Bert whitaker

With 2007 c230, I've heard there are often problems with the swirl flap actuator breaking. I've also heard that this is because of carbon buildup in the intake that obstructs the proper movement of those flaps putting undue stress on the rod Until It Breaks along with the rotating armature. Is this truly really common with these cars? What causes this carbon buildup? Is it something fundamental to the fuel injection design with the intake? Does this happen with all the cars prematurely for sometimes you kind of get away without it happening? I'm wondering if a friend's car that has 96,000 miles on it that I might buy from him is definitely going to have this problem if I discovered that the actuator arm is not broken. Also if I end up taking the intake manifold off to repair a broken actuator rod do you also have to clean all the carbon out of the intake, and if so how do you do that with just a screwdriver or what? Or is it just so much of a disaster that you basically have to get a new intake manifold? I'm imagining if I find the actuator arm is not broken How likely it is that I would be able to get away without this being a problem

C230 Sport Coup

If you take it off, just get a Pierburg unit and put it on.
When they go it's not just the actuators, it's also the plastic "Potato chip"
flaps. They break off and get sucked into the engine.
We got lucky on our ML350, the flaps were all completely gone!
But fortunately the compression was ok.
I guess plastic vs. metal, metal wins. But that can't be good!
What about your balance shaft? Has it been replaced? Those engines are such a PIA.
And there's the 7 speed trans with all it's "security" features that make it impossible to
swap, and a real PIA to repair, everything coded to the car, even the
conductor plate and TCU! Dealing with that now. Just a way for Mercedes to make more money, and
foul up DIY'ers.