My dad bought one of these new in 2002, and now I drive it everywhere! It’s a fun little pocket rocket, especially with the manual transmission. I didn’t get the moon roof, but I guess that saved a bit of weight. I wouldn’t trade this for anything!
@@CanuckBacon Honestly, cause i have the same one. 110000 Km on it, simple service on time that i do by myself 0 issues. Litereally very reliable for someone that does 10000 km per year like me.
I have owned a 2002 C230 since new,. 252K miles and still going strong though many MANY things replaced over the years. Recently had been sitting for a while in need of repairs, now new Supercharger (well from a junkyard), Alternator, MAF, front brakes pads and rotors, and new tires all the way around. I get 29 mpg if I go very easy on the throttle at 55 mph. Has a slightly larger 2.3L but more low end grunt than later models with 1.8L. Also has an overdrive pulley installed on crankshaft that spins up the supercharger a bit more for more torque and HP, though I don't drive it hard these days but still enjoy feeling it pull uphill at low rpm like a small V8 with ease. It's worth nothing I sell it, so I just keep driving it.
I own and drive the C180 Kompressor version, it got the M 271 engine in it with... well 1.8 Liters of displacement. It's my first car and I'm quite proud of it! I always liked the CL 203 but now that I have one I can call my own as a first car, it really grew on me. Sure it got a few quirks like the sunroof not working, but it's sealed so I don't care too much. With the sportier 5-spoke 17 inch rims, this car also looks pretty in my eyes.
@@JJonCars - It is the same block, however the C180 Kompressor version only has 140hp, whereas the C200 Komp version has 163 or 184hp, depending on the year.
they are great daily driver cars. bullet proof auto gearboxes and engines..and it has proper torque converter auto gearbox.I have a 2006 one and really like it.not expensive to maintain neither.
I love the videos. I have a 2002 C230 coupe as my daily driver. I’m currently driving across the US in a 2006 CLK 350. Both are awesome and so different.
Empty buttons are great for adding extra features to the car like: "ignition enable sequence" - when you have to press the empty buttons in a certain order to be able to start the car
I love my 2002 and can’t consider parting with it. I’ve actually taken it off road camping into National Forrests. The rear wheel drive handles sand dunes amazingly! I’ve considered lifting it a little & putting on all-terrain tires to make it a rally car. It’s my friend for life! 😊
@@JJonCars PS - the seats fold completely flat to create a nice floor for a bed when car camping. ;) …I also transport an 8 & 1/2’ kayak inside mine. It truly is quite roomy.
One of the last fastbacks / sportbacks, ..... forgotten ..... but not really forgotten. And now ... Look at these new "SUV Coupe" Style. Mercedes GLE or BMW X5 / X6 Coupe or others. If you make these cars lower you will see the design of the CL203 Sportcoupe from the year 2000.
I was at Monterey in 2019 and discussed this with the design team. Most of them had no idea what I was speaking if, but a couple of the guys hinted that this car was the inspiration behind their SUV model. This was where my vision of lifting mine began. Not a single one of their designers shrugged off my idea and they all smiled and suggested I submit my photos and video after I accomplish this as they’d be interested in seeing the results. :) As soon as I can afford to, I’m going to lift mine & put some all-terrains on it. It’s truly an awesome & undercooked car. PS - the seats fold completely flat to create a nice floor for a bed when car camping. ;) …I also transport an 8 & 1/2’ kayak inside mine. It truly is quite roomy.
Australian C180K manual transmission owner here. I bought this because there's hardly any fun, manual, rwd daily drivers under 5k here in Australia anymore. Was never a car to "awe" at and not the most manly car to own but I've come to appreciate it. Hardly any aftermarket parts to zazz the power up a bit, so it's just a buy and drive car
Ah nice one, good combo with the Kompressor and manual box. Most of these do seem to be autos though. I have the same issue with my CLK 200K, nothing that can really done with the power (which isn't quite enough!)
@@JJonCars This generation mercedes have become my favourite generation from owning my C180K in hindsight. As a kid seeing the video of the CLK-GTR become airborne was pretty amazing. And now I find myself fanboy'ing over a sexy SL350, SL500 or AMG SL55 driving by haha
@@JJonCars - If you want more performance, your CLK 200 Komp engine can be remapped, taking it from 163/184hp to just shy of 200hp (197hp on paper). Google 'Elite Remaps' as they do this car / engine. I had my R171 SLK200 Komp (with the same engine) done with them. If you remap AND change to a smaller s/c pulley, you can get 220hp from your engine! (But a higher chance that something will go pop!).
i have the same from 2001 with 376K, drives as new, just keep an eye on the diesel system, the rubber seals tend to fail as the car ages, its a cheap fix, i averaged 3.8L/KM from the Netherlands to Portugal with speed average of 99KM/H ill never sell this car.
I've had the C230k in Black with a light silver leather interior, panoramic sunroof and 7 spoke alloy wheels. I immediately put in an aftermarket touch screen stereo system with Apple CarPlay which modernizes the car significantly. I've had it for 8 years now and it's been incredibly reliable, economical, fun to drive while being quiet and smooth, sufficient power and every time I drive a newer car I miss the analog feel of this car.
I have had mine for many years it's been brilliant in lot's of way's 2003 it's now starting to be troublesome but not in a hurry to park it up. 126 536 miles. Nothing really.
2.5 V6 in a C230? Never heard of that. In most of Europe the C230 had a 2.3 4cyl Kompressor engine with 192hp. In the US the C230 used a higher tuned 1.8 Kompressor engine, with same same power output. The only 2.5 V6 engine I've heard of is the unit in the CLK240 (or C240), deleloping 170hp.
I always like this model!!! I remember when I saw it first time in 2001, I use to live back then in Switzerland 😅 And you're videos are uneatable!!! I love it to watch and leeson
Im interested in buying it as a sunday car, it just looks fun. The one i found is black and has a white interior, 170hp 2.0 engine. Its perfect for screwing around, if it breaks it breaks screw it haha
I drive my sisters one of these a lot (c180 kompressor) and I love it! I drive brand new cars at work and I totally believe that her 2004 drives just as nice as a 2020 c class. It’s smooth, quiet and nippy when it needs to be. My dash is different to both that you showed in the video tho, it has a double din stereo and larger heater control knobs. Not sure how if they did a change in 06?
I have a c320 which is the v6 with the 6 speed manual transmission. Shes still running strong at 220k miles/350k kilometers. Love this car even though she shows her age a bit.
Great review... I've always thought this car was a class smaller than the C-Class, and the styling is slightly weird, though I prefer this gen to the CLC as the design looks more cohesive... That being said, I'm really not a fan of the W203 C-Class and much prefer the successor, the W204 which IMO, is the best C-Class...
I did too, it surprised me to find it had the same wheelbase. The CLC looked a bit more modern but like you say, not cohesive - like the grafted the front end of a 2010's Merc on to one designed in 2000. I'm inclined to agree about the W204 being better too. Though of course I have a spot for the CLK :)
@@JJonCars if you have only have one car would you buy year 2008 C200k 1.8l supercharged or 2008 C230 V6 2.5l or 2004 CLk200 peanut eye soft top?. 6000, 6200 and 9500 British pound respectively. Not in England though but 12 flight hours away.😂😂😂
The car media at the time hated THIS car but loved the sedan. Go figure! They complained that the climate controls were difficult to interpret and use. Huh? They are exceedingly simple. Well to a point. It pays to read the manual. There are lots of hidden features in all Mercedes. For instance the AC is on ALL THE TIME and pushing a button that says EC/REST turns it off. EC for economy. Pushing this button when the car is off recirculates the coolant in the heating core and runs the fan at a very low speed to provide heat for a short time up to a 1/2 hour till the coolant cools. The "evolution" moniker was not used in the US. It refers to what they called the Sport Package. Which includes a leather steering wheel with nubs on it and matching shift knob. Also the door skirts, painted door handles, resonator delete, the 17" wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tires. A great deal at ~ $700. In 2003 the the 17" wheels became stock and they went to the 1.8L engine which is much less reliable than the earlier 2.3L only offered in 2002 in the USA. Evolution also refers to the engine, one of the last incarnations of the venerable M111 engine used by Mercedes for more than 20 years. It went on to power the SLK until 2004. It is much torquier and HP is easily added with the addition of a supercharger pulley. I am the original owner of a 2002 C230 Jasper Blue with the "Evolution Package" and panoramic sunroof. 251K MILES not Km and counting. I still drive if often. Really the 2002 2.3L M111 or the 03-05 C320 6cyl M112 coupe are the only ones to own. The M271 1.8L 4 banger is garbage as is the early M272 6 cylinders. Just google balance shaft and M272. A freakin' maint. nightmare both of them. M271 has single row chain which stretches and then eats the cam gears and valves. 2005 is the best for styling with updated tail lights, turn signals, clear headlights vs frosted, clear fog lamps and a "cheese grater" grill. I have put all those items on my 2002 to update it except I added factory Bixenons which requires an ECU change. I got mine with manual seats but if I had electric it would be easy to swap to CLK seats. Yes they are hard as rocks! Mercedes do not like to be out in the rain! Water seems to get in and fowl up the electronics playing all kinds of havoc. I'm told it's a good idea to replace the tail light seals, but they are no longer available. One of these days I'll use some clear silicone on them. Luckily once dried out everything went back to normal. The list of wierdnesses is long including not running, the dash being blank, the fan running continuously and much more. Sunrooofs give out after a while, and repairs are very expensive OR DIY very time consuming. So mine is disconnected. Still have the sunshade though. I recently did the front brakes and rotors (C32 Brembo's which bolt right on) repacked the wheel bearings, new tires, new alternator and replacement supercharger. M111 is prone to head gasket leak on cylinder 4 which also is expensive, but most of the water goes outside the engine not in, so just topping it generally works to a point. Mine is so bad now I can't turn on the AC or heat, as it sucks coolant vapors into the cab. Soon I'll be DIY'ing the head gasket since there is no one qualified where I live. Hard to want to tear into something that's running perfectly fine except for this one major problem. So many things to go wrong. I've done 2 other heard gaskets in my life but not on DOHC and not Mercedes. Wish me luck!
Brilliant Info, thanks! When I was researching the C230, I did get pretty confused with the available engines - it seemed to have gone from the 2.3 to the 1.8 and then finally to a 2.5? (V6?) all under that same badge. I have the M271 in my CLK, though it's only done 35k miles with great service history so I should hopefully be a way from any timing chain issues... 🤞🤞🤞 And good luck with your head gasket change!
@@tedsmart5539 well mine lasted until just a a couple years ago. They're actually made by a company called Wabasto who make sunroofs for many cars. Most of the stuff in a Mercedes these days isn't made by Mercedes. Everything is outsourced.
@@Dirkietje8 I haven't heard anything bad about them and with fuel prices what they are I'd love to have one but never offered in the US. Was looking at a low mileage W211 04 E320 CDI recently, it sold for $25k! 35 mpg all day long.
I have one - took ages to get a decent one as they don’t come up for sale often. Lovely car though and was lucky enough to get speced out with full electric seats xenon’s parking sensors etc. really makes the car feel modern and not like it’s nearly 20 years old!
@@maliekmills457 it's one of those cars that don't make much sense on paper even though you can't have fun with a 2.3 supercharged with pulleys (later 1.8 version wasn't that easy to modify) or the 3.2 l V6. I satisfied my itch because I couldn't find one with a CLK320. But still if given the choice if you gave me a facelifted c320 especially the CLC version. I wouldn't even hesitate.
@@edd2184 clk320 is nice though I did consider those too but the coupes are just so unloved, underrated and therefore much cheaper so I went with the cl203! I wanted a c350 but wasn’t sure about the longevity of the balance shaft so that scared me out of buying one of those. Definitely a car on paper that doesn’t make much sense at all or even in real world 😂 though it makes for a very capable, fast little run about that is often underestimated by your typical boy racer who thinks it’s a c180 or c220cdi 🤣. It’s amazing on the motorway too and when you plant the foot down it easily keeps up with or outpaces most modern cars. My only gripe is the fact it has no grip off the mark especially in wet… I think it’s because it’s a big engine, almost disproportionately sized for such a small coupe and also RWD so it just blabbers about and can’t get going when trying to pull off quickly. I also have a mk4 golf v6 4 motion and you can peg that off the line even in wet and it doesn’t skid so it seems better to have 4x4 with the bigger engined cars.
@@maliekmills457 the clk320/550 is pretty good it's really pretty bulletproof the only thing that may go wrong is the transmission conductor plate but you can fix it easier by being preventative. If the transmission starts to skip more than likely it's the 13 pin connector clean it with some electrical conductor, and using a hand tool not a drill (you will strip the bolt). Remove the 13 pin connector adapter, it should have two o-rings. A lot of time. Goes Go Bad so it starts to leak through, some transmission fluid. Which affects the connector. Now if you don't do this and the transmission goes all the way South. All you will have to do is replace the conductor plate. If that doesn't work after the new conductor plate is installed, you need to get a transmission software reset that can only be done through star diagnostics or snap-on tools. That being said the CLK350 has the 7 speed transmission and that's a whole nother animal those conductor plates vin coded. However if you want to take the risk I highly recommend the CLK55 or the CLK550
Ive got the C180 Kompressor 2006 ! Cheap to run on petrol under 3000 rpm/ 90mph. I often drive 5hrs on 70% of petrol with comfort. Although its 150HP, Im happy ! ................
i got a c200k... its got the M271 engine and if you got one of these.... its a timebomb. Mine's broken currently due to timing chain issues, under 150k kilometers.
@@JJonCars - You've never heard of it?! It's as famous as Brunell's Clifton suspension bridge. :) Then again, I'm a Geordie so I guess more predisposed to have heard of it. :)
My wife has C 200 automatic ,I love it ,fun to drive ,but seats aren't comfortable as you mentioned ( has heated seats)it on the video, sounds good ,we have it with gas bottle LPG and is very economic, on petrol only is tursty. Overall is fun and reliable
We use it in Bulgaria, sound system is amazing (Bose) but I like the most the sound of the kompressor engine and exhaust. Ideal city car,we have park tronic (front and rear) so easy to park it .I'm a bmw fan ,but like that one a lot,unique, especially with the glass roof in summer
@@АлександърЦонев-т7х ,карай го на сервиз за оглед и диагностика, ние сме доволни от този автомобил,внос от Германия, но още в началото се наложи смяна на скоростна кутия ,те след 100 000км си искат нова. Мен лично ме кефи много колата ,не ни е правила сериозни проблеми, автоматичния стъклен покрив /люк се разваля лесно.
@@Pappy_i It can also can be something like the brake or acceleration potentiometer. My mum had similar problem in her Nissan Micra k12. The car read that the brake was always applied, even if it wasn't and there was no squealing. So the board computer automatically lowered the engine's RPMs, thinking she is constantly braking. And she had similar stuck around that speed. It may or may not be the case. I have neither ever owned this car, neither am I a mechanic. So you probably should read or ask in some forums for this car or talk to a qualified mechanic. But it is some likely something in the electronic.
@@Pappy_i Idk. I am not a mechanic. I think the person, who fixed my mum's car saw that there was some short circuit or something like that, but I suppose that a diagnostic test will be helpful regardless. And you can usually go to some third-parties for this (aka independent services).
Looking at buying this car soon, what to look for when hunting..? C230 model 2008, the owner says its a 2009 😅 M271 manual Gearbox Very informative Video 🎉
I don't think there's anything hugely specific to these that you have to look for - just the usual stuff like check for corrosion underneath and the wheel arches. Full service history is important with correct grades of oil, the M271 is a good engine but needs care otherwise the timing chain can go before 100k miles. But can do 200k+ if looked after. I don't know much about the manual gearboxes but assume they are robust!
I'm a giant, my head would be sticking through the roof in the back seat. my whole family are giants. I guess I'll pass on getting one of these. thanks for the review
Ah that’s my old car, was so pleased to save this one, the real hidden secret with this Mercedes is its completely rust free, due to been in Spain for 16 years, it’s like new underneath never seen one like it. It’s called the Evolution spec with the full panoramic roof. C230 Kompressor is the one to have 200bhp, bar the 3.7 V6 C350 …. But they are super thirsty and complex. Sure I have some recordings of the underbody when i was prepping it for winter storage youtube.com/@CarAddictGarageNE
@@JJonCars car I wish I hadn’t of sold that one. Hopefully see you at a show when i have the ZX little minter that is. I had an immaculate facelift 2005 C220 CDI evolution identical to this garaged from new, and I didn’t think much of the interior quality at all, only thing that had let the interior down on this example is been hammered by the Spanish sun for 16 years, otherwise I think the pre facelift interior is far more robust, I did notice when I got the car someone had fitted aftermarket climate control knobs that were really cheap feeling, that was on my list of things to do….. but hey I would sooner take the hit on some interior flaws over been rusted to hell like Uk Mercedes are lol
@@CarAddictGarageNE I noticed there were some control knobs rattling around in the centre console so maybe they'd already been swapped back - the one on the car did come off in my hand lol. The facelift interior looks very similar to my CLK which is decent quality in my car but maybe it's not as good in this C Class. Yeah lol, they have robust engines if looked after so worth keeping a rust free one - which I think Chris plans to do so you might not get it back, though then again he swaps his cars around constantly :D Hopefully see you at one - I'll definitely try and get back to FOTU as that was a superb show
@@JJonCars yes they were the originals in the contest console, not actually sure what was wrong with them. Yes I had a 2003 facelift CLK 270CDI and that had far better quality interior. Yeah I know have first chance of it back, only reason I sold was i struggle with 2 door cars with having x2 kids and x2 dogs lol. Yes will definitely be at FOTU just not sure if I will shut travel with Chris or take the ZX, long old slog in a 1.4 ZX happy at 60 not 70 so I would be left behind lol. Be good to see you there mate keep up the good work
Hard to say isn't it! It's not got the history of Mercedes pillarless coupes and the big V8 engines. So probably not a classic in the same way, but no doubt one day it will be a cool and different classic to own.
I suspect that if it's anything like the CLK, they put the 7-speed in later on in production lifetime, so it's maybe based on age rather than engine size. Or a bit of both.
Your headrest is too low, which is making me nervous. On a crash you are risking serious whiplash. The top of the headrest should line up with the top of your head
Yeah you're right. Just forget to adjust it in every car I drive. Something I've noticed with the seats in my CLK, and perhaps it's the same in this C Coupe is that the headrest drops down when you pull the seat forward for access to the rear. So I'm constantly having to remember to pull the headrest back up
سلام دوست عزیز من دیروز خریدم این ماشین رو نمیدونم چرا ماشین یعد از یک روز استارت نمیخوره روشن نمیشه لطفا به من کمک کنید چکار کنم ماشین روشن بشه ممنون مرسی
Great review! Worth noting that the post-2008 CLC badged diesels are somewhat less economical than those from the first five years of manufacture, due to a revised EGR/DPF system that reduced emissions but also reduced mpg…not sure how they managed that!
Haha wow, that's good going for Merc, normally newer diesels are much better on fuel. Ones to avoid then if it's worse MPG and potential DPF and EGR issues to content with too
@@JJonCars I think the diesels are still a bit better than the petrols in the post ‘08 CLCs but less frugal than the previous dervs. Two friends of mine had earlier ones and chopped them in for CLCs in 2009/10 but were really disappointed in the dip in economy from the newer cars.
I owned a 2003 C180 K manual as my first car. I wasnt a fan of those coupés but my father was and bought it for me. I fell kind of in love, even though its the most "special" looking Mercedes 😂 A year later I bought myself a Jaspisblau Metallic C350 as a manual built in 2006. Even got the ultra rare Evolution AMG sportpackage, AMG rims in 18" instead of 17" (which was an extra 700€ as the car was configured), Thermotronic, Comand APS and many more options. New, the C350 had cost ~34,500€ but mine was 50k€ with options. Got it for 5k as noone wants to buy those coupés :(
Hahaha 'special' looking :) That's awesome man, we all have a soft spot for our first cars. And yours is a great one. The 350 is rare, and I love that dark blue colour. Honestly you've got a lovely car there, try and keep it as long as you can :)
@@JJonCars Definetly! Thanks mate! Just had done nearly the whole suspension parts, apart from the KW V2 every part is original Mercedes. Had looked for rust on the bottom and tried to get rid of as much as I could without using heavy tools. Next step is an engine rebuild and after that gearbox and diff. Looking forward to buy better cams and an mechanical quaife diff. But never ever going to sell it 😄
@@JJonCars Unfortunatly not ":D Im a student again after finishing my apprenticeship at Mercedes and I only have a small budget.. I bought the Mercedes 4 years ago and drove it like 8.000km. The rest of the time it sits in the garage to save money. It wont be a "good as new" car for a long time, until I take over my fathers business and then be able to get the car to this state of perfection.
I’m about to get my first car here in Greece and my father found me this car! But I’m little scare to buy it, it’s actually a good car? He’s got 155.000km and it looks nice. What should i look out for before i buy it and after i buy it? Thanks
Well, yeah they can be good reliable cars! If it has been looked after by its owner and maintained properly then it should be ok. But of course they are old cars now and if it hasn't been cared for it could be a money pit. You have to go by how you feel about the car, if its in nice condition and there is service history etc, then it should be ok!
I got in an accident in 2018 around 5am in the morning was driving my bmw 325i i was home in pain around 8am on the same day i guy i know nicknamed little jesus called me asking me if i wanted to buy a car for $1,100 i said i was in pain because i was just in an accident. he sent me a couple of pictures it was a 2003 mercedes benz c320 me broke i said i had no money asked someone to lent me the money by the evening i now had a 2003 c320 mercedes the best deal i have found. i mean that found me. now 2024 i still have it i wish i could take care of it the way it deserves it but 200k miles on it already. best investment i have ever made. cool car drives smooth and has lots of power.
Hey JJ, these are obviously good cars but my prob is the back end styling. It's too soft and crap looking for me. It ruins it and for that reason I wouldn't get one. Only the Easter version is one of buy, those look great.
Yep, it is weird looking, and in a way they kinda did chop the back off of a C-Class haha. I can't quite figure out if I like the looks of it either, it's better from some angles than others
@@MartinJones123 to be honest, until I did this video, I've been calling it the C class compact as I didn't know what it's official name is. Sport Coupe is not a great name I don't think
@@JJonCars 😂 Though you do raise a point, it's not a good name for this car... I've been doing something similar and calling it a C-Class hatchback thingy 😂
@@JJonCars In USA hatchback was a bad word for some reason. For me, I liked the dual rear window reminiscent of the early Honda CRX which was actually something tossed into the mix by Bertone design. Sadly a couple years later Toyota used it on the Prius. YUK! Yes, the butt is ugly. A nice face with an ugly butt. BUTT fold down the seats and have 40 cu ft of storage. Amazing what I've transported over the years. I actually had to replace the entire hatch due to body damage. If a CLC hatch had been available in the USA, I might have used it. C Coupe front with CLC rear. Hmmmm?
Was it even possible to get a C203 with elegance spec? Every one I've seen seems to have the metal with black cloth or leather (sometimes black and white) and nothing else. Also this car is still bigger than the A class of the era.
@@dr.drex0854 Depends. If it's used, there are many factors that could affect the performance. But generally, the 2.0 has a slightly more abrupt acceleration. And it feels more powerful when speeding
I’d agree with that. I’ve always loved the CLK (and am glad to own one now that the used prices are within reach of a humble working musician such as I) and was never keen on the C-Class Coupe. Having said that, whilst I wouldn’t choose one over the styling of the CLK, I’d totally drive one now.
Haha nice. Rare car with the manual. I had the same thought with my CLK - it's the Sport model with big brakes and wheels, paddleshift gear change... and the 200 Kompressor engine with 163hp 😆
@@JJonCars it is but the irony is I found another one for sale less than a week after buying this one, fortunately it was petrol, so I didn't have to buy it😅
I am quite the Mercedes fanboy especially for this era but I genuinely do not understand why would anyone buy this, this was quite literally the cheapest RWD Mercedes you could get at the time both in price, quality AND DESIGN, and it's a hatchback not a coupe. This was made to compete with the E46 Compact but then in 2008 BMW moved to the loved 1 series E82 coupe meanwhile Mercedes was still making this weird CLC hatch fake coupe looking w204 but in reality it was still based on the w203 platform lol wtf which is why it failed miserably, if you wanted a real coupe you would get a W204 coupe or a W209 CLK, if they are too big for you then get a R171 SLK or 1 Series Coupe or otherwise I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless they get a clean model for dirt cheap...
I'll agree with that as far as the ass end is concerned. But try fitting 40 cu ft of cargo in a CLK. Without seeing the back end It looks like a CLK from the front. Also no pano for CLK 209 and back seat only good if you're under 5 feet tall.. C Coupe Pano was the 1st for Mercedes. Only other car on the market at the time I'm aware of was Porsche. I remember the 2 big ah ha! moments at the dealership for me, were when the salesman folded down the rear seats (I'm a musician needed to haul equipment) and when he opened the sun shade exposing the huge panes of glass. That was it for me. That and a supercharged engine, tiptronic 5 speed, done deal.
@@DimlyAwareHUmAn I have fitted a 10 Ton hydraulic press in the back of a CLK, and have used it to move massive pieces of furniture that would never fit in traditional cars, thanks to the missing B pillar. The CLK boot is huge and with seats folded down will fit more than the C-class. The CLK is elegant and it's interiors are magnificent. The C-class is probably the ugliest thing Mercedes ever made, and maybe yes that Pano roof is the only thing if you even consider that a feature, I don't really as your not looking up when you drive only forward.
@@DimlyAwareHUmAnfellow musician here…I drive a CLK! I was told that with the seats down the CLK has the same load space as a Volvo V70 estate, which may be true in terms of floor space but certainly not in terms of headroom 🤣 I love my CLK though. I could sit and look at it all day! Me and two support acts touring Scotland together in it earlier in the year was a bit of a push space wise though, especially the 8hr drive up from Dorset 😳 I’m envious of the pano roof of the sports coupe, that would have been a lovely addition to the CLK. I’m not sure if the crash structure with the pillarless roof would allow a pano roof though.
My favourite "modern" car. I remember seeing this car for the first time when it came out. I was about 18 or 19 and it was my dream car at the time.
My dad bought one of these new in 2002, and now I drive it everywhere! It’s a fun little pocket rocket, especially with the manual transmission. I didn’t get the moon roof, but I guess that saved a bit of weight. I wouldn’t trade this for anything!
Manual, very nice. Good to keep cars in the family like that :)
How reliable has it been? And is it worth buying a used manual one?
@@CanuckBacon Honestly, cause i have the same one. 110000 Km on it, simple service on time that i do by myself 0 issues. Litereally very reliable for someone that does 10000 km per year like me.
@@vlakas3354 - 10,000km (6,000 miles) per year is very low annual mileage. The average is 16,000km / 10,000 miles.
I have owned a 2002 C230 since new,. 252K miles and still going strong though many MANY things replaced over the years. Recently had been sitting for a while in need of repairs,
now new Supercharger (well from a junkyard), Alternator, MAF, front brakes pads and rotors, and new tires all the way around. I get 29 mpg if I go very easy on the throttle at 55 mph.
Has a slightly larger 2.3L but more low end grunt than later models with 1.8L.
Also has an overdrive pulley installed on crankshaft that spins up the supercharger a bit more for
more torque and HP, though I don't drive it hard these days but still enjoy feeling it pull uphill at low rpm like a small V8 with ease. It's worth nothing I sell it, so I just keep driving it.
I own and drive the C180 Kompressor version, it got the M 271 engine in it with... well 1.8 Liters of displacement. It's my first car and I'm quite proud of it!
I always liked the CL 203 but now that I have one I can call my own as a first car, it really grew on me. Sure it got a few quirks like the sunroof not working, but it's sealed so I don't care too much. With the sportier 5-spoke 17 inch rims, this car also looks pretty in my eyes.
You have the same engine as me, in my CLK200. Great first car :)
@@JJonCars - It is the same block, however the C180 Kompressor version only has 140hp, whereas the C200 Komp version has 163 or 184hp, depending on the year.
3:10 this section actually blocks rear traffic headlight perfectly and i love it for that :)
Haha, useful feature
So true!
they are great daily driver cars. bullet proof auto gearboxes and engines..and it has proper torque converter auto gearbox.I have a 2006 one and really like it.not expensive to maintain neither.
I own a 2003 sport coupe and I love it
Nice one :)
Another good review 👍. There’s a couple of these where I live which still look good despite being nearly 20 years old.
Thanks Stuart. They do seem to last quite well, or maybe people look after them
I love the videos. I have a 2002 C230 coupe as my daily driver. I’m currently driving across the US in a 2006 CLK 350. Both are awesome and so different.
Driving across the US in a CLK, you're living the dream my friend!
Empty buttons are great for adding extra features to the car like: "ignition enable sequence" - when you have to press the empty buttons in a certain order to be able to start the car
I love my 2002 and can’t consider parting with it. I’ve actually taken it off road camping into National Forrests. The rear wheel drive handles sand dunes amazingly! I’ve considered lifting it a little & putting on all-terrain tires to make it a rally car. It’s my friend for life! 😊
Brilliant :) Would be pretty cool with all terrains on it 👍
@@JJonCars PS - the seats fold completely flat to create a nice floor for a bed when car camping. ;) …I also transport an 8 & 1/2’ kayak inside mine. It truly is quite roomy.
Front seat JJ drives from time to time 😂🎉❤
One of the last fastbacks / sportbacks, ..... forgotten ..... but not really forgotten. And now ...
Look at these new "SUV Coupe" Style. Mercedes GLE or BMW X5 / X6 Coupe or others.
If you make these cars lower you will see the design of the CL203 Sportcoupe from the year 2000.
Yes, those new cars would look a lot better if they were lower!
I was at Monterey in 2019 and discussed this with the design team. Most of them had no idea what I was speaking if, but a couple of the guys hinted that this car was the inspiration behind their SUV model. This was where my vision of lifting mine began. Not a single one of their designers shrugged off my idea and they all smiled and suggested I submit my photos and video after I accomplish this as they’d be interested in seeing the results. :)
As soon as I can afford to, I’m going to lift mine & put some all-terrains on it. It’s truly an awesome & undercooked car.
PS - the seats fold completely flat to create a nice floor for a bed when car camping. ;) …I also transport an 8 & 1/2’ kayak inside mine. It truly is quite roomy.
Australian C180K manual transmission owner here. I bought this because there's hardly any fun, manual, rwd daily drivers under 5k here in Australia anymore. Was never a car to "awe" at and not the most manly car to own but I've come to appreciate it. Hardly any aftermarket parts to zazz the power up a bit, so it's just a buy and drive car
Ah nice one, good combo with the Kompressor and manual box. Most of these do seem to be autos though. I have the same issue with my CLK 200K, nothing that can really done with the power (which isn't quite enough!)
@@JJonCars This generation mercedes have become my favourite generation from owning my C180K in hindsight. As a kid seeing the video of the CLK-GTR become airborne was pretty amazing. And now I find myself fanboy'ing over a sexy SL350, SL500 or AMG SL55 driving by haha
@@joeym2357 Yes! Love an SL, and the CLS too
@@JJonCars - If you want more performance, your CLK 200 Komp engine can be remapped, taking it from 163/184hp to just shy of 200hp (197hp on paper). Google 'Elite Remaps' as they do this car / engine. I had my R171 SLK200 Komp (with the same engine) done with them. If you remap AND change to a smaller s/c pulley, you can get 220hp from your engine! (But a higher chance that something will go pop!).
@@DavidR_192 Thanks David, 200 hp would be a huge difference!
I love this car,my father drove it while was working in Daimler Chrysler
I bought a 2002 Mercedes Benz 220 CDI today with only 290.000 km on it yet. Already loving how it drives, feels like a proper highway cruiser 😊
Awesome. Enjoy that new-to-you car feeling :)
@@JJonCars here's to hoping she says reliable
@@Dirkietje8 🤞🤞
i have the same from 2001 with 376K, drives as new, just keep an eye on the diesel system, the rubber seals tend to fail as the car ages, its a cheap fix, i averaged 3.8L/KM from the Netherlands to Portugal with speed average of 99KM/H ill never sell this car.
I've had the C230k in Black with a light silver leather interior, panoramic sunroof and 7 spoke alloy wheels. I immediately put in an aftermarket touch screen stereo system with Apple CarPlay which modernizes the car significantly. I've had it for 8 years now and it's been incredibly reliable, economical, fun to drive while being quiet and smooth, sufficient power and every time I drive a newer car I miss the analog feel of this car.
I have had mine for many years it's been brilliant in lot's of way's 2003 it's now starting to be troublesome but not in a hurry to park it up. 126 536 miles. Nothing really.
Nice one, yeah that's still quite 'low mileage' really :)
3 ... 2 ... 1 ... got it ... C230 (CL203) mit 2,5 L/V6 ... real good car ... the sound ... the power ... modern Fastback
2.5 V6 in a C230? Never heard of that. In most of Europe the C230 had a 2.3 4cyl Kompressor engine with 192hp. In the US the C230 used a higher tuned 1.8 Kompressor engine, with same same power output. The only 2.5 V6 engine I've heard of is the unit in the CLK240 (or C240), deleloping 170hp.
I always like this model!!! I remember when I saw it first time in 2001, I use to live back then in Switzerland 😅 And you're videos are uneatable!!! I love it to watch and leeson
Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoy the videos 😊
I own this car, but will soon pass it on. It is such a nice car to drive.
Im interested in buying it as a sunday car, it just looks fun. The one i found is black and has a white interior, 170hp 2.0 engine. Its perfect for screwing around, if it breaks it breaks screw it haha
Haha yep, the joy of older, cheaper cars
I drive my sisters one of these a lot (c180 kompressor) and I love it!
I drive brand new cars at work and I totally believe that her 2004 drives just as nice as a 2020 c class.
It’s smooth, quiet and nippy when it needs to be.
My dash is different to both that you showed in the video tho, it has a double din stereo and larger heater control knobs. Not sure how if they did a change in 06?
Nice! You're right, they did change the interior around 2005 to a more modern, nicer dashboard.
I have a c320 which is the v6 with the 6 speed manual transmission. Shes still running strong at 220k miles/350k kilometers. Love this car even though she shows her age a bit.
Aww yes, the V6, very cool to have that big engine in this car :) They're known to be very reliable engines and 220k miles is proof of that
Odd that only 10% in UK were 6 speed manuals. The three pedal car were at least a third of all sold here in Canada.
Great review... I've always thought this car was a class smaller than the C-Class, and the styling is slightly weird, though I prefer this gen to the CLC as the design looks more cohesive... That being said, I'm really not a fan of the W203 C-Class and much prefer the successor, the W204 which IMO, is the best C-Class...
I did too, it surprised me to find it had the same wheelbase. The CLC looked a bit more modern but like you say, not cohesive - like the grafted the front end of a 2010's Merc on to one designed in 2000. I'm inclined to agree about the W204 being better too. Though of course I have a spot for the CLK :)
@@JJonCars Yep, the CLK is probably one of the best looking designs from that era of Mercedes...
@@JJonCars if you have only have one car would you buy year 2008 C200k 1.8l supercharged or 2008 C230 V6 2.5l or 2004 CLk200 peanut eye soft top?.
6000, 6200 and 9500 British pound respectively. Not in England though but 12 flight hours away.😂😂😂
Agreed, W203 looks awkward, something the W204 is not. This being said, W203 chassis is just as capable of handling power as the W204.
The car media at the time hated THIS car but loved the sedan. Go figure! They complained that the climate controls were difficult to interpret and use. Huh? They are exceedingly simple. Well to a point. It pays to read the manual. There are lots of hidden features in all Mercedes. For instance the AC is on ALL THE TIME and pushing a button that says EC/REST turns it off. EC for economy. Pushing this button when the car is off recirculates the coolant in the heating core
and runs the fan at a very low speed to provide heat for a short time up to a 1/2 hour till the coolant cools.
The "evolution" moniker was not used in the US. It refers to what they called the Sport Package.
Which includes a leather steering wheel with nubs on it and matching shift knob. Also the door skirts, painted door handles, resonator delete, the 17" wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tires. A great deal at ~ $700.
In 2003 the the 17" wheels became stock and they went to the 1.8L engine which is much less reliable than the earlier 2.3L only offered in 2002 in the USA. Evolution also refers to the engine, one of the last incarnations of the venerable M111 engine used by Mercedes for more than 20 years. It went on to power the SLK until 2004. It is much torquier and HP is easily added with the addition of a supercharger pulley. I am the original owner of a 2002 C230 Jasper Blue with the "Evolution Package" and panoramic sunroof. 251K MILES not Km and counting. I still drive if often.
Really the 2002 2.3L M111 or the 03-05 C320 6cyl M112 coupe are the only ones to own. The M271 1.8L 4 banger is garbage as is the early M272 6 cylinders. Just google balance shaft and M272. A freakin' maint. nightmare both of them. M271 has single row chain which stretches and then eats the cam gears and valves. 2005 is the best for styling with updated tail lights, turn signals, clear headlights vs frosted, clear fog lamps and a "cheese grater" grill. I have put all those items on my 2002 to update it except I added factory Bixenons which requires an ECU change. I got mine with manual seats but if I had electric it would be easy to swap to CLK seats. Yes they are hard as rocks! Mercedes do not like to be out in the rain! Water seems to get in and fowl up the electronics playing all kinds of havoc. I'm told it's a good idea to replace the tail light seals, but they are no longer available. One of these days I'll use some clear silicone on them. Luckily once dried out everything went back to normal. The list of wierdnesses is long including not running, the dash being blank, the fan running continuously and much more. Sunrooofs give out after a while, and repairs are very expensive OR DIY very time consuming. So mine is disconnected. Still have the sunshade though. I recently did the front brakes and rotors (C32 Brembo's which bolt right on) repacked the wheel bearings, new tires,
new alternator and replacement supercharger. M111 is prone to head gasket leak on cylinder 4 which also is expensive, but most of the water goes outside the engine not in, so just topping it generally works to a point. Mine is so bad now I can't turn on the AC or heat, as it sucks coolant vapors into the cab. Soon I'll be DIY'ing the head gasket since there is no one qualified where I live. Hard to want to tear into something that's running perfectly fine except for this one major problem. So many things to go wrong. I've done 2 other heard gaskets in my life but not on DOHC and not Mercedes. Wish me luck!
Brilliant Info, thanks! When I was researching the C230, I did get pretty confused with the available engines - it seemed to have gone from the 2.3 to the 1.8 and then finally to a 2.5? (V6?) all under that same badge.
I have the M271 in my CLK, though it's only done 35k miles with great service history so I should hopefully be a way from any timing chain issues... 🤞🤞🤞
And good luck with your head gasket change!
You sure seem to know a lot about these cars. What can you tell me about the OM611 2,1 litre diesel engine? Thats the one my 2002 220 CDI has.
you forgot the pano-roof mechanism is garbage...
@@tedsmart5539 well mine lasted until just a a couple years ago.
They're actually made by a company called Wabasto who make sunroofs for many cars. Most of the stuff in a Mercedes these days isn't made by Mercedes. Everything is outsourced.
@@Dirkietje8 I haven't heard anything bad about them and with fuel prices what they are I'd love to have one but never offered in the US. Was looking at a low mileage W211 04 E320 CDI recently, it sold for $25k! 35 mpg all day long.
Personally I've been looking for the facelift c320 model they only came out for 1-year stateside.
Good luck in your search
I have one - took ages to get a decent one as they don’t come up for sale often. Lovely car though and was lucky enough to get speced out with full electric seats xenon’s parking sensors etc. really makes the car feel modern and not like it’s nearly 20 years old!
@@maliekmills457 it's one of those cars that don't make much sense on paper even though you can't have fun with a 2.3 supercharged with pulleys (later 1.8 version wasn't that easy to modify) or the 3.2 l V6.
I satisfied my itch because I couldn't find one with a CLK320. But still if given the choice if you gave me a facelifted c320 especially the CLC version. I wouldn't even hesitate.
@@edd2184 clk320 is nice though I did consider those too but the coupes are just so unloved, underrated and therefore much cheaper so I went with the cl203! I wanted a c350 but wasn’t sure about the longevity of the balance shaft so that scared me out of buying one of those.
Definitely a car on paper that doesn’t make much sense at all or even in real world 😂 though it makes for a very capable, fast little run about that is often underestimated by your typical boy racer who thinks it’s a c180 or c220cdi 🤣. It’s amazing on the motorway too and when you plant the foot down it easily keeps up with or outpaces most modern cars. My only gripe is the fact it has no grip off the mark especially in wet… I think it’s because it’s a big engine, almost disproportionately sized for such a small coupe and also RWD so it just blabbers about and can’t get going when trying to pull off quickly. I also have a mk4 golf v6 4 motion and you can peg that off the line even in wet and it doesn’t skid so it seems better to have 4x4 with the bigger engined cars.
@@maliekmills457 the clk320/550 is pretty good it's really pretty bulletproof the only thing that may go wrong is the transmission conductor plate but you can fix it easier by being preventative.
If the transmission starts to skip more than likely it's the 13 pin connector clean it with some electrical conductor, and using a hand tool not a drill (you will strip the bolt). Remove the 13 pin connector adapter, it should have two o-rings. A lot of time. Goes Go Bad so it starts to leak through, some transmission fluid. Which affects the connector.
Now if you don't do this and the transmission goes all the way South. All you will have to do is replace the conductor plate. If that doesn't work after the new conductor plate is installed, you need to get a transmission software reset that can only be done through star diagnostics or snap-on tools.
That being said the CLK350 has the 7 speed transmission and that's a whole nother animal those conductor plates vin coded.
However if you want to take the risk I highly recommend the CLK55 or the CLK550
Ive got the C180 Kompressor 2006 ! Cheap to run on petrol under 3000 rpm/ 90mph. I often drive 5hrs on 70% of petrol with comfort. Although its 150HP, Im happy ! ................
Sweet, glad you like it!
Should I buy this car, I'm planning to.
Like Ive said, its no problem with me. Remember there is a C200 & c220 too, but the C180 is more economical. @@zukied4817
Just found your channel. Love it! Merry Christmas 🎉
Thanks Robert! Merry Christmas 🎄
mine was built in 2004. Purchased in 2019 and now with 100,000 km there have been no significant repairs or expenses.
I had one and sold it several years ago and want another one
Would never trade my C209 CLK200 over this!
Haha, same :P
@@JJonCars Keep up the good work with yours. Cheers!
great review!
i got a c200k... its got the M271 engine and if you got one of these.... its a timebomb. Mine's broken currently due to timing chain issues, under 150k kilometers.
Whilst you were visiting the North-East, did you or have you ever visited the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge? That's on my to-do list.
I can't say I'd heard of it! But I've looked it up and it does look pretty interesting, though a shame it's not currently operational.
@@JJonCars - You've never heard of it?! It's as famous as Brunell's Clifton suspension bridge. :) Then again, I'm a Geordie so I guess more predisposed to have heard of it. :)
My wife has C 200 automatic ,I love it ,fun to drive ,but seats aren't comfortable as you mentioned ( has heated seats)it on the video, sounds good ,we have it with gas bottle LPG and is very economic, on petrol only is tursty. Overall is fun and reliable
We use it in Bulgaria, sound system is amazing (Bose) but I like the most the sound of the kompressor engine and exhaust. Ideal city car,we have park tronic (front and rear) so easy to park it .I'm a bmw fan ,but like that one a lot,unique, especially with the glass roof in summer
Thank you, nice to hear from an owner of one. Glad you like the car :)
@JJ on Cars ,thanks for the nice review, too!)I did enjoy it,keep the good work going ,mate!
Здравей, предстои ми оглед на такава (c200 compressor автоматик). Може ли някой съвет?
@@АлександърЦонев-т7х ,карай го на сервиз за оглед и диагностика, ние сме доволни от този автомобил,внос от Германия, но още в началото се наложи смяна на скоростна кутия ,те след 100 000км си искат нова. Мен лично ме кефи много колата ,не ни е правила сериозни проблеми, автоматичния стъклен покрив /люк се разваля лесно.
This is my current car!
Having issue going in 60 now
Can’t tell if it’s fuel injection, or the throttle body
Doesn’t seem like the transmission
Do you have troubles accelerating?
@@georgeb5262 yes i do.
It takes long to pick up and even when it does, it doesn’t go as high as 60km/h
@@Pappy_i It can also can be something like the brake or acceleration potentiometer. My mum had similar problem in her Nissan Micra k12. The car read that the brake was always applied, even if it wasn't and there was no squealing. So the board computer automatically lowered the engine's RPMs, thinking she is constantly braking. And she had similar stuck around that speed. It may or may not be the case. I have neither ever owned this car, neither am I a mechanic. So you probably should read or ask in some forums for this car or talk to a qualified mechanic. But it is some likely something in the electronic.
@@georgeb5262 oh do you think I can detect this with a diagnostic tool?
@@Pappy_i Idk. I am not a mechanic. I think the person, who fixed my mum's car saw that there was some short circuit or something like that, but I suppose that a diagnostic test will be helpful regardless. And you can usually go to some third-parties for this (aka independent services).
Looking at buying this car soon, what to look for when hunting..?
C230 model 2008, the owner says its a 2009 😅
M271 manual Gearbox
Very informative Video 🎉
I don't think there's anything hugely specific to these that you have to look for - just the usual stuff like check for corrosion underneath and the wheel arches. Full service history is important with correct grades of oil, the M271 is a good engine but needs care otherwise the timing chain can go before 100k miles. But can do 200k+ if looked after. I don't know much about the manual gearboxes but assume they are robust!
I'm a giant, my head would be sticking through the roof in the back seat. my whole family are giants. I guess I'll pass on getting one of these. thanks for the review
Yes, probably not the car for you haha
Ah that’s my old car, was so pleased to save this one, the real hidden secret with this Mercedes is its completely rust free, due to been in Spain for 16 years, it’s like new underneath never seen one like it.
It’s called the Evolution spec with the full panoramic roof.
C230 Kompressor is the one to have 200bhp, bar the 3.7 V6 C350 …. But they are super thirsty and complex.
Sure I have some recordings of the underbody when i was prepping it for winter storage
youtube.com/@CarAddictGarageNE
Nice one Dan, it's definitely a minter underneath!
@@JJonCars car I wish I hadn’t of sold that one.
Hopefully see you at a show when i have the ZX little minter that is.
I had an immaculate facelift 2005 C220 CDI evolution identical to this garaged from new, and I didn’t think much of the interior quality at all, only thing that had let the interior down on this example is been hammered by the Spanish sun for 16 years, otherwise I think the pre facelift interior is far more robust, I did notice when I got the car someone had fitted aftermarket climate control knobs that were really cheap feeling, that was on my list of things to do….. but hey I would sooner take the hit on some interior flaws over been rusted to hell like Uk Mercedes are lol
@@CarAddictGarageNE I noticed there were some control knobs rattling around in the centre console so maybe they'd already been swapped back - the one on the car did come off in my hand lol. The facelift interior looks very similar to my CLK which is decent quality in my car but maybe it's not as good in this C Class.
Yeah lol, they have robust engines if looked after so worth keeping a rust free one - which I think Chris plans to do so you might not get it back, though then again he swaps his cars around constantly :D
Hopefully see you at one - I'll definitely try and get back to FOTU as that was a superb show
@@JJonCars yes they were the originals in the contest console, not actually sure what was wrong with them. Yes I had a 2003 facelift CLK 270CDI and that had far better quality interior.
Yeah I know have first chance of it back, only reason I sold was i struggle with 2 door cars with having x2 kids and x2 dogs lol.
Yes will definitely be at FOTU just not sure if I will shut travel with Chris or take the ZX, long old slog in a 1.4 ZX happy at 60 not 70 so I would be left behind lol.
Be good to see you there mate keep up the good work
The CLK is destined to be a classic, but how about the CLC?🤔
Hard to say isn't it! It's not got the history of Mercedes pillarless coupes and the big V8 engines. So probably not a classic in the same way, but no doubt one day it will be a cool and different classic to own.
I drive a C180 Kompressor coupe with 5 speed auto. Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t they 7 spd auto on anything bigger than the C200?
I suspect that if it's anything like the CLK, they put the 7-speed in later on in production lifetime, so it's maybe based on age rather than engine size. Or a bit of both.
5G tronic box until 2007 and then 7G tronic.
i got a clc 180 auto with a stage 2 remap yet to test how fast it is
Oh nice. I am curious about that with my own car, I have the same engine as you in the CLK 200. Let me know how much difference there is!
You forgot about the V6 M112K with 354HP (C32 AMG Sportcoupe)
Your headrest is too low, which is making me nervous. On a crash you are risking serious whiplash. The top of the headrest should line up with the top of your head
Yeah you're right. Just forget to adjust it in every car I drive.
Something I've noticed with the seats in my CLK, and perhaps it's the same in this C Coupe is that the headrest drops down when you pull the seat forward for access to the rear. So I'm constantly having to remember to pull the headrest back up
سلام دوست عزیز من دیروز خریدم این ماشین رو نمیدونم چرا ماشین یعد از یک روز استارت نمیخوره روشن نمیشه لطفا به من کمک کنید چکار کنم ماشین روشن بشه ممنون مرسی
i think the weird look will make it a classic(kind of rare) some time in the future
Great review! Worth noting that the post-2008 CLC badged diesels are somewhat less economical than those from the first five years of manufacture, due to a revised EGR/DPF system that reduced emissions but also reduced mpg…not sure how they managed that!
Haha wow, that's good going for Merc, normally newer diesels are much better on fuel. Ones to avoid then if it's worse MPG and potential DPF and EGR issues to content with too
@@JJonCars I think the diesels are still a bit better than the petrols in the post ‘08 CLCs but less frugal than the previous dervs. Two friends of mine had earlier ones and chopped them in for CLCs in 2009/10 but were really disappointed in the dip in economy from the newer cars.
I owned a 2003 C180 K manual as my first car. I wasnt a fan of those coupés but my father was and bought it for me. I fell kind of in love, even though its the most "special" looking Mercedes 😂
A year later I bought myself a Jaspisblau Metallic C350 as a manual built in 2006. Even got the ultra rare Evolution AMG sportpackage, AMG rims in 18" instead of 17" (which was an extra 700€ as the car was configured), Thermotronic, Comand APS and many more options.
New, the C350 had cost ~34,500€ but mine was 50k€ with options. Got it for 5k as noone wants to buy those coupés :(
Hahaha 'special' looking :)
That's awesome man, we all have a soft spot for our first cars. And yours is a great one. The 350 is rare, and I love that dark blue colour. Honestly you've got a lovely car there, try and keep it as long as you can :)
@@JJonCars Definetly! Thanks mate! Just had done nearly the whole suspension parts, apart from the KW V2 every part is original Mercedes. Had looked for rust on the bottom and tried to get rid of as much as I could without using heavy tools. Next step is an engine rebuild and after that gearbox and diff. Looking forward to buy better cams and an mechanical quaife diff. But never ever going to sell it 😄
@@ArcanumMortis98 Fantastic, sounds like you'll have one of the best ones around when you're finished.
@@JJonCars Unfortunatly not ":D Im a student again after finishing my apprenticeship at Mercedes and I only have a small budget.. I bought the Mercedes 4 years ago and drove it like 8.000km. The rest of the time it sits in the garage to save money. It wont be a "good as new" car for a long time, until I take over my fathers business and then be able to get the car to this state of perfection.
@@ArcanumMortis98 you'll get there eventually 😄
Mate i need your opinion should i buy the c180 or the c230 version?
230 is the best engine of Mercedes factory..outside of AMG
I’m about to get my first car here in Greece and my father found me this car! But I’m little scare to buy it, it’s actually a good car? He’s got 155.000km and it looks nice. What should i look out for before i buy it and after i buy it?
Thanks
Well, yeah they can be good reliable cars! If it has been looked after by its owner and maintained properly then it should be ok. But of course they are old cars now and if it hasn't been cared for it could be a money pit. You have to go by how you feel about the car, if its in nice condition and there is service history etc, then it should be ok!
Nice review of the sportscoupe, are you also gonna review the sedan version?
I will definitely do the sedan/saloon as soon as I get hold of one 👍
The m111 230 engine has 2295cm3 it is not an 1.8ltr. The m271 230 engine is 1.8ltr.
Ha ha I’m looking at one of these tomorrow and I’m from Liverton mines I recognised the roads straight away 😂😂😂😂
Ah nice, yeah I enjoyed driving around your area, nice scenery and the weather was fantastic :)
@@JJonCars please tell me you went over Blakey? I commute on that road
Didn’t buy it 😂😂😂 problem with the front end obviously an unrecorded not worth the £700 he wanted
My dad had 2 of them one in blue which was my brothers car and one in silver both automatics
I still have it!
This with an om606 would rock
4:07 The illusion is broken. :(
😬
Have another look... it's improved slightly 😅
I got in an accident in 2018 around 5am in the morning was driving my bmw 325i i was home in pain around 8am on the same day i guy i know nicknamed little jesus called me asking me if i wanted to buy a car for $1,100 i said i was in pain because i was just in an accident. he sent me a couple of pictures it was a 2003 mercedes benz c320 me broke i said i had no money asked someone to lent me the money by the evening i now had a 2003 c320 mercedes the best deal i have found. i mean that found me. now 2024 i still have it i wish i could take care of it the way it deserves it but 200k miles on it already. best investment i have ever made. cool car drives smooth and has lots of power.
Hey JJ, these are obviously good cars but my prob is the back end styling. It's too soft and crap looking for me. It ruins it and for that reason I wouldn't get one. Only the Easter version is one of buy, those look great.
Yeah, they are a bit odd looking for sure. Easter version?
@@JJonCars haha I meant estate :)
@@MrSunnyBhoy haha yeah they're quite nice. Saloon is OK but I much prefer the E class!
this car always looked weird to me. on one side i like the coupe look on the other the back is too high and looks like they cut the rear off
Yep, it is weird looking, and in a way they kinda did chop the back off of a C-Class haha. I can't quite figure out if I like the looks of it either, it's better from some angles than others
It kind of reminds me of the old 3 Series Compact with its weird cutoff rear end
@@MartinJones123 to be honest, until I did this video, I've been calling it the C class compact as I didn't know what it's official name is. Sport Coupe is not a great name I don't think
@@JJonCars 😂 Though you do raise a point, it's not a good name for this car... I've been doing something similar and calling it a C-Class hatchback thingy 😂
@@JJonCars In USA hatchback was a bad word for some reason. For me, I liked the dual rear window reminiscent of the early Honda CRX which was actually something tossed into the mix by Bertone design. Sadly a couple years later Toyota used it on the Prius. YUK! Yes, the butt is ugly. A nice face with an ugly butt. BUTT fold down the seats and have 40 cu ft of storage. Amazing what I've transported over the years. I actually had to replace the entire hatch due to body damage. If a CLC hatch had been available in the USA, I might have used it. C Coupe front with CLC rear. Hmmmm?
Nice review mate , you're very good at this 👍
Thank you!
Think i'll stick with my CLK V8
Haha yeah, fair one, I would too
awesome car. mine is diesel manual, really fun to drive
the diesel manual gets insane mpg. best i got was 3.6l/100km on a 200km trip driving around 80kmh, +20-25c temp
That's great MPG!
Does this car have isofix points?
Hi did you find them I have the same but failed to locate them
Is all that white stuff normal from a cold car? I’m considering buying one pls help lol
In winter from a cold start it can be normal, but should go away when the engine warms up.
Thankyou :)
I love my one of these ❤
Great aren't they
Was it even possible to get a C203 with elegance spec? Every one I've seen seems to have the metal with black cloth or leather (sometimes black and white) and nothing else. Also this car is still bigger than the A class of the era.
I think so, lol. But I guess quite rare, with it being aimed at a younger buyer than the bigger cars
These were Mercedes' competition for the BMW 3 series compact
Yeah that's true 👍
CLK is more beautiful, this one is unusual
Yep, agreed 👍
@@JJonCars bro in this models 1.8 and 2.0 has difference? In speed and etc?
@@dr.drex0854 Depends. If it's used, there are many factors that could affect the performance. But generally, the 2.0 has a slightly more abrupt acceleration. And it feels more powerful when speeding
I’d agree with that. I’ve always loved the CLK (and am glad to own one now that the used prices are within reach of a humble working musician such as I) and was never keen on the C-Class Coupe. Having said that, whilst I wouldn’t choose one over the styling of the CLK, I’d totally drive one now.
Rare model
Peças para Mercedes Benz CDI Coupé 200 de 2004
Mine is manual, of course a 200cdi, can't be a Manual Sport without the massive 122hp 200cdi
Haha nice. Rare car with the manual. I had the same thought with my CLK - it's the Sport model with big brakes and wheels, paddleshift gear change... and the 200 Kompressor engine with 163hp 😆
@@JJonCars it is but the irony is I found another one for sale less than a week after buying this one, fortunately it was petrol, so I didn't have to buy it😅
I am quite the Mercedes fanboy especially for this era but I genuinely do not understand why would anyone buy this, this was quite literally the cheapest RWD Mercedes you could get at the time both in price, quality AND DESIGN, and it's a hatchback not a coupe.
This was made to compete with the E46 Compact but then in 2008 BMW moved to the loved 1 series E82 coupe meanwhile Mercedes was still making this weird CLC hatch fake coupe looking w204 but in reality it was still based on the w203 platform lol wtf which is why it failed miserably, if you wanted a real coupe you would get a W204 coupe or a W209 CLK, if they are too big for you then get a R171 SLK or 1 Series Coupe or otherwise I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless they get a clean model for dirt cheap...
Is this car still worth driving and it’s performance in 2024 for a first start car ?
I would say so! Great first car if you can afford the insurance
i own one of these and my butt always falls asleep! the seats are so hard!!!
No problem :) That's great, sounds like you built a nice Golf. OEM+ is the best way 👍
the car with the worst wind noise i ever own
Not something I noticed with it particularly! Perhaps you've had some very luxurious cars in the past? 😄
This had a lot of electrical problems
NZZ-998
this is an ugly version of the CLK
kinda yeah 😄
I'll agree with that as far as the ass end is concerned. But try fitting 40 cu ft of cargo in a CLK. Without seeing the back end It looks like a CLK from the front. Also no pano for CLK 209 and back seat only good if you're under 5 feet tall.. C Coupe Pano was the 1st for Mercedes. Only other car on the market at the time I'm aware of was Porsche. I remember the 2 big ah ha! moments at the dealership for me, were when the salesman folded down the rear seats (I'm a musician needed to haul equipment) and when he opened the sun shade exposing the huge panes of glass. That was it for me. That and a supercharged engine, tiptronic 5 speed, done deal.
@@DimlyAwareHUmAn I have fitted a 10 Ton hydraulic press in the back of a CLK, and have used it to move massive pieces of furniture that would never fit in traditional cars, thanks to the missing B pillar. The CLK boot is huge and with seats folded down will fit more than the C-class. The CLK is elegant and it's interiors are magnificent. The C-class is probably the ugliest thing Mercedes ever made, and maybe yes that Pano roof is the only thing if you even consider that a feature, I don't really as your not looking up when you drive only forward.
I love the back end, that is the highlight of the car to me, I own a 2004 C 230
@@DimlyAwareHUmAnfellow musician here…I drive a CLK! I was told that with the seats down the CLK has the same load space as a Volvo V70 estate, which may be true in terms of floor space but certainly not in terms of headroom 🤣 I love my CLK though. I could sit and look at it all day! Me and two support acts touring Scotland together in it earlier in the year was a bit of a push space wise though, especially the 8hr drive up from Dorset 😳 I’m envious of the pano roof of the sports coupe, that would have been a lovely addition to the CLK. I’m not sure if the crash structure with the pillarless roof would allow a pano roof though.