I rarely drive my wife's '97 C280 but was in it yesterday and punched it. After driving my ML320 around all the time driving her C280 is fast and fun for me! This car normally, which has about 45,000 miles on it, accelerates very quickly and smooth but it was like the emergency brake was on - no, it wasn't . The rpms climbed but I was accelerating like an older model Volkswagen van and it didn't want to go beyond 65mph! First for me in this car. Of course she never noticed because she doesn't drive like I do. Seems fairly smooth in normal, gradual acceleration but still had a problem over 50, like something is plugged, loose, or...? No warning lights. Any ideas before I take it in? Hopefully it is something fairly simple AND inexpensive.

 

My first guess is a bad mass-airflow sensor, a common cause for loss of power.

 

Dave. Thank you. A guy at work that is pretty sharp on auto repairs (an older model 911 Porsche owner) said the same thing yesterday. I'll get it in to the shop. I've heard of people over oiling K&N (and similar air filters) and damaging the sensor although she doesn't have one in her C280. I do in my ML320 but haven't had this problem and have about the same mileage.

 

Close to $700.00 for MBZ dealer to fix this!!! Dave. Now I know why you hung on to your Honda!