Pre-loved: Mercedes C-Class 2007–2021

by Ewan Kennedy  2007 Mercedes C-Class sedan   Mercedes C-Class is sold as a three-door coupe or cabriolet, a four-door sedan and five-do...

by Ewan Kennedy 

2007 Mercedes C-Class sedan

 

Mercedes C-Class is sold as a three-door coupe or cabriolet, a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon.

It has rear-wheel-drive car with a north-south engine, so the front seats are set relatively far back to make space for the engine.

People travelling in the back seats of sedans and wagons may find themselves a little cramped unless those in the front seats are willing to give up some space.

This has improved over the years as the C-Class models have become slightly larger.

The back seats in the coupe are smaller, but that’s par for the course.

Boot space is good and the big boot lid in the sedans makes it easy to load.

The wagon has a sloping tailgate that steals some capacity so tall items may not fit.

So, we suggest you look at the cargo space as part of your vehicle selection checks.

Mercedes C-Class offers four, six and eight-cylinder engines are offered.

Most are naturally aspirated, some use Kompressors (which is what Mercedes calls turbochargers).

In recent times the turbo units have become by much more common.

Mercedes-Benzes with diesel engines have been sold for many years, long before they became common in other cars.

The newer diesels are a big advance on the older diesels in smoothness and refinement, and are even more economical.

Once the Merc is cruising at a steady speed, we defy you to pick new generation diesel them from petrol power plants, but they can be surprisingly noisy at idle, especially when cold.

The hot Mercedes-AMG models have tremendous engine performance and excellent handling.

Some may find the ride is rather firm so try before you buy, ideally with all occupants who are likely to be travelling with you.

Spare parts, servicing and repairs are expensive.

We’ve heard very few complaints about availability.

There are Mercedes dealers in many country cities and towns.

Country dealers may not have all parts in stock but can often have them sent to them in a day or two.

Insurance costs are generally reasonable for a car in this class, it makes sense to get quotes before deciding to buy any Mercedes as they can be quite high due to expensive parts.

A used Mercedes-Benz that’s been serviced throughout its life by an authorised dealer will cost more as a used car.

Check the service books are genuine and that the Merc has been serviced by the book – either by distance travelled or time.

Some private mechanics who have been formally trained by Mercedes, perhaps even worked for a Mercedes dealership before leaving and setting up their own business are well regarded.

Mercedes-Benz Australia offers a very good used-car scheme on cars up to five years of age.

The length of the warranty varies according to the workshop’s assessment of the car.

2011 Mercedes C-Class coupe

 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Call an expert to carry out a full inspection no matter how good the Mercedes appears to be.

Ideally use a mechanic trained on Mercedes, or at least a senior inspector from your motoring association.

Do a visual check of the Merc inside and out for signs of damage or serious wear and tear.

Scuffed bumper corners are a sign of poor parking skills.

As are scrapes on the wheels, the front-left is usually the first one to suffer.

Perhaps if the previous owner hasn’t been good at parking their driving skills have also been below par.

A noisy engine, or one that’s slow to start, may need expensive repairs or even a complete rebuild.

Be sure the steering feels positive with no unnecessary free play in the straight-ahead position.

2016 Mercedes C-Class cabrio

 

HOW MUCH?

Look to paying from $6000 to $10,000 for a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C180; $9000 to $14,000 for a 2009 C200 Avantgarde; $12,000 to $18,000 for a 2011 C250 Elegance; $14,000 to $20,000 for a 2010 C300 Elegance; $18,000 to $26,000 for a 2015 C200 Avantgarde; $24,000 to $33,000 for a 2016 C200d; $28,000 to $37,000 for a 2016 C350e; $35,000 to $47,000 for a 2018 C220d Sport Edition; $40,000 to $53,000 for a 2019 C350e; and $55,000 to $73,000 for a C300 Edition C.

2014 Mercedes C250 wagon

 

CAR BUYING TIPS

Take a friend with you when shopping for a used car.

That way they can keep the chattering sales person at bay while you check out the car without interruptions.

Used car prices have generally increased during the period of new car stock shortages.

Start looking at adverts for used vehicles several months before you intend buying.

That way you can get a feel for the price being asked and whether they are rising and falling, as dealers need to clear stock due to overcrowding.

Keep an eye on adverts for new cars that say there are specials on particular models.

This can lead to a lot of traded-ins taking up too much space in yards and they will be discounted to get rid of them.

Keep an eye open for ads of unpopular cars, as there can vary greatly in price.

Owners struggling to find a buyers may be forced to grit their teeth and drop their asking price.

If checking a used car at a dealership look at other cars on the lot. 

This can provide an insight into the quality of the vehicles in which the dealer specialises.

If buying privately ask for proof of ownership and make sure the insurance covers you for taking a test drive.

Take a slow walk around any car you're considering, looking for obvious defects.

It amuses us how many people dive into tiny details, only to discover later a major ding somewhere on the other side of the car.

Ideally any road test of a car you're getting serious about should be done with the engine stone cold. Early morning is best.

If you're serious about buying a vehicle, tell the seller you would like to take it for a good long test drive.

If they insist on coming that's understandable, but try to avoid them "selling” the car to you.

Put bluntly, ask them to shut up,

In their later years, cars with a reputation for being long lived and trouble free sometimes attract buyers who have no intention of ever servicing them.

The next owner may suffer as a result.

 

RECALLS

To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at: www.productsafety.gov.au/products/transport/cars/

 

BE SURE TO CHECKOUT OUR OTHER USED CAR REPORTS