JaguarMB

I found a nice 2008 C300 sport with premium package that looks to be in great condition and has 68k miles with a warranty until 100k. I assume that means no maintenance is free, just if something under warranty breaks I get it for free.

I don't know much about Mercedes, I'm a honda/acura/audi guy, but I would like to get this car for my girlfriend.

What can I expect in terms of known problems with the C300, especially at higher mileage? I know parts/service is expensive for this car, but are these cars pretty reliable with higher mileage or do they start having very expensive repair issues?

Any very large services required, soon, like belts etc that will cost $500+ or more. Do mercedes appreciate signficantly once past $100k?

Just trying to see if this would be a wise purchase for me. Thanks for your help guys!

Acapulco Bill

Hopefully the car's service history is complete. Make sure that the transmission was serviced at 39k miles and that all software, like the audio unit and the 7G transmission TCU has its free update from MB.

There have been several recalls, most notable is the cam adjuster issue:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ssues-dtb.html

Mercedes should last if properly serviced, just sold a diesel with more than 200k miles running just fine.

Richard2011

Could you elaborate on the "free updates"? I'm not sure if they'd be willing to give out free updates without issues with the car. My warranty is up in August.

LILBENZ230

Agree about the transmission being properly serviced. As far as the TCU updates, that is usually included with a service at the dealer. If the car is under warranty, should be free. Obviously the OP's car will not be.

Personally I don't consider 68k miles as "high mileage" especially on a 5 year old car.

Sportstick

We don't know enough about your girlfriend's interests to give you a good answer. If you were buying this for yourself, and knew the risks, one could rationalize that if the car were a good deal, and you understood the likely series of wear-and-tear replacements you are probably facing, all could be well. But, unless she is so strongly motivated by having this particular brand or car, and either you will be shepherding it back and forth for service/maintenance and or she will, and doesn't mind, I think you're asking for a potential problem.

If she is not strongly fixated on having a MB, her life would certainly be easier and more predictable with a new something else (more modest to equate the purchase price) with new car warranty, loaners, and all. What price range are you in? Also, you didn't share much about the warranty....is it through MB or an aftermarket company? What is included/excluded? Is it immediate coverage or pay and wait for reimbursement? Can she afford the maintenance or will you be picking that up?

Acapulco Bill

Software updates are sometimes overlooked by MB SA's, here are three you should request for FREE with an "A" service, besides insisting that the VIN be run for all recall bulletins and insuring that these fixes have been performed on your vehicle:

1) ECU updates, last one for the 3.0L M272 engine was in 2011 as far as I am aware.

2) TCU updates, for the laggardly 7G-Tronic, actually improves performance until the Adaptive Learning kills the transmission's ability to perform intelligent shifts.

3) Audio20 Headunit - A newer version installed through MY2009 was subject to an update which gave the Engineering Menu a parametric equalizer among other improvements including better Bluetooth compatibility. NOT ALL pre-MY2010 headunits can be updated, and does not apply to the H-K Logic 7 system.