Owner Review: A 20-year-old car with a the modern equipment you need - My 2000 Mercedes-Benz W202 C230 Kompressor

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Saiful Azzam Khairummuzammil

Basic information

2000 Mercedes-Benz W202 C230 Kompressor

Reason why I bought this car

For the past 5 years, I have been driving a Mercedes-Benz W126 300SEL as a daily commute to work. The reason was simple, I needed a car with a big boot, spacious interior for my children and goods, comfortable on long journey, stable at high speed, superior safety features, easy access to spare parts, and not committing to loans (I was then tied to a 9 year loan for a Perodua Myvi).

Fast forward in 2018, after a change in career, my regular office commute has changed into client visits, resulting in a two-fold expenditure in petrol consumption, together with wear and tear. The car worked very well for me, but with the daily use, I may need to rest it and restore it for future occasional use. 

Due to such circumstances, I went to look for another car that could cover the fixed petrol costs while maintaining my purchasing criteria;  
1) Stable on highways
2) Superior Safety Features
3) Easy access to parts
4) Familiar to work with (diagnose and repair)
5) Big boot
6) Better fuel consumption than the W126 300SEL
7) Lower road tax than the W126 300SEL
8) As original as possible
9) Buy and drive
10) Below RM 20,000

This left me with one marque, none other than another Mercedes-Benz. Filtering further, I had a choice of  W202 C-class (around RM 9k  to RM14k), W210 E-Class (from RM 12k to RM22k), W124 E-Class (from RM 6k to RM 14k), or W201 190E (from RM 8k to RM 15k)

The W201, W210 and W124 have been my parents ride in the past, I didn't feel that I would want to own the same car again after being driven in it for a very long time. 

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM25,000 
• Models that I have considered include: Mercedes-Benz W203 C230K, Mercedes-Benz W211 E200K,  Mercedes-Benz W210 E240

I was informed that the W202 C230 Kompressor was a unique model, with a few units officially imported into Malaysia. I know grey imported units (particularly UK model) have a tendency to rust, but this was designated for Malaysia.

The car is running on a Supercharged 2.3-litre Inline-4 engine, churning up to 190hp of power and 280Nm of torque when new. This was when Mercedes-Benz reintroduced the supercharger in their engine after a long time.

Despite being a 20-year-old car, it has the modern equipment such as Cruise Control with Speed Limit function, Traction Control, ABS with Brake Assist, the IR key fob unit, 5-speed automatic transmission, 4 airbags and a Becker Audio Unit with 6 CD Changer.

The icing on the cake is a set of 17-inch AMG styling 3 wheels, AMG mufflers and AMG scuff plates, which made it look sporty yet elegant.

User experience

• I have already done 20,000 km.

The C230 Kompressor is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It has an understatement look and can be easily mistaken with the more common C200 on the road, only to be differentiated by its rear badge. Its front fascia was inspired from the combination of the W140 S-Class and the R129 SL Class, while the rear is inspired from the W124 E-class. The facelifted model included some skirting on the front, side and rear with a two-tone bumper design. This gave the youthful look of the car.

Interior wise, as expected from a Mercedes-Benz - means luxury with purpose. It comes with soft padding balanced with some real wood veneer.  The instrument cluster is easy to read, and the controls are within easy reach. The steering wheel is smaller than the W126 S-class, making it feel like a modern car. The cabin illumination gives a warm lighting effect, which relaxes the eyes of the driver. 

The car's 2.3L supercharged engine relive the character of the evergreen M102 engine (from the classic W123 230E) with a deep, bassy tone. While maintaining the classic engine rumble, the whining and whistling of the supercharges gives some sort of feeling of power, making the driver wanting to push the car to its very limits.

With all the power it has, the 5-speed transmission is smooth with a well thought final gear ratio, although it has some long gearshifts. This set the cruising engine speed of less than 3000rpm at 110kph, which is reasonably good for a late 90's car. 

In terms of control, it takes the corners flat, thanks to its double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension from a W140 S-class. The steering is sharp and precise to my satisfaction despite it is using a steering box.

On a long drive, the cruise control helped to keep my foot off the accelerator, making a drive less tiring. At times, when I felt that I need to control my maximum speed, I just need to switch on the Limit mode. 

The maintenance is basic, like any other cars, except that I would need to change the supercharger oil every 70,000km. There were a number of parts replaced for better peace of mind and it worked well till today.  

I have replaced the 17-inch AMG wheels with a more subtle 15 inch from a C200 to meet my daily commuting and sales visit (no, I wouldn't want to spend on High-Performance Tyres for sales visit)

For a 20-year-old car, this was one of the most reasonable purchase made. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

The designers in Mercedes-Benz have done an excellent job in designing cars that stood the test of time. The C-class maybe 27 years old in design, but with good care, it will last decades to come.

The all-round visibility with easy to read cluster helps the driver to focus on driving. The cruise control with speed limiter helps to maintain speed or limit the maximum speed when needed.

The 2.3L supercharged engine gives the tune of the old era fused with a whistle and whine of the supercharger. Coupled with the 5-speed gearbox, it eventually gives a better fuel consumption on the highway than the old era Mercedes.

The double-wishbone front and the multi-link rear suspension design carried over from the W140 S class gives the car superb handling at the corners and road holding.

Cons

When there is light, there is shadow.  That’s is life. The car may look perfect as it seems but there are a few downsides to it.
1. Ride quality
It can be hard on the back of it goes over road imperfections such as potholes, bumpy roads and sudden depression. This is a trade-off for a controlled cornering capability. To work out on this is to fine-tune the rear damping rate and the spring rate.

2. Interior plastics
Some of the panels are hard and brittle. Usually, the ones are hidden behind the fabric. Be rough with it, it will just break off. 

3. Electronics
This model, in particular, is a facelifted model which saved itself from the corroded wire loom issue of the early generation C class. However not to take it lightly, some regular inspection of the wiring is needed to ensure peace of mind.

4. Vibrations from the propeller shaft
Being a front-engine rear-wheel drive, the propeller shaft needs to be inspected, serviced and balanced. Otherwise, there will be an unpleasant rumbling at 80-90 kph.

5. Fuel consumption
It may not be as fantastic as a Japanese car at 13km/L like fuel consumption. Usually clocked at 9-10km/L with some heavy footing. It can’t be helped when one is addicted by the supercharger’s whine and the sound of boost. 

Overcoming these shortfalls require some patience and reducing lofty expectations. The support from the international community helps in understanding problems and resolving it easily. That what makes this car an easier option to own.

Ratings

Total Score: 4
Performance: 5
Quality & Features: 5
Space: 4
Ride Comfort: 3
Fuel Economy: 3
Price & Cost: 5 

Summary

The C230 Kompressor is a blend of old school aura with modern-day technology and utilities. Despite being a 20-year-old car, it is still able to outpace the traffic and enjoy the drive at a fraction of the price of a new car.

Lastly, any interesting events?

I decided to add some spice to the front looks by installing a pre-facelift amber turning signals instead of the standard clear turning signals or US type turning signals.

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