Faults:

After 3 months, I noticed gearbox oil on my drive; turned out to be a leaking electrical connector in the auto box. Easy fix, €18 part from a Merc dealer.

Next, the car started shifting roughly between 2nd 3rd and 4th gear. Turned out to be a MAF sensor; another cheap fix, €57 from local motor store.

Rear window stopped working recently, but doesn't bother me, so I never fixed it.

General Comments:

Overall the car has been very reliable, with just a few cheap fix problems.

After 115000 miles, the interior still shows no signs of wear, and could pass as a much younger car.

Still drives very well, and will cruise at 120kph for hours on end.

I do my own servicing, so I've had no contact with dealers, and will keep driving it until it gives up, or something very expensive goes wrong.

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

The MB C220 cdi is heavily based upon the 190 Series, which it replaced, and retains most of the best characteristics of that long lineage. As such, it has inherited many great attributes like comfort, roadholding, good brakes, reliability, reasonable spares prices, strong engines, excellent automatics etc. Add to these the advantages of modern electronics, a powerful and frugal common rail diesel, simple and efficient climate control, cruise control, ABS, traction control and the undoubted satisfaction of riding behind "the 3 pointed star" and you have a fine recipe for customer satisfaction.

There are only 2 downers. One is the paintwork around the doors, which is a well known manufacturer's problem and can be fixed under the bodywork warranty. The other is the often (but not always) poor and overpriced service provided by the main dealers (or stealers, as they are known to MB owners). The answer to this problem is to find a well recommended local independent MB specialist. There are plenty of them and you will find servicing your Benz can be cheaper than servicing of many other "lesser" vehicles.

Don't miss out, take advice from an experienced mechanic or owner, get a survey and make sure of the service history. Your Merc could be the most economical used car you will ever buy!

Faults:

Glow plugs replaced (x2)

General Comments:

The car is very comfortable and a pleasure to drive. Although the engine is relatively small, the high torque means that it can be made to press on very well if the circumstances call for it.

Although it is coming up to 6 years old, it still feels like a new car and looks like a new car, apart from the inevitable few stone chips.

There is no noticeable driving or noise deficit compared with the saloon version, and the estate facility gets used very regularly.

The quality of the car is excellent and the reliability has been as one would expect of Mercedes - at least up to this model!

The only downside is that if the front passengers are tall, then the rear seat space is rather limited.

Faults:

Gearbox failure at 100000 miles.

Head Gasket failure at 70000.

General Comments:

Comfortable on long journeys.

Very very fast!

A great car which I regret selling and intend to buy another one now.