alias747

Hey guys I joined here because it looks like you have the heaviest traveled MB forum I have come across!

Just wanted to run a questions passed all of you with 2002 C230 coupes. (I have searched the forums a bit, just want to get some specific answers for myself...)

I am looking at a 2002 C230 6-speed that has ~64K miles on the clock. 1 owner that is a middle aged gentleman, and has every single receipt of work that has been done to the car. Always serviced at the Mercedes dealer and the car is pretty much MINT. The only real flaw that the car has besides the few rock chips on the front that are to be expected, is the rear wheel-well on passenger side has a small patch of rust starting. I don't foresee it being too much of a problem...

The 2 hold ups I have that maybe you guys can talk me through:

1. Reliability

I know you get this question asked all the time... I have seen the posts. I have search several boards and I have found everything from people that have 120k+ miles and all they have done is change the oil. Then others that say the car is a money pit and everything breaks on it. Since I would be buying one that I KNOW hasn't been beaten on and has been maintained well, should that make me rest easier about things going wrong? I just don't want to buy this car and 2 months down the road have to dump thousands back into it...

2. Winter

This would be my only vehicle, so winter driving would be a must... Again I have seen all sorts of different posts, some guys say that even with good all-seasons that they have a hard time even getting the car to slip because the Stability Control holds it on the road so well. Others of course say they pretty much would die if you tried to drive it in snow... Where is the real happy medium? Let me know.

Anyway, I am looking to purchase from him for $8,500, I feel that is a good price compared to the other vehicles I see listed nearby. For instance I see PLENTY of the same year with over 90k miles and they are list for $10k and even $11k. The price of these seem very subjective, I can't even get Kelly Blue Book to give me a straightforward answer on what it's worth...

Any and all opinions and advice is welcome! It's a hot car and I would love to own it, but spending a hot dollar on repairs and sliding off the road is not my idea of fun...

Thanks!!!

samaritrey

well the winter part is easy snow tires and you will be fine.

alias747

Yeah I am looking at the classifieds and I think picking up a set of rims with snow tires would be beneficial. Might see how good the all seasons currently on the car handle and go from there...

Bubba89000

I have the exact car you are considering.

Although I haven't had it for long, mine has 112,000 kilometers on it and it runs great.

alias747

Thanks for the support man! I just got the whole deal squared away! I was able to talk him down to $8k even and now I am feeling pretty good about it! Should be a fun little toy!

fookoo303

with snow tires, you will be fine in the snow as long as you know the dynamics of a RWD in the snow. Ive gone through some pretty bad winters with my sedan on all season tires and its been relatively good. The traction control is great and i even prefer the benz over my FWD honda in snow at times because of it.

alias747

Yeah thats what I have been reading, the traction control is pretty awesome on these cars. Thats good to hear! If you guys run across any cheap wheels with snow tires on them please let me know! Thanks!

ambit

I have a 2003 C-coupe with ~54,000mi on it. 6 speed manual.
Had an automatic before this one.
Drove them through PA winters the last 4 years with Bridgestone Blizzak's. So long as the snow isn't too high for my lower grill to clear I can generally get through most anything.

To be honest, the automatic I had the engine died in at ~90,000mi. Intake cam 'jumped a tooth on the timing chain' somehow and destroyed all 8 intake valves. I rebuilt the top end myself for ~$2000 and drove it another 3,000mi before flying to FL to pick up my current 6spd.
But! Mine are 2003's which is the 1.8L S/C, not the 2.3L S/C that you'll have.
I do all my own work and buy the parts online so that's never really been a $$$ concern for me.

Service A & B (glorified oil changes) can run you +$100 if you take it to the dealship.

04mbc230

Wow. That is pretty expensive.

In my neck of the woods. Coupes are pretty low in price. Seen average price is $8k - 9k and have about 70k to 80k

for something that is 120k, they are going about $5k. <--- this one is salvage title. So i guess without salvage title, it's probably aournd 6k to 7k.

Check this out.. This is at my local area. 43k mileage for $9k. Manual
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/1853170610.html
That car, i would be able to get it $8k, but would take a lot of persuading and cash flaunting for it to work. ahahha

For about $9,600. you can get a 2004 model. Automatic
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/ctd/1851123960.html
But this one has 102k miles

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/1848560938.html
asking $9,500. Manual 56k miles

BTW, I do not represent any of these owners. I don't get a commission either. Just posting this, cuz I was bored. hahaha

kirax2

2002 C230 would last u almost forever... mine is almost 9 years knock on wood no problem, and maintance are easier than my Honda

04mbc230

Haha. The dude with the honda accord on your picture doesn't look too happy with their honda. He's probably like "Shucks, I wish I had that red Mercedes C230"

alias747

Thats great... While I appreciate your concern, I don't live in California... Cars like a Mercedes around my parts are pretty rare, thats why for me it was such a find. Plus if there is one thing that I have found when it comes to shopping for used vehicles (trust me I know, I have owned 3 Audis and a Mazda before this, among others) that just because it is a low price for a car with low miles doesn't mean that its the deal of the century...

I just picked up the C230 tonight, just got back. If you saw this car in person you would be blown away. Maybe 1 scratch on the whole thing, LITERALLY (minus given front rock chips) Drives like a brand new car and has every receipt for every piece of work done to it. I have a hard time believing that you could find a used 8 year old car that has a better record than this one. I am blown away. Interior looks like the car just rolled off the assembly line. (It might sound like I am exaggerating, but im not...) And it has around 4k worth of stereo equipment in it. Mcintosh headunit and Amp and custom kick panel speaker boxes. I feel like I won the lottery today! The 130 mile trip home after buying it was a real treat!

I will post up pics tomorrow sometime hopefully!

alias747

Oh man, I appreciate the reassurance! Makes me feel much better! Even after driving it tonight, it def feels rock solid!

04mbc230

That's great. I am just offering my 2 cents. If you found a good car with no problems, that's great!

Well, welcome to the club, by the way.

Now there are some other upgrades you can do to it, other than the already upgrade sound system.

Okay, I'll start you off. HID lights, if they haven't done so.

HellsAngel

the only thing you should worry about is the price.

alias747

Wow, what is with so many turds in the punch bowl around here?

Seriously though, what was I supposed to pay for it?

"zOMG u paid 8 thousand for that??!!1111!!! I found a cragslist ad for one thats like 200 dolars less, u totely got ripped oofff!"

C'mon really?

If people don't have anything constructive to say please stay out, I have already made the purchase, please don't try to make me feel bad about it now...

HellsAngel

i didnt see how much you payed... i dont care about +-200$
but if any member tries to go to a dealer to sell his coupe, he will get 4-7k max... so you should be aware of that.

fookoo303

i think that price is pretty good. I just blue booked my car with 167,000 miles on it and it said my car would be worth a hair over 10k if it was in excellent condition. So for getting a c230k in excellent condition with all records of the car for 8.5k seems like a pretty good price to pay.

Kurupt

that is weird, i kbed my car and its worth 6.5 k with 80k miles excellent condition

im in Virginia

04mbc230

HHAHAHA 20O Bucks for a 2002 Mercedes?? That must be just for 1 tire and bang up rim. They should consider adding one more 0 to make it more believable. Even at $2000, that is still a low low price, perhaps a blown enginee, salvage title with bang up fenders or got some body work to be done. That is just pain B.S. for $200.

Well, don't worry dude, don't look back. Not worth it, cuz if you bought it, then you bought it. Can't compare to apples once the deal is done.

Just try to maintain it or do what you can do to get it shown room condition.

Don't worry about the other guys, they are probably jealous cuz you got a nice price for a nice condition car.

Oh by the way, WELCOME TO THE CLUB!!

It would be expensive up keeps, but if you know what you are doing, it would probably be the same cost as to any other cars you may have owned.

MW_ATL

Doesn't sound bad for the mileage and condition. Knowing the previous maintenance and such is worth something. I would say as far as the price, like everything in life, if it was worth the cost to *you* then you got a fair deal.

Mine has 125,000+ on it, with no significant problems. It has had plenty of little maintenance issues, but I do not think anything excessive. However, make sure you have the retrofit done for the camshaft position sensor harness. I believe this is done as a freebie from the dealers now. Just take it to a dealer and they should be able to see what campaigns have been performed on it, and what hasn't. I'm sure there was one on the taillights in the early coupes, an adapter harness was added, but I don't remember the reasons.

Don't be surprised if you see a bulb out indicator in the rear (for me usually a brake light) in damp weather. The car seems to be highly sensitive to resistance on the bulb and thinking it is out. I've gotten where I just give mine an annual bulb change in the rear, and no problem. After about a year, they seem to start acting a bit funky. (Mine is also a bit picky on what bulbs I use, but it is not much of a headache).

Enjoy...and let us see pictures.

alias747

Ha not 200 bucks for a Mercedes, I was just being sarcastic about people were saying I paid too much for it. I will have to get pics up this week so people can see how immaculate it is! I am loving it and there is not sign whatsoever of things not working right. The only noise I have heard driving it the last few days that I didn't like was the power steering pump made a little buzz one day, but that seems to be pretty standard on German cars from what my Audi's were like too.

Thanks for the welcome!

Javvy

good pick......WELCOME TO THE CLUB................now lets see some pic's.................

tommy

Price seems decent to me as well. Like MW said, take it to a local dealer and have them check to see what should be done to it. The camshaft harness and the front turn signal harness issues come to mind most readily.

Yes, get a dedicated snow wheel/tire combo - it's so much easier, plus you'll be able to run dedicated summer wheels/tires. If the car has stock rims on it now, I'd give serious consideration to just running it as-is until you have to change, then get good snow tires, with the anticipation of getting summer rims/tires next year (MB stock rims are pigs).

Welcome to the forum; looking forward to pics, especially of the stereo system.

alias747

Ok cool thanks for the advice and kind words! I am def searching for a used rim and snow tire set, found one near me for 500 bucks, but they are 16" wheels. Will those fit over the rotors on this car? I suppose it depends on the offset and stuff too...

I will do my best to get some pics up tonight, otherwise by tomorrow. I am excited to show her off!