Mercedes Benz C Class 200K Elegance Review

Overall Rating

Beautiful styling, comfortable and relaxing car to drive. Good residuals

That awful "handbrake" (manual cars).
Very poor paint quality, some cheap materials and slightly high fuel consumption (27 - 28 mpg)

I took delivery of my first Mercedes, a C200K Elegance Executive Car, in March 2001 after 10 years of BMW 3 series ownership (they were getting bland internally and BMW now have that awful techno-brutal styling, although great to drive). I had to wait some 6 months for delivery but that was short compared to the 18 months for the Z3 I traded in! I chose a manual (in black, as every other one was silver). It's a lovely car to drive and look at but within first year paint was flaking on the bonnet and the door window pillar trims were corroding. The local Mercedes garage tried to say the paint problems were due to stone chips (less than 3000 miles on the clock) despite being in rediculous places but eventually agreed a respray after independent expert inspection. With only 5000 miles up, a knocking noise delevoped in the front suspension. Mechanics diagnosed a known fault in the new 'C' and fitted a new set of re-designed bushes. I was disappointed when the mechanic told me that they only did this if customers noticed and complained - with my BMWs I often got bits replaced without asking during servicing if a known fault existed. With the first disappointing year behind me, I have had no other problems and really love the car. So much so that I take delivery of a new C180 Avantgarde soon. I no longer see the point in the C200 version as the C180 now has 143 BHP and a Kompressor fitted. The performance difference is neglibile and you get group 12 instead of 14 insurance. There is a new tougher paint finish now and I've finally succumbed to an auto box to avoid the handbrake issue. I chose an Advantgarde because Mercedes have gone back to fitting hideously ugly alloys to the Elegance models.

Members' Comments onbeechlea's Review

• gepant on 15th Jan 2005

  Dear beechlea,
  
  I am a mercedes W203, c200k (06/2001) owner and I read your review recently. I noticed that you have the same problem as I do with the front suspension. My cars suspension makes a knocking noise (especially when driven over bumps). The authorised service dealership in Cyprus did not solve the problem so can you give me any details on how to fix the problem or your dealers address (email) in order to contact them.
  Looking forward to hearing your news,
  gepant

• beechlea on 15th Mar 2005

  Local Mercedes dealers well aware of problem (as are British motoring press). There are a re-designed set of front suspension bushes available under warranty if you complain specifically of this problem but Mercedes (to their disgrace) will not openly accept the problem (although privately the mechanics understand).