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It finally happened! Broken piston in cylinder #1

Old Sep 25, 2023 | 03:42 PM
  #1  
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It finally happened! Broken piston in cylinder #1

Well it finally happened... I was driving my 2015 C300 with 62k miles on the freeway and all of a sudden it lost power and started shaking.

I had the car towed to the dealer and they said that there is an engine misfire due to the piston in cylinder #1 is broken and has caused damage to the cylinder wall. The only fix is to replace the engine!

I thought that I was OK with a C300 that was built later in 2015 and it was just the early 2015s that had the wrist pin and broken piston issue, but I was wrong.

My car did have the rattling noise when letting go of the accelerator pedal on cold starts. I took it in to the dealer about it and they said that the noise was normal.

The car has always been serviced at the dealer and I only fill up with 91 octane gas.
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by RiCh_vRS
Well it finally happened... I was driving my 2015 C300 with 62k miles on the freeway and all of a sudden it lost power and started shaking.

I had the car towed to the dealer and they said that there is an engine misfire due to the piston in cylinder #1 is broken and has caused damage to the cylinder wall. The only fix is to replace the engine!

I thought that I was OK with a C300 that was built later in 2015 and it was just the early 2015s that had the wrist pin and broken piston issue, but I was wrong.

My car did have the rattling noise when letting go of the accelerator pedal on cold starts. I took it in to the dealer about it and they said that the noise was normal.

The car has always been serviced at the dealer and I only fill up with 91 octane gas.
Sorry to hear. Hopefully the transition process is as smooth as possible for you.

The M274 engine, based on posts on mbworld, does not seem capable of 200k mile longevity. Not 100k mile longevity, in many cases. Wow.
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Sorry to hear. Hopefully the transition process is as smooth as possible for you.

The M274 engine, based on posts on mbworld, does not seem capable of 200k mile longevity. Not 100k mile longevity, in many cases. Wow.
Mercedes should advertise or let the customer know that this car needs a new engine after 60k miles!

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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 04:24 PM
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Red face Sorry to hear that.

I have a 2017 Cab but even though post-2015 engines are supposedly free of the piston curse, and Cabs are assembled in Germany, I still worry and am considering trading before the warranty expires next Spring. I don't trust this engine; just got a coolant level warning and being a W205 paranoid, expected to find milky oil. Cost?

Has MB offered anything?
Are you going to put in a new engine? A factory rebuilt? Salvage engine?
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by dwpc
I have a 2017 Cab but even though post-2015 engines are supposedly free of the piston curse, and Cabs are assembled in Germany, I still worry and am considering trading before the warranty expires next Spring. I don't trust this engine; just got a coolant level warning and being a W205 paranoid, expected to find milky oil. Cost?

Has MB offered anything?
Are you going to put in a new engine? A factory rebuilt? Salvage engine?
MBUSA pretty much said sorry we can't do anything, your car is out of warranty.

That is BS. They can do something if they wanted to and they know about the pistons being defective. There are several reports on the NHTSA website of the same thing happening to other owners at a similar mileage.

I haven't decided on what to do. The dealer quoted about $18k for a rebuilt engine. They said they can't get new engines.

I could get a used engine from a salvage car, but the piston could break on that one as well. Also I would have no idea if that engine has been maintained and serviced properly like my engine was.
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Old Sep 25, 2023 | 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by dwpc
I have a 2017 Cab but even though post-2015 engines are supposedly free of the piston curse, and Cabs are assembled in Germany, I still worry and am considering trading before the warranty expires next Spring. I don't trust this engine; just got a coolant level warning and being a W205 paranoid, expected to find milky oil. Cost?

Has MB offered anything?
Are you going to put in a new engine? A factory rebuilt? Salvage engine?
Post-2015 engines are not free of the curse. Broken pistons on the M274 have been reported as late as 2018 model year.

Read W205 C-Class, X253 GLC-Class and W213 E-Class sections of this site. Failures have been reported on all of these platforms.
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Old Sep 27, 2023 | 08:35 PM
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Man...I keep seeing these posts nowaday. Is this is a sign to trade in my 2017 C300? I'm right around 62k miles.
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Old Sep 28, 2023 | 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted by DYC300
Man...I keep seeing these posts nowaday. Is this is a sign to trade in my 2017 C300? I'm right around 62k miles.
I saw the posts of it happening to other people over the past few years, but since the numbers were still low I didn't think it would happen to me. I now understand how those people felt and why they were so mad or upset about the situation.

Of course it happens after the factory warranty expires so MBUSA doesn't care at that point.
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Old Sep 28, 2023 | 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by RiCh_vRS
I saw the posts of it happening to other people over the past few years, but since the numbers were still low I didn't think it would happen to me. I now understand how those people felt and why they were so mad or upset about the situation.

Of course it happens after the factory warranty expires so MBUSA doesn't care at that point.
It must be absolutely awful

I still have 1 year left of ELW which expires almost exactly a year from now. If the car market improves a bit, maybe I'll trade in for a C43 or something. We'll see.
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Old Sep 29, 2023 | 11:34 PM
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Got the same story last weekend (C250, late 2016, 120 000km): suddenly engine start misfiring, MIL flashing, no power. Removed 1st spark plug, found electrode bent (spark plugs replaced 2 year ago, did 25000 km). Pulling engine out now...

c250 1st cylinder spark plug
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Old Sep 30, 2023 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Peter7
Got the same story last weekend (C250, late 2016, 120 000km): suddenly engine start misfiring, MIL flashing, no power. Removed 1st spark plug, found electrode bent (spark plugs replaced 2 year ago, did 25000 km). Pulling engine out now...

c250 1st cylinder spark plug
Sorry to hear and thanks for posting your experience. Which region/country are you located? Curious to know if the broken piston problem is global, or regional.
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Old Sep 30, 2023 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Sorry to hear and thanks for posting your experience. Which region/country are you located? Curious to know if the broken piston problem is global, or regional.
Thank you. I am in Melbourne, Australia
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Old Sep 30, 2023 | 10:54 PM
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More importantly, what country was your car manufactured in?
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 08:28 AM
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https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...lar-cars-built

Says C-Class sedans for Australia are assembled in South Africa. Is this correct @Peter7 ?

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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...lar-cars-built

Says C-Class sedans for Australia are assembled in South Africa. Is this correct @Peter7 ?
I think so. Can't see country of production at data card. Only option 625 - Version for Australia
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by cidtek
More importantly, what country was your car manufactured in?
From memory its South Africa, but I believe the problem is more about parts quality and savings during R&D
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 09:45 PM
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@Peter7 Do you have a decal/label on the b-pillar where the door shuts against the lock? There might be a country of origin listed there.
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
@Peter7 Do you have a decal/label on the b-pillar where the door shuts against the lock? There might be a country of origin listed there.
Will have a look tonight
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 11:04 PM
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Also, posting your VIN will help because it can be entered into decoder sides like lastvin.com. The VIN as you probably are aware is found at the base of the windshield.
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Also, posting your VIN will help because it can be entered into decoder sides like lastvin.com. The VIN as you probably are aware is found at the base of the windshield.
Done

Attached Files
File Type: pdf
WDD2050452R240599-options.pdf (53.4 KB, 207 views)
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 11:40 PM
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Item 165 - PRODUCTION LOCATION VEHICLE SOUTH AFRICA
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Old Oct 1, 2023 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by cidtek
Item 165 - PRODUCTION LOCATION VEHICLE SOUTH AFRICA
Yep, you right, don't remember where I have seen it 2 years ago
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Old Oct 2, 2023 | 05:11 AM
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1 customer with an engine piston failure is 1 too many.
and CRAZY!!! for the best or nothing company.

I guess they are ignoring the BEST and just heading to NOTHING!

COMPLAIN COMPLAIN to who ever will listen. Post on MBs social media sites - Make some NOISE! be heard, Let others know.
BEcome a pain in their side until they stand up for their product.

Send note to NHSTA let them know how dangerous it was on highway with engine blowing up and sudden loss of power @ highway speeds.

Engines should last well over 200K today and if not no matter how much you like car walk away...

Reading these posts makes KIA engine problems look good...

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Old Oct 2, 2023 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Post-2015 engines are not free of the curse. Broken pistons on the M274 have been reported as late as 2018 model year.

Read W205 C-Class, X253 GLC-Class and W213 E-Class sections of this site. Failures have been reported on all of these platforms.

Why do we not have a post with with them all simply grouped up with what years and at what mileage etc.?
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Old Oct 2, 2023 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by RiCh_vRS
MBUSA pretty much said sorry we can't do anything, your car is out of warranty.

That is BS. They can do something if they wanted to and they know about the pistons being defective. There are several reports on the NHTSA website of the same thing happening to other owners at a similar mileage.

I haven't decided on what to do. The dealer quoted about $18k for a rebuilt engine. They said they can't get new engines.

I could get a used engine from a salvage car, but the piston could break on that one as well. Also I would have no idea if that engine has been maintained and serviced properly like my engine was.
smh and with that $18k “repair” what did they say they’ll put in that has changed so it won’t happen again? Is it on the estimate?
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