When i had my w202 i was very happy with the build quality all around. It was a very solid car. I had a 96 c220. VERY SOLID!! Slow.. But Solid! []

 

They are solid and solid looking! I dont hear any squeek, rattle (except for the bass speaker on the rear deck) at all in the car!

The W203 is a different story, although still having a solid feel when driving, the quality of materials went down drastically!

 

When you drive a W202 or just look at the materials, you that this car is good. In my hometown there older W202 (1995 Up)and i see them on the road. They drive very smooth and you do not hear any noise what so ever. When i drive my 1999 with windows open, the only thing i hear is acceleration and my injectors and the transmissionb changing gears and of course the Radio. Nothing else. Well, is like what other w202 proud owners in this forum says "Rock Solid"

Eddie

 

I owned a 1989 190E 2.6L for a few years before I got my 1994 C280, and I can tell you from personal experience that the C280 is arguably of better build quality than the 190E. It's very solid all around, makes no rattles or sqeaks, and is extremely reliable. The amount of money and effort I have put in to the C280 is hardly anything, compared to the thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of work that I put into the 190E.

Also, the W202 was actually a completely new chassis than the W201 and W124. It's the next generation, but a complete re-design.

 

One word to describe my 2000 C230 w/ 85K miles -- SOLID.

The 2004 C240 w/ 19K feels much less solid, but no problems so far. Only time will tell if the W203 is as good as the W202.

 

W202 is the very last Mercedes Benz built to Daimler Benz standards using cost plus approach rather than being built to a budget.

If you look at the W201 it looks like a compact version of the W126. Likewise the W202 is a smaller version of the W140. All of these cars enjoy the the over engineered qualities that made DB`s reputation.

 

I've owned both and they are BOTH great cars.

 

both are sitting in my front driveway, and although I love my 201, my 202 AMG is by FAR the more comfortable, well made one