frogs9497

So is there enough history on the new C-Class direct injection engines to determine any carbon buildup issues? I've read posts on here but cannot come to any conclusions.

I drove an '08 Lexus IS 250 and had slight issues with carbon buildup at just 20k miles. Lexus wanted to rebuild the engine under warranty, not in a sterile factory in Japan but at a local dealership. Of course I balked and traded it in with no apparent discount for the DI issue, luckily. The Lexus dealership had a 2010 C300 Sport with only 10k miles, so I traded in for it last May.

This is my first MB and must say the driving experience is much more stimulating than was the IS 250. I've really enjoyed owning it, and wonder now why I was never able to stray from Lexus until now.

I have considered trading in the C300 for a new C250, but am concerned about the DI given my Lexus experience.

Thoughts?

Crippled

stay with the 300, the c250 has some issues with the di also

MDMercedesGuy

Where have you seen this? News to me...

dfordham

This thread covers the topic well:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...n-buildup.html

Regards,
Don

MDMercedesGuy

I'm well aware of that thread.

Nowhere in that thread talks about the 1.8 Liter having these issues. The recent pics of the 3.5 Liter in there are also not necessarily related to DI intake buildup either (those combustion chambers look like garbage... someone's been running some cheap gas). Every reference to an engine having problems in there has been from another manufacturer.

With the exception of the V12 and 6.2 liter - everything Mercedes that is petrol powered has a DI engine now. I'm confident that if there is a problem, they will find a fix.

Point being, making a statement like without any evidence isn't helpful to the OP.

The C250 is MB's cash cow - they would be stupid to not support it in the event of any problems.

Pete7874

Let's hope MB supports it better than Audi/VW supporting their 2.0T (another cash cow) owners by suggesting valve cleaning every 20-30K miles at the owner's expense.

dfordham

I was responding to the OP.

While the 2.5L isn't part of that thread, the potential problem with the valves is common to any DI engine. Something has to be done to keep the valve tops clean. I assume, perhaps wrongly, that whatever technique MB has decided to use to do this is common across their DI lineup.

I agree that the photos near the end are fuel related problems.

From my perspective, early signs are good that MB will avoid major problems, but the jury is still out on the final verdict.

Regards,
Don

MDMercedesGuy

I seriously hope that they have things under control - and not just because I own one of the DI cars. It would be another feather in their cap to be the manufacturer who solves what is proving to be a tough problem for all of them to solve.

... now if they could solve the agricultural sound of a DI engine from the outside at low speeds.

Pete7874

That should be easy enough. Just get some speakers and an amp and play the fake engine sounds loud enough to drown out the original. This is already being done on some cars on the inside, so why not on the outside?

frogs9497

Kind of ironic that my former IS250 direct injection ticked.. like a time bomb.

MDMercedesGuy

I enjoy hearing the whistle and hiss of the turbo with the windows down... the rest of it is not terribly pleasant until your foot gets planted.

Higgs Boson

The C250 is much more of a loss leader than a cash cow.... E class is a cash cow.