Merc W203 C200 Kompressor reliability?

Loom

Member
Hi all

My brother is looking for a car and is considering this one:
https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-ba...-with-fsh-207000-km/1002034983220911133500609

C 200 automatic. Outstanding condition. Full house. Accident free. Full service history. Lady owner. New shocks 12 months ago. Nothing to spend. Very very reliable and pleasure to drive! RWC included. (Towbar as shown excluded). Second owner. R 73900. 207 000 km.

Any thoughts about reliability? What about the kompressor and auto transmission at this mileage?

Appreciate any input!
 

ChefDJ

///Member
That is a bit over priced. You can pick up a C270 CDI with less mileage for that price.

It's also not full house. This is such an over-used term lately. It has no PDC, no electric seats or electric steering adjustment which means it has no easy access function either, no heated seats, no car phone, and I'm not sure what else but I can tell all this from the pics. It's also pre-facelift.

My W203 C270 CDI has all of the above mentioned features with similar mileage plus extras like OEM fitted rubber mats and I would be lucky to get that price.

It will be a decent enough vehicle to buy but not at the price. This is a very basic model.

I can't comment on the longevity of the motor but I have seen other Kompressor's with more mileage than that.
 

Webmaster

Administrator
My stepdad had one from new to 146kkm (trade in) with no hassles at all. His brother had the 180K and had numerous gearbox troubles. Hit and miss really. Not bad cars, just beware of the very light steering.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ChefDJ

///Member
Light steering? Mine steers like a tank :rollsmile:

I will say that they are incredibly reliable vehicles and maintenance is minimal. Also, parts are so easy to get and affordable from the dealers, unlike BMW that likes to keep everything for older models held up in a warehouse in Germany.
 

Webmaster

Administrator
ChefDJ@TheFanatics said:
Light steering? Mine steers like a tank :rollsmile:

I will say that they are incredibly reliable vehicles and maintenance is minimal. Also, parts are so easy to get and affordable from the dealers, unlike BMW that likes to keep everything for older models held up in a warehouse in Germany.

Yep, really light, as in fooking scary light. No sneeze factor built in the system. Just out of curiosity, what tires are you running? He was on Pirelli Cinturato C5's.
 

ChefDJ

///Member
Currently it has dunflops and I hate them, but they aren't really a contributing factor as the steering has been this way since new. Almost as heavy as my E39 was.
 

Dirtydeedsman

Active member
Nah not this one buddy, for that amount of money you can get the face lift model which had the updated interior and looks even more delicious than that one.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Obviously I can't vouch for those ones personally since I just did a quick search but having one of these right now and running it.... Bullet proof. Mercedes-Benz back when it was still Mercedes-Benz. 247XXXkm later still has that new car smell...
 

Riaad

Events Organiser
My dad used to own a 2005 c180 kompressor (same engine as the c200) i think it had around 270k on the clock ...drove well ..gearbox was solid...engine was solid as well...they only suffer from weak timing chains and gears...have to replace around every 120k kms ...we didnt and it broke:smashScreen: mission to replace

on a side note - the auto in this is very slow to respond, and it doesnt give full manual control of the gears (maybe its different in an amg specced model) and they quite heavy on fuel esp in traffic (13-14 l/100)...long distance is decent, around 7l/100
 

individj

Well-known member
got my grandad a C180 facelift with 80 000km on the clock for R85 000...has about 95 000km now..going good. Airflow Meter went..they do go & I've heard that they can have chain issues.
 

Ebo

Active member
They not the lightest on fuel, coincedently my buddy's one is up for sale. 210000km 2005 but fullhouse. (CPT though). R70k neg
img-20170731-wa0005_3803733098.jpg
img-20170731-wa0002_8492476358.jpg


Mods please remove if not applicable
 

ChefDJ

///Member
That black one is nice with the rims but again, there's no PDC so it can't be full house :rollsmile:
 

ChefDJ

///Member
If looking for a W203 specifically, maybe look for a diesel for fuel economy.

I mentioned I have a C270 CDI. In town I get around 600km on a tank, sometimes a bit more. On the long road this is easily doubled. Tank is 70L and this Benz takes me from Pretoria to George on a tank, roughly 1150km.
 

Loom

Member
Thanks for all the replies. We are not specifically looking for a Merc. It's just easier with my being in Potchefstroom.
 

Waseem 333i

Active member
This one has the m111 motor. The facelift has the M271 motor. M111 is stronger. Motor is really solid. On out one the water pump gave up and the car overheated. I pulled the head off and I found the bore and everything else in excellent condition. The only problem I can think of n this car is the cam magnets. They leak oil which then finds its way into the wiring harness then to the ecu. When i was busy with my one I found oil in the harness but it didn't get anywhere past the wiring for the cam magnets. R800 odd rand for new cam magnet from agents. Parts are much cheaper than bmw. You can get parts from Agents or goldwagen. I don't know much about the auto gearbox. My one has the 6 speed manual. Fuel consumption is not that great around town. I get between 9 to 9,5 litres per hundred. On the highway between 7.7 to 8.5 depending how i drive. The pulleys are a problem but no crazy expense to repair.

On the m271 engine there is a problem of timing chain stretching and jumping a tooth and if not serviced on time there is major risk of sending a conrod through the block. However that's like 10k km over due service.

I enjoy our c200 k. Its a really nice car to own and drive. The one you have posted is overpriced so pass on it and keep looking.
 

Loom

Member
Thread revival!
My brother bought the one in my first post. It's actually a nice, comfortable car - one I wouldn't mind owning myself. Fuel consumption is quite good, too. Can't remember the figures but it's impressive.
 
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