mtoni

Hi Guys,

I'm a first time poster so help a fellow out.

I would like to buy W203 C class (FL) and I'm deciding among C240 or C230 Kompressor.

I have done some research but there are still some things that I would like to have input from the owners of the specific models.

Now I know that the first advantage of the C240 is naturally that's it's V6 so maybe better sound over the 4 pot C230K. But than again C240 packs only 170 hp the C230K has 194 hp. So C230K must be quicker in the corners and from the start. Also the C240 is an old engine (I belive the last before W204 series was the new V6 C280 but that's out of my $$ range).

I would also like to know what is the failure rate / problems with the Kompress alone. Do they fail fast, are there any known issues with certain series, how many miles does Kompressor last before it starts to show it's weakness.

Give me some feedback so I can decide.

Thx

Toni

LILBENZ230

You will need to search the forums for common problems. What years are you talking about? If you're talking 2001 C240, pass on the W203 altogether. The best bet would be a 2005 car. I'd go with the Kompressor, the 240 is just too weak. I have no issues with my C230. It sounds like you're looking at a 2002 C230 with the M111 engine. That's a stout little engine.

mtoni

I'm looking into 2005 - Facelift

LILBENZ230

The 2003-2005 C230 has 189hp and 192tq.

acr2001

(I'm assuming we are talking about the M271 engine in the C230 for this post - depends on model year though as some have the M111 - someone please post which years are which as I don't remember)

C230 is faster from the start but the engine is not as smooth or quiet - makes the car feel cheaper (no flames - just my opinion!)
C240 has better pickup after ~30 mph.
Personally I don't feel much difference between them - they both feel slow to me.

The M271 engine (C230) is not nearly as reliable as the M112 (C240).
Search for posts about engine problems on this forum and you will see what I mean.

M112 is (was) used in MANY Mercedes vehicles including the S class and is a dual spark plug engine.

mtoni

Oh I'm sorry than it must be the PS / hp conversion right? I'm looking at the data right now 141 kW / 192 PS.

daiso'

the reason the got my c230 solely because of the sport trim! in retrospect i should of paid a little more and gotten the 06 NA c230 v6. but none the less you should look at what you are planning to do with this car. Are you trying to keep it for a long time? Do u commute far? do u need a fast car?
i'm asking because I'm paying cheap insurance with good gas mileage and i'm planing to trade up within a couple of years way before i see and major problems(fingers crossed)

but yea the car is very slow so i have a bike to compensate

Glyn M Ruck

Go for the V6 M112 or M272 - A better engine all round & if you rev it, it has a power curve that goes straight up with RPM. Traffic light to traffic light there is not much in it. On a long run the V6 will run away from a M271 never to be seen again. The American spec M271 with it's greater HP is a fragile beast.

Utahkompressor

^
^
^
American M271 is actually less HP than everywhere else in the world.
189HP vs 192HP

LILBENZ230

I'm gonna need to see a race between a C230 and C240 to believe this stuff. Where do the extra 21hp go? I've driven a C240 and it was much slower than my C230 in all situations. Smoother and quieter, yes. I personally wouldn't buy a W203 without the AMG Sport treatment, but that's a personal preference. The C230 will be a lot more fun to drive.

Mercedes-Benz official numbers on the C240 put it a second to a 1.5 seconds slower to 60 than a C230, depending on whether you elect a manual or an automatic. The quarter mile is separated by .7 seconds. Not sure where everyone gets the idea the C240 is somehow going to make a comeback on the C230 in any feasible race. There's no arguing with it being down on power. With peak HP down by 21 and peak TQ down by 15 (and not accessible till 4700rpm vs 3500rpm in the C230).. the C230, which is also ~100lbs lighter, is the better pick. It is more powerful and much more efficient - city/highway for the 240 is 19/24 vs 23/30 for the C230.

I don't know of anyone who races top-speed, so that seems a moot point. The C230 with the sport package has a lot to offer. The C240 has always, to me, begged the question "why?"

laneshift

Aside from the motor, IMO the 230 has a nicer appearance and feel. Remember guys, it's got the sport suspension!

acr2001

Personally, I would have preferred the sport trim by far.
The answer to "why?" for me was 4Matic and (from my experience) much less worries about reliability. Neighbors C230 was stuck in front of her house spinning wheels for 30 minutes last night! I also prefer the lux suspension ever since I threw some lower profile tires on it. Seems to do excellent around turns, but also impresses passengers who can barely feel the bumps in the road. Also I prefer the wood trim over the metal, but I guess some C230s came with wood too? This is all just personal preference though.

The C240 you drove could easily have been adapted to a slow driver- I know the response and feeling of power in my engine is HUGELY variable depending on how it's been recently driven. Of course the C230 will still have better pickup! No arguing there.

To be completely honest, if I lived in California (no snow and far smoother roads) and I could just get over the engine reliability issues, I would probably have picked the C230. If you can get the C230 with the V6 M272 like Glyn mentioned, then by all means get that! No snow to worry about in Florida!

Glyn M Ruck

I accept the numbers but they don't tell the full story. It depends how the power is produced & the vehicle is geared. The US model 230 will give a 240 more of a hard time. In ROW against a C200 it's no contest. The 240 wins. In South Africa people race from Johannesburg to Cape Town all the time. 1500 Kms. The 240 wins out in that kind of run every time. I know this does not suit your argument. Any thought of the differences being large is piffle. The extra power pushed out by the M271 for them to justify calling it a 230 in the US lies behind some of the durability problems. It's an 1800 engine that is working hard.

The V6 2.5 & 2.6 litre engines are extremely popular in a range of Merc vehicles including the E Class - are vastly more durable than the I4. Some people value the true Merc feel that you only get with a 6 or bigger - that's why.

The small V6's are misunderstood in the US. People like Johnand & I understand them. They are great, peppy, free revving engines to drive. You need to live with one for a while to understand this. They don't have the stump pulling torque of large capacity NA engines.

Glyn M Ruck

Which planet do you live on?

M271 engine in all forms:

Model Eng capacity Compression ratio Power Torque
C180 Kompressor 1796 cc 10.0 : 1 143hp @ 5200rpm 162 lbft @ 2500rpm
C200 Kompressor 1796 cc 9.3 : 1 163hp @ 5500rpm 177 lbft @ 3000rpm
C200 CGI 1796 cc 10.3 : 1 170hp @ 5300rpm 184 lbft @ 3000rpm
C230 Kompressor (USA)1796 cc 8.5 : 1 192hp @ 5800rpm 192 lbft @ 3500-4000rpm

LILBENZ230

I could completely get behind the idea of a 2006-2007 2.5L C230 in 6MT form only. The 7G and small V6 are a frustrating combination in my experience. Per John's instructions, I was harder on the last 2007 7G I drove and yes that did help - though it pushed the engine to redline every gear and there were too many gears. It was constantly shifting.

Budget constraints were mentioned by the OP, and they said they were looking at 2005 cars. If you need 4Matic, then yes, then the 240 makes sense - like ACR. However, IMO, it makes sense no further. The "reliability" issues is a general term. If the M271 isn't a reliable engine "In general", the same could be said for the W203 altogether - as in, it isn't a reliable choice of a car "in general". I have no issues with my M271. It's not V6 smooth, but it's alright for a four-cylinder car. It's not fast, but it's not 240 slow, either.

The Sport package does a lot for the car. The rims, the AMG treatment, the big brakes, the exhaust.. these made me notice the C-class. I wouldn't own one without it. But, I live in a place that never sees snow and I'll never need AWD. I live in a place that is surrounded by curvy country roads that allows me to use the Sport suspension tuning. I rarely have passengers, and when I do, the Benz is such an improvement over their cars they don't seem to notice the harsher ride given by the Sport. My C230's ride is quite plush in comparison to the bone-jarring ride of my 135i, anyway.

All this applies to people living in US only. Things are quite different in ROW. If the M271 in the USDM was the same as in the C200 elsewhere, I'd recommend the 240.

Glyn M Ruck

I would like to see a M271 do 630,000Km with no major repairs like our E240 office taxi or 760,000 Km like my friend's 2003 C240 Elegance in Malaysia, also with nothing but servicing, some suspension bushes, rubbers & links & lots of brake bits & tyres. People in ROW expect a Benz to last & they do. I know the US is a toss out society but if someone is looking for a used Benz & want's reliability I would always recommend a six.

I don't believe it is any accident that Benz chose not to sell 4 cylinder W204's in America.

LILBENZ230

No I think it was a wise decision to remove the four-cylinders, if only for the sake of the competition. The 3.0L M272 in the C300 is a fine engine. The US is a toss out society. Scottisha on this forum (lives in FL) has 200,000 on his 2005 C230K without any major issues, still on his original clutch (6MT). There are good and bad in all. If we're speaking in general terms, I'd say avoid the W203. But strictly speaking to the OP, who lives in FL, I'd say get the C230.

Glyn M Ruck

It's up to the OP who makes the more sensible case. If he is a boy racer the 230 might be for him. I'm sure you are pleased you did not buy a 4 cylinder BMW.

bdgdl08

I personally disliked our old C240 greatly. I would go with the M271k C230. If the difference in price wasn't that great, I would say to get an M272 E25 C230. I love mine, and I wouldn't trade it for anything (well, maybe a 6 speed or a C350). Whatever you get, I'm sure you will be happy!

mtoni

Thank's guys for responses.

I'm slowlly giving up on C230 K and thinking of NA C230. V6 is still a V6. And I was thinking the same thing for the C230 K - it is 1.8 + Kompressor - a lot of stress to the engine so problems will emerge sonner or later.

Keep posting more posts so I can easier decide.

Can someone give me an estimate running cost of the C230 - engine related.

LILBENZ230

Problems will emerge with any engine sooner or later. But you can't really go wrong with the new M272 2.5L C230. I hate the 7G transmission. Nothing wrong with that engine.

AdidasC230

I love my M272 powered C230, I think even though the 1.8 SC is a bit quicker, a cheap 300 dollar flash can fix that issue. Plus I have been told by many people the M272 is built like a tank and virtually bullet proof. Plus I was told for dependability that the 05+ was the way to go, since the older ones didn't quite have the bumps work out.

I dont know what your budget is but I see some 230Ks going for the same as the 06 M272 C230 with just a minor difference in millage.

Also the 6 speed with the m272 is a wonderful combo

omg its nate

+1 for the C230 V6

mtoni

I'm going around 15.000 € and yes I will get 6 speed MT. I love the auto but I hate to be the one who would have to replace it - very expensive if not under warranty.

daiso'

yes 6speed for the win! I still hate that the higher end benz's dont carry manuals.