C-Class (W204) 2008 - 2014: C180K, C200K, C230, C280, C300, C350, C200CDI, C220CDI, C320CDI
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class is most reliable car according to ADAC

Old 06-03-2009, 07:32 PM
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class is most reliable car according to ADAC

http://www.benzinsider.com/2009/06/m...rding-to-adac/

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class takes first place in its segment in the latest ADAC breakdown statistics. According to surveys carried out by the largest European automobile club, this makes it the most reliable car in the medium class.

The breakdown statistics are based on the practical, day-to-day experiences of the breakdown assistance personnel from the ADAC, Europe’s largest automobile club. These statistics, which are published every year, therefore reflect what actually happens and provide solid information about the reliability of specific vehicle models. For the latest, extensive collation of data, cars first registered between 2003 and 2008 (of which at least 10,000 were registered each year) which had suffered a breakdown for technical reasons were recorded. Among all medium-class cars, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class proved to be the least susceptible to breakdowns.
Old 06-03-2009, 07:46 PM
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That's exciting to hear. Only have about 10k on mine but no problems yet!
Old 06-03-2009, 08:53 PM
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W204 C280
That's good to hear! I hope to keep my car for many years to come and this is very comforting to know.
Old 06-03-2009, 09:47 PM
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Now thats why i like to hear!!!
Old 06-03-2009, 10:33 PM
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VALIDATION !!! 3 cheers for MB! And 3 more for all of us who bought one!
Old 06-04-2009, 12:00 AM
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Seems consistent with what most owners are reporting on the boards. Hurray for us!
Old 06-04-2009, 02:37 AM
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i just wish it had good resale value
Old 06-04-2009, 02:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Flame3g
i just wish it had good resale value

Ditto.
Old 06-04-2009, 07:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Flame3g
i just wish it had good resale value
Thankfully, as the economy picks up, prices for luxury and near luxury models will get some support. Decent fuel economy and good reliability will likely be pretty helpful in supporting prices in the long run as well.
Old 06-04-2009, 02:53 PM
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C
Don't know if anyone has ever noticed that on forums about the (current) C-class there are hardly ever any threads about problems with the car. I used to frequent some Alfa Romeo forums and before buying my C also looked at some Ford forums, and I can tell you that one out of every couple of threads on those is about problems with those cars. Typically they will also have one or two stickies about 'common problems'.

Anyway I've had my S204 for 5.000 km so far and it has been absolutely faultless. You tend to quite quickly take this for granted, but when I think about it it really is exceptional. There isn't a single point of criticism that I can think of w.r.t. the build quality or the functioning of the car. Hope it will say like this...
Old 06-04-2009, 03:15 PM
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WE WIN!!!


Old 06-04-2009, 04:46 PM
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E63S || C63 || E550 Coupe || Cayenne ||
well this car IS only two years old so ofcourse there isn't alot of problems.. but if you go to the w202/203 forums there are a lot of problem threads too.

LOL @ TB5
Old 06-04-2009, 06:02 PM
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The above survey is 2003 onward so it misses the horror years of 2000 - 2002 of the W203 until it was sorted & being Europe it also misses the unreliable & fragile American version of the M271 engine.
Old 06-04-2009, 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
The above survey is 2003 onward so it misses the horror years of 2000 - 2002 of the W203 until it was sorted & being Europe it also misses the unreliable & fragile American version of the M271 engine.
that's fine with me cuz i dont own a 00-02 W203
Old 06-05-2009, 06:35 PM
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Lucky you - Man they were crap.
Old 06-05-2009, 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
The above survey is 2003 onward so it misses the horror years of 2000 - 2002 of the W203 until it was sorted & being Europe it also misses the unreliable & fragile American version of the M271 engine.
Soo.. whats wrong with the American version, and why is it different from the Euro version?
Old 06-06-2009, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by keith100
Soo.. whats wrong with the American version, and why is it different from the Euro version?
Ok - In rest of world (ROW) the M271 engine sells in mainly two versions - C180 & C200 - There is also the CGI stratified charge engine sold in Europe. In the US when they phased out the old & crude M111 I4 engine in the C230 they wanted to continue selling the new vehicle with the M271 engine as a 230. All 271 engines are 1800cc. So in their wisdom they uprated the engine to 192 hp for the US market with bigger blower etc. This made the engine fragile & is why the US models give so much trouble that is unheard of in ROW. The only common problems in ROW with the US models is cam sensor oil leaks & some head problems on pre 2004 cars. Crappy US & some other countries gasoline causes carbon build up on the valves & in the combustion chamber leading to detonation, misfires & engine trouble. These engines were designed to run on narrow cut distillation Euro grade fuel.

Model Eng capacity Compression ratio Power Torque
180 Kompressor 1796 cc 10.0 : 1 143hp @ 5200rpm 162 lbft @ 2500rpm
200 Kompressor 1796 cc 9.3 : 1 163hp @ 5500rpm 177 lbft @ 3000rpm
200 CGI 1796 cc 10.3 : 1 170hp @ 5300rpm 184 lbft @ 3000rpm
230 Kompressor 1796 cc 8.5 : 1 192hp @ 5800rpm 192 lbft @ 3500-4000rpm
Old 06-06-2009, 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by maverickvii
That's exciting to hear. Only have about 10k on mine but no problems yet!
^
22K no problems yet
Old 06-06-2009, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Flame3g
i just wish it had good resale value
Don't remind me the reseal value, I remember last year when I was going to get the C63 the dealer offer me 29K as a trade in value.


WE WIN!!!
There is no wining situation eventually will pay, but by mean time lets enjoy the ride. LOL

Last edited by tanktube67; 06-06-2009 at 12:27 PM.
Old 06-06-2009, 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
Ok - In rest of world (ROW) the M271 engine sells in mainly two versions - C180 & C200 - There is also the CGI stratified charge engine sold in Europe. In the US when they phased out the old & crude M111 I4 engine in the C230 they wanted to continue selling the new vehicle with the M271 engine as a 230. All 271 engines are 1800cc. So in their wisdom they uprated the engine to 192 hp for the US market with bigger blower etc. This made the engine fragile & is why the US models give so much trouble that is unheard of in ROW. The only common problems in ROW with the US models is cam sensor oil leaks & some head problems on pre 2004 cars. Crappy US & some other countries gasoline causes carbon build up on the valves & in the combustion chamber leading to detonation, misfires & engine trouble. These engines were designed to run on narrow cut distillation Euro grade fuel.

Model Eng capacity Compression ratio Power Torque
180 Kompressor 1796 cc 10.0 : 1 143hp @ 5200rpm 162 lbft @ 2500rpm
200 Kompressor 1796 cc 9.3 : 1 163hp @ 5500rpm 177 lbft @ 3000rpm
200 CGI 1796 cc 10.3 : 1 170hp @ 5300rpm 184 lbft @ 3000rpm
230 Kompressor 1796 cc 8.5 : 1 192hp @ 5800rpm 192 lbft @ 3500-4000rpm
Thanks Glyn.

So it doesn't apply to the current V6s? (don't know all these MB engine nos.)
Old 06-06-2009, 03:52 PM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
No - All the V6 engines, M112, M272 are bullet proof.
Old 06-06-2009, 04:40 PM
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Great!
Old 06-07-2009, 03:42 AM
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Great news

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
No - All the V6 engines, M112, M272 are bullet proof.
Great news by OP, and Glyn your news is even more pleasant to hear. 15K so far no problems and wants to keep car. Only thing bothering is I am not allowed to change the oil and so are the dealers prematurely on the W204 also not even if I pay them to do so, now this is in SA and they stick to this story.
Old 06-07-2009, 06:28 AM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Don't worry about the oil - It's fine for 15,000 Km - I've sampled many cars & the oil will be just fine.

Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 06-07-2009 at 10:19 AM.
Old 06-07-2009, 01:14 PM
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hooray~

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