Lifetime of the M271 engine
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Mercedes C230 Kompressor Sedan 2003
Lifetime of the M271 engine
I've been chating with one of my friends, and I mentioned that my 2003 C230K sedan is reaching 160,000KM (~100,000 miles). He said that I should change the car when I hit 200,000KM. He said that the engine will start to wear out and I will start getting all kinds of problems.
So, is that true? how many miles should the engine have to be considered passed its lifetime.
So, is that true? how many miles should the engine have to be considered passed its lifetime.
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From: Charlotte, NC
Had: 1987 300TD, Had: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, Have: 2014 E350 Sport, Have: 2019 S450
I now have 107,000 miles, and the car feels as smooth and strong now as when it had 25,000 miles. No oil consumption (burning or leaking) after changing the cam sensors.
It's always been serviced at the dealer (no cheap oil changes), so that helps. I'm hoping to get another 100,000 miles from it.
It's always been serviced at the dealer (no cheap oil changes), so that helps. I'm hoping to get another 100,000 miles from it.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Massive waste of money changing the oil so soon on these cars... but to each his own.
I can't see any reason why a properly-maintained, modern engine can't last a very, very long time. I think there's a guy on here (scottisha) who has an 05 C230 with something like 175,000 miles and his car is on the original clutch (6MT) and supercharger.
Just take care of it and don't worry about it.
I can't see any reason why a properly-maintained, modern engine can't last a very, very long time. I think there's a guy on here (scottisha) who has an 05 C230 with something like 175,000 miles and his car is on the original clutch (6MT) and supercharger.
Just take care of it and don't worry about it.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
As long as you're using a MB 229.5 approved fully synthetic oil (I use Mobil 1 0w-40 Euro car formula) and the proper filter the car can do a lot more kilometers on the oil. If you have access to any M271 fleece filters, you're changing it about 3x too often.
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From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
how often should you replace the oil (in mileage) or months? i heard it was somewhere in the reach of 5000 miles due to the high grade of fully synthetic oil we use!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The US run 20,000 Km changes - But this should ONLY be done with 229.5 Oils & the fleece filter. In South Africa we change at 15,000 Kms with the fleece filter & our FSS is set that way. (torrid zone)
If I had a highly stressed M271 ie US 230 trim I would reduce drain intervals. Max 8000 miles.
If I had a highly stressed M271 ie US 230 trim I would reduce drain intervals. Max 8000 miles.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
So I'm just curious for you guys who didn't know the oil change intervals - do you never look at your service menu in the information display? Like where it says "Service A in 10,300 miles"?
It seems that here in the USA no one can find fleece filters for the M271 anymore. So we're stuck with Mann or Hengst paper filters.
It seems that here in the USA no one can find fleece filters for the M271 anymore. So we're stuck with Mann or Hengst paper filters.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Nor Cal
A Car
Not a c230 owner, but i always look at my fss display. I reset it back to 10,000 miles but then it slowly starts dropping once i start driving for a few minutes after changing oil, usually it says around 9,400 miles until service when everything is settled. unless i drive like a maniac then it drops 100 miles on the display every few miles! 
but yea, not to change the subject, im pretty sure there are plenty of people that treat their m271 like $h*t and its still running like new if everything is properly taken care of.
but yea, not to change the subject, im pretty sure there are plenty of people that treat their m271 like $h*t and its still running like new if everything is properly taken care of.
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Northern CA
CLK55 AMG, SL55 AMG, C55 AMG
Good luck trying to locate fleece filters for these cars here in American, which is what gives them the ability to run so long between oil changes. They are almost impossible to find here in the US and the dealers will tell you that the paper filter and it's respective part number superceed the previous fleece filter and part number. If you use the paper filter on the M271 motor, then yes 8k max is the length I would go before an oil change. My buddy, who uses the paper filters on his M271, splits the difference in the 13k oil change recommendation and changes it every 6.5k miles and he has had no issues The dealers say you can run a paper filter for 13k, but I don't buy that line of hooey. Using the 229.5 spec oil also plays an important role, but if you use a paper filter you do not have the same filtering capacity and length between oil changes as a fleece filter, which used to be the only thing MB recommended for these motors.
Go figure
.
I am lucky as I have a German employee and friend and she is able to get me fleece filters for this motor via MB parts dealers in German, but it is still a PITA, and if there is a US dealer or parts house that sells the fleece filters for an M271 motor, I would like to know where people are finding them, as I spent quite a bit of time trying to locate one here in the US and it is like hitting a stone wall with your fist....painful and not very effective. There are many past threads on this subject on this forum, FYI.
Go figure
.I am lucky as I have a German employee and friend and she is able to get me fleece filters for this motor via MB parts dealers in German, but it is still a PITA, and if there is a US dealer or parts house that sells the fleece filters for an M271 motor, I would like to know where people are finding them, as I spent quite a bit of time trying to locate one here in the US and it is like hitting a stone wall with your fist....painful and not very effective. There are many past threads on this subject on this forum, FYI.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Fleece filters for the M271 are not available here. The dealership I used said they never, ever had fleece filters for the M271 and used paper ones from the start on these cars in 2003. I run the paper filter and 13,000 changes, for the record. Dealer said it was fine and if it shortens the engine life from 300,000 miles to 275,000 miles.. well, I think I can live with that.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2024
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Mercedes CLK w209
New member here, but been looking at this forun for a few years.
My CLK w209 M271 engine now has 220,000 miles on the clock. Changed oil every 4000-5000 miles for the last few years. Runs as good as ever.
My CLK w209 M271 engine now has 220,000 miles on the clock. Changed oil every 4000-5000 miles for the last few years. Runs as good as ever.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
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From: Calgary, AB
2004 c230 Kompressor Coupe LHD
New member here as well. I have just over 160,000miles on my C230 M271 engine, other than dealing with few typical oil leaks, the engine is stock and smooth with no oil consumption between oil changes.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2017
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C180 Kompressor Avantgarde SE
My brother runs a Merc garage and he tells me that the actual M271 engines themselves are pretty good mechanically and can last forever. It's the electrics that you have to watch out for as any oil / coolant leak on the M271 commonly makes it's way along the wiring getting into the wiring looms and other components well away from the actual leak itself and it can cause chaos.
