Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 C230.
The 1998 Mercedes‑Benz C230 is a passenger‑car sedan that requires 6.6 qt of engine oil, with approved viscosities of 0W‑30, 5W‑30 or 0W‑40. It carries a single recall and, according to owner feedback, logged 56 total complaints, the most frequent of which involve the suspension. Within the 1997‑2003 C‑class complaint timeline, the 1998 model sits well below the peak of 100 complaints seen in 2002 and only slightly above the low of 18 complaints recorded for the 1997 intro year. Consequently, this year is regarded as one of the more reliable examples of the generation.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 825 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine air filter | 6040941304 |
| Fuel filter | 0024772701 |
| Spark plug | 0031597603 |
| Battery | 0009823308 |
| Thermostat | 015997234864 alt 1112000915 |
| Cabin air filter | 2108300818 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 177.6 in |
| Overall width | 67.7 in |
| Overall height | 55.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.9 in |
| Curb weight | 3250 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 59.1 / 57.5 in |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 6.6 qt of 0W-30 / 5W-30 / 0W-40 engine oil, 85W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 85W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.5 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | USE ONLY COOLANT MEETING MB SHEET 325.0 |
| Engine Oil | 0W-30 · 5W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-40 · 5W-50 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 6.6 qt |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 221 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 22 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 750 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 100 rpm |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.031 in |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.80 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | MB part number 0019890803 or equivalent |
| Oil Capacity | 5.20 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 49 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 825 cca |
| Pressure Test | 20 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 185-192 °F |
| Injector Primary Resistance | 14-17 ohms |
| Engine Compression | Standard: 156-213, Supercharged: 109-152 psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 10 psi @ 700 rpm, 43.5 @ 3000 rpm psi |
| Intake Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Torque to Knuckle | 85 ft-lbs |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 38 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.005 in / 0.006 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.984 in / 0.354 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.984 in / 0.354 in |
| Rotor Minimum Machining | 0.906 in / 0.299 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.882 in / 0.287 in |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1998 Mercedes C230 lead in one area — the suspension, 10 of 56 reports (18%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 56 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 19 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI54.30-P-072145 | 2020-12-10 | Electrical System | NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock |
| LI42.47-P-067502 | 2020-12-09 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there… |
| LI27.50-P-071658 | 2020-09-30 | Power Train | Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R |
| LI33 30-P-056665 | 2019-08-05 | Suspension | Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle |
| LI91 45-P-066075 | 2018-07-23 | Seat Belts | Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
6.6 qt of 0W-30, 5W-30, 0W-40, 5W-40 OR 5W-50, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.