Mercedes W204 Buyer’s Guide Has All the Info You Could Ever Want
Thinking about buying a Mercedes W204 gen C-Class? This video breaks down the platform in extreme detail.
If you’re in the market for a nicely priced, comfortable, and reliable ride, the Mercedes W204 gen C-Class is obviously a great choice. They make excellent daily drivers, whether you opt for a C300 or C350. Or, if you prefer a little more performance, the C63 AMG (our personal choice). Like any used car purchase, the W204 has certain things that you’ll want to look out for. But thanks to this highly informative buyer’s guide video from FCP Euro, you can make an informed purchase.
In the video, Mercedes Catalog Manager Kyle Bascombe gives the W204 a quick review, then covers all of the typical problems and failures these cars are known to suffer from. As Bascombe points out right off the bat, Mercedes sold a ton of these things. So, the used car market is saturated with them.
Thankfully, they pack a “very reliable engine,” as Bascombe points out. Though the C300’s 3.0-liter V6 only produces “an adequate at best 228 horsepower.” The C350 ups the ante to 268. But personally, we’d spend the extra cash on the C63 AMG, which makes a still-impressive 451 hp from its 6.2-liter V8.
Next, it’s on to the meat of the review – things to look for if you’re in the market for a W204. “These cars have a very common issue where the steering column will not unlock,” Bascombe says. So the first thing you’ll want to do is insert the key a couple of times and sound for the click. And while the car is idling, you’ll also want to listen for the secondary air injection pump blowing. “What you want to feel for is excess harshness,” Bascombe says. “It could be an indication that your engine mounts or transmission mounts are failing.”
Once on the road, you should barely feel the transmission shifting. Give it some gas from a stop and listen for the control arm bushings. “When they’re gone, you’ll either feel it or hear it,” Bascombe says. On the highway, you don’t want to feel any vibrations and the car should go dead straight. When you hit the brakes, there should be no shaking. Make sure the instrument cluster is working, and the temps are sitting right above center on the dial.
Nothing major, but these are all common problems on the Mercedes W204. Bascombe goes on to take an extreme deep dive into the technical details on these cars, which is well worth the watch. Even if you’re not in the market for one of these cars, the info in this video is certainly fascinating and informative, if nothing else!
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