2003 Merc c220 diesel estate

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This topic has 18 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by therag.

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2003 Merc c220 diesel estate
gears_suck
Free Member

Considering buying one of these with 175000 miles on the clock. What are your thoughts and experiences please.

Posted 10 years ago

tonyg2003
Full Member

The 220 engine has a good reputation for reliability (my occasional airport taxi driver has 500K on his). You have to watch out for rust on Mercs of that age.

Check the Club MB forum buying guides.

Posted 10 years ago

eskay
Full Member

Wasn’t that from the ‘bad’ era?

Posted 10 years ago

captain-slow
Free Member

all about the price you pay as a major failure will probably make it uneconomic to repair. but at the right price I would buy one

Posted 10 years ago

scottyjohn
Free Member

I had a c-class at one point from 2001, and it was a great car. Mercedes specialist friend of my Dad said that era had problems across the range, as they had a muppet at the top of the company who forced cutting design and quality corners.
I do think they aren’t as robust, but I think it started to get better from about 2004 onwards. Same as any other car though, if you get one that’s been looked after with all the stamps in the book, should be good.

Posted 10 years ago

br
Free Member

£1000 tops.

Posted 10 years ago

peterfile
Free Member

£1000 tops.

Realistically though, you’ll be lucky to find one for cheaper than £2k.

Posted 10 years ago

gears_suck
Free Member

Interesting. Good comments so far. I had heard that quality was suspect from around this era. This one I’m looking at does have all the service history up to 150000 miles?

Posted 10 years ago

Inbred456
Free Member

Check the paint and the body for rust. Merc changed to water based paint around that time and had no end of bother with rust and rot. Took them a while to get it sorted. The auto’s are better, don’t think merc have made a decent manual to date.

Posted 10 years ago

benji
Free Member

Rust on the front arches is common. Another issue is leaking injector seals, so you get a large amount of carbon/coke blow past which will be seen once the engine cover is removed.

When you do need parts, check prices with mercedes, as on some items they are silly cheap and others they are way off the scale the other way.

Posted 10 years ago

paulwf
Full Member

I have one of a similar age that has done 186k. It has had a manual gearbox at 140k which so far has been the only major failure.

I have however replaced all the springs and shocks, all the front suspension bushes, and the lower bushes in the rear suspension.
If it hasn’t had this suspension done it will probably need them done soon. It made a huge difference to my car.

Posted 10 years ago

gears_suck
Free Member

Paulwf. What were the costs involved in those repairs? To those who’ve mentioned corrosion issues. The body is in remarkably good (original) condition. No rust present surprisingly.

Posted 10 years ago

unfitgeezer
Free Member

We had a 2002 270cdi with 215000 on the clock great car and more economical than the 220 I was getting 55mpg on long runs without failure.
Bought as a one ownererd car with every extra I got it with 200000 miles on it only sold it as it developed a silly electrical fault that was going to cost way to much.
Parts same as any other car join a merc forum and you can get discounts for eurocar spares or gsf
Great car

Posted 10 years ago

hora
Free Member

Why not a petrol version?

Posted 10 years ago

gears_suck
Free Member

Because I’m looking at a diesel. But if you know something about petrol estates you think I should know. Please feel free to enlighten me.

Posted 10 years ago

hora
Free Member

From what I understand they aren’t bad engines (the C180) – plus if you don’t have a heavy right foot they aren’t bad on fuel. Plenty around with stella-mileage too.

Posted 10 years ago

glenp
Free Member

What you do often see is lpg converted Mercs at a good price.

I have an older Y-reg C220 diesel estate and I love it. My Merc mechanic friend cautioned me against the newer, oval headlight ones. So a long search for a non-rusty yr 2000 ish resulted in 100K miles and £2K price. Does 45mpg all the time and is a really likeable drive.

Posted 10 years ago

gears_suck
Free Member

Glenp. Yea I looked at those, but finding one that isn’t really tired and rusty is a tall order.

Posted 10 years ago

therag
Free Member

I’ve got a 2006 c220d sport estate auto on 111000
I hardly drive it as i use the van, but the wife loves driving it. It is really heavy on the wallet tho, usually get 32mpg.

Posted 10 years ago