Faults:

Air flow sensor.

General Comments:

One of the best cars I have owned. Always gives me a smile when I drive it. So much torque and effortless acceleration. I would only sell it to upgrade to a C63.

The only downside is owning one in NZ, you get ripped off on the parts and servicing; expect to pay $1000 for the minor things.

Faults:

Thankfully, no serious issues until now.

- Rear left wheel speed sensor gave up after 140000 km. Caused ABS, ESP and BAS errors. Found it quite cheap and easy to change DIY.

- Brake light switch wore out and caused the brake lights not to come on when the brake pedal was pressed. Also cheap and easy to change DIY.

- One faulty Parktronic sensor will shut off the entire system.

- Common problem on the W210 and W208.. the time and temp displays from the dash are broken. Again, an easy DIY job.

General Comments:

- Elegant describes it perfectly. The design and looks of the car are beautiful. Still a head turner even after 13 years. Makes its presence felt without showing off.

- Great touring car.

- Wouldn't exactly call it slow. Will give you a good kick in the back and won't get overtaken too often on the motorway. Will do 160 mph.

- Great handling at high speeds. Sticks great to the asphalt in the bends. The steering rack should have been a bit sharper; you do get a bit of oversteer in tighter bends. Doesn't roll though, even with stock suspension and shocks.

- Great brakes. Fading is an issue though.

- Stock exhaust... great engine and exhaust noise.

- Good torque at low RPM.

- Good gas mileage if you're the type of person that would buy a car like this for good MPG.

- The seats are very comfortable and the car is well equipped in the Elegance category. The interior is a great place to be. Never buy one without leather and a sunroof.

- Service it properly and at about every 10000 km, and you shouldn't have an issue with it. After 150000 km, I still use Mobil 1 0W40.

Faults:

The electronic roof stopped half way down on one occasion, fortunately at my house - my friend who works for mercedes came round later and reset the roof in the closed position, and it has worked fine since!

Apart from this the car has been bomb-proof!

General Comments:

This car looks fantasitc - mine is in green black metallic with 19 inch AMG alloys, however, it is no drivers car, the lack of a solid roof compromises the cars handling quite heavily and it becomes quickly unsettled over difficult roads, while the steering is remote. Mine was one if the very last to be fitted with a five speed manual 'box - this being replaced with a much improved 6 speeder in 2001, the 5 speed is a stong, but horribly mushy creation.

In terms of performance, the car is brisk rather than fast - it will shame normal cars, but I'm wary of getting involved in motorway slip road dashes with other top end material - but then again the 230 is frugal if you keep it away from the rev. limiter (if you don't, watch the fuel gauge drop..)

The brakes are great, but the hand-brake works much better with an auto-box, the ESP system is restrained, but floor the throttle in 1st and you will provoke it, and also in 2nd in the wet.

All this aside, i'll forgive it the above because with the roof down and wind deflector up (no room in the back!) this car is a great place to be!

If your going to buy one, and now is great time as its residuals are shaken with more and more of the new model coming onto the market, make sure it's a dark colour with decent wheels, a black roof, cream leather, and probably an auto box... (or the 6 speeder)