1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C230 Sport Kompressor from UK and Ireland - Comments

Numerous dashboard creaks.

Failed electric window.

Glove compartment catch broke.

Auto box ECU replaced under warranty.

If this were a Ford or Vauxhall it would be acceptable. It goes well, is comfortable and quite well equipped. What it isn't is especially well built or particularly refined - the two key things which I would expect from a prestige brand like Mercedes.

The supercharged engine delivers the goods but is very rough and noisy when worked hard. It's not a pleasant noise either - just a coarse, featureless thrash, although to be fair the engine has been faultless. The auto box is the exact opposite - lovely to use but a bit temperamental, the ECU had to be replaced when it kept refusing to engage Drive.

The Sport suspension sharpens the C Class up nicely, and the car can be quite good fun to hustle along, although the traction control intrudes early on to slap you on the wrist if you're being naughty. The steering is very light, but has reasonable feel, and the brakes are strong.

The single real disappointment is the quality. You don't expect things like failed electric windows, dash creaks and broken glovebox catches on a main dealer serviced prestige car which has done only 47,000 miles.

This is a really good car which has a lot to like about it, but the bottom line is that it's not worthy of the image or the price that the Mercedes badge commands. My previous Rover 623 was just as well made, and had a more pleasant engine to boot.

My 1999 C230 has 83000 miles on it and has not experienced any problems. We have been very well pleased with performance, service, and price.

I have a C250TD,1997.The metallic paintwork is appalling, it is subject to stonechip damage on all the frontal areas.Additionally, the paint is so pitifully thin that scratches are induced with ease.

The interior trim is cheap & certainly not up to past M-B standards.

The alarm system electronics are over sensitive.

Unless the key is withdrawn very slowly after ignition shutdown, the central locking does not operate.

Wheel lacquer has failed in places with onset alloy wheel corrosion.

Doorlock mechanism has corroded on 3 doors.

Engineering quality on the engine & mechanical components is excellent. Diesel MPG is very good. The ride is comfortable, but soggy on the Elegance. ASR is effective & ESP is very useful in marginal conditions.

The car has completed 50k miles, the engine prognosis is good, but systems controlled by electronics are not.

Not up to 190E standard.

Herbert Smith.

I have read the comment stating about the thin paintwork etc, and would like to mention what you can do about it. Ifg you keep the car polished on a regular basis and touch in any scratches as soon as they occur, they will never get to the stage of rusting so therefore, if the car is looked after properly it will look like new for years to come.

And did the person complaining about the problems with the merc in the review ever hear of Replacement Parts and D.I.Y?

You missed the point.

Why should you have to spend hours keeping a car this expensive looking good.

The price implies quality and a decent paint job.

Something that seems missing in the South African built Mercs.

The piant problems listed above are what you would expect from the finish on mercs as they have all had the paint 'flatted' berfore leaving the factory. this give a increddibly smooth and glossing finish, but also removes a lot of the paint. this cannot be helped, mercedes have an outstanding finish which just needs to be waxed (for looks) and the drivers not to be too adventurus up old lanes with the hedges meeting in the middle! this flating process involves sanding the piant with very fine sandpaper by hand and then polishing the shine back. it completly eliminates the 'orange peel' effect you get with spaying a car. this is a slightly ripply finish when you see the car in sunlight. that is why the piant is thin, to give the best piant finish possible, and they do a hell of a good job!

I own a 1999 C-230. It is a fine car, but (1) have trouble with lights burning out (sometimes they go out and then go back on with no intervention)and(2) the brakes squeak. No satisfaction from the dealer except they replace bulbs without charge (vechicle is out of warranty). Does anyone known how these problems can be corrected. Live in central Michigan. Please E-mail rederer@voyager.net. Thanks.

I purchased a 2000 C230 Kompressor seven months ago and have had nothing, but pleasure from it. The handling is good and firm for enthusiastic usage, the plant produces enough horses to get you out of trouble and the finish is good. I agree that the superchargers' noisy when planting the right boot, but the rewards lie in the resultant acceleration.

My one criticism is that the tiptronic box is a bit of a mystery. It tends to change gear (manually or on auto) when it feels like it, sometimes rapidly, other times waiting for a second or two longer before lurching onto the next cog, which rather defeats the object and makes its inclusion rather gimmicky.

This is my second Merc (last one was a '95 E220) and it has determined me to drive only the three pointer in the future.

I have a 1997 C230 compressor with 112,000 miles, the only problem I have with this car is the automatic gearbox which changes gear too slow and goes into next gear with a bang.

Also I cannot change gears manually as gear lever will not go below drive position. Gearbox type is a 5 speed electronic.

I have a 1998 C230 with 76,000 miles. Recently, I have been experiencing a rash of service repairs. The ball joints needed to be replaced, a suspension bracket and an air mass sesor. I would like to know if anybody has had similar experiences and/or if I can expect to have these types of repairs continue. Prior to this, I haven't had any significant issues. Thank you!

After the take-over of Chrysler, the share price dropped such that the combined value of the two companies was less than Mercedes alone was before the merger.

Then the shareholders wanted results.

Mercedes tried to cheapen all its products to make more profit and the results are poorer quality cars.

What years of mercedes-benz cars were affected by chrysler?

I am about to buy a mint C230k sport.

We had a last of the boxy C-Class generation. A late model 2000 C230 Kompressor with Sport pack and optional AMG wheels. Until you read the badges, it looked exactly like a C43 AMG. Anyway the engine was powerful enough, forever sending the traction control off in a frenzy when quick getaways were called upon. Although we bought the car fairly new (only 2 years old and 25,000kms) we also experienced some problems. Most notably, after a few weeks of ownership the electric seat motors failed and resulted in costly replacement from a helpful servicing team. About 18 months into ownership, the ESP Stability Control faulted and resulted in expensive remedy.

Aside from those minor glitches, it was a dream to drive, even if the auto box was jerky and slammed into the next gear. It was cramped too, but at least it had gorgeous looks especially with the body kit and AMG wheels.

I have a 1998 C230 Kompressor and I have only praise! First of all, it has over 160,000 miles on it and the biggest problem I've had is one window motor malfunction, big whoopie! I just pour oil and gas into this amazing machine, with professional polishing and waxing every 6 months and the car is STILL in mint condition, mechanically and cosmetically! A non japanese car that will go 160,000 miles with so little problems is one good car in my opinion!

I do want to address the concerns others have expressed - paintjob, noise, small technical difficulties.

There was a great answer for the paintjob, and to who said you shouldn't need to go through so much trouble for such an expensive car - that's like saying you shouldn't even wash it, it should wash itself for the money. General rule of thumb is, the more expensive, the better care you take of it, right? A casio you throw on your counter at night and a rolex has a special box!

The noise I will agree with, it is there. But so is the power and the luxury/comfort. Yes, its not a '05 S500 where you get power and one of the quietest cabins I think I have experianced, but a C230 sport Kompressor. Any car that is supercharged is not going to be QUIET! Maybe they could have done it better, but for the results I am STILL getting from my car, I have zero complaints.

As far as glove box problems and other such problems, it happens. It happens in toyotas, in mercedes, even in lamborghinis. It is life. Another story would be my friends SL55 where the computer crashed and now his window button works his windshield wipers and his stereo works his lights, but that's another review.

All in all, it is SO much car, and especially for the money. My advice for anyone purchasing, get a 2000 or before with less than 60,000 miles or so. Might take some looking, but in my opinion the older body looks a LOT better and they are TANKS!

Good luck!

I have C200 Kompressor. Mine is black in sport package. I don't know why there are so many comments about the noise of the car engine... it is very quiet for me, and I can hear only a beast under the hood when I wake it up. So if you want a quiet car, buy yourself a Fiat Punto. It is great, and a fun to drive car that has some minor problems, but what car doesn't have? I am in love with its look. Also, a mass air sensor is a service item that you have to do after 100,000km. And my choice is manual gearbox.

I just bought a 1999 Mercedes-benz C230 Kompressor sports. It has 86,000 miles. I don't really know much about this model. Does anyone know what service I should do to the car right now, and when I should change the timing belt? Please let me know.