2002 C230 with 22K original miles sold for 15K
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
2002 C230 with 22K original miles sold for 15K
With new car prices just bonkers, it's nice to see our C Coupes are still desirable in
like new condition.
Even more astonising is the 83 diesel wagon this guy is selling current bid is 52K!
https://bringatrailer.com/member/dean_laumbach/
like new condition.
Even more astonising is the 83 diesel wagon this guy is selling current bid is 52K!
https://bringatrailer.com/member/dean_laumbach/
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From: Sacramento, CA
2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2008 ML550 4Matic; 2004 C320
With new car prices just bonkers, it's nice to see our C Coupes are still desirable in
like new condition.
Even more astonising is the 83 diesel wagon this guy is selling current bid is 52K!
https://bringatrailer.com/member/dean_laumbach/
like new condition.
Even more astonising is the 83 diesel wagon this guy is selling current bid is 52K!
https://bringatrailer.com/member/dean_laumbach/
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,004
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From: Richmond, VA Metro Area
2005 C230 Sport Sedan-6 Speed Manual
1. Condition
2. Low mileage
3. Manual transmission
If you want a car with a manual transmission, a C-Class coupe or sedan hits a sweet spot. The C Class provides better ride, handling and cabin comfort than an entry level economy car which are almost the only moderately priced cars with manual transmission cars available today. I looked at cars like the Jetta GLI and the Acura Integra recently. They will all set you back about $40k, and they don't have the same feel or attention to detail that our cars have.
I'm not sure I would have paid $15k for that car, but I understand why someone would.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Yeah 15K seems like a lot, but then again, how many 02
M111 powered coupes with 22K miles in immaculate condition
are still out there? It's not like they're selling new ones. I paid 30 grand new+ back in
2002 and those dollars would be more like 40-50K now with inflation.
I don't know. It's like new! The pano works flawlessly.
That diesel wagon is up to 55K now. This guy's cars are amazing.
M111 powered coupes with 22K miles in immaculate condition
are still out there? It's not like they're selling new ones. I paid 30 grand new+ back in
2002 and those dollars would be more like 40-50K now with inflation.
I don't know. It's like new! The pano works flawlessly.
That diesel wagon is up to 55K now. This guy's cars are amazing.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Jan 19, 2024 at 04:43 AM.
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From: Richmond, VA Metro Area
2005 C230 Sport Sedan-6 Speed Manual
A "unicorn" may be out there. When I owned a Miata, one of the guys on the board was interested in finding a low mileage 1994 M Edition. He eventually found one. The story was that the car had been placed in storage by grandparents who were planning to give the car to a grandchild when she or he reached driving age. When the time came the grandchild wasn't interested and the grandparents decided to sell the car.
Maybe someone will have done something similar with a W203.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Richmond, VA Metro Area
2005 C230 Sport Sedan-6 Speed Manual
I don't want to jinx myself, but I have had good experiences with manual transmissions. The Boxster is an exception. I bought it from the first owner who lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Even though the car had only 30,000 miles on it when I bought it, the clutch probably experienced wear equivalent to 100,000 miles due to the traffic conditions in the seller's area.
It seems like more people have problems with Mercedes automatic transmissions than with the manual transmissions. Of course, the percentage of Mercedes vehicles with manual transmissions that are still on the road is relatively low and that may explain why we see fewer complaints.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WNY
2005 w203 C230
Could also be supply and demand related - as only 3% or so w203s in North America/USA were sold with a manual transmission…
I wonder if the Chrysler Crossfire equivalent is more affordable?!
I wonder if the Chrysler Crossfire equivalent is more affordable?!
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Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Richmond, VA Metro Area
2005 C230 Sport Sedan-6 Speed Manual
If I recall correctly the Crossfire was built on the SLK chassis. Which leads to the question - How much does the SLK of the same period share with the W203? I'm pretty sure that the SLK and the W203 used some of the same engines and transmissions.
The guy who used to park next to me at work had a 2006 or 2007 SLK. A casual observer would conclude that they shared some DNA. I thought the SLK looked significantly shorter than my car, but I don't know whether the suspension was different. I don't think Mercedes was aiming to build a hard-core sports car with the SLK so it may share a lot with the W203 under the skin.
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
My 2002 722.6 auto is still tight at 255k miles with only regular fluid, filter and oring replacement. I've gotten real good at getting the fluid level just right which makes for perfect shifts. That trans was used in AMG and V12 vehicles right up until recently. It rated for gobs of power. The manual is not. Made by Gertrag.
Auto is made by ZF. Which coincidentally was used in Boxster S. You can purchase face-lift lights and mirror blinkers to update the exterior of earlier models FYI. I did.
[QUOTE=KevinH2000;8912692]When I replaced the clutch on my 2000 Boxster, I also needed to replace the flywheel. If the prices on a Mercedes are similar to those on a Porsche (and they are probably equally high) I expect that you are correct. Even if the flywheel is still in relatively good shape at the time of clutch replacement, it may make sense to replace it. I don't think I would want to pay the labor cost of removing the transmission a second time.
I don't want to jinx myself, but I have had good experiences with manual transmissions. The Boxster is an exception. I bought it from the first owner who lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Even though the car had only 30,000 miles on it when I bought it, the clutch probably experienced wear equivalent to 100,000 miles due to the traffic conditions in the seller's area.
It seems like more people have problems with Mercedes automatic transmissions than with the manual transmissions. Of course, the percentage of Mercedes vehicles with manual transmissions that are still on the road is relatively low and that may explain why we see fewer complaints.[/QUOTE]
Auto is made by ZF. Which coincidentally was used in Boxster S. You can purchase face-lift lights and mirror blinkers to update the exterior of earlier models FYI. I did.
[QUOTE=KevinH2000;8912692]When I replaced the clutch on my 2000 Boxster, I also needed to replace the flywheel. If the prices on a Mercedes are similar to those on a Porsche (and they are probably equally high) I expect that you are correct. Even if the flywheel is still in relatively good shape at the time of clutch replacement, it may make sense to replace it. I don't think I would want to pay the labor cost of removing the transmission a second time.
I don't want to jinx myself, but I have had good experiences with manual transmissions. The Boxster is an exception. I bought it from the first owner who lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Even though the car had only 30,000 miles on it when I bought it, the clutch probably experienced wear equivalent to 100,000 miles due to the traffic conditions in the seller's area.
It seems like more people have problems with Mercedes automatic transmissions than with the manual transmissions. Of course, the percentage of Mercedes vehicles with manual transmissions that are still on the road is relatively low and that may explain why we see fewer complaints.[/QUOTE]
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Jan 25, 2024 at 07:12 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,004
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From: Richmond, VA Metro Area
2005 C230 Sport Sedan-6 Speed Manual
My 2002 722.6 auto is still tight at 255k miles with only regular fluid, filter and oring replacement. I've gotten real good at getting the fluid level just right which makes for perfect shifts. That trans was used in AMG and V12 vehicles right up until recently. It rated for gobs of power. The manual is not. Made by Gertrag.
Auto is made by ZF. Which coincidentally was used in Boxster S.
Auto is made by ZF. Which coincidentally was used in Boxster S.
I expect that you are correct. Mercedes didn't install the manual transmissions it used in the run-of-the mill W203's in its AMG cars for a reason. The engine in my car produces 189 horsepower versus the 362 in a C55. The engine in a C320, which I believe was available with a manual transmission, produces 215 ponies. I think my car has a sufficient margin for error, but I wouldn't push my luck and install its manual transmission in a C55.
