Hello people of C classes lol

I'm currently in the market for buying the 08-10 year C300. Don't know much about them. Have a friend who has it and he hadn't had any issues with it, good. However, that's just one person. I wanted to reach out here to ask what are the major issues/problems this model had that I should watch out for? I heard they are very reliable, so is my W211 E. All the listings I've looked at are around 80-110k miles on the meter and ranging from 9.5k to 11k. Almost the double of what I paid for my E with similar miles lol

Let me know your guys' opinions and what not and I'm looking to meet with some owners this weekend and make the best pick. Thanks, all in advance.

 

​​​​​​​The C300s in the 08-10 years will suffer from the EIS/ESL failure which will basically lock the steering column and leave the car stranded until it's towed and repaired at the dealership or an independent mechanic. You can research and read a lot about it on this forum. Unless, you have proof that it's been repaired by the previous owner, you can expect that it'll happen. Here's a recent thread of someone who went through this: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...76k-miles.html

Other than that, these cars like you said are pretty reliable for a Merc.

Personally, I am looking for a C300 as well, but I'm looking for 2012 models which have the interior and exterior facelift and do not suffer from the problem mentioned above. If it's in your budget, definitely go up to that year.

 

Oh! That failure doesn't sound nice and cheap. 2012s are listed for around 14k for 90k miles on the meter, it's listed pretty high. I am looking into the 2012+ models now, thanks for that heads up. The C class will be for my sister so don't know how high she'll go but I'm definitely looking towards the facelift models now. Things are pretty expensive in the Bay Area lol. I will poke around to find any other better deals on these.

 

If you want a 2008-2012 c class, you must find someone to do an emulator on your car.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-W204-ESL...QAAOSwTuVZpvPt

Half thje price and never worry about it again since the dealer just replaces the part with one that might fail again. They fixed this issue in the 2012+ models but definitely not something that would stop me from buying the car, I found someone local that did it for 400$, and do it before it fails.

Also check for new parts and maintenance, you want nice fluids, thermostats seem to go on these cars around 100k miles along with the belt/pulley and tensioners should be replaced. Make sure the tranmsission shifts good and check for leaks, specially if 4matic model. If 4matic, you want to listen if the tranmsfer case bearing arent making any noise.

 

Not trying to derail, but would you mind explaining how that emulator will prevent the ESL/EIL failure? and what to tell a specialist Mercedes mechanic if you want to get it done?

 

That emulator replaces the ESL module, it will remove the mechanical aspect of the lock so it wont be able to fail mechanically anymore. Look around for mercedes emulator programming around you're area, it requires programming with a tool, in general people who can program mercedes keys are able to program emulators, shops usually call them if they need one programmed.

They need your ESL module, your ignition switch and your key, with those three they are able to program the emulator to the specific car, go around a few mercedes specialist and ask them for emulators, not all of them do it and want to do it because the original repair has more profit in it, not to mention it will fail again.

 

Yes the EIS failure is potentially bad, and yes you can have a hacker install an emulator...

However, if you are a makeshift mechanic you can preventively replace the ESL motor for under $20...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quality-ESL-ELV-Motor-Steering-Lock-Wheel-Motor-for-Mercedes-Benz-W204-W207-W212/162260333805?epid=525236221&hash=item25c77834ed:g: SMEAAOSwcLxYFEcd&vxp=mtr

And it will work as good as new... doing this every 8 years is not bad if you ask me... there are tutorials on disassembling the steering column, and then on disassembling the actual ESL module to replace the motor.

THE KEY: Replacing the motor preventively - because if the ESL motor fails while in the lock position - it is locked to the steering column (I had to drill into the module and turn the motor manually just to get the module off the steering column (you need to get the module off the steering column in order to open it up and replace the motor)) (I was also lucky when my motor failed as I was still getting a 'click' sound from the motor meaning the software did not lock out the module yet and it could be fixed by just replacing the motor; if the software locks you out - that's essentially a $1500-$2k trip to the dealer).

Put the key in when the ESL is still working - then disconnect the battery with the key still in ignition (and the module in the unlock position), and removing the module will be a breeze....


If you are a novice mechanic - you should have no problem getting an 08 - just try to find a later 08 production (look at the vin sticker inside the door) because 2008s that were actually built in 2007 can have timing chain issues. But my 2008 built in 3/08 is rock solid - I really enjoy the car.

 

If its a 4matic, transfer case can fail.

Those are the big 2.

 

Like others above said the ESL/EIS is a pretty inconvenient (and expensive) issue, the thread above is about my car and it is still in the shop until Wednesday at the earliest. The steering lock has to come directly from Mercedes and the lead time on the parts ~5 business days so be prepared to be down for 6 days minimum if it goes bad. My particular crap extended warranty will not cover a rental car as actual repair labor time (not including parts waiting time) does not exceed 8 hours, fortunately I have colleagues and public transportation at my disposal.

The only other thing to look for for this age of vehicle (the '09s are about to hit 10 years) is all the rubber parts (mounts, seals, gaskets) reaching end of life. My trans mount is shot, not a huge issue yet but on occasion it sounds like the trans is hitting the tunnel on starting so I am sure that and the engine mounts are also probably rotted away. Some of my top end (valve covers and camshaft) seals are starting to leak. My serpentine belt is starting to squeak while cold. This is not design flaw, just something to keep in mind when buying any car that is 8+ years old.

The 3.0 and I think 3.5 will have bottom engine rod knock on hot and some cold starts, know issue due to rod bearing sizing but it seems as though it does not adversely affect engine reliability. Just annoying to have a modern Merc knocking away for 3-5 seconds when starting and it sounds absolutely terrible. Not sure what year this was corrected.

Other than that I will say my '09 has been EXTREMELY reliable for what is considered a maintenance intensive brand. The prior owners never had any other work done other than scheduled maintenance. The original battery went kaput ~11 months ago when it was almost 9 years old (maintenance item) and now the steering lock died at at 9.5 years old so really it has held up well (knock on wood). Yeah some of the interior buttons are peeling but really at almost 10 years old everything has held up extremely well.

 

True about the transmission mount - had my engine and transmission mounts replaced for $1200 by my indy - major difference in smoothness. This is not a necessary repair though - drove my car for 50,000 miles with bad mounts.

With 4matic, you can have a transfer case issue as said above (likely only if you don't replace trans fluid every 40,000), and also the front axle shaft CV joints can go bad (a thumping noise) - cost $700 to source a used one and have put in.

Also the thermostat can go - an easy $150 diy repair.

So there are a few things, that is true... but even with the repair costs factored in you are driving a car with a long-lasting premium feel for very little money. An 06 S-Class would be the same purchase price but a different story...

 

Thanks everyone for the input, pretty hefty information here. Trying to keep the ESL failure in mind of years up to 2011, I am more interested in '12+ also due to facelift interior, a big change. Yea cars go bad, sometimes it's just luck they go bad very often and sometimes years go by. I'm coming across price range of 12-14k, trying to limit the budget to maybe 12k max.

If a 4Matic and the transfer case fails, how much is the repair for that? Can that be a DIY? I mean a friend of mine knows and does repairs and I go to him all the time and teach myself some stuff as well.

@Landseaair
those S class are nice looking. I wouldn't mind finding the S55 with bags and slam it on stock wheels lol but I already have 06 E class on coils and this new is for my sister and she will be banging parked cars in the lot with that lengthy car lol I offered her my E, stock, and wanted to get myself E55/63 but she turned it down lol how dare she.

 

2012+ hasnt had much issues yet with transfer case from what I can tell. Usually have to replace entire transmission, so about $4k.

 

No.. It can happen to any 4matic if you dont service them and if you take it to the dealer, they will obviously just sell you the whole transmission even though you can source the affected transfer case bearings from them.. they are greedy fckers. If your transfer case bearings are making noise, take it to a mercedes private specialist and its anywhere from 1000 to 2000$ to fix with labor, if you can pull the tranmssion out yourself and install it, that't where most of the labor is, bearings and seals only cost around 300$ and they are easy to source since its a pretty common issue.People need to change the transmission fluid every 40k miles specially if they are 4matic, those 7 clutchs wear and a lot of clutch material contaminates the fluid and that is the source of all the 722.9 transmission issues.