Popcrnchicken

Just got confirmation that this is the noise in my youtube video above.

TSB #LI03-10P060916
NHTSA ID #10058545
Date Announced: JULY 01 2015
Summary: XENTRY (DAIMLER): DUE TO UNFAVORABLE TOLERANCE OF PISTON WRIST PIN, RESULTING IN KNOCKING, CLATTERING/RATTLING NOISES, CAUSING AN ENLARGE END FLOAT CONNECTING ROD IN PISTON, FROM CRANK ASSEMBLY OF ENGINE WHEN COLD.

Thanks everyone for the help.

Maritime

That sucks.

MASSC450

That indeed sucks...good luck with the repair, hope it's smooth & quick.


What is the build date on your car?

solarflare

Well, looks like my C300 has the engine problem. The dealer called today and told me they will need to replace piston and piston wrist pin. My build date is 09/2014. It must be one of the early build.

I am contemplating to keep or to replace the car. I am not sure if this is the last or prelude to more problem down the road. What would you do?

Matts2015c300

I'm in the same boat. I'm going to look at a c450 tonight. Really bummed out. I was able to get a one year extended warranty on the car with a call to MBUSA and a follow up by my service manager. I asked for a new car replacement but got shot down immediately. They offered me one car payment but my manager went to bat and got a year added to my cpo coverage.

Maritime

What a pile of crap. If mb can't be loyal to you, I say buy another brand.

Matts2015c300

Problem is there is no other car in this class I could see driving. Never loved the BMw styling in or out other than the M line. The S4 interior is very blah not to mention I owned an s4 lemon for three years out of warranty. If you have a valid alternative in all ears....

MASSC450

2016 BMW 340i M Sport pkg...well equipped for about $51,000. Better handler than the C450, better tranny too.


Do yourself a favor and test drive one. I'll be looking at a 2017 real hard this Fall myself.

kram1

I too am in the same boat. My car is currently at the dealer having this repair done (been there for 15 days now) - and I'm contemplating trading it in once I get it back. Will probably take MASSC300 suggestion and look at a 2016 340i. Will probably look at a 4 series too and maybe look at some Japanese bands as well..

gfmohn

Is your car a CPO? That could mean that the first owner heard something he didn't like and traded it in! Or it could mean something entirely unrelated. Don't be too quick to blame MB. Your build date is so early that even MB Germany might not have yet recognized the problem. But that brings up the question that not even the most angry owners have hurled at MB: Why didn't MB recognize the problem before the vehicles hit the dealers? What happened to the vaunted MB testing?

Probably no one has asked that question because they know that asking it would do no good. MB has a history of two things: 1. give the customers what MB thinks the customers should want and 2. what happens in Stuttgart, stays in Stuttgart. This is a design problem in Stuttgart, not an assembly problem in Untertürkheim or in Decherd. The German engines have the problem too.

The M274 engines are made in Untertürkheim (on the opposite side of Stuttgart from the auto assembly facility in Sindelfingen) or in Decherd, Tennessee. The plant in Dechard is a Nissan/Renault facility, but the Mercedes-designed engines are built in a completely separate section. (Confused yet?) See Automotive News Europe, June 12, 2014, "Infiniti will build Mercedes-designed Q50 engines for Europe in U.S.")

arnold0523

My car falls into this TSB. I heard only a bit of the rattles when the engine was cold.
It is in the shop now, but I am informed even it falls into the TSB, they do not think it's a problem for my car because they don't hear it...

PeteInGilroy

Make sure they listen for the clicking noise when decelerating from about 20 mph down to 10 mph.

I had to take mine in to the shop twice before they heard it. The parts are on order.

alkam2

yes make sure they are listening for the correct sound. My dealer shop foreman initially took the ride with me and did not hear the sound. He claim they've done several cars with the wrist pin issue and the clicking sound can also be heard when engine is warm, and he say maybe a high pressure fuel pump sound. I brought up the TSB and one of the sound clip and he said, oh, let us check again tomorrow morning. Dont let them give you bs.
My is 08/2014 build date. The parts are being ordered and I need to bring car back again.

arnold0523

They still said they were not able to duplicate the sound...Even it fell into the TSB, they had to hear it.

Well, I leased the car and honestly I only heard it a few times and it's not a big deal for me. I just want to get the engine repaired so I stand more chance in fighting them replacing the car for me.

Late April 2015 delivery, Currently 16 times in the shop, 41 days out of service. Many many many issues but not BIG enough to be "significantly impair the usage" - lemon law lawyers advised me. Ironically, MBUSA offered one month payment to buy back my satisfaction instead of replacing the car. I paid a lot in down payment, so monthly $329, what a joke...

The engine rebuild may add the "out of service day" to 50 days at least.

OSMS_Carlsson

I hear the ticking noise in the morning, when the engine is cold and you go from that 20mph down to 10mph as noted above...sounds to me like a valve knock, but I am generally annoyed by the 4cyl. engine sound...I think all 4 cylinder engines resemble a sewing machine. Our car is a lease and the sound so far has not turned into something mechanically wrong, so just going to finish out the lease and make sure next time I buy at least a 6 cylinder.

kram1

Did you look at that C450? Curious what the trade value will be for these C300's with rebuilt motors - as I'm thinking about trading in myself.

Matts2015c300

I did... They were going to offer 35k for the trade (51k msrp) and were willing to take 7k off a 62k msrp c450. My monthly is so low it just doesn't make sense. I'll just enjoy my 300 for now and bail on merc when my 6yr warranty is up.

kram1

Thanks for the info! If I may ask, how many miles do you have on your car? I'm right at 12,000 miles and mine was a $46,XXX MSRP. Just trying to get a feel for how upside down I am. Also, do you get the feeling your trade offer was effected because of the engine work that's been done? Thanks!

Matts2015c300

14k miles. They offered me kbb for excellent condition so that would be your best bet to get an idea of what you will get.

kram1

OK, thanks for the info!

alkam2

My only have less than 5000 miles and this wrist pin/piston issue, not to mention the engine failed once at around 2000 miles. This wrist pin/piston issue is inherent in the engine, left the factory, got to the dealer lot with the issue! It was there since day one. I already heard the sound few days after I bought the car as it was March and mornings are still cold enough. Like others I thought it was because of DI engine. I would've brought the car right back if I knew! I would never buy that specific car off the lot if I knew that. I would've waited, choose another color, another one with later build date. How can MB now stick us with a rebuilt engine?! The more I think about it the more unacceptable I feel this is.

Maritime

Contact the California Attorney General.

kram1

I agree 100% this is unacceptable! My car is currently at the dealer getting the motor rebuilt (day 19), and the more I think about it the more pissed I am about this. I'm seriously considering, as soon as it's done, driving it straight to BMW and trading it in on a 3 or 4 series.

arnold0523

I am on a lease, and if it takes 20 days for the engine rebuild, I think I will pass it as it is a minor issue for me. Even get it repaired, lemon law attorney advised me it's still not a case to fight for.
Currently 42 days in the shop for all other issues.

Matts2015c300

I had the rebuild and like most of you I was fuming mad. I have to say that I am happy with the outcome (I fought for an extra year warranty after trying to get a buyback in place and my service manager was able to get the extension for me). I reset my transmission yesterday and I have to say the car is running better than ever. I'm just going to enjoy and drive it like I stole it until the warranty expires and just see what happens. I don't think this will be the 10 year car I was hoping for but oh well stuff happens. There is no way merc is going to buy back all of these cars. Make a stink with MBUSA and see what you can get. Then, stop thinking about it because you will make yourselves crazy. Just my 2c