Mercedes-Benz C-Class 1997 Problems

The was something off-putting about the 180E Mercedes produced before the C-Class was launched in 1994. It had the star on the bonnet, but the rest of the 180E just didn’t seem to make the Mercedes grade. Thankfully Mercedes corrected the situation with the C-Class.The 180E was clearly a car for the masses, even if the asking price meant the masses had to be quite well-heeled to have any chance of getting behind the wheel. But there was something about it that suggested Mercedes had cut a few too many corners to get the price down as far as it did.Anyone accustomed to the level of equipment that usually came with the three-pointed star would have been shocked to find that it had wind up windows, vinyl seats, and a seriously underpowered engine.The C-Class was a different story. It was an important new model in the new generation of ’Benz cars, one that delivered the traditional Mercedes quality in a much more affordable package without the compromises of its predecessor. If the 180E left you feeling like a ‘wannabe’ Benz owner, the C-Class made you feel like a paid-up member of the club.MODEL WATCHThe C-Class had to overcome some built up resistance when it first came out, such was the poor reputation the 180E won, but anyone who wrote off the new car failed to see a totally new car with the old Mercedes’ attributes.Build quality was high, as you would expect of a car costing almost $60,000 and more in 1994, performance was much improved, and there was enough fruit to satisfy most ’Benz owners.When Mercedes launched the 180E in 1991 it was looking to expand its owner base in order to survive in the long term. The company simply couldn’t survive on a diet of high priced luxury cars, there just wasn’t enough buyers able to afford the ’Benz asking prices.The company was under attack on many fronts. BMW was giving it some curry, particularly with the 3 and 5 Series, and the Japanese companies like Toyota were causing Benz plenty of heartache with its Lexus, which was taking sales away from the S-Class.The 180E was an attempt to compete with the BMW 3-Series, but Mercedes made the fatal mistake of pricing it well above the small Beemer in the belief that people would line up for a car carrying the three-pointed star even if it didn’t deliver anything more than its cheaper rival.They didn’t, which meant Mercedes had some catching up to do with the C-Class. Thankfully they came closer to the mark the second time around.Although there was nothing particularly striking about the C-Class styling, it was actually quite conservative, it has stood the test of time well and still looks current and classy a decade after it was launched.A compact sedan, the C-Class offers comfortable seating for four. There is accommodation for five, but it has to be said that three across the back seat would be a little uncomfortable.Power for the C-180 entry level model came courtesy of a 1.8-litre double overhead camshaft, four valve, fuel injected four-cylinder engine that put out 90 kW at 5500 revs and 170 Nm at 4200 revs.When the right pedal was pressed deep into the carpet it would reach 100 km/h in around 12 seconds, while racing through the standing 400-metre sprint in a little over 18 seconds.They’re reasonable times, but achieved through relatively short gearing and top end power. As a result the mid-range is a little lacking so it feels a little lethargic when not pushed hard.The standard transmission was a five-speed manual with floor shift, but most were delivered with the optional four-speed, or later, five-speed automatic.Underneath, the C-Class boasted double wishbone front suspension along with a multilink independent rear suspension. Isolation from bumps and potholes in the road was superb, and it didn’t come at the expense of handling, which was well balanced and precise.Add to that four wheel disc brakes, with ABS, and power steering which was well weighted and nice road feel, and the C-Class was a pleasure to drive.At launch Mercedes offered two levels of trim, the base Classic and the better equipped Elegance. The Classic had cloth trim, air-conditioning, central locking, power front windows, power mirrors, rear head rests, and an airbag for the driver. From November 1997 it also had cruise, a passenger airbag, and a five-speed auto in place of the four-speed.The Elegance added dual airbags, CD player, leather steering wheel, wood trim, rear seat pockets and power rear windows. The Elegance was replaced by the C200 Elegance in 1997.From November 1994 there was also a sporty Esprit model with bright coloured seat inserts and lowered suspension. Like the Elegance, the C-180 Esprit was replaced by the C200 model.IN THE SHOPMechanics report few problems with the C-180. It’s generally regarded as robust and reliable.The only problem of note mentioned is the heater fan on cars after 1996. Because it’s run all the time it can burn out, and replacements are around $800.Other than that there are reports of some failures of the air mass meter on cars that have covered 150,000 to 200,000 km. That’ll set you back $2500 for a factory replacement, $1500 for a rebuilt one.Look for a service record from a Mercedes dealer or recognised specialist service agent, and inspect closely for signs of crash damage, like colour mismatches, poor panel fit, and variable body gaps.LOOK FOR• prestige of three-pointed star badge• high build quality• solid body with few squeaks and rattles• sure-footed handling• comfortable ride• four cylinder engine in heavy body means modest performanceVERDICTWell built, well equipped, and very competent compact sedan with all the prestige of the ’Benz brand, but comes at a price.RATING70/100

There are two reasons to buy a used car. One is to buy cheap by avoiding the first couple of years when depreciation is at its highest, the other is to buy a better car than you could otherwise afford new.The Mercedes-Benz AMG C36 falls in the latter category. With a new price of $154,900 when launched in 1995 only the very well heeled could afford it, but 10 years later many more of us can afford to drive one of the great sports sedans of the last decade.The C36 was the result of the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and its performance partner AMG, which had built a strong reputation for its tuned versions of regular Mercedes-Benz sedans. AMG began tuning Mercedes-Benz cars back in the 1960s, but today is part of Daimler and its work is now done in-house.MODEL WATCH The C36 started life like any other humble C-Class; it only grew horns after being transported across town to the AMG factory where it underwent surgery of the most radical kind in the process of being transformed into a super sports sedan.When it emerged from the ’Benz bunker it was a C280 with a 2.8-litre straight six-cylinder engine, but by the time it left the AMG factory the engine was stretched to 3.6 litres courtesy of a larger bore and longer stroke and was a ’bahn-storming C36.Inside, the compression ratio had been raised to 10.5: 1, a new inlet camshaft worked with a high flow inlet manifold to ease the charge into the engine, and enlarged exhaust ports and a free flow exhaust system fast tracked the spent gases away.With revised electronics to make the best use of the changes the enlarged engine put out 206 kW at 5750 revs and 385 Nm at 4000 revs. That put it into the company of other hot sports sedans like the BMW M3 and 540i, and the homegrown HSV GTS.Tests at the time had it sprinting from rest to 100 km/h in 6.5 secs while accounting for the standing 400-metre dash in 14.5s. Top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h.Naturally the C36 wasn’t just about its engine, it also had a beefed-up four-speed auto taken from the S-Class and a sportier torque convertor. An updated model in late 1996 saw the four-speed auto replaced by a five-speed.Underneath, its suspension was lowered and retuned with new springs and shocks, while the steering was sharpened even though it was still lacking in feel much as most Mercedes do. Along with the extra speed the C36 also featured massively increased braking power with brakes taken from the S-Class with an overlay of anti-skid and traction control electronics for added safety.Large 17-inch alloy wheels and low profile tyres completed the sporty package, and were the main clues to the C36’s performance potential. There were other things that made you take a second look, but the C36 was a subtle package, the sort that caught others unaware when the lights turned green.A combination of a new front spoiler, side skirts and rear airdam along with some subtle AMG badges helped give it a meaner look than its regular cousins. As would be expected of a car costing almost $155,000 the C36 was packed with luxury features, including leather trim, air-conditioning, sports seats, cruise, power windows, tinted glass, dual front airbags, 10-stacker CD player, remote central locking and sunroof.IN THE SHOP There is always a risk in buying an expensive used car like the C36, which will have more than 100,000 km on average and as much as 150,000 km or more if they’ve been regularly driven. That’s the key as these sorts of cars are often garaged for much of their life while their owners use other more modest cars for their regular transport. For that reason they often have much lower odometer readings than most cars of a similar age.It’s also important not to rush in and buy the first you see. Although they are relatively rare and don’t come up for sale on a regular basis it’s best to shop around and make a careful decision. Look for a low mileage car, one with a verifiable service record and with all the indicators of low use. Things like lack of wear on the driver’s side carpet, the side bolster of the driver’s seat, the steering wheel.Get an independent check, preferably by a Mercedes expert, and inspect it closely for panel damage. Expect to pay more for replacement parts and don’t try to get away with cheaper parts if you want to maintain the C36’s performance.IN A CRASH An agile chassis with sports settings, big brakes, antilock and traction control electronics deliver a high level of primary safety, while dual front airbags protect the front passengers in a frontal collision. Used car crash investigators rate the C-Class ’Benz better than average in protecting its occupants in a crash and average in its impact on others.LOOK FOR • subtle styling masks performance potential• great high performance luxury cruiser• agile and responsive chassis• powerful brakes match performance• loads of standard featuresVERDICT A rare and exhilarating sports sedan worth considering instead of a new Commodore SS or Falcon XR8.RATING 85/100