Help me make decision. I am buying this car for my wife to be used in her daily commute to work and around town.

I am car buff so I do most maintenance on my car (2001 Audi S4).

We are planing to keep this car for at least 4-5 years so I am trying to figure out which model is more reliable and will require less maintenance and upkeep?

What are the problem areas on C230 I should pay attention to when testing/inspecting the car?

What about V6 in c280 and c320?

We narrowed our choice to 2005 C230 with 75K miles and 2006 C280 4matic with 99K miles.

What say you?

 

Do yourself a favor and get the V6. It is MUCH smoother and more reliable than the supercharged 4 banger. Search the forum for details, you'll notice most threads about engine issues relate to the 4 cylinder engine.

 

Most issues relate more to the pre-facelift cars than the four-cylinder engine. The 2005 and up cars are solidly reliable. I'd get the C230 over the C280 because of mileage.

 

whats the price for the 2006 with 100k ?
you will have trouble selling this car 5 years later if you put average mileage on it.... consider this too, and negeciate... 33000 miles a year is too much...

 

He'll have trouble selling it anyway.. it has 100k miles already. Resale value on either will be poor, so I don't think that's his main consideration. It's more like ~25,000 miles a year on the 2006 anyway. Likely sold in late 2005 as an 06 model, here in late 2009 the 2006 C280 has been on the road for a full 4 years. So your figure is wrong.

That said - I put 31,500 on my C230 last year. It was built to be driven and that is its sole purpose. Cars aren't made to sit around, and we Americans love to ride the roads. A well maintained car that is driven a lot is better than a car that sits around.

Both cars are high mileage. I don't like the C240 or C280 versions because they lack the AMG package (body kit, brakes, suspension, rims, etc). That's my personal preference. If that's not a big deal to the OP, I'm not about to tell you that the M271 1.8L Kompressor is a better engine than the 3.0L M272 in the C280. The C280 here has the newer/better powertrain, without a doubt. But, buying the Kompressor isn't the end of the world. It's a 2005 and most bugs were worked out by then. It'll get better fuel economy (likely quite a bit better) and look better, too. I have 64,000 miles on my 2005 C230K and it runs as good as new. It had a few minor warranty issues but has never let me down. I love it and hope to keep it till repairs exceed the value of it.

 

totally agree on the AMG package.. and even 25000 is double the average mileage..

 

Not quite. My last year mileage was, though. It used to be that 12,000 miles a year was average but now it's more like 15,000. Even still, as long as proper maintenance has been done he should be fine. I'd buy a four-year-old car with 100,000 before I'd buy the same car with 25,000. Been there, done that, got a T-shirt that says "I'm with stupid" and a arrow pointed upwards at my face.

At least with a ton of miles you know the car has been on the road a lot so it must have been pretty reliable.

 

i baught my car at 78k, i dont care...
but mine is a 3.2 and not the supercharged 1.8
anyway i think you totally misundersood what i meant...
the car has double the average mileage...
NOGOCIATE THE PRICE...

 

I can get c280 for 12500, and c230 for 12300. My wife will put about 6-7K miles on the car per year so I am more concerned with maintenance of high mileage 4 cyl vs 6 cyl then their resale value.

 

I don't think I misunderstood. Neither car has double the average mileage. The 2005 is close to 5 years old and has 75,000 miles. That's exactly what it should have considering the average mileage is 15,000 per year. The C280 is not the 1.8L S/C, it's a 3.0L V6 that's an even newer design than the M112 you have. It has been driven an average of 25,000 miles a year - which is high, but not uncommon.

Yes, negotiate the price regardless of mileage. Check the maintenance records. Have the car inspected if possible. My personal pick would be the 2005 with the AMG package. A well cared for M271 is a safe pick. If you want the newer powertrain but don't mind giving up the AMG package then go with the C280.

Definitely negotiate - always. Regardless.

 

Isn't the M271 the engine with the leaking cam sensors that destroy the wiring harness? If it is, I suggest the OP check that and make sure the new wires have been installed.

 

I have a c280, and I love it.
That's about all I have to say.

However, I am also selling it, because I want a vacation in China for a long time

 

What were the problems with pre 2005 c230?

Seller of the c230 I am looking at mentioned that he got sporadic check engine light for Mass airflow sensor (MAF).

Is MAF sensor known to fail early on these cars?

Going to test drive it today, any test drive tips?

 

is this sensor visible when you pop the hood?

 

The better question is what WEREN'T the problems with the early W203s.

Anyway, don't buy a problem car. If it has been having CELs then you should probably skip it. As ACR pointed out, the M271 has been known for leaking cam sensors. This is preventable with adapter wires (called pigtails on the forum). But if it has already leaked (possible by 75k) I'd skip it. It's not immediately visible under the hood, but it is easy to get to.

 

i think when buying a pre 05 w203 i would actually want 100k + miles because i would think that it has run better and not had problems like one with 20k. but that is just my opinion i would also look for a 1 owner because they either had no problems or put up with them. i would actually buy an older w203 again but would make sure i looked it over very well like i did with mine. and if you are looking at an c230 that has a bad maf that is any easy fix if it is the maf pop old one off and pop the new one in. any car will eventually need a maf replaced some more often then others but worn parts are expected with a used car. gl

 

what are you looking for? The sport and luxury versions are very different. Any specific reason for the 4-matic?

 

additional traction in wet and snow is always a plus