C250 Timing Chain Precaution
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 16
C204
C250 Timing Chain Precaution
Lately, I've been reading so many threads about those timing chain issues on the in-line 4 C250 and I am starting to get worried.
My car is 60,000km and I haven't had any problems but I wanted to know if there is anything specific that I must or must not do in order to keep the timing chain in good shape and therefore avoid those costly repairs.
I hope someone can clarify the cause of all this so that the others can be careful and avoid it. Is there anything we can do or this is a defect and it is unavoidable like the faulty steering lock?
My car is 60,000km and I haven't had any problems but I wanted to know if there is anything specific that I must or must not do in order to keep the timing chain in good shape and therefore avoid those costly repairs.
I hope someone can clarify the cause of all this so that the others can be careful and avoid it. Is there anything we can do or this is a defect and it is unavoidable like the faulty steering lock?
Last edited by dol4er; Sep 9, 2017 at 06:31 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 604
Likes: 29
From: SA
2008 C350-Sport-AMG-Active Agility Pack(Not reliable) +Izuzu KB6 3L(It seems Reliable)+Mazda
I dont have the same car, but what I do is change the oil & filter every 5000Km, not a problem for me, then I hope for the best about the internals. I am thinking about the timing chain tentioner replace later on, my engine is clean on the inside, I only do this cause I keeping the car.
After the car went out of gurantee, I had all the fluids analized including transmission and all passed, so I decided to keep the car, if it breaks really bad, I scrap it.
Its however hard to fight poor design and/or poor manufacturing.
After the car went out of gurantee, I had all the fluids analized including transmission and all passed, so I decided to keep the car, if it breaks really bad, I scrap it.
Its however hard to fight poor design and/or poor manufacturing.
Last edited by Moto_Guzzi; Sep 12, 2017 at 01:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 16
C204
I dont have the same car, but what I do is change the oil & filter every 5000Km, not a problem for me, then I hope for the best about the internals. I am thinking about the timing chain tentioner replace later on, my engine is clean on the inside, I only do this cause I keeping the car.
After the car went out of gurantee, I had all the fluids analized including transmission and all passed, so I decided to keep the car, if it breaks really bad, I scrap it.
After the car went out of gurantee, I had all the fluids analized including transmission and all passed, so I decided to keep the car, if it breaks really bad, I scrap it.
It seems there is nothing we can do about the timing chain except to hope for the best.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 3
2012 C250 Coupe
I have a 2012 C250 that i bought at 40,000km
When i bought the car, only ONE oil change has been done
Since 2 years of owning it, and now sitting at 70,000km, i changed the oil every 5000 with Mobil 0w40
I didn't have the problem yet, and hope it never happens.
I think the engine sounds better than ever actually since i cleaned it out with so many oil changes.
I'm also a 10 year experienced mechanic, and owned a few mercedes cars, but i'm not a mercedes guru. Still if it fails, i would do it myself anyways.
And my car is also upgraded with bigger IC, and GFB diverter valve and i drive it pretty hard until redline a lot. Next week i'm putting on a catless downpipe and getting my ECU remapped.
When i bought the car, only ONE oil change has been done
Since 2 years of owning it, and now sitting at 70,000km, i changed the oil every 5000 with Mobil 0w40
I didn't have the problem yet, and hope it never happens.
I think the engine sounds better than ever actually since i cleaned it out with so many oil changes.
I'm also a 10 year experienced mechanic, and owned a few mercedes cars, but i'm not a mercedes guru. Still if it fails, i would do it myself anyways.
And my car is also upgraded with bigger IC, and GFB diverter valve and i drive it pretty hard until redline a lot. Next week i'm putting on a catless downpipe and getting my ECU remapped.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 604
Likes: 29
From: SA
2008 C350-Sport-AMG-Active Agility Pack(Not reliable) +Izuzu KB6 3L(It seems Reliable)+Mazda
I have a 2012 C250 that i bought at 40,000km
When i bought the car, only ONE oil change has been done
Since 2 years of owning it, and now sitting at 70,000km, i changed the oil every 5000 with Mobil 0w40
I didn't have the problem yet, and hope it never happens.
I think the engine sounds better than ever actually since i cleaned it out with so many oil changes.
I'm also a 10 year experienced mechanic, and owned a few mercedes cars, but i'm not a mercedes guru. Still if it fails, i would do it myself anyways.
And my car is also upgraded with bigger IC, and GFB diverter valve and i drive it pretty hard until redline a lot. Next week i'm putting on a catless downpipe and getting my ECU remapped.
When i bought the car, only ONE oil change has been done
Since 2 years of owning it, and now sitting at 70,000km, i changed the oil every 5000 with Mobil 0w40
I didn't have the problem yet, and hope it never happens.
I think the engine sounds better than ever actually since i cleaned it out with so many oil changes.
I'm also a 10 year experienced mechanic, and owned a few mercedes cars, but i'm not a mercedes guru. Still if it fails, i would do it myself anyways.
And my car is also upgraded with bigger IC, and GFB diverter valve and i drive it pretty hard until redline a lot. Next week i'm putting on a catless downpipe and getting my ECU remapped.
I did a 5 000Km oil change on my Mazda, now 300 000Km and the engine is still clean. I also noticed along the way that at roughly 50 000Km i had to stop making adjustments to the tappet clearences, I now just check, and maybe adjust one a bit since that kilos.
Engine runs fine still. I am doing it with the Izuzu since new between guarantee changes without changing the filter, I wish I had done that with the Merc, but they told me - You dont open the bonnet new.
I noticed on all the vehicles I had that at about 5 000Km the dipstick starts to show that the oil turns black colour, of course if you drain it before this it will already look like that in a drum, lets stict to the dipstick colouring.
Most drivers will not bother about this which is good(Not enough oil in the world to do it for all), cause most buy there vehicles on credit, trade it when paid off or before, and if I would lease a vehicle I would not worry about anything except tyres for 3 years if it comes to that, car then gone.
I never in my life bought a 2nd hand vehicle, but seeing its not an investment, I like to buy it cash and keep till it break dramatically or accident destroys it, thats my reason for the oil changes. Actually the money I saved from credit, I can easily buy a new engine or gearbox, but if I dont have to so much the better.
This is all about personal choices whatever your reason may be.
Last edited by Moto_Guzzi; Sep 13, 2017 at 01:52 PM.
