Can your W203 do this?
I don't get 30s regularly, even in my 05. My driving just doesn't lend itself to that kind of MPG.
Speed makes a big difference too... On a recent 180+ mile trip home along a very desolate route with very good visibility (A/C on, it was 115+ degrees outside ... seriously), I have pic's w/time at one Cheveron station and then the one in town ~2 hrs later. I averaged 90 mph - got 22.5 mpg.
BTW - all my mpg #'s are calculated (miles driven divided by gallons to fill up), not from the screen.
Last edited by mtnman82; Sep 4, 2009 at 01:34 AM.
If said V6 is the 2.5L M272, not only will the M271 get better fuel economy but it is also the faster of the two.
That being said, I see nothing special about the M112 engine in the 320. In my 5-6 test drives of C320 cars they were far from fast or special. I had an Acura TL years back with a 260hp 3.2L V6, and the E46 M3 has a 333hp 3.2L I6. Those are impressive 6-cylinders.
The C320? Meh. Not a big difference in performance over the 230K. The C350.. now that's a different story.
If said V6 is the 2.5L M272, not only will the M271 get better fuel economy but it is also the faster of the two.
That being said, I see nothing special about the M112 engine in the 320. In my 5-6 test drives of C320 cars they were far from fast or special. I had an Acura TL years back with a 260hp 3.2L V6, and the E46 M3 has a 333hp 3.2L I6. Those are impressive 6-cylinders.
The C320? Meh. Not a big difference in performance over the 230K. The C350.. now that's a different story.

I never once mentioned the 3.2 m112. I CLEARLY stated '6 cylinder', and that means absolutely no I4's for me.

We clearly seem to have severe reading comprehension problems from the people above.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
I never once mentioned the 3.2 m112. I CLEARLY stated '6 cylinder', and that means absolutely no I4's for me.

We clearly seem to have severe reading comprehension problems from the people above.

I'm just saying.. I appreciate good engineering.
I'm just saying.. I appreciate good engineering.
I'm just saying.. I appreciate good engineering.
This is a public discussion forum, anyone can post anything they want, even if it means 'knocking the I4 w203s'. To his, their own.
With that out of the way, how does the Si perform for having front wheel drive? I might consider that as my next beater car.
This is a public discussion forum, anyone can post anything they want, even if it means 'knocking the I4 w203s'. To his, their own.
With that out of the way, how does the Si perform for having front wheel drive? I might consider that as my next beater car.
I can't speak for any Si that would be old enough to be purchased as a beater car. Mine was a 2007. Yes it is FWD, but at least it had a limited-slip differential. It was much sharper than the W203s (in stock form, at least). Much more agile, more grip. No torque but the sound at 8000rpm was intoxicating and it pulled hard at high rpms. It was also very, very solid. Brakes were good, as long as you didn't ask too much of them. Overheated easily. Very safe (can testify to that first hand!).
The facelifted w203s may have many of the bugs fixed out but what good of a car is it if the engine isnt as good as its build quality?
My friend recently had his Honda Accord not start and he said, "whats the point of a great reliable car without an engine to run it?" ...and that got me thinking.
In other words, the message im trying to give out is that the engine is the car's 'soul', its what makes the car a car. What would you rather have? I chose the more well known m112 and still have the ***** to get an 01.
According to Mercedes-Benz:
"Starting in 1995 engine experts at Ward's Automotive select The Ten Best Engines every year. The Mercedes-Benz M112 V6 has won this distinguished award four consecutive times since its introduction, in 1998, 1999, 2000 and in 2001, more often than any other Mercedes engine".
Matt- You can have the best reliable C-class ever and have an engine known to have 'nightmares' reguardless of build quality.
Your replies makes no sense.This is the second time you have read my posts wrong and replied back with something out of the story, that clearly proves you have reading comprehension problems and you left it here on this thread for everyone to find out. [its not hard, i learned to read when i turned 3]
lilbenz- got
Your replies makes no sense.This is the second time you have read my posts wrong and replied back with something out of the story, that clearly proves you have reading comprehension problems and you left it here on this thread for everyone to find out. [its not hard, i learned to read when i turned 3]
lilbenz- got


I read your posts in this thread and provided my opinion on the subjects at hand. That you'd never own an I4 (though you later asked about the Civic Si) and the rambling post about engines and reliability.
Okay now, lets not get into any mess. Hope you got a chance to vent as you were typing that. LOLWhat can i say? i love to start debates, especially ones where i know my facts, not just opinions.
Another thing i learned from my studies in law, assumptions will not get you anywhere, and assuming that im selling my car 'cause its trash is real BS. You dont know me, and never will, so dont be judging people by whether they are 'muture' or own MY01 w203s, everyone has seen your post of bashing about them ALL the time. You never seen me posting about people being 5'6" who lives in red neck county GA do you?
Stay out of my business

From today. A day trip to the mountains of NC and TN. 4 adults in the car, A/C on 100% of the time, all back roads and a significant amount of climbing. Still on same tank of fuel, range remaining says 85 miles.
460 miles, 32.9 mpg for the trip, made it all the way with a little less than an 1/8th of a tank to spare.. 300 miles of it were set on cruise at 75mph, and the last 160, were all set right around 60-61mph. Had the AC on for the first 300, then turned it off and hit the ec button when I put down the windows down for the last 160..
Anyway the gas mileage was great, not as good as my 00' Passat with the aftermarket 50 states illegal chip(Ive done that drive and got almost 36mpg), but that was a 1.8 with a turbo, not a 2.3 with a SC.. But im def happy with the new Benz, dont actually think it was as quick as the Passat but I guess thats just my opinion.. Thanks to you guys and this site for all the help!
460 miles, 32.9 mpg for the trip, made it all the way with a little less than an 1/8th of a tank to spare.. 300 miles of it were set on cruise at 75mph, and the last 160, were all set right around 60-61mph. Had the AC on for the first 300, then turned it off and hit the ec button when I put down the windows down for the last 160..
Anyway the gas mileage was great, not as good as my 00' Passat with the aftermarket 50 states illegal chip(Ive done that drive and got almost 36mpg), but that was a 1.8 with a turbo, not a 2.3 with a SC.. But im def happy with the new Benz, dont actually think it was as quick as the Passat but I guess thats just my opinion.. Thanks to you guys and this site for all the help!
As far as mods go, I was thinking about doing a SC pulley kit, ive read around on here and people say they get anywhere from 18-30 rwhp increase. But I dont know if its advisable at my milage. What are some other mods that I could do that could increase my mpg's?



