Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C 180 Kompressor, 143 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €485 | €2,100 | 132 | Petrol | 271946 | Manual (6) | 2002–2004 |
| C 180 Kompressor, 143 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €497 | €2,900 | 117 | Petrol | 271946 | Automatic (5) | 2002–2004 |
| C 200 Kompressor, 163 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €506 | €2,689 | 100 | Petrol | 271940 | Automatic (5) | 2002–2004 |
| C 200 Kompressor T-Modell, 163 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €528 | €2,500 | 85 | Petrol | 111955 | Automatic (5) | 2000–2002 |
| C 220 CDI T-Modell, 143 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €471 | €2,250 | 82 | Diesel | 611962, 646963 | Automatic (5) | 2000–2004 |
| C 180 T-Modell, 129 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | €518 | €1,999 | 75 | Petrol | 111951 | Manual (6) | 2000–2002 |
| C 200 Kompressor, 163 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €497 | €1,999 | 64 | Petrol | 271940 | Manual (6) | 2002–2004 |
| C 220 CDI T-Modell, 143 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €459 | €1,900 | 61 | Diesel | 611962, 646963 | Manual (6) | 2000–2004 |
| C 200 Kompressor T-Modell, 163 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | €532 | €1,899 | 55 | Petrol | 111955 | Manual (6) | 2000–2002 |
| C 180 T-Modell, 129 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €522 | €2,600 | 54 | Petrol | 111951 | Automatic (5) | 2000–2002 |
At a glance
- Years: 2000 to 2007, with a facelift in 2004. Saloon, estate and coupe.
- Reliability: 3/5. The V6 petrol engines last well, but the timing chain, gearbox cooler and water-damaged electronics cost money.
- DIY: 2/5. Simple jobs are easy, but the ignition lock and electronics need a scanner and coding.
- Biggest risks: a stretched timing chain on the 1.8 petrol, rust before 2004, antifreeze in the automatic gearbox, and water in the rear electronics.
- Prefer: a timing chain service record, a clean body and gearbox oil changed about every 60,000 km. Avoid: rust on the sills or arches.
Engines and gearboxes
- M111 2.0 petrol (C 180, C 200 Kompressor, to 2002): the camshaft adjuster magnet valve can leak oil.
- M271 1.8 Kompressor petrol (2002-2008): the timing chain can stretch, see M271 timing chain stretches.
- M112 V6 petrol (C 240, C 320, to 2005): the valve cover gasket and camshaft adjuster seals leak oil.
- M272 V6 petrol (C 230, C 280, C 350, 2005-2008): the balance shaft gears wear early.
- OM611 2.1 diesel (C 200 and C 220 CDI, to 2003): injectors can leak and stick, see diesel injectors leak and stick.
- OM646 2.1 diesel (C 200 and C 220 CDI, 2003-2008): injector wiring chafes and injectors can stick, see diesel injectors leak and stick.
- OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (C 320 CDI, 2005-2007): the oil cooler seal leaks, and the exhaust manifold can crack and damage the turbo.
- 5-speed automatic 722.6: see five-speed automatic gearbox leaks oil and antifreeze.
- 7G-Tronic 722.9: see Mercedes 7G-Tronic.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| M271 timing chain stretches | M271 1.8 petrol, 2002-2008 | About 70,000-160,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Body rust at sills, arches and door edges | All cars, worst before 2004 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Five-speed automatic gearbox leaks oil and antifreeze | 722.6 five-speed automatic | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Rear SAM damaged by water | All cars, rear SAM in the boot | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Diesel injectors leak and stick | OM611 and OM646 diesels | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Ignition lock and keys fail | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Suspension and steering joints wear | All cars | About 80,000-130,000 km | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Start the car cold and listen for a metal rattle. Ask for proof that the chain, tensioner and cam sprockets were replaced together. A scanner reads camshaft codes. Bad result: a rattle, a check-engine light or no record.
- Drive in drive and reverse. Shifts must be smooth. A sweet antifreeze smell or cloudy fluid is bad. A scanner reads gearbox codes.
- On a lift, check the wheel arches, sills, lower door edges, boot lid and tailgate. Bad result: bubbling paint, holes or fresh filler.
- Check the injector wiring under the valve cover for chafing, then start the diesel cold. Bad result: chafed wiring or a fault code. A scanner reads injector codes.
- Check the boot for damp under the trim, and the sunroof drains. Test the rear and brake lights. Bad result: damp under the trim or a rear light that does not work.
- Turn the key through all positions and start the engine. Ask whether the ignition unit was replaced and coded, and how many keys work. Bad result: a stuck key or a starter that does not respond.
- On a lift, check ball joints, control arm bushes and tie rods for play. Bad result: knocks over bumps or uneven tyre wear.
- Look for oil at the camshaft adjuster magnet valve and ask whether an oil-stop cable was fitted. Bad result: oil on the plug or wiring.
Running costs
| Operational | €257 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €122 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €129 |
| Total per month | €508 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €48 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 1,056
- 25th percentile
- €1,650
- Median price
- €2,499
- 75th percentile
- €3,500
- Median mileage
- 199,000 km
- Median first registration
- 2002
- Dealer share
- 26.9%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €3,657
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
M271 timing chain stretches
Symptoms: a rattle on cold start that fades after a few seconds, a check-engine light, and a rough idle.
Cause: the chain stretches with mileage and the tensioner wears. A stretched chain can jump and damage the valves. Press sources put the first repair at about 70,000-100,000 km.
Fix: replace the whole set: chain, tensioner, guides and cam sprockets. Check whether this was done before you buy.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Auto.ru: W203 durability, Auto.ru: what breaks on the W203, Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W203 weak points
Body rust at sills, arches and door edges
Symptoms: bubbling paint and holes on the wheel arches, sills, lower door edges, tailgate and boot lid.
Cause: early cars rust fast. Kolesa.ru blames missing galvanising, the zinc coating that protects steel.
Which cars: most cars built before the 2004 facelift. Later cars are less critical.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W203 weak points, Gebrauchtwagenberater: W203 problems, Kolesa.ru: buying a rusty W203
Five-speed automatic gearbox leaks oil and antifreeze
Symptoms: harsh or unstable shifts, limp mode, a sweet antifreeze smell in the cabin, and cloudy fluid.
Cause: the gearbox cooler sits inside the radiator. A leak lets antifreeze into the gearbox fluid. Oil can also reach the gearbox electrical connector.
Fix: replace the radiator with its gearbox cooler and flush both circuits. Change the gearbox oil about every 60,000 km.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Auto.ru: what breaks on the W203, Gebrauchtwagenberater: W203 problems, Kolesa.ru: how to buy a W203
Rear SAM damaged by water
Symptoms: the SAM (the electronics box for lights, blower and locks) faults. Expect faulty lighting and blower problems.
Cause: water from failed seals or blocked drains corrodes the SAM contacts. Sunroof drains are one such route.
Which cars: all W203s. The rear SAM sits in the boot, behind the trim.
Fix: fix the water route first, then dry and clean the contacts. Replace the unit only if that fails. A new SAM needs coding, so back up the variant coding first.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W203 weak points, YouCanIC: Mercedes SAM replacement, Kolesa.ru: how to buy a W203
Diesel injectors leak and stick
Cause: the injector nozzles leak, or the return flow is out of tolerance. On the OM646, the injector wiring rubs on the valve cover. Worn heat-resistant washers let injectors seize in the head or coke in their seats.
Fix: check the return quantity per cylinder, fix any chafed wiring, and fit new heat-resistant washers and bolts when servicing the injectors.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W203 weak points, Auto.ru: what breaks on the W203,
Ignition lock and keys fail
Symptoms: the key does not turn or sticks, and the starter sometimes does not respond.
Cause: the EZS (the electronic ignition and steering lock) and its transponder keys wear. Kolesa.ru calls early transponder keys unreliable.
Fix: replace the EZS unit and code it to the car. Coding and teach-in are mandatory, or the engine will not start. Kolesa.ru says replacement keys from the maker are slow and costly.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W203 weak points, Kolesa.ru: how to buy a W203
Suspension and steering joints wear
Symptoms: knocks over bumps, play in the front joints, vague steering, uneven tyre wear and a pull to one side.
Cause: front control arm bushes, ball joints, stabiliser links, shocks and tie rods wear with mileage. AutoScout24 says rear axle links and springs can break from about 200,000 km.
Fix: replace the worn bushes, joints, links or shocks.
Mileage: Auto.ru gives about 80,000-130,000 km for stabiliser links, ball joints and shocks, 100,000-120,000 km for tie rods, and about 200,000 km for steering rack faults.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: Auto.ru: W203 durability, AutoScout24: W203 used-car guide, Europremiumparts: W203 reliability guide
Recalls
The sources read name no recall confirmed by two sites.
Check each campaign by the car's VIN (FIN) with a Mercedes dealer.
Maintenance
- Change the five-speed automatic gearbox oil about every 60,000 km.
- When the timing chain shows wear, replace the whole set, not the chain alone.
- Keep the sunroof drains clear, so water stays out of the rear electronics.
Sources
English
German
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W203 weak points
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: W203 problems
- AutoScout24: W203 used-car guide