Hows it going guys? Im sure this is a question that comes up on here often but figured Id see what additional info I could dig up by posting, Sorry if this subject has been beat to death haha. Looks like Im headed back into the world of German Cars and was hoping to get some advice. Been doing a pile of research but most of the information Im finding is years old when it comes to reliability and common issues. How have these cars been holding up over the last 8 years?

I've owned a few German cars in the past but this will be by far the newest one ive looked into. Ive located a SUPER clean 2008 C350 with 33,200 miles on the Odometer. Only thing that is odd is it looks like this car was exported from the US in 2010 and returned last year. Car seems to run/drive well and has been taken care of. Unfortunately I do not have service records with it since it is at a used car dealer.

My question is this, How has the reliability been for those of you who have been driving one long term or own a higher mileage example? I have been looking at the Truedelta.com data but it doesnt seem to be too awful detailed.

Any recurring issues that continue to happen? Im aware of the timing train issues with the M272 engine but have confirmed this engine is well past the TSB serial # cutoffs and shouldnt be effected. I am also aware of the ESL/EIS issues. Anything else I'm missing in my research that could be an issue?

Is the reliability of these cars poor enough to make it worth purchasing a warranty on it? I am a mechanic by trade so can fix it myself as long as it doesn't need MB Star to program...

Anything I should know before getting into this thing, most likely going to sign the paperwork in the next few days.

 

If there is anyway you can drive it for a day, I would do so. I test drove my car and thought all was well, but a week after driving it I hated it. The throttle lagged, shifting was wonky and it just wasn't pleasant to drive.

Now, once I got a tune it was a night and day difference, but that tune cost me $600....

 

No carfax?

 

Carfax is clean and looks good. Looks like most of the service was done by a MB dealer with the exception of the time this thing appears to have been in Europe. I guess US based MB dealers dont have access to service records from across the pond haha. Was serviced at the dealer before and then after it was over there by the same owner, I am assuming the same happened over there as well.

Now why the hell would it have been over shipped there and brought back to the US? Owner REALLY wanted to blast down the Autobahn? who knows haha

 

 

Sometimes military personnel have their cars shipped like that.

 

Hm, check out these carfax links:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=zeebrugge+belgium+carfax

Apparently it's not uncommon...

 

Looks like most of those were when the vehicle was imported to the US when new. This one went over sometime a few years after purchased new in TX. Doesnt bother me at all really. Just interesting to see that in a carfax report.

 

You ask the dealer? Maybe they have some ideas?

 

yeah I spoke with an MB dealer and it looks like it went dark ~4 years before being brought back into the US. Im betting that it was a service member who owned it and brought it over with them. Unfortunately the US MB dealers cannot access service records from overseas. Perhaps MB corporate could do it? Might be worth a phone call.

Had the car PPI'ed and all is well, the dealer was surprised to see an 08 with so few miles on it. Waiting on CU paperwork now and will hopefully drive it off the lot tonight!

 

Sounds good! Congrats!

 

I went to Mercedes as soon as I got mine and the guy printed all the service records for me! FOR FREE!
or you can turn on secret menu and it will tell you when your next service is due.
Turn aux power on 2 clicks, hold ok and call accept buttons on the steering wheel, a menu will pop up if done right, then go to service.
I hope that helps