Hi as anyone any views good or bad as i am looking to buy one approx year 2001/2002

The old W208 shape I presume? the newer W209 model came out around 02/03 from memory

Yep w208 model

Mechanically a pretty good model but did suffer from corrosion around the wheel arches & boot lid. Check carefully for signs of rust starting.

 

Suspension can be a weak point - front lower arm bushes can split & front & rear road springs can break. Steering dampers are prone to leaking.

 

The brake discs are fairly soft - allow for a disc change pretty much every other pad change.

 

The roofs are good on the whole - side seals can leak as the rubbers get older. Switch problems can sometimes occur preventing the roof from working. The tension cables under the lining can sometimes break.

 

A big problem with the engine is the front pulley - the rubber damper can break away & the outer part of the pulley cuts its way though the front timing cover & sump!! Major expense if this happens & have seen some bodged up with a bit of chemical metal!!

 

The oil seal for the electrical connector on the gearbox is a common leak point - easy repair tho. Check rear diff seals for leaks too.

 

Servicing is not too bad apart from the spark plugs - its a twin spark engine so 12 plugs at around £8 each - they do last 54,000 miles or 4 years tho.

 

If the car has full MBSH then you are entiltled to Mobilo Life - Mercedes lifetime free breakdown service, so a nice bonus! One service outside of the dealer network & this is void!

 

Give me a shout if you find a specific one & want any more info :)

Mechanically a pretty good model but did suffer from corrosion around the wheel arches & boot lid. Check carefully for signs of rust starting.

 

Suspension can be a weak point - front lower arm bushes can split & front & rear road springs can break. Steering dampers are prone to leaking.

 

The brake discs are fairly soft - allow for a disc change pretty much every other pad change.

 

The roofs are good on the whole - side seals can leak as the rubbers get older. Switch problems can sometimes occur preventing the roof from working. The tension cables under the lining can sometimes break.

 

A big problem with the engine is the front pulley - the rubber damper can break away & the outer part of the pulley cuts its way though the front timing cover & sump!! Major expense if this happens & have seen some bodged up with a bit of chemical metal!!

 

The oil seal for the electrical connector on the gearbox is a common leak point - easy repair tho. Check rear diff seals for leaks too.

 

Servicing is not too bad apart from the spark plugs - its a twin spark engine so 12 plugs at around £8 each - they do last 54,000 miles or 4 years tho.

 

If the car has full MBSH then you are entiltled to Mobilo Life - Mercedes lifetime free breakdown service, so a nice bonus! One service outside of the dealer network & this is void!

Give me a shout if you find a specific one & want any more info :)

 

Great advice from someone who really knows their Mercs! Nice one Paul.....

 

......Aso for Mobilo Life; doesn't it get reinstated with the next main dealer service - or is that just the later cars? I seem to remember something about that on the MB owners' forums......

 

Richard:thumbup1:

......Aso for Mobilo Life; doesn't it get reinstated with the next main dealer service - or is that just the later cars? I seem to remember something about that on the MB owners' forums......

 

 

Nah - only on late cars, they brought that in around 2005 from memory where you could get back into Mobilo with a MB service, all early cars lost Mobilo with just 1 non genuine service :(

Mechanically a pretty good model but did suffer from corrosion around the wheel arches & boot lid. Check carefully for signs of rust starting.

 

Suspension can be a weak point - front lower arm bushes can split & front & rear road springs can break. Steering dampers are prone to leaking.

 

The brake discs are fairly soft - allow for a disc change pretty much every other pad change.

 

The roofs are good on the whole - side seals can leak as the rubbers get older. Switch problems can sometimes occur preventing the roof from working. The tension cables under the lining can sometimes break.

 

A big problem with the engine is the front pulley - the rubber damper can break away & the outer part of the pulley cuts its way though the front timing cover & sump!! Major expense if this happens & have seen some bodged up with a bit of chemical metal!!

 

The oil seal for the electrical connector on the gearbox is a common leak point - easy repair tho. Check rear diff seals for leaks too.

 

Servicing is not too bad apart from the spark plugs - its a twin spark engine so 12 plugs at around £8 each - they do last 54,000 miles or 4 years tho.

 

If the car has full MBSH then you are entiltled to Mobilo Life - Mercedes lifetime free breakdown service, so a nice bonus! One service outside of the dealer network & this is void!

 

Give me a shout if you find a specific one & want any more info :)

 

Thanks for that its a superb bit of info

Thanks for that its a superb bit of info

 

No probs :)

im not sure what the 320 is but i assume its similar to the 230clk cabrio? i had one, and as mensioned the front wings were starting to rust, roof material seemed to have shrunk a little over the years so seemed very tight to pull back into place after having it down, poor quality on some bits of trim, i.e. door cards coming off, fake wood blistering up/chipping. The door catch thingy that stops the door from swinging all the way open so that it dont catch the wing (sorry dont know its technicall name) well this snapped off mine and when i took the door card off it seemed immposible to un-bolt the remaing part of this catch as there were only a few holes for access into the insdie of the door??? i would imagine changing the electric window motor or glass would also be a pain? thats just my opinon, im sure theres a easy way around it. and the window wound up to far so when you closed the door it would sit on the outside of the roof rubber bit, i assume this just needed setting right, i just never got round to it. other than that it was a beautifull car to drive and people always thought you were really rich even though it cost me only 4 grand.

i never had any mechanical issues exept for a rusty bolt snapping on the down pipe, replaced the bolt and away i went again.

 

it was a 230clk compressor in navy blue and the model was avangarde, which seemed to be a high spec (bar it had cloth seats)

 

sorry my info aint as good as paul's but this is from my own experince.

 

 

oh!! and dont have one with white seats and carpets!! its an absoloute pain to keep clean!! (white leather is probably slightly easier to keep clean) it did look sweet when mint though!!

Kit, here's my Merc 320

 

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I think you'll be impressed with it.

Rich

Wow looks stunning mate, very nice and lets hope we get some good weather:thumbup1:

Funny that i ended up buying a 2003 m3 convertible its awesum