M271 engine sounds like a FORD engine
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Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 810
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From: Illinois, Indiana
2005 C230 Sedan 6spd
M271 engine sounds like a FORD engine
When I first start up my car in the morning in my C230K Sedan. I get a very unclear engine noise......unlike my old VQ35DE in Maxima which is smooth and quiet, and rumbles at high RPM.
The thing is, do you other owners get this irragular engine noise too?, this noise will become less obvoius once the car is warm up a bit, and I got this noise on the day I pick up the car from the dealer and dealer told me this is normal.
It sounds like a OLD engine, but it runs very smoothly......So am I the only one with this "problem"?
The thing is, do you other owners get this irragular engine noise too?, this noise will become less obvoius once the car is warm up a bit, and I got this noise on the day I pick up the car from the dealer and dealer told me this is normal.
It sounds like a OLD engine, but it runs very smoothly......So am I the only one with this "problem"?
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
This turned me away from buying the g/f a new 05 230 sport sedan, MB should just do away with 4 bangers and make the 3.2 the base engine when the new 3.5 is available in the c.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Illinois, Indiana
2005 C230 Sedan 6spd
Its good to know, I'm not the only one irritated by this noise. Other than that I love how this engine can compete with some 3.0L V6 engines out there with only 1.8L. At the same time deliver 1.8L fuel economy. 
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From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by CitronC230K_03
you should have heard the M111 engines. those sounded like Fords.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I don't know about that description of the sound. I think the motor in our Mustang sounds better than the M271 and the Cobra sounds the best, better than any MB. Maybe the M271 should be compared to it's stablemate, the Dodge Neon. The nice thing about MB engines is the can't be heard from inside the car. I've had people say how noisy my car is from the outside, thank goodness I'm not out there. If you really want to hear ear splitting noise, put a C230 on a dyno with the hood open, ouch! I've seen/heard a 600hp modified twin turbo Porche that were quieter on the dyno.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 810
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From: Illinois, Indiana
2005 C230 Sedan 6spd
I did a little test. I went out this afternoon to do a couple high RPM runs, then some twisties. Outside temperature is about 84F so pretty hot.
I want to see if after warming up the M271 it will sound better. Well after 30min of drive......the engine sounds a lot better than it was just cold. There is a lot less "noise" coming from the engine.
So I guess after warming up the engine a bit, it should sound ok. But from a cold start and first couple minutes into drive......this M271 really sounds bad
My friends Matrix XRS sounds better than my car... 
I want to see if after warming up the M271 it will sound better. Well after 30min of drive......the engine sounds a lot better than it was just cold. There is a lot less "noise" coming from the engine.
So I guess after warming up the engine a bit, it should sound ok. But from a cold start and first couple minutes into drive......this M271 really sounds bad
My friends Matrix XRS sounds better than my car...
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
yes on mornings when i have to go to school early, and it is about 60 the engine does sound "clacky" but does go away. to cold to drive with the windows down and i dont hear it with them up. 
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From: California
2014 C250 sport
even though i dont have a mercedes I-4 myself, my cousin has a 2000 C230 Kompressor Sport and his sister has a 2004 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan, and whenever I hear one of the engines, especially the older 2.3 liter, I do notice it has a distinct diesel sound to it,and when accelerating it has a loud, ticking whine to it...however, when I get my first car(i turn 16 in may), I really hope to get an '05 C230 sport sedan, and the sound of the engine won't change my choice....
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Illinois, Indiana
2005 C230 Sedan 6spd
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Yeah, turn up the music and relax. You have the cheapest benz.
Cheapest Benz in North American~ :p
If you go to Europe, you will find some A-Class Mercedes.......technically they are the cheapest Benz.
I don't hear it that much either when I drive (with windows up), I only hear it when I drive next to an object that will bounce the sound of my car back to me..lol like a Wall or going through the tunnel. But like I said...there are lots I like about this engine too....like how it gets me 29MPG on average of city and highway driving.
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Yeah, turn up the music and relax. You have the cheapest benz.
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From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
My wife starts the car in the garage every morning and ours only makes an initial sound, then it goes right away. I can barely tell the car is running except the slight SC whine. Now my 190E is a little more of a growl and deeper tone to it when idling, but then again unless I have my head next to the hood I can not tell it is running either. These are both when in the garage, not when started outside it does seem to make a hair more noise when cold, but once warmed up it is fine. Idle at start-up in the garage is even at abotu 1000-1100 RPM due to coldness here. But I still don't hear any clicky-clacky crap except at first start for a few seconds.
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From: TX. 78738
c230 kompressor
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Yeah, turn up the music and relax. You have the cheapest benz.
The cheapest is the A-class and there is no thing as a "cheap" benz in my mind. :p MY car was really loud before service A and now its as quite and very very smooth now in the mornings, and sometimes at idle and while driving you cant even hear it now! I personaly love that sound when you get into it :p
Last edited by HITMAN; Sep 23, 2004 at 09:05 AM.
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
i like the A-Class as well HITMAN.
but then again, im not surprised to read these posts every so often regarding the C's.
a mercedes-benz is still a mercedes-benz. i like 'em all, dont care how much they cost. i buy what i like and stay within my budget and reason. then options i cant get on my C here in the US from the factory, ill add it.
but then again, im not surprised to read these posts every so often regarding the C's.
a mercedes-benz is still a mercedes-benz. i like 'em all, dont care how much they cost. i buy what i like and stay within my budget and reason. then options i cant get on my C here in the US from the factory, ill add it.
Last edited by CitronC230K_03; Sep 23, 2004 at 01:12 PM.
