C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

How many C coupes are still here?

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Old 02-25-2024, 07:39 AM
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w203cl
I have a black from 2001, use it only in winter, yes I know, has something to do with the crazy car tax regulation in Germany. Still love this car, despite something is broken all the time.
BTW the A/C flap error is not difficult to repair, just time consuming. I needed 4-5h.
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C230 Sport Coup (02-25-2024)
Old 02-25-2024, 01:16 PM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Rotary fox- Forgot to mention, for the melted turn signal socket there is a
kit from mercedes with a wiring harness that wires the light directly from the harness.
Common fail. MIne happened early in life and was done by the dealer under warranty so I
don't know part number. Came back to bite me when I did a swap of my
original lights with Bixenon. I traded a guy on the forum and did the work.
After it was all together he had no turn signal and I had to fix it to complete the deal.
So to fix it the hard way will likely require you to remove the light, which means
removing a wheel and wheel well, popping corner of bumper off, remove light assembly and then
when you have it in your hands, you can scrape the contact clean on the inside of the
light housing. Use an ohm meter to make sure it's good before reassembly. Not reallly possible with it in the car.
So you see why they came up with the bypass kit It was close to dark when I finished his car....whew! An all day affair,
tails, turn signals and bix. Fun times.
at least 100 miles from home and we both were relieved. I suppose worst case I would've sent him the bypass repair kit.

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 02-25-2024 at 01:20 PM.
Old 02-25-2024, 06:03 PM
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2002 C230K SportCoupe
I heard about the bypass kit that Mercedes offered through a guy in a Mercedes Benz discord server (you should join, lots of good people sharing info) Let me know if you want the link to join it.
I plan to go to the dealer and see if I can get one of them when I get some power steering fluid.
Thanks for the instructions, they will be helpful when I decide to fix it.
Old 02-27-2024, 09:46 PM
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C32 & C63PP, 203CL
My current daily:






Last edited by german32er; 02-27-2024 at 09:49 PM.
Old 02-27-2024, 09:49 PM
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2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2008 ML550 4Matic; 2004 C320
Originally Posted by german32er
My current daily:


Sehr schoen, ............. Boeblingen! Ich komme aus Untergruppenbach bei Heilbronn und bin nun schon seit 34 Jahren in Kalifornien.

Der Wagen sieht spitze aus!
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Old 02-28-2024, 02:52 AM
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Originally Posted by german32er
My current daily:
Very nice car! Which springs do you have at the front? Ist das die AMG Spoilerlippe hinten oder ein Nachbau?
Old 02-28-2024, 08:26 PM
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C32 & C63PP, 203CL
Originally Posted by 112233
Very nice car! Which springs do you have at the front? Ist das die AMG Spoilerlippe hinten oder ein Nachbau?
KW Competiton Coilovers, and on the rear the tailgate Spoiler from Code 950/P85 - AMG SPORTS PACKAGE/SPORT EDITION WITH AMG

Old 03-10-2024, 01:15 AM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Is this a genuine C32 coupe? Or a engine swap? There's a guy here from way back in the day "PShek" who did thay.
There's a guy in Peru with a real one, one of like 6 I've heard, in the C32 forum. Wow, I LOVE the color!
Where did you find this beast?
Old 03-13-2024, 02:07 AM
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C32 & C63PP, 203CL
My Coupe is no genuine C32, it was a C320.
I Swop it to 55K with 7G MCT🤓

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Old 04-11-2024, 11:44 AM
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C230K Sportcoupe 2002 (early M271)
New user debugging some weird issues for this old thing.

Some facts for connoisseurs
- C230K from late -02 (early M271 with typical issues), 5-speed auto, color 'Aventurinorange Mica'
- All factory bells and whistles from 2002, except seat warmers
- Just breaking 150tkm, nowadays steady 10tkm annually
- Pre-facelift with facelift headlights and painted original grille
- H&R springs (-40mm)
- Lorinser spoiler and RS5 wheels (4x18x8.5", with some fitting)
- Cared for so rust-free etc. but the winters feel like a punishment
- Never left stranded in 10y / 100tkm, but the issues are plentiful. Big, small, common, obscure...







Last edited by CL203 from HEL; 04-11-2024 at 11:50 AM.
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Old 04-13-2024, 04:59 PM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
NICE! They called that "Cimmaron" here in the states.
I love the wing. Where ever did you find it?
I had a wing, one piece, not as nice as that, didn't look that good IMHO and I sold it.
Update your profile with a sig and info on where you are located etc.
Originally Posted by CL203 from HEL
New user debugging some weird issues for this old thing.

Some facts for connoisseurs
- C230K from late -02 (early M271 with typical issues), 5-speed auto, color 'Aventurinorange Mica'
- All factory bells and whistles from 2002, except seat warmers
- Just breaking 150tkm, nowadays steady 10tkm annually
- Pre-facelift with facelift headlights and painted original grille
- H&R springs (-40mm)
- Lorinser spoiler and RS5 wheels (4x18x8.5", with some fitting)
- Cared for so rust-free etc. but the winters feel like a punishment
- Never left stranded in 10y / 100tkm, but the issues are plentiful. Big, small, common, obscure...




Old 04-25-2024, 09:22 AM
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C230K Sportcoupe 2002 (early M271)
About the wing - was in the market for one and Lorinser popped up with google. A couple pictures only, but after finding one available online (in Greece) had to take the risk. (The ecommerce page is actually still up it seems, just no availability. But I think they do have the roof spoiler to match still - I'm not getting that though.)

They sent it as promised, and it turned out to be still factory packed (signed in 2001!) & ready for paint. How they had one laying around, who knows. A shame that it's apparently ultra-rare.

On another note - a nice little ongoing issue is that I'm getting uneven power when driving, seems like maybe an intake leak after lambda (?) since the only error codes have to do with running lean.

But when that's finally sorted I'll bother with finally installing the wind deflectors and tinting back windows.

Here's another pic, I'll find/take some better ones of the rear when I can, if someone wants a better look.




Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
NICE! They called that "Cimmaron" here in the states.
I love the wing. Where ever did you find it?
I had a wing, one piece, not as nice as that, didn't look that good IMHO and I sold it.
Update your profile with a sig and info on where you are located etc.
Old 04-25-2024, 01:26 PM
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C230k, W210
Originally Posted by CL203 from HEL
About the wing - was in the market for one and Lorinser popped up with google. A couple pictures only, but after finding one available online (in Greece) had to take the risk. (The ecommerce page is actually still up it seems, just no availability. But I think they do have the roof spoiler to match still - I'm not getting that though.)

They sent it as promised, and it turned out to be still factory packed (signed in 2001!) & ready for paint. How they had one laying around, who knows. A shame that it's apparently ultra-rare.

On another note - a nice little ongoing issue is that I'm getting uneven power when driving, seems like maybe an intake leak after lambda (?) since the only error codes have to do with running lean.

But when that's finally sorted I'll bother with finally installing the wind deflectors and tinting back windows.

Here's another pic, I'll find/take some better ones of the rear when I can, if someone wants a better look.

Love the car! With the 40mm drop you did, what are your wheel specs? I have the CLk 17x7 and 17x8 ET 35 and want to ensure no rubbing issues.
Old 04-26-2024, 06:37 AM
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C230K Sportcoupe 2002 (early M271)
Wheels are 18x8.5 ET 38. They would 'fit' but tire would touch the front suspension pole. At the back the usual aesthetic issue vs clearing the fender (even if there's people at the back seat). (Edit: tires are 235/40)

Ended up with 4mm spacers in the front and 12mm at the back.

Pretty sure you have all kinds of room with those, both front and back. But they'll also be quite deep in the wheel well. The OEM 7-spoke wheels are 7.5" ET 37 and are ~20mm inside the well at the back.

Btw the long and stupidly shaped center hub at the front was definitely a headache. In the end a shop actually welded me a pair of 4mm aluminum spacers that would fit like a glove. Good luck centering if there's any room for negotiation...

Cheers!

Originally Posted by B-5
Love the car! With the 40mm drop you did, what are your wheel specs? I have the CLk 17x7 and 17x8 ET 35 and want to ensure no rubbing issues.
Old 05-01-2024, 01:12 AM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
So clean!
Old 05-01-2024, 01:20 PM
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2002 C230K SportCoupe
Originally Posted by CL203 from HEL

This thing looks sick, especially with the red and the matching painted grill!
That fitment is perfect and the Lorinser spoiler ties the car together.
Old 05-02-2024, 03:48 PM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Wow, 55K engine badged as C180. As Mr. T once said, "I pity the poor fool" who would want to race you.
Thats a 1st. Were you able to get everything functional? That must've taken a lot of coding.
Or did you go with a seperate engine management system? What a beauty!
Originally Posted by german32er
My current daily:




Old 05-13-2024, 11:30 AM
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C230 V6 SportCoupe 2007 swapped to M272E35
I have mine Originally a C230 V6 SportCoupe Manual trans, now swapped to M272E35 with the SLK Plastic intake manifold + TB, that aside only mod is rear spoiler, looks nice in pictures but in reality I debate internally if I'm liking it or not, definitely I don't like that rear plastic glass when it starts peeling (that is why I got the spoiler in first place). I'm now thinking on getting CLC rear bumper, tail lights and trunk lid and change those as it doesn't have the rear glass.

C230 V6 SportCoupe
Old 05-14-2024, 08:55 PM
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2002 C230k sport coupe 2.3l
Literally just joined the forum, got mine on a straight up trade for my old truck loving it. 2002 with the 2.3l black
Old 05-15-2024, 02:07 PM
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C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Originally Posted by togamister
Literally just joined the forum, got mine on a straight up trade for my old truck loving it. 2002 with the 2.3l black
Post pics!
Old 05-15-2024, 03:31 PM
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2002 C230k sport coupe 2.3l
Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Post pics!

shes a lil rough, 120k on the clock, got a junkyard valve cover, gonna give her a engine bay facelift. But overall not a bad car for being neglected by my boss on his lot.







Old 05-15-2024, 03:48 PM
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2002 C230K SportCoupe
Originally Posted by togamister
shes a lil rough, 120k on the clock, got a junkyard valve cover, gonna give her a engine bay facelift. But overall not a bad car for being neglected by my boss on his lot.






Looks great, nice to see more M111 coupes around.
Enjoy your new ride!
Old 05-15-2024, 04:48 PM
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2002 C230k sport coupe 2.3l
Originally Posted by TheRotaryFox
Looks great, nice to see more M111 coupes around.
Enjoy your new ride!

ofc its so fun haha, also still waiting to see an overdive pulley come up at a discount 👀👀👀. The company that makes them here locally near houston still wants $450 USD and a core and a 5 week lead time 😂
Old 06-20-2024, 08:56 AM
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C230K Sportcoupe 2002 (early M271)
Good day! (I should do a separate thread as this is a bit off-topic, but anyway. Here's an update)

Mentioned earlier that the C230K very noticeably jerks when applying gas after fully warming up. On top of that, on lower revs (especially going uphill) there was an awful bass-heavy clunking sound, again when applying gas. Both consistent but random, and absolutely infuriating.

3 different shops have looked at it. First one reported that it's running lean and changed the spark plugs, no changes. Second changed the fuel transfer pump and filter and called it fixed - nope!

Last one actually knew what they were doing, had STAR and ran some data from both lambdas. And then it all started to make sense, finally. Turns out the o2 sensor after the cat was going wild and as a result, it was running rich. The sensor takes a bit longer to warm up, which is why the second shop erroneously thought they had fixed it.



A new sensor in and the god-awful bass clunk is gone, feels more responsive and I can actually step on the gas again. It's still a bit jerky though, but we didn't have the time to reset anything yet. Apparently the cat might melt if it's constantly running rich - not the case yet, thankfully.

Threw a bottle of Red Line SI-1 into a full tank today as a general countermeasure. I'm fearful of the carbon buildup as the engine has already had a cylinder head repair at around 100tkm due to this. Mechanic suggested an EGR valve bypass, will probably go for it.

One of the shops said the Valeo radiator issue isn't present on this model, wrong again. Transmission is mostly fine but I don't trust it to last so further checking needed.

Supercharger sounds rough on idle, listening with a long screwdriver (as they do) is interesting as it sounds like there's rocks in it but I'll leave a rebuild until it starts to act up.

Hoping this helps someone with similar issues... All I can say is find a good mechanic, or these things become expensive quick. And get proper diagnostics.

Anyway here's the interior some time ago (before detailing). I love the simplicity.



Raised the back a bit (about 20mm) with beefier rubber bump stops on top of the rear springs. Pics later...

As said a bit off topic, pardon. Have a nice day.
Old 06-20-2024, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by CL203 from HEL
Good day! (I should do a separate thread as this is a bit off-topic, but anyway. Here's an update)

Mentioned earlier that the C230K very noticeably jerks when applying gas after fully warming up. On top of that, on lower revs (especially going uphill) there was an awful bass-heavy clunking sound, again when applying gas. Both consistent but random, and absolutely infuriating.

3 different shops have looked at it. First one reported that it's running lean and changed the spark plugs, no changes. Second changed the fuel transfer pump and filter and called it fixed - nope!

Last one actually knew what they were doing, had STAR and ran some data from both lambdas. And then it all started to make sense, finally. Turns out the o2 sensor after the cat was going wild and as a result, it was running rich. The sensor takes a bit longer to warm up, which is why the second shop erroneously thought they had fixed it.


A new sensor in and the god-awful bass clunk is gone, feels more responsive and I can actually step on the gas again. It's still a bit jerky though, but we didn't have the time to reset anything yet. Apparently the cat might melt if it's constantly running rich - not the case yet, thankfully.

Threw a bottle of Red Line SI-1 into a full tank today as a general countermeasure. I'm fearful of the carbon buildup as the engine has already had a cylinder head repair at around 100tkm due to this. Mechanic suggested an EGR valve bypass, will probably go for it.

One of the shops said the Valeo radiator issue isn't present on this model, wrong again. Transmission is mostly fine but I don't trust it to last so further checking needed.

Supercharger sounds rough on idle, listening with a long screwdriver (as they do) is interesting as it sounds like there's rocks in it but I'll leave a rebuild until it starts to act up.

Hoping this helps someone with similar issues... All I can say is find a good mechanic, or these things become expensive quick. And get proper diagnostics.


As said a bit off topic, pardon. Have a nice day.
Supercharger rough on idle is a worn internal coupler.
Regarding your noise on load, after I changed the front lambda I got a rough, clunky engine noise under load 2000-3000 rpm which is independent from the engine revs (M111), only on warm engine . No idea whatsoever.
Do I have a chance to diagnose it without STAR? Spark plugs looks more lean since the Lambda change. It was a nightmare to get the Lambda out, totally seized.

Last edited by 112233; 06-20-2024 at 10:31 AM.


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