I'm looking at a friend's c230 sport...well maintained, 33k miles. How is the COMAND system on these cars? How is the 6-speed manual? What are the things to look out for down the road in terms of repairs? Anything competitive that you would consider? I would look at the 2006 BMW 330i, but I'm weary of VANOS issues..

i currently have a c230 sport from 2000 (the last year of the w202...perhaps there is a trend...) that I care for quite well.

 

I absolutely LOVE mine. It's not the fastest car, and will be noticeable slower, especially on the low end, than your 2000 C230. The command is a great system, too, but I don't have it. We have it in our SL and, while it's not the easiest system to deal with all the time, it's fine once you get used to it. Many people say that Mercedes doesn't make the best manual transmissions, but they are solid. The most common complaint is that the syncros are a little weird for second when it gets cold. I would say to go for it. I would worry about the low mileage, honestly. My car is also right now at just about 33k miles and I had a couple issued from the car having sat so long. This time last year, the car only had 8k on it, so the 33k wasn't evenly distributed throughout the life of the car. As far as common issues, check the stickies at the top. Welcome.

 

THe 07 is pretty trouble free as is the 06's. The 07 have some pro's and cons being that last year.

07 dont have an ipod aux in so it requires a 300 dollar kit instead of a 50 dollar cord.

You have AMG exaust so it looks alot like a C36 save the wheels and engine
Your car will have a spoiler 06s didnt
The wheels dont look like any other years

The 6 speed is nice, its notchy thats a fact, but its not bad, drive a subaru and then youll know what a bad shifter is, they FN had no reverse sycros and 3rd was like trying to screw a nun.

Command is good, its better then damn Idrive+Gps but not quite as good as Volvos VNS pop out system.

Not many things go wrong on these cars esp the m272 its a very solid engine, only thing I know is common is i think Cam or crank shaft position sensors go bad which are a cheap fix but this may be on the 4 bangers and not the v6 (cant remember some one will chime in)


Id but it seems nice what color ext/int?

 

thanks, and definitely will do!

also, does anyone know about 3m clearbra's or competitive products to prevent rock chips?

 

Great info. All I have to add is the crankshaft position sensor. I know this is becoming a common problem. Mine is intermittent and all I really get is an annoying "Check Engine". I can't feel anything. I think it's 8 bucks per sensor and replacing is very easy.

I know a person who I recently met and they have an 06 or 07 manual and they love it. Against my C350 for 2 seconds we are dead even. (rolling)

 

Nay.

I think it's more like $160 per sensor, IIRC.. Johnand knows for sure, he has had his replaced. The M272 has 4 of these, no?

 

When I was looking I found mine for 8 bucks. Not from dealer though. For my car dealer price is 27 bucks. I dont know why It's way more than other models.

EDIT
I meant way less

 

YAY I am glad I got something right kinda! Thanks Karo for affirming that, I dont want to be the key to misinformation.


Also on power, they make a flash for the car for about 600 bux that gets you to 200tq 221hp which is pretty darn good, and on my mod list, it would then have the speed of of at least the old C320 ( down on tq up on hp)and current C300 (heavier car)

I love my C230, I do wish I knew the 350 existed in 6 speed I would have waited but there so rare, if you see one you should buy a lottery ticket, because your super lucky.

 

Great car & the 272 engine is a tough gem. You just need to rev it which it loves.

Camshaft Position Sensors seem to fail now and again - available at half the cost that the dealer wants and is identical to the so called OEM part - See Johnand's thread.

 

The M272 E25 is so much better in a manual. It needs to be revved; the low-end is non-existant in the automatic.

 

I guess the big question is how the e92 2006 330i compares. They go for a similar price and can be similarly equipped. Anyone know about this?

 

does this flash affect reliability?

also, link to manufacturer/programmer of ecu flash? (is this a full new chip?)

 

E90 330i > W203 C230. You'd be insane to pick the C230 over the 330i. The E92 is a newer chassis with a design that is still current and the I6 engine is great (and has 54hp and 39tq on the C230's 2.5). If it were a C350 Sport with a manual, I'd say get the W203. But otherwise, get the E90 330, hands down.

 

This w203 is a really great car, but in all honestly it depends on you're driving style because my buddy has a 330i with Hamann exhaust and the sound from it is absolutely art. How do you drive is the main question?

 

Depends how long you want to keep it. The BMW will never do the mileage the Merc will. BMW's don't make old bones well.

 

Glyn, as you already know, the US is a throw away society. That my C230 (with the M271) or 135i won't go 400,000 miles for whatever reason is not an issue. In all likelihood, the OP will keep the car 5-7 years max - and the E90 is a newer chassis, the N52 is a hell of an engine.. I think it's the better of the two, not even close.

I love Mercedes as much as anyone.. there are things Mercedes does exceptionally well but there are things they can't touch BMW on, and I think virtually every automobile specialist/journalist would agree.

 

I love BMW engines - I don't like old BMWs. Where I come from Benz outsell BMW handsomely due to durabiliy as they do in Asia. I hear you on toss out, low valued US market. In SA Benz vehicles retain value far better than BMW for this reason. I know this is not so in the US.

 

I would love more power too... but I have some hesitation with a flash also..

 

So then the decision rests of which looks better?

 

BMW

 

Precisely. Sport package or not it looks like a grampa or older man car. No offense to anyone on here with a w203.

 

now you've taken it too far

 

this is precisely why i considered the c230 before the e92. I'm afraid of VANOS issues and don't know much about them to be able to make a good judgment (though the e92 is one generation ahead in terms of handling and engine...i agree with you about the n52 completely).

Well, I've decided against the w203...I'll stick with my w202. the only thing i would be gaining is a stiffer chassis (though I'm not taking the car to the track) and navigation. I like driving cars for the long haul, so reliability is a must (with the assumption that you baby the car).

In any case, at least we get to be happy with our amazing cars, right?

 

the n52 will go 200,000 miles EASY. are you kidding me? bmw makes VERY reliable inline 6's. the vanos issues are on the 8 and 12 cyl cars.

 

The inline six very seldom achieves anything like 200,000 miles without major crap. One serious overrev and the valves need refacing.

Every recent performance BMW has failed under standard test conditions in the last couple of years when tested by our local Car magazine. They are fragile. Come to Africa - we'll show you how crap they can be.

All Bangle styling sucks! It's still prevalent in the line. The new 5 Series GT looks like an SUV.

I enjoy driving them for short periods when someone else owns them. At 5 years old you can't give them away.