Faults:

The throttle bodies (swirl flaps) made of cheap plastic fail, causing the "Check Engine" light to come on, sluggishness, and acceleration problems. Replacing the entire manifold is expensive.

The biggest problem I had was the air conditioning. While it blows plenty of cold air, it's not without its issues. If the filter isn't cleaned on time, it damages the evaporator, resulting in very expensive repairs. The compressor also failed, and I had to flush the entire system. It was all very costly, but these things happen when you buy a used car.

I completely replaced the timing chain after 70,000 km when it started to fail; it's vital to have changed it in time before it ended up affecting the engine.

General Comments:

It may not be the most elegant and sporty Mercedes ever made, but these two characteristics are still reflected in the 230K. For me, it's a car that maintains its classic design (very similar to the W124) but with a sporty edge for those of us who want something more and enjoy a bit of fast driving.

As for the driver, once seated behind the wheel, you'll find power-adjustable seats for both the driver and passenger (neither with memory settings), a steering column adjustable only for reach (released via a rather hidden sliding knob), and the conventional power adjustments for the backrest, seat cushion height, and headrest. This setup allows anyone to find a comfortable driving position, although I personally believe it would be improved with height adjustment for the steering wheel.

Visibility is good because the rear end isn't excessively high, the exterior mirrors are a good size, as is the interior mirror (which is automatically dimmable), and the headlights are very bright with internal height adjustment.

The climate control—with a manual option—works well, and the comfort and safety features are of a high standard, although some are missing. Standard features include ABS, ASR (traction control), four airbags, four disc brakes, a CD player in the trunk, an electric sunroof, and automatic door locks. Quite good for a 1999 car, even a premium one.

As for the engine, it is somewhat noisy and vibrates, but barely noticeable; it has a ratio of 84 hp per liter. With a very smooth torque curve starting below 2000 rpm, the recovery values ​​are remarkable, especially considering its actual weight of 1485 kg, which works against it during pure acceleration processes.

Fuel consumption isn't low; in the city it's around 13.8 liters per 100 kilometers, and on mixed driving it's 11.2 liters. It becomes increasingly thirsty as you exceed 130 km/h.

If you drive it wisely, without constantly flooring the accelerator, the figure drops considerably, reaching more reasonable levels.

I only sold the car because I replaced it with one of the same make almost three years ago. But after more than 200,000 kilometers, the car shows no signs of wear; it's meant to be enjoyed for years and years.

Faults:

A/C compressor, water pump, fuel pump, ball joints, various sensors for the engine control, one alternator, power mirrors, key fobs. Plus the usual maintenance items such as belts, hoses, spark plugs, brake pads, and engine mounts.

Parts are expensive, as is the service, and most recently replacement key fobs are $190 each.

General Comments:

Driving the Benz around the city, it averages 23 MPG. On the highway, depending on the load, it will average 33 miles per gallon.

The car is reliable in that it has never left us stranded, and we don't think twice about taking it on long trips. It doesn't use any oil, and there are no problems with fluid leaks, but it has some noises that are beginning to creep in with age.

The handling is superb, solid, and it's a favorite when dealing with tight city traffic.

I would like add that we have a 1999 Lexus RX300 with 263,000 miles on it, and in my opinion it's a toss up on which auto is the better. Both are excellent. However, both cars will be traded off this year, and yet I still haven't made up my mind what brand to replace them with.