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Correct, that does seem like classic trim which comes with MBTex and not leather like the elegance or avantgarde trim levels. I'd much rather have MBTex, it is widely regarded as one of the most durable upholstery material used in Mercs and most people can't tell the difference from leather.

The 200K/230K is the same 1.8 engine but the blower is just more 'tuned' and CDI will no doubt cost more than this. For me the W203 C180K Classic remains the best Mercedes-Benz for the budget buyer.
 
Rouxenator said:
The 200K/230K is the same 1.8 engine but the blower is just more 'tuned'
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The 180K and 200K are the same 1.8 engine, I've never known exactly what the 230K was.

Rouxenator said:
...and CDI will no doubt cost more than this.
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As a special favour, I'm willing to sell my C220Cdi to you for R75 000. It's main benefit is that in a mere 5 000km you'll be able to watch the clock turn over to half a million kilometre. The downside is that it's a bit poked. The thing still has amazing torque though.
 
Rouxenator said:
Very nice and in excellent condition. I know of two people that had timing chain failures on the 180K, but in general they are very robust. My folks have a 2003 C180K and it is close to 200,000km with no problems. The MBTex they use for the upholstery is durable and does not show wear easily.

At R80k that is very tempting.
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Colin62 said:
As Roux said the timing chains aren't great in these. They are single chains, not double and stretch over time, causing the pulleys to wear. The parts are difficult to source other than from Merc, and it's a costly repair. At that mileage, it might already have been done.

That looks like the classic trim, which wasn't genuine leather IIRC, but it's good enough that it's hard to tell. The 180 is just a little slow, I'd rather go for the 200 or the 220Cdi.
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Rouxenator said:
Correct, that does seem like classic trim which comes with MBTex and not leather like the elegance or avantgarde trim levels. I'd much rather have MBTex, it is widely regarded as one of the most durable upholstery material used in Mercs and most people can't tell the difference from leather.

The 200K/230K is the same 1.8 engine but the blower is just more 'tuned' and CDI will no doubt cost more than this. For me the W203 C180K Classic remains the best Mercedes-Benz for the budget buyer.
Click to expand...

Colin62 said:
The 180K and 200K are the same 1.8 engine, I've never known exactly what the 230K was.



As a special favour, I'm willing to sell my C220Cdi to you for R75 000. It's main benefit is that in a mere 5 000km you'll be able to watch the clock turn over to half a million kilometre. The downside is that it's a bit poked. The thing still has amazing torque though.
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I see that it has been up for sale since May and the price was originally at R88k. Methinks that there's probably something wrong with this specific vehicle (other than the cosmetic issues disclosed) that has been putting buyers off.
 
chickenbeef said:
I see that it has been up for sale since May and the price was originally at R88k. Methinks that there's probably something wrong with this specific vehicle (other than the cosmetic issues disclosed) that has been putting buyers off.
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Good observation. When car hunting on Gumtree, it's best to start at least one month in advance, in order to spot the ones that have been sitting.

Those that sit are either priced too high, have something(s) wrong with them, or are undesirable.
 
I like them too and they don't often come up for sale, or we really don't have a lot on the road.
 
Thinking of giving the number a call on Monday see if I can go take a look at it.
 
Lupus said:
I like them too and they don't often come up for sale, or we really don't have a lot on the road.
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I have a work buddy who has a last of the range 2008 model similar to below. 2nd gen f/lift.

The V6; bit heavy on the juice but he enjoys his. He got it for a very keen price due the seller needing money for divorce proceedings lol

ImageUploadedByMyBroadband1436597772.541661.jpg
 
Colin62 said:
The 180K and 200K are the same 1.8 engine, I've never known exactly what the 230K was.
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All 3 are the same engine, but they all use slightly different pistons to achieve different compression ratios so that they can run different boost pressures. So there is no possibility of upgrading a via software.

The w203 timing chain replacement is around R4k through an independant, but R20k if you let it go to far and the sprockets get damaged, although there was talk of locally available 3rd party sprockets available cheaply.

Only the avantgrade w203 had real leather. While the w204 saw the real leather move to only the elegance and the w205 real leather is only in the exclusive.
 
DanH said:
All 3 are the same engine, but they all use slightly different pistons to achieve different compression ratios so that they can run different boost pressures. So there is no possibility of upgrading a via software.
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Thanks.

Edit:- I found this which is quite interesting background reading:- http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/88500-complete-m271-engine-thread-revised-updated.html

DanH said:
The w203 timing chain replacement is around R4k through an independant, but R20k if you let it go to far and the sprockets get damaged, although there was talk of locally available 3rd party sprockets available cheaply.
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A dealership in Cape Town mentioned that they had bought locally made sprockets (made by someone in Durban IIRC). I found another diesel so never bothered to find out where the place that made them was.
 
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