Buying a w203.
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Buying a w203.
Figure I will give a bit of an introduction and ask a couple questions...
I have owned 7 bmws and 1 mercedes, the 1 mercedes was a w124, I bought it when I really knew next to nothing about cars, it was a bomb and turned me off owning another mercedes.
I have owned a lot of nice BMW's mostly 5 and 7 series however my luxury life took a turn for the worst with past finacial mistakes catching up with me, debt collectors took all of my wages right down to $450 dollars a week, I crashed my 5 series v8 into a tree head on the same week it started.
I have been car pooling to and from work, have not had a car as my wage garnishment would not allow it, paid off a good 50k already and only have 9 weeks and I will be completely debt free and have all of my wage again.
The goal is to end up with a w220/v220 s500 but after the past 12 months I need a car asap, current situation after the 9 weeks I will be able to save 1000 a week, so I am thinking I can have one of these w203's pretty quick, I only intend to own the car for about 3 months before stepping into an s class so my main concerns is what models are easiest to sell on.
I love working on cars, I just don't like serious engine, transmission or rust work, I don't mind putting a little money into it to bring it up to scratch to sell it as a "perfect" operating mercedes, I just don't want to get the rest of the money up for the w220 and be sitting waiting for the w203 to sell, I have a project car, I cannot have 3 cars where I am at, so popular are these w203's and more importantly how fast do they sell.
Just trying to put my research in before hand.
I have owned 7 bmws and 1 mercedes, the 1 mercedes was a w124, I bought it when I really knew next to nothing about cars, it was a bomb and turned me off owning another mercedes.
I have owned a lot of nice BMW's mostly 5 and 7 series however my luxury life took a turn for the worst with past finacial mistakes catching up with me, debt collectors took all of my wages right down to $450 dollars a week, I crashed my 5 series v8 into a tree head on the same week it started.
I have been car pooling to and from work, have not had a car as my wage garnishment would not allow it, paid off a good 50k already and only have 9 weeks and I will be completely debt free and have all of my wage again.
The goal is to end up with a w220/v220 s500 but after the past 12 months I need a car asap, current situation after the 9 weeks I will be able to save 1000 a week, so I am thinking I can have one of these w203's pretty quick, I only intend to own the car for about 3 months before stepping into an s class so my main concerns is what models are easiest to sell on.
I love working on cars, I just don't like serious engine, transmission or rust work, I don't mind putting a little money into it to bring it up to scratch to sell it as a "perfect" operating mercedes, I just don't want to get the rest of the money up for the w220 and be sitting waiting for the w203 to sell, I have a project car, I cannot have 3 cars where I am at, so popular are these w203's and more importantly how fast do they sell.
Just trying to put my research in before hand.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,276
Likes: 172
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
In general
you need to look at the ECU to make sure no oil as wicked thru the cables from the
Cam Sensors. Same with the TCU trans fluid wicking thru the cable.
TCU is under the right floorboard. Check for leaks around trans electical connector.
And the other biggie is killer Valeo radiators. Likely most have failed by now,
but this effected all models in the early 2000's.
Damn things leak coolant into the trans. and kill it.
Make it's a Behr brand.
Threads on all these if you search.
Post 2005 models with 6 cyl M272 engines face potential balance shaft issues and
intake manifold failure. So best to skip these MY 2006-2007.
2003-2005 M271 4 cyl engined models tend to stretch the cam chain, fry the gears and cook the valves over time.
you need to look at the ECU to make sure no oil as wicked thru the cables from the
Cam Sensors. Same with the TCU trans fluid wicking thru the cable.
TCU is under the right floorboard. Check for leaks around trans electical connector.
And the other biggie is killer Valeo radiators. Likely most have failed by now,
but this effected all models in the early 2000's.
Damn things leak coolant into the trans. and kill it.
Make it's a Behr brand.
Threads on all these if you search.
Post 2005 models with 6 cyl M272 engines face potential balance shaft issues and
intake manifold failure. So best to skip these MY 2006-2007.
2003-2005 M271 4 cyl engined models tend to stretch the cam chain, fry the gears and cook the valves over time.
Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 139
Likes: 4
From: Finland, Europe
W203 C200CDI
In your situation I would just buy the cheapest car doesnt-matter-what which will take you from A to B.
3 months is so short time so I would rather use the saved money on the S-class rather than feeding the money to endless moneypit (W203) for 3 months. Especially if your on a "budget" temporarily
To each his own
3 months is so short time so I would rather use the saved money on the S-class rather than feeding the money to endless moneypit (W203) for 3 months. Especially if your on a "budget" temporarily
To each his own
