I shifted from Lancer to Mercedes E230 (w210) around 8 months back and it has been a horrible experience. I checked many cars and bought the cleanest one. It ran without some problem for 2 months.
First the ac stopped working. I got it checked in several workshops and the solution was replacement of compressor. New a/c compressor with other fittings was quoted for Rs 100,000 and used compressor of a different model for Rs 35,000. I decided to pospone it for some time.
The gear shifting developed some problem in June 2013. Sensor plate was changed. The gear was still not behaving properly. The mechanic insisted upon changing the whole gearbox with a used one. Initially I was reluctant, and later I agreed as the problem was not going away. After fitting around a dozen used gearboxes the problem did not go away. It took around 4 months for this whole process.
After a lot of argument the mechanic agreed to get all the computers / wiring checked. The gear ECU was found faulty. New one is not available in Pakistan. I checked from Shahnawaz and they asked me to get from open market. A new one was ordered from Germany which arrived in Pakistan and supposedly the consigment was confiscated by custom authorities. A used one from Dubai was ordered which has supposedly arrived this Monday. I have yet to see it. After 4 days of constant followup it is still to be installed. As far as I know, it takes one minute to change the ECU.
During this time the diagnostic computer (the one u use to check the car) developed some fault and till today he has not replaced his computer.
After 6 months my car is still in workshop. Most of the workshops in Lahore who work on Mercedes are just here to rob the owners. They do not follow any proper procedure / diagnostic. If I had not insisted on checking of ECU / wiring, the mechanic would still be fixing more gearboxes in my car today. I have a full time job and cannot sit in workshop all day long and they take benefit of it and make stories for their delay.
If you go to company workshop with a 99 model C180, first they would not give a quote being an old model. If they agree to quote, it would be too high to be a feasible option.
Buy a mercedes only as a 2nd car and if you can deal with these ignorant and greedy workships of Pakistan.