Highlights

• A real survivor car with a miniscule original mileage and just three owners from new
• Presented really well throughout, belying its 25-year history
• Well equipped with factory sunroof, alloys, remote boot release and cruise control 
  
  

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• It is understood that the original owner kept the car until his passing 
• The car was then sold by the family to the second owner
• The second owner lightly used the car but sold only when they had to give up driving
• The current owner bought it to evoke childhood memories of a family owned one
• The car has been very lightly used throughout its history
• MOT records show it had covered around 12,000 miles in its first 10 years
• Just 26,000 miles had been recorded by its 20th anniversary
• Due to the passing of the first owner any original paperwork was mislaid
• The car comes with a V5 in the name of the current owner
• The MOT history is available online via the Government portal
• The car has a current MOT in place until March 2023
  
  

The Interior

• The interior of our example appears entirely original and in excellent fettle throughout
• The subtly patterned seat fabric appears to be in great, unmarked condition
• No rips or tears or significant imperfection are noted
• The door cards are finished in complimentary grey hues 
• They appear to be in equally good condition and contain generous storage pockets
• The dashboard is finished in a darker grey vinyl material
• Wood veneer adorns the centre console
• The big steering wheel and VDO gauge set will be familiar to any Mercedes enthusiast
• All elements of the dashboard and driving environment appear to be in great shape
• A more modern Sony CD head unit is fitted complete with auxiliary input
• Carpets appear to have been protected via heavy duty Mercedes carpet mats
• As a result, they seem to be in fine fettle also
• The interior is well specified for a car of this period too
• Refinements include front electric windows, remote boot release, sunroof and cruise control
• The boot is trimmed in the original hard wearing grey carpet
• A full-sized spare wheel and original tool set are in place under the boot floor
• The original warning triangle is in place, mounted on the underside of the boot lid
  
  

The Exterior

• The C180 present very well in its original mid-grey paintwork
• Once again, it is admirably presented, and the paint exudes a deep shine
• Bumper covers and trim pieces are in matching grey hues giving a neat, unified look
• The familiar chromed grill and three-pointed star bonnet emblem are present
• The 15-inch, five spoke alloy wheels appear to be in great condition all round
• These are shod in the correct 195/65 configuration of tyres
• The cabin glass and light lenses all appear to be original and undamaged
• Unsurprisingly the odd scrape and minor ding are in evidence
• There is a small dent to the boot lid and the odd minor scrape to the sill covers
• Overall, however, the car looks great and oozes 90’s originality
• The W202’s styling has aged very well with the car wearing its years very well
  
  

The Mechanics

• The W202 offered a wide choice of engines across the range
• Our example features the entry level 1.8 litre M111, four-cylinder petrol unit
• The 1,799cc, 16 valve DOCH unit was originally rated at 120 bhp and 130 lb-ft of torque
• This car features the later five-speed, 5G-Tronic gearbox, powering the rear wheels
• In this configuration the C180 provides a good blend of power and economy
• The car is currently MOT’d, used and understood to run really well
• No mechanical issues or problems have been reported by the current owner
• The under-bonnet presentation is very good overall
  
  

Summary