Turbo2

Hey All-

Does anyone know if the engine on an '05 C230 Kompressor is interference or non-interference engine? I'm coming up on 60K and was thinking about having the timing belt/chain (which one is it?) changed.

Thanks in advance.

Lowell

bumpnzx3

i could be mistaken- but i believe the engine has a timing chain, which does not need to be changed, and should be good for the life of the engine.

splinter

bumpnzx3 is correct. There is no cam drive belt – MB uses a chain.

Our C’s M111, 112 and 271 engines are an interference design.
Cam stops, crank rotates = costly valve and/or piston replacements.

However, MB’s chains are remarkably stout and have been documented to easily surpass the 150,000 mile threshold with nary a failure, assuming regularly scheduled oil and filter changes have been completed. Set aside those budgeted funds for the myriad known problematic areas, should they, in fact, manifest themselves on your car.

With only ~60k, your engine is barely broken-in.

Turbo2

Thanks guys, good to know.

I still hate interference engines - scares me to think about what it would cost if the chain ever breaks!

bumpnzx3

They are a necessary evil though- without them, there would be no such thing as a high lift cam or high compression engines

Turbo2

Completely valid point and I understand the premise behind having a interference engine. However, it's not like the C230 engine is a high power/high compression engine. On an AMG engine or something of the like I could understand the need.

Anyhow - not like we can do anything about it. Thanks again for the info.

e34m20

I don't know about that...
I consider a 1.8L DOHC 16 Valve, supercharged, intercooled engine that makes 189HP to be fairly "high power"

Thats 105HP per Liter.
If a Chevy 350CI small block made 105HP per liter, it would have damn near 600HP