m3gumby

Hey Guys,

I just sold my vehicle and I'm looking for a new whip. I've been looking pretty intensely for a BMW 325 or 330 Coupe but its taken very very long. I stumbled upon this type of Mercedes at a stop light today and liked the look of it. I checked the prices and it was in my range. I'm going to want to modify this vehicle and I've got a few questions.

1. Can you do any mods that push the HP over 200?
2. Is this car actually fast or should I just invest in a V6?
3. Are there many mods out for this car?
4. Is it reliable and pretty easy to maintain?
5. Would yall rather have a V6?
6. Any other tips you'd like to offer me.

I am brand new to Mercedes. I've been in the offroad world for 5 years and I'm looking for a nice fuel efficient DD

HellsAngel

u said eveythn exept the car u liked...
C230 kompressor or C240 or C320... coupe or sedan ?

m3gumby

230k sedan

Glyn M Ruck

These are not high performance vehicles but their fuel economy is excellent. If you want a high performance model you should buy an AMG.

If you want reasonable performance you should buy a V6 of 3 litres or above but you will give up some fuel economy. Any meaningful modification of the 4 cylinder models will increase their fuel consumption.

The V6 models have greater reliability in the long term & will do a higher mileage without rebuild than the 4s all things remaining equal. And I mean very high mileage.

If you don't intend keeping the car for a long while then these durability issues won't matter to you. The 4 cyl cars will still go a long way but modified M271 engines I have some questions about. This engine is already working hard for an 1800cc.

Glyn M Ruck

BTW - Welcome to the forum - The Benz models are just as durable, probably more durable than the BMW models you are looking at & cost/ease of maintenance similar.

BMWs in my experience do not make old bones as well as Mercs. Old BMWs can be a real bucket of bolts.

HellsAngel

id take the c230k over the 325
and the 330 over the c320 unless the c320 is a coupe...

phate

To give you an idea, the 230K with 4 cylinder is a mid-high 15 second car (1/4 mile) from the factory. I didn't buy mine to race it straight line. They do handle great, though. I have gotten as high as 38mpg on a trip but I usually averaged 35-36 highway and around 25-28 city.

If you want the ability to mod then get the BMW. There are tons of parts out there for those cars and I wouldn't mine having one myself.

Glyn M Ruck

BMW's inline 6 is a gem, (their 4 cyl models suck) - but on the new twin turbo models leave well alone. Mod them & you are in for a very short life engine.

xMaximus

Try taking a looking at a c320 it has 26 more HP than the c230k. Whats your price range?

HellsAngel

+1

nlpamg

if you can, get a C350.

BlackLiquorish8

just find a good used C32 and you'll have fun for awhile altho i dk how fuel efficient it'll be

xMaximus

These days you could find a decent 2003 C32 AMG for around $25000 with decent miles. Or you could spend the same amount on 2004-2006 C230k or C320, if your lucky a C350. If your going for looks with moderate power go for the C230K. If your more into power go for the C32. Do some research. GL finding the right benz

mkaresh

C350 probably too expensive?

Mercedes has steadily improved the reliability of these cars in recent years, so if that's a concern try to get as new a car as possible. Of course, that means the price is higher.

I'd like to provide more precise info, but not enough C203 owners involved yet in TrueDelta's Vehicle Reliability Survey. Getting there.

Car reliability research

e1000

W203 C350 FTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mkaresh

Above sig reminds me--with the more recent cars you also get the seven-speed automatic, which helps acceleration.

TemjinX2

yeah i would just get a c32...i've seen them go as low as $16-18k if your in the US.

HellsAngel

ive seen many in the classified section, 1 was sold for 11.5

TemjinX2

must've had crap load of miles for that price.

HellsAngel

around 90 100k i guess... started the thread asking 15/16.... sold at 11.5

TemjinX2

makes sense. the ones i've seen for $16K-18K had around 50-60k. Too bad these cars don't hold there value as well as m3's. I've seen e46 m3's with 90k on them still go for $22k.

HellsAngel

maybe asking for 22K but of course not sold for that much.. espcially these days !!
unless its an extremely clean convertible...
btw ive driven an m3 but not a c32 amg so cant judge ...
maybe c32 < m3 < c55 ? ??

Glyn M Ruck

I think that the C32 is a more balanced car than the C55 - both are great but you are aware of that heavy lump in the nose of a C55

HellsAngel

im aware of nothing
i judged based on 32 and 55