Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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.

Faults:

The 2003 C230 Mercedes Kompressor has many issues that the dealer refuses to stand by:

1) At times, when at slow speeds you accelerate, the car does not respond, and the rpm meter goes to 7000rpm+ with the car at 30mph. Very dangerous when you are trying to merge or move in to fast traffic

2) Both the handle pulls on the driver and passenger side have broken off.

3) Interior parts are cheap and fall off easily.

4) Weather stripping has come out along door edges, cheap stuff.

5) Issues with driver side SRS sensors are constant.

6) Driver side lock sensors give constant problems.

General Comments:

This car is not worth purchasing at any price, and should not be on the market (as a product) due to its inferior quality build and parts. Mercedes Benz refuse to standby on their products.

Faults:

So far nothing gone wrong.

General Comments:

Very smooth to drive, very comfortable. It’s an Elegance model.

Fuel consumption is very high in the London area. So far the best I have got is 23mpg, which is not impressive for 1800 cc car.

Please make sure the car's wheel alignment is correct before purchase, since Merc charge 299 pound to align it, and keep the car for all day. Tried a local Kwikfit; they don't do Merc.