felix31

Looking for any experience with the 2005 C230, particularly the M271 engine. I have a lead on a good deal to buy one with fairly low miles, but I have heard that the engine can be finicky. Does anyone know the real story on the car, or have any experience or past issues? I understand there have been some service bulletins in the past, and researching the car to see if it has been done.

Thanks for any advice or inputs!

jetta02awp

Timing chain will be the biggest issue. If I recall correctly usually needs to be changed right around 100k if not sooner and it's not cheap

silvermamba

Fairly reliable. Just depends on how well you maintain it. My only issue with the car so far is a leaking exhaust, and thermostat replacement. Easy fix on the thermostat. It ran me about $35 shipped and $18 for the fluid.

mis3

Timing chain has to be changed? I thought timing belt has to be changed every 100k but not the timing chain.

I drive a w209 and after 170k miles, I am still driving with the original timing chain.

samaritrey

Timing chains are issues on that care because it is a singe chain instead of a double one like the other engines that have a double chain.

XeRaTuL

I own a 2005 C230 Kompressor (M271), with 90k KM on it, I love the car and the engine, Runs great, a very good KM per Liter (or MPG), and really fast. Issues i think the regular one is the Oil Leaking, but u can fix it without problem, I hear a lot about the Timing Chain, and i was a little concernt about it, So I asked my mechanic how? diagnose problems with the chain. and told me that this causes a lot of noise when you turn on the car, a noise as if you turned on a diesel engine, but it only happens when the engine is cold. I asked him why? they tend to damage the chain and he told me that a lot has to do the oil change intervals, here in Mexico, oil changes are done every 15,000 km and I know that in USA are made every 15,000 miles.

LILBENZ230

I had a 2005 C230 from the time it had 25,000 miles on it until 146,000 miles. It was extremely reliable, but there at the end the timing chain had started making some noise. I had already compiled the parts to replace the chain when I made the decision to just move on.

If it has been maintained well and if you continue to maintain it well (the correct fluids at the correct intervals) you should be fine for many years. Listen for rattling on cold starts as the sign of a stretching timing chain. You can replace the chain and guides and be fine as long as you catch it before it jumps time.

TexFinn

My daughter's 05 C230 now has about 96K miles and in the 18 months we've had it, I haven't had to do any mechanical repairs whatsoever. Nor is there any need for any at the moment. No timing chain rattle when cold.

PO took good care of it and based on the extensive records that came with the car, even he did not have any major engine related issues with it in the 5.5 years he had it. Just some minor stuff: thermostat, a couple of pulleys etc.

C160

My 06 C160 only has 50k miles on it, and still rattles for like 2 seconds on startup when cold.
Should I be worried?

LILBENZ230

Yes.

Get the chain replaced ASAP.

C160

Thanks.. Guess I am staying at home this summer as well then
Considering the mileage, I hope the guides and sprockets are still fine.
Car has been serviced at 10k intervals since new and driven by grown-ups. Makes me wonder why some wear down so fast while others seem to last well over 100k without rattles.

sammydragon3

i dont really care what anybody says but 10k miles/interval is damaging engines very very slowly. When your oil is that old and u go on the highway at high rpm your damaging it more.

the chain wear in my opinion is based on the oil intervals and how u drive the car.

Alexbenz

how much is this timing chain?

Johnsct

Sold my 03 C230 coupe with 160,000 miles. Engine sounded and ran like new. The only repair on the engine in the almost 10 years I owned it was a thermostat and one bad coil.

sammydragon3

chain is 50
tensioner is 75
valve cover gasket set 60

cylinder head repair 3000

Alexbenz

Was there a recall on this? And the timing chain would cause the cyl head to go bad?

LILBENZ230

I ran 13,000 oil change intervals on my C230 and had it analyzed several times with Blackstone Labs. They recommended 15,000 and said the oil change interval was fine. As long as you use the correct fluids and filters you'll have no problem.

Your opinion doesn't matter. The facts do, however.

LILBENZ230

Two different issues. The heads went bad due to burned valves, probably because of the crappy USDM fuel. The timing chain is a separate issue and no recalls were ever issued. The chain is a single-gang chain rather than the duplex chain used on the V6s. This makes it more prone to stretch over time.

Alexbenz

So its best to check if the valve cover is leaking when buying a used one..

LILBENZ230

I don't see how that would reveal whether or not it had head issues.