounding startup sounds like the 2.3L, but is much smoother once warmed up. Mileage is better, but torque is down considerably. Despite showing only a 3HP difference against the 2.3L, its much less powerful in actual use.

The 2.6L V6 is to be avoided unless you absolutely have to have a six. Its truly a dog off the line, and even when mated to a manual its not even mildly quick. Smoother than the other engines, its also much thirstier.

Also....only buy a car that has the c7 package.

 

thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it
so I think I should go with 2002 model due to 2.3K.
and one more question: What is C7 package?

 

I had a 2002 C240 (Classic model) for 3.5 years. It was a very good car. Very solid, very smooth, and impressively quiet at highway speeds. The 2.6L V6 actually is a rev happy, modestly powered motor with 168HP. Unlike the supercharged 2.3L or 1.8L which have a lot of low end torque, the maximum torque (177 lb-ft) occurs at much higher engine speeds (>4000rpm). As such, it is quite slow when accelerating from a standing stop. 0-60 times are high 8's with the 6 speed manual and over 9 seconds with the 5 speed automatic.

However, once the car is rolling along, it has very good passing power, especially at highway speeds. Above 3000rpm, the C240 can accelerate pretty quickly (dare I say on par with the C230K with the supercharged 1.8L I4).

The C240 with the 2.6L V6 is a smooth and quiet car. Excellent cruiser on the highway. In my opinion, it feels more refined than either of the supercharged engines. If you're looking for a drag race vehicle, don't get it because you will lose to many, many cheaper cars on the street.

In my 3.5 years of ownership, there were no major breakdowns. There were some electrical glitches (ESP/BAS light came on, power windows not working properly, radio malfunction). Overall, I was very happy with the car. It was my first benz, as I was driving a 1994 VW Golf GTi before with the old 2.0L 8 valve I4.

As a side note, I actually got the Powerchip and K&N filters for my C240 during the last year of ownership. It made a very noticeable difference in acceleration, subjectively (no objective numbers).

Also, there is no C7 package in Canada. In Canada, the available models and options packages are very different. If you're looking for a 2002-2003 C-class sedan, there are the "Classic", "Elegance", and "Sport" models. All have different trims and exterior/interior cosmetic differences.

 

I consistently get C240s to drive as my loaner car, and I msut say I really like the N/A V6 engine over the Kompressor I-4.

The car does have some good passing power on these LA Fwys, and is a comfortable cruiser.

Go with the C240!

 

Thanks for clarifications, PC Valkyrie
I test drove 2003 C230K Sport with auto and I was very satisfied with the the whole car. Pickup was awsome. I bet with 6 speed, it's alot better.

I am glad to hear that they are pretty reliable cars. I can't wait to get one of them. I was also looking at BMW 325i but I don't like the idea of 6 speed not available (at least on 02/03 models)
Also closest BMW dealer is 450 km while we have MB right here in town.

And yes, my Jetta has 2.0 8V I4. It's a really reliable engine but it's slow as a dog. Arghhhh. I hate when minivans beat me

 

great info guys . I am lookin to purchase my first MB and I am lookin at an '02 c230 auto.You have been very helpful and informative .
thank you

 

2002 C240 comes with 2.4l engine
and
2003 c240 comes with 2.6l engine

correct me if im wrong!

Mike

 

Youre wrong.

Its the same 2.6L sleepy dog every year.

 

In North America, you're wrong, as all C240's (regardless of year) had a 2.6L V6. However, I believe there was an older 2.4 L V6 in Europe, which did make it into the old W202 C240.

 

I am not sure if I am reading posts correctly but it seems that peeps are saying that newer models have alot better realiability/lot of problems fixed.

1. Is there a big difference between 2002 and 2003 models?

2. What are major differences between "Classic", "Elegance", and "Sport" trimes?
I would assume that Elegance is luxury version with tons of little things and that Sport has sport suspension, nicer rims with wider tires, 6 speed. But then again, 2003 C230K I test drove was Sport version but with Auto

 

Yes, the newer W203 models are likely to be more reliable because Mercedes learned what the glitches were from the 1st 2 years of production (2001-2002 for North America). Likely, the 2004 and 2005 models are more reliable because of that (no data, just an educated guess). Hard to know if 2002 models are more reliable than the 1st year 2001 models. My 2002 C240 didn't have major problems, but that's just me.

From 2001-2004, the "Classic" trim is the cheapest base model. Black unpainted door handles, plastic wheel covers over steel rims, no wood on interior door panels, analog climate control, cloth seats, and a vinyl/plastic steering wheel. (Of course you could order and pay extra for leather seating inserts or the digital climate control).

The "Elegance" model is basically equivalent to the USA's "luxury sedan". Better looking wood, including the door panels, standard 16" alloy rims, standard digital climate control, painted door handles, and standard leather seating inserts.

The 2001-2003 "Sport" models had lowered sport suspension, 5 spoke 16" alloy rims, aluminum trim on the dash and door panels, standard leather seating inserts, and blue tint. That's all I can remember, as it was a while ago when I was shopping around.

With regards to 2002 vs 2003: In 2002, there was no C230 sedan in Canada (or the USA). The only choices were the C240 and C320. In 2003, they introduced the new supercharged 1.8L I4 into the C230 sedan.

 

my friend's 02 C240 has been more reliable than my other friend's 03 C230k. But the 230's just more fun to drive.

 

one more time, thanks a bunch
I think I am gonna go with 2003 C230K, Sport with 6 speed.

I guess this explains why search in Autotrader or MB.ca site for 2001/2002 C230 always led to coupe versions. It made me think that 01/02 C230 sedans were really rare, and I would never even imagine that they didn't even exist.

edit: I just did search for 2003 C230K on mb.ca. Only two of them came up. Automatic that I test drove here in my town and 6 speed in Quebec (which would be 7 hr drive from New Brunswick). All others ones were C240's.

Are they this rare in USA?

 

2003 C230K Classic sedans should not be too rare. However, a C230K SPORT sedan AND with a 6 speed manual transmission are exceedingly rare. Very few people buy a Mercedes with a 6 speed manual transmission.

 

2003 C230K Sport that I test drove had no sunroof. Are sunroofs available on Sport trim?

 

Sunroof was not (and still is not) a standard feature on the C-class sedans (exception is the C32/C55). It's an option that the owner could have paid for, but elected not to.

 

what filters/powerchip did you get?