C180 owners! how's the reliability of your car?

[Mecontle]

merc reliability is king of poop , after warranty prepare for 5k repair p.a.

[Luckcent]

merc reliability is king of poop , after warranty prepare for 5k repair p.a.

Your statement is wrong. I have a used W211 for the last 1.5 yrs and it is already

6.5 yrs old. I only changed a ball joint nia besides the normal service.

[W210k]

merc reliability is king of poop , after warranty prepare for 5k repair p.a.

Now that's a sweeping statement!

I have owned a couple of Mercs and they have proven very reliable. Chopped, signed and stamped.

 

You've gotta know that only Mercs produced between the late 90's to mid-2K have proven to be less reliable. This was attributed by many, in the global car industry, to Daimler & Benz's austerity drive to cut production cost then.

 

They have since learnt a painful lesson on foregoing quality for profits, had pulled up their socks, revamped their mission statement and have been churning out very reliable models of late, all this going back to their past renown - as purveyors of high quality cars from Germany.

 

[W210k]

One thing's for sure - Mercs are very much more reliable than my BMWs.

BMW is about managing fluid (oil, water, gas & other fluids) leaks.

And I have not even started talking about valvetronic issues!

[Hachi28]

i reckon need to throw in 10-20k ?

 

 

Much less than that...

 

205/55 XM2 tyres plus alignment = $960

Gear box/Engine mount, sway bar bushing, flush engine/coolant/brake, oil change/fliud top up, 2x air filter, battery, Bosch wiper = $1200+

B12 Por kit suspension with installation & alignment = $1530

4 x lower arm replacement if need to = $730+-

Brake rotors and pad = $1000+-

Engine diagnosis and lubricate supercharger = $60

I have yet to check the ball joint, so dunno how much..

 

So.... these are the basic service for a 80k to 100k W203 maintenance. It is not much $ diff. from Japanese car maintenance. As long as you dun go to C&C for the above mentioned, then it will not be that scary.

 

ONCE all these are done, you may proceed to Mercedes modification world.

Install Kleemann K-Box & Pully Kit

Replace your stock header to Kleemann header.

Change your supercharger to W203 C230 model.

Get a VATH intercooler

Upgrade Exhaust/catback

17" or 18" rims with low profile tyres with AMG Brakes/ drilled rotors

Next, wind down the windows, play Hokkian ah beng music and smoke inside the car...power

Edited February 24, 2012 by Hachi28

[Hachi28]

u may wanna share some particular issues that one needs to watch out for? maybe example like gearbox up lorry at its 5th yr?

 

My 7 yrs old W203 mileage is around 80k, and no major problem so far.

But I do have the car suddenly stall on the first year, but it is due to the manufacturing fault on the fuel tank, and C&C replace it and no more issues till now.

The only thing that I do not like about this car is the engine noise and supercharger noise; it is loud compared to Sushi and Kimchi cars

[Angchug]

They have some problem with the headlights, my neighbour just had his replaced (both ) FOC. His is c200, 2008 model.

 

[Mercs]

Been driving a W203 for coming 9 years.

 

Did overhaul for gear box and changed air-con compressor, the rest just wear and tear parts.

 

Overall, I would say very reliable.

[Helloworld99]

merc reliability is king of poop , after warranty prepare for 5k repair p.a.

 

I dun think this statement is accurate. Not sure this gentlemen owns a mercedes and what model and year? For me, my mercedes servicing has never exceeded beyond $1K (excluding major replacement) and I serviced at C & C.

[Hachi28]

Something interesting for you guys to read about M271 engine mod (except for the sprintbooster part, I dun really buy it).

 

http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/227...mpressor-3.html

Edited March 5, 2012 by Hachi28

[Galantspeedz]

looking for a year 2005 C class 180 or 200 or E 200k or 200ML....

 

can pm me if anyone is willing to sell...

 

 

[Kaedetod]

so far so good

built like a tank

[Micarforum]

Hi everyone,

 

I am contemplating between Merc C180 and Volvo S60. I am leaning towards S60 for its devotion to safety (which is my main concern).

 

However, I am just wondering, is C180 just as good in terms of safety?

 

Secondly, is S60 much cheaper than the C180?

 

Lastly, Will I end up losing more money due to the poor resale value of S60 years down the road, compared to C180? (i.e. lower initial purchase price, but much lower resale price, resulting in higher depreciation compared to C180).

 

Thanks alot!

[Knighthunter]

Go test drive drive and ask SE for package deal.

S60 T4 is more powerful compared to C180K or C180CGI. S60T4 is cheaper than C180K both has nice cockpit and seats. Well I had better deal with C180K since this is the second Merc I purchase from C&C

[W210k]

Hi everyone,

 

I am contemplating between Merc C180 and Volvo S60. I am leaning towards S60 for its devotion to safety (which is my main concern).

 

However, I am just wondering, is C180 just as good in terms of safety?

 

Secondly, is S60 much cheaper than the C180?

 

Lastly, Will I end up losing more money due to the poor resale value of S60 years down the road, compared to C180? (i.e. lower initial purchase price, but much lower resale price, resulting in higher depreciation compared to C180).

 

Thanks alot!

Merc C-class NCAP 5 Star.

Volvo S60 NCAP 5 Star.

Same same.

Mercs will always have a large secondary market demand here in SG, much more than what Volvo can even command!

Just talk to any used car dealer and you will understand the gravity of that reality.

 

 

 

 

[Meanmachine]

hi everyone!

 

I'm considering getting myself a c180(2nd hand).

 

How's the car treating you? or does it have the "temperament" of conti cars, needing repair often?

 

thanks!

 

 

My good fen driving a 07 C180, very good performance car, reliable and dependable, only setback is Kompressor engine, U pay $10.00 more petrol,

 

since its 4ys + old, Merc car is well received and easy to use, less problem like Beemers & Audi.

 

Go for it,of course if U can afford 08, better still, ( newer version )

 

[Micarforum]

Merc C-class NCAP 5 Star.

Volvo S60 NCAP 5 Star.

Same same.

Mercs will always have a large secondary market demand here in SG, much more than what Volvo can even command!

Just talk to any used car dealer and you will understand the gravity of that reality.

 

I read that safety is more than just NCAP ratings which test the car crash at fairly standard scenarios. I have watched videos of Volvo's crash test facilities in Sweden which can simulate various different scenarios during real life accidents and ensure the safety of the passengers. And it seems that some of the safety features that comes with standard S60 are not found in the standard C180.

 

I am in the late 20s, not a car enthusiast, just want to ensure my family members are safe from my driving / other road hazards, no need v powerful car also, but didn't want the risk of getting a lemon in the secondary resale market.

 

But my concern financially is: Let's say i sell the car after 3-5 years, would the depreciation of the C180 be less than the S60? i.e. the cost of ownership per year for the S60 is higher than the C180.

Edited March 17, 2012 by Micarforum

[Fishman]

I read that safety is more than just NCAP ratings which test the car crash at fairly standard scenarios. I have watched videos of Volvo's crash test facilities in Sweden which can simulate various different scenarios during real life accidents and ensure the safety of the passengers. And it seems that some of the safety features that comes with standard S60 are not found in the standard C180.

 

I am in the late 20s, not a car enthusiast, just want to ensure my family members are safe from my driving / other road hazards, no need v powerful car also, but didn't want the risk of getting a lemon in the secondary resale market.

 

But my concern financially is: Let's say i sell the car after 3-5 years, would the depreciation of the C180 be less than the S60? i.e. the cost of ownership per year for the S60 is higher than the C180.

 

Get the Merc bro. No need to count until the cow come home.