Mercedes-Benz · 1999–2010

Mercedes-Benz W203

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W203) is the internal designation for a range of compact executive cars manufactured and marketed by DaimlerChrysler from 1999 to 2010, as the second generation of the C-Class — in sedan/saloon, three-door hatchback coupé (marketed as the SportCoupé and sub-designated CL203) and station wagon/estate (sub-designated S203) body styles.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

All Mercedes-Benz W203 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Design and development

Design work on the W203 C-Class began in mid-1994, with the final design approved in December 1995 by the executive board. Design patents were filed on 20 April 1998 and 4 March 1999. Testing began in 1997, with development concluding in 2000. The second generation C-Class was presented on March 21, 2000 and went on sale starting in September 2000. The sedan debuted with a range of inline-four and V6 petrol engines and inline-four and -five diesels. Most of the engines were carried over from the W202, but the C 320 was exclusive, offering 160 kW (218 PS). The diesels now featured common rail direct fuel injection and variable geometry turbochargers. Six-speed manual gearboxes were now standard for the entire range, except the C 320. There was a version of this car that was made in Korea. Mercedes-Benz presented a coupe variant in October 2000 (launching in 2001), labelled the C-Class SportCoupé and given the internal designation CL203 (see below). The US model, labeled C 230 Kompressor, became available for the 2002 model year with the M111.981 engine, a 2.3 -litre supercharged inline-four making 145 kW (194 hp) at 5500 rpm and 280 N⋅m (210 lb⋅ft) at 2500–4800 rpm. The third body variant, a station wagon codenamed S203 arrived in 2001. Then in 2002 for the 2003 model year, a new family of supercharged four cylinder engines, dubbed M271, debuted for the entire C-Class range. All of them used the same 1.8-litre engine, with different designations according to horsepower levels, including a version powered by natural gas. The C 230 Kompressor variant sported 141 kW (189 hp). The newer 1.8-litre was less powerful but smoother and more efficient than the older 2.3-litre engine (143 kW (194 PS) compared to 140 kW (190 PS). For the C 240 and C 320, 4MATIC four-wheel drive vers

Engines

*Electronically limited **For fleet vehicles, power is rated at 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp) and torque is rated at 235 N⋅m (173 lbf⋅ft) at 1,800 rpm ***Performance may vary in vehicles designated as "flexible fuel" or flex-fuel. Based on premium fuel. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating as specified in Operator's Manual. 1 Please see 2007 Operator's Manual C-Class 2Please see 2005 Operator's Manual C-Class 3Please see 2004 Operator's Manual C-Class 4Please see 2003 Operator's Manual C-Class Flexible Fuel ("Flex-Fuel") models (2003–2007). ==== C 320 (2003–2005) ==== Mercedes-Benz began offering their flexible fuel (flex-fuel) option in the C 320 Sedan, C 320 Sport Sedan, C 320 wagon, and C320 Sport Coupe from 2003 until 2005. C 240 (2005). Mercedes-Benz offered the flexible fuel (flex-fuel) option in the C 240 Sedan and Wagon in 2005 only. C 230 (2007). Mercedes-Benz later offered the flexible fuel (flex-fuel) option to the 2007 C 230 Sport Sedan. AMG models (2001–2007). ==== C 32 AMG (2001–2003) ==== After the performance of the AMG models in the previous generation, Mercedes-Benz attempted to increase sales among high-end buyers by introducing two different AMG versions of the new model in 2001. To match the BMW E46 M3 displacement and improve weight distribution, the C 32 AMG scaled back down to a 3.2-litre V6 engine with a twin-screw type supercharger (manufactured by IHI) to reach 260 kW (354 PS) and 450 N⋅m (332 lb⋅ft). Like its predecessors, it used a five-speed automatic, helping it to complete a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in 5.2 seconds. The C 32 AMG was produced as a sedan/saloon (6,695 made), station wagon (1,556 made) only for European markets, and SportCoupé (liftback) which was only offered in 2002 and 2003 by special request as an AMG STUDIO o

Coupe (CL203)

=== C-Class Sport Coupé (2000–2008) === Mercedes introduced the C-Class Sport Coupé (codenamed "Peanut" ver. CL203) to Europe in October 2000 as a three-door hatchback coupe, based on the regular W203 C-Class range. North American sales began in 2001 for the 2002 model year. Whereas the C-Class sedan and wagon had the traditional Mercedes horizontal bar grille with the hood ornament, the Sport Coupé had a star-grille front end giving it a sportier look. The Sport Coupé also had a fastback roofline, an optional panoramic sunroof, and a functional rear spoiler to provide downforce at high speeds. The Sport Coupé was seven inches (178 mm) shorter overall than the sedan, while sharing the same wheelbase length. Initial Sport Coupé engine configurations included the C 180 (129 PS), C 220 (143 PS), C 200 Kompressor, and C 230 Kompressor. In 2003, Mercedes-Benz added the C 180 Kompressor, the C 200 CGI, and C 30 CDI AMG. In 2005 the C 160 Kompressor was made available. There was also the C 32 AMG with 260 kW (354 PS) and 450 N⋅m (332 lb⋅ft) which was available only by special order from AMG STUDIO for the 2003 model year, making the C 32 AMG Sport Coupé much rarer than its saloon and wagon counterparts.) The C 230 Sport Coupé was powered by a 2.3-litre supercharged, four-cylinder motor (M111) with output of 143 kW (192 hp) and 281 N⋅m (207 lb⋅ft) of torque, which was more powerful than the C 240 sedan's 175 PS (129 kW; 173 hp) V6 engine, although the M111 was coarse and noisy at the high end. In 2003 the M111 was replaced with a quieter and more efficient DOHC supercharged 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine (M271). The C 230 Sport Coupé and the C 320 Sport Coupé were the two most inexpensive models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup of the United States and Canada at the time, although

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W203)
Manufacturer: DaimlerChrysler (1999–2007), Daimler AG (2007–2010)
Production: March 1999 – March 2007 (sedan), April 2000 – June 2007 (station wagon), August 1999 – December 2010 (coupe)
Model years: 2001–2007
Assembly: Germany: Bremen, Sindelfingen, Brazil: Juiz de Fora, India: Pune (MBI: CKD), Malaysia: Pekan (HICOM: CKD), South Africa: East London, Thailand: Samut Prakan (CKD), Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City (MBV: CKD), Indonesia: Wanaherang, Bogor (MBDI: CKD)
Designer: Hartmut Sinkwitz
Class: Compact executive car (D)
Body style: 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon, 3-door hatchback coupé (SportCoupé/CLC)
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive (4Matic)
Engine: Petrol:, 1.8 L M271 Kompressor supercharged I4 DOHC 16v, 2.0 L M111 I4 DOHC 16v, 2.0 L M111 Kompressor supercharged I4 DOHC 16v, 2.6 L M112 SOHC V6 18v, 2.5 L M272 V6 DOHC 24v, 3.2 L M112 SOHC V6 18v, 3.2 L M112 AMG Kompressor supercharged V6 SOHC 18v, 3.5 L M272 V6 DOHC 24v, 5.4 L M113 AMG V8 SOHC 24v, Diesel:, 2.1 L OM611 CDI I4 DOHC 16v (turbo), 2.1 L OM646 CDI I4 DOHC 16v (turbo), 2.7–3.0 L OM612 CDI I5 DOHC 20v (turbo), 3.0 L OM642 CDI V6 24v (turbo)
Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed Sequentronic automated manual, 5-speed 5G-Tronic automatic, 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic
Wheelbase: 2715 mm
Length: Sedan: 4526 mm, 4611 mm (C 55 AMG), Wagon: 4541 mm, 4626 mm (C 55 AMG), SportCoupe: 4343 mm
Width: 1728 mm
Height: Sedan: 1426 mm, Wagon: 1465 mm, Coupe: 1406 mm
Related: Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (C209)
Predecessor: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W202)
Successor: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W204), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C204) (for CLC-Class)
aka: Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class (coupe, 2008–2011)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11344082CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C-Class_(W203)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1366622628 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercedes_C240.jpgPublic domain · Photo: IFCAR · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.