2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Reviews

Catalytic converter failure at 25,000 miles (under warranty).

Steering linkage break.

Headlight bulbs blown.

A/C compressor blow-out and melted fuse/wiring harness.

Door handles broke.

Wear on driver's side armrest.

Tan interior gets very dirty (not MB's fault).

CD magazine jams.

Absolutely love this car. Easy to toss around, needs very little maintenance (the above repairs being minor). Runs like a beast with no warming up.

Power is adequate (only 170hp), but enough to get you by on the freeway. Hits 100 mph effortlessly. Idles at 500rpm, so quiet you don't know it's on.

One downside, the AC is very loud and not the coldest.

Going 165,000 miles strong, using Mobil 1 and 87 octane gasoline for its life. Acquired new with under 20 miles.

I baby the car when it comes to maintenance, but drive it very aggressively. No complaints, and no car note. Love this car.

I do not use the stealership, invest in a good independent mechanic you trust. Can picture myself driving this up to 300,000 miles (knock on wood!).

This is the "Baby Benz", so rear passenger space is limited.

Parking brake does not release easily. Required stepping on the parking brake pedal and disengaging several times. Mechanic fixed the problem.

Previous owner at 60,000 miles did not change ATF filter & fluid, fuel filter, or differential fluid. Bought parts from Authohaus AZ. Spark plugs should have been changed at 5 years. Replaced all but plugs after I bought the car.

CD changer stopped working; does not detect CDs. The 7 speaker system sounds mediocre to my ears.

Rear seat headrest covers (all 3) keep falling off. Will fix soon.

Acceleration is not great from dead stop. This is surprising because a 97 Villager with 160 hp can out accelerate the MB C240 from standing still. My guess is the MB's electronic automatic transmission limits how fast it shifts.

Cost of repairs and parts are higher than for previous cars I've owned. While I do my own routine maintenance, this car requires 8.5 QTs of synthetic oil, 2 air filters, and 12 spark plugs (I bought iridium plugs). Had to buy several new tools because of how difficult it was to change oil and spark plugs.

And, it has to run on premium unleaded gasoline. Oh well.

Update: Dec 2011 - Bought 4 snows on alloy wheels and it is drivable in the snow.

Update: Feb 2012 - Found information online on resetting an ECU module. Acceleration is much better now.

Update: Mar 2012 - The stereo is now dead, so not even radio. Based on on-line posts, the fiber optic connections are at fault. Will probably replace with a regular system.

While I have several complaints about costs and maintenance, I really do like this car. The car handles very well on the road with a smooth and even ride.

Sound proofing is very good and wind noise is very low on the highway. The engine runs smoothly at highway speeds.

Very adjustable and comfortable leather seats. Love the moon roof and the rain-sensing wipers (!!!).

Liked the ability to operate the sound system (radio & CD changer) from the steering wheel (when it worked). But I'm unwilling to spend $500 to repair the system.

55,000 miles: Vacuum hose leak lead to check engine light. Repair cost; $8 for the hose and $400 + for labor.

60,000 miles: Digital display begins to fail. By 80,000, on a warm day the display is not readable. Quoted over $1,000 for repair.

90,000 miles: Replaced driver's side tie rod.

95,000 miles: Replaced post cat oxygen sensor.

98,000 miles: Heating system blower begins to whine. Dealer says bearings are going bad.

104,000 miles: Cam shaft sensor fault leads to check engine light. There is a manufacturer's recall campaign and the dealer replaces the sensors, while also making other mandated changes including installing a new wiring harness and ECU. The car will not start at the dealer. Dealer says the timing chain skipped, leading to bent valves and no engine compression. Estimated cost of the repair $7,280 or they can put a new engine in for $6,784.

Up until recent developments I have really enjoyed this car.

There are a few minor flaws with the interior, but for the most part it is well put together.

The fit and finish of the body is very good, and would be hard to beat.

The car handles great, and while sporty, gets good gas mileage, especially on the highway.

If I didn't mind replacing an engine every 100,000 miles, I would buy another one in a heart beat.