Youllze

Hi guys, I'm having difficulty with the potential timing chain issue on some C class cars.

I'm looking at a 2011 C300. It has 75k miles and a bunch of maintenance records, two owner car. The one thing it didn't have was any type of timing chain or tensioner work.

Does the C300 engine fall under the same dreaded timing chain issue that the C250 does? I also seem to remember reading about a balancer issue as well? Lastly, is the engine in this particular car the M272?

I don't mind ruitine maintenance at all and am always proactive but this will be my daily so don't want something that will potentially have an issue as big as a timing chain stretching and needing to be replaced at an insane cost.

Any help and insight would be appreciated as the car is really clean and priced well but the timing chain issues have me a little apprehensive.

Thanks!

C300CA

Mine is 2011 C300. I have never heard of any timing chain issues. Although mine got low miles like 55K miles, it never gave me anything negative. It always drives wonderfully.
There has been nothing except regular maintenance once a year.

Youllze

Thank you, that is good news. Maybe I had it confused with the 4 cyl C250? This does appear to be a clean car, well maintained, etc. The only thing that gives me pause is the potential of a major engine issue like the timing chain.

Can anyone confirm there is or is not a timing chain, tensioner, etc issue on this generation C300?

xsever

No there isn't. A 2011 C300 with the M272 engine is bullet-proof. The timing issues and all that are the case with the 250 M271 engine. The 4-cylinder turbo one.

Youllze

That's good news, thank you. It looks like the issue I was seeing on the M272 engine was the balance shaft and Google is saying that was on the earlier 2004-2008 models.

That said, is there any other potential high dollar issues on the 2011 C300 I should be aware of? As I said, the maintenance records are extensive (lots of brake fluid flushes which is odd), so I'm sure it's been maintained well.

Thanks for the help guys!

xsever

There is nothing scary with the M272 engine and the 7-speed transmission it is paired to by 2011. If the maintenance records show brake fluid flushes every 2 years, then the previous owner must have taken care of the car by the book.

I can only raise your attention to the fact that the 2011 model is the last pre-facelift model. In 2012, the W204 got an exterior and an interior facelift with much more modern looks and equipment. This is why I bought a 2012 with an M272 engine. Best of both worlds.

Youllze

Thanks for the reply! I ended up buying the car because it was so clean and at a good price. I did notice in my research that there was a facelift at the 2012 model year. Maybe after a bit I'll sell this one and get a facelift model. This should be a nice daily driver for me in the meantime. The interior features/screens are defi itely dated but it has a bit of a nostalgic feel to it even though it's only 8 years old haha.

Thanks for the help everyone!

C300CA

Congrats! You are going to like your C.
For the facelift model, I like the fixed screen; the flip out screen is a little annoying, plus the moving parts reliability is never higher than fixed, non-moving parts.

Youllze

Thanks! I think it's going to be a solid daily driver.

Agreed on the flip up screen. It's so ugly and useless I just keep it closed haha. Just need to get the iPod Bluetooth adapter so I can play music from my phone.

aznmode

Quite opposite for me. I loved the flip up screen and have not had any issue with it. I've since upgraded to a 10.25 android screen a year ago and although I love the android screen I missed that pop up screen. It was just really cool to see and hear it all the time.

Youllze

I saw the thread on the Android 10.25 kit and am quite interested in it. What are your thoughts on it? I've read of people having various issues with connectivity, Google Maps, etc in the thread I was reading. I think they have since released a newer version however.

aznmode

I have the V1 first gen and at first it was cool. Played with it a lot. Now I rarely use it. Sometimes the OEM screen wont show up. I started that thread here in the w204 and I'm barely on that thread now as well. But it looks cool on my car and it intrigues my friends. They think it's so cool when I show them what it can do.

Youllze

Ahh yes, I remember you on the thread. That is disappointing to hear. Do you know if they ever came out with v2?

aznmode

They've come out with V2 and a few other new variations and I hear they are working better than V1.

Youllze

That's good to hear, maybe I'll check them out again when it's time to replace the stock stuff.