Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy?

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Fri 5 Aug 2016 17:00
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - RaineMan

For various reasons my daily driver is heading into semi-retirement. Purchase price is more than an issue than running costs as do a very low annual mileage. Coming back from looking at a Ford Focus I saw the above car for sale. It has only had two owners from new (first till first MOT!) and then the current owner. It has a full srevice history and has done about 90,000. miles.

I did not have much time but a quick look around suggested everything was in order. My question is could it be a good buy or just a money pit?

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Fri 5 Aug 2016 18:32
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - pd

Any car can be a money pit and any 13 year old car will have worn and aged bits.

The W203 is better than its reputation IMO. Look out for rust (common) but also check for noisy timing chains, uneven idle caused by perished breather hoses and oil in the wiring loom originating from the cam sensors on the front of the engine.

Other than that, if it drives OK, they're not bad.

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Fri 5 Aug 2016 18:52
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - elekie&a/c doctor

In addition to the above,make sure everything works ok.Especially the heating and a/con system.Listen for any "clicking/knocking"from behind the dash on start up.This could be a very expensive fix.Also make sure no warning lights showing on dash,pay attention to engine and airbag lights.Something else,if it only has one key,another will cost over £200.

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Fri 5 Aug 2016 19:22
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - oldroverboy.

If you are getting it for £500 to a £1000 ish worth a punt, but be aware that 1 big bill will make it worthless. Gearbox/aircon/ are all the discs and pads ok? all newish tyres?

For me a big no!

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 08:45
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - Bracket

I owned the same model. Nice car. But with a premium car you get premium repair bills. So it's always a gamble regardless of what the service history is.

My Merc generated a £1200 bill for a camshaft position sensor problem, which the repair didn't fix, generating endless weeks of hassle with the repairer. Then the auto-box decided it no longer needed to shift up into third, ditto.

It's almost the case with an old Merc that you need to put around £2K-£3K in the bank to cover any problems if they arise.

While the engines might go on 'for ever' the rest of the car is slowly wearing out around it.

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 01:33
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - Avant

I agree with the above comments. Also if you're interested in this Mercedes, get a good test drive and make sure it really is better to drive than a Ford Focus. There are many Mercs that I might prefer to a Focus, but quite a few that I wouldn't.

Edited by Avant on 07/08/2016 at 12:35

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Mon 8 Aug 2016 19:13
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - barney100

A mate of mine has a 'W' c class 4.2, he's had it for years. He looks after it and admitably spent a couple of grand on bodywork several years ago but the car is super condition, goes like the clappers and kept him from spending multiple thousands of pounds over the years on updating cars. Change your car often or get a car you love and keep it for years?

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Tue 9 Aug 2016 07:13
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - madf

Kompressors fail. New £1000s. Used can be a good buy.

See Wheeler Dealers who repaiired one. (a SLK)

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Tue 9 Aug 2016 09:44
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - pd

Kompressors fail. New £1000s. Used can be a good buy.

See Wheeler Dealers who repaiired one. (a SLK)

Slightly different engine. A C230 from 2003 will have the newer 1.8 litre engine.

Kompressors are usually reliable on those but they do suffer from timing chain issues if not serviced properly, perished breather hoses and oil ingress iinto the wiring loom.

They're a lot more economical than the older ones such as in the Mk 1 SLK though.

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Tue 9 Aug 2016 09:55
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - gordonbennet

Is the 1.8 the Mitsubishi engine with single timing chain, if it is then chain supposed to be changed at 80k miles if my memory serves me well, not cheap, my hard to impress MB indy is very unimpressed with that lump.

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Tue 9 Aug 2016 21:24
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - pd

Is the 1.8 the Mitsubishi engine with single timing chain, if it is then chain supposed to be changed at 80k miles if my memory serves me well, not cheap, my hard to impress MB indy is very unimpressed with that lump.

It'll be the M271 engine - used in pretty much all MB's since 2002 and I think a derivitive of it is still about.

It might have some connection with Mitsubishi but it is a Mercedes engine.

Must have been about a gazillion of them made by now.

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Tue 9 Aug 2016 15:00
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - FoxyJukebox

I suspect the current owner is feeling that the time has come to change before he's stung with a stinkingly costly repair?

How would you feel if a couple of stonking bills wiped out any benefits?

But if you are prepared to take that risk--then it's deffo worth a punt.

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Fri 12 Aug 2016 14:28
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - RaineMan

I spoke with a couple of MB specialists and they were in agreement with the timing chain needing changing (one said it was the car's weakest link - I think the pun ws intended). If it has not been done then it is potentially a ticking time bomb. The job can sometimes also entail replacing the the sprockets and tensioner, which in turn mean removing the head! I got back to the vendor and asked if the timing chain had been changed and was told that MB timing chains never needed changing! I think if it had been half the price I would probaly have gone for it and had the chain checked immediately after purchase as overall the car is in excellent condition but I knew this was not going to happen. So the search for a sub-£3k auto goes on...

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Fri 12 Aug 2016 14:35
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - pd

The timing chains on these do not "need" changing at 80k. They are not part of the service schedule.

I've seen many of these engines at 150-200k quite happily on the original chain. They are designed to last the life of the car so the vendor is correct in what they say but, like any other part, can go wrong.

There have been some failing early which isn't quite the same thing. This is quite often due to lack of servicing. If it is failing it will make a horrible noise.

ANY car will go wrong eventually and end up as coke cans - they all do.

If the timing chain has lasted 13 years and isn't making a horrible noise it will probably last a bit longer.

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Fri 12 Aug 2016 18:12
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - RaineMan

Now I am confused by all this contradictory information – the truth mist be out there somewhere. SWMBO likes the car but would be the first to moan if it had a problem!

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Sun 4 Sep 2016 13:50
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - RaineMan

As car was one of the dearest of its year and model in Autotrader/Ebay Cars I thought I would see if I could make an offer to leave something in the bank toward the cost of a timing chain replacement. It was a short conversation! The asking price was then put up and the car appears to heve been sold!

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Sun 4 Sep 2016 17:51
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe - 2003 - Mercedes C230 Kompressor Good Buy? - johncyprus
Elderly Mercedes CLKs are great value, I bought a thirteen year old CLK320 two years ago and have done 20,000 miles without incident and I can easily get 35mpg on a run. The CLK was recommended by this years Motoring Which as a good second hand buy.
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