2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C320 review from UK and Ireland

Driver's seat wearing badly.

Automatic gearbox replaced at 11,000 miles.

Instrument cluster replaced at 11,900 miles.

Drivers Power window switch replaced at 17,000 miles.

Electric seat control mechanism failed at 18,800 miles.

Air conditioning compressor leak at 21,000 miles.

Cam sensor 23,000 miles.

Mass air flow sensor replaced at 23,000 miles.

Knock sensor replaced at 23,000 miles.

Front suspension bushes replaced at 30,000 miles.

Rear suspension bushes replaced at 23,000 miles.

Front & Rear springs replaced at 41,000 miles.

O/s rear spring failed prematurely at 42,400miles.

Oil leak from engine - sump gasket and rocker cover gasket replaced at 43,000 miles.

Drivers door seal replaced at 43,000 miles.

Rear window regulator replaced at 43,000 miles.

Fuel pump and filter replaced at 49,000 miles following total failure.

Power steering and ac belt replaced at 49,000 miles.

Thermostat and top hose replaced at 52,300 miles.

Viscous fan coupling replaced at 52,300 miles.

Water pump replaced at 52,300 miles.

This car is a major disappointment - what an absolute load of rubbish!

Whilst the car is very quick, the fuel economy is awful and the handling has never been comparable to the BMW or even the likes of Saab and Audi.

Mercedes really made some serious mistakes when they made this car - I have never had so many issues from one vehicle.

The car has been to the dealer more times than I care to mention, and it is fair to say that I have always been treated with contempt and disrespect. On more than one occasion the dealer has had the audacity to blame me for the faults that have occurred in some vain attempt to justify the poor reliability of the car!!

I think that if you do not do many miles then this car would be fine for you - as the faults would appear to occur fairly infrequently. However, under no circumstances should you delude yourself into believing that this is some sort of quality premium product that you are purchasing because it is most certainly NOT!

The dealer servicing and treatment is absolutely deplorable and I am reluctant to even take my car there for repair and servicing as I know that not only will I be financially exploited for the prestige and respect of the MB dealer stamp in my servicing book, but I have often received the car back in worse condition than it was sent in with grease marks and smears on the paintwork along with surface scratches and even a dent on one occasion. My biggest annoyance with the MB dealer is that no matter how much fuel is in my tank when I give my car in for servicing it will always invariably come back empty and despite having confronted the dealer a number of times about this it has always been put down to 'test drives' and 'fault finding' - Personally I think that if a technician needs to drive a car 300 miles to find what is an obvious fault to me (like the power window not working) then he is clearly inadequately or improperly trained for the job!

I shall be glad to see the back of this car, and I feel somewhat foolish for ever having parted with my BMW 3 series which was not only famously reliable, but provided a fantastic and involving driving experience not to mention the wonderful network of honest and truthful BMW dealers who never treated me like I just stole the car that I brought in for repair!!