2018 Mercedes W213 E300 needs new engine @ 23K Miles




It is probably the finest Mercedes I have driven and it is my third Mercedes. I have also owned (leased) two Audis, 6 BMW, 2 MDX's, 4 Porches, and Toyotas and Fords.
Before settling on the E450 I drove an E300 loaner for a full two days. As I could afford the E450 I went with it. Completely happy with my choice and would spend the extra for the E450 over the E350, aka E300.
Hope this helps
If you are getting a facelifted one with the inherently nicer M256 I6, well it's still pretty new so unfortunately we don't really know what it will throw up down the line. Since it's Halloween I shall mention the horror of an E53 coupe (same engine) catching fire (not sure if engine-related) that was posted on this forum a while ago.




It is probably the finest Mercedes I have driven and it is my third Mercedes. I have also owned (leased) two Audis, 6 BMW, 2 MDX's, 4 Porches, and Toyotas and Fords.
Before settling on the E450 I drove an E300 loaner for a full two days. As I could afford the E450 I went with it. Completely happy with my choice and would spend the extra for the E450 over the E350, aka E300.
Hope this helps




I have owned both.
I started with Mercedes back in the 80's then as my family grew went to Mini Vans then the MDX. I then went back to the 530/535 series of BMW always 6 cylinders. Then went to the Mercedes 2016 Mercedes E350 because the lease was substantially less than a 535iXdrive.
In my first test drive I immediately remembered why I always liked Mercedes: Solid like a bank vault, quiet and capable handling. The engine was not as responsive as the BMW, but more than adequate.
I remember my first trip to Vermont in the E350: I had for the prior 6 years been driving 5 series BMW's. The ride was so much smoother I thought they had repaved the roads.
As good as my 2016 E350 was my 2019 E450 is even better: I have the steering set at sport, the suspension at comfort and the engine on economy. The ride is superb and extremely quiet. I find on long trips road and wind noise to be very tiring. Mileage is always above 30 mpg.
The leases on the Audi were not as competitive, plus in my mind the pecking order is Mercedes, BMW then Audi.
Clearly the E350 is a better value. But if you can afford the E450 you will not be disappointed.
Please understand I am not putting the E350 down: I just think the E450 is the better car.
It is up to you decide if it is worth the extra money.
.
There are recent reports of "blown engine" and cracked pistons in the GLC, W205 and W213 sections of this site. It's not clear how widespread this is (or isn't) and what the pattern of events is, if there is a pattern.
In addition to GLC, C and E, the latest GLE uses the M264.
Last edited by moosaud1998; Oct 30, 2020 at 11:06 PM.




The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Just enjoy the car and keep to the maintenance schedule. When the time comes to decided if you want to get extended warranty or sell it after CPO is over, you can worry about that at that time.
For now, it's covered with factory warranty so just go and enjoy the car.
At the end of the day, it's not like every single one of the 4 pot Mercedes is broken down everywhere. In fact, I haven't heard one until I stumbled upon the W205 section in this forum.
Just enjoy the car and keep to the maintenance schedule. When the time comes to decided if you want to get extended warranty or sell it after CPO is over, you can worry about that at that time.
For now, it's covered with factory warranty so just go and enjoy the car.
At the end of the day, it's not like every single one of the 4 pot Mercedes is broken down everywhere. In fact, I haven't heard one until I stumbled upon the W205 section in this forum.
The watchlist for 4 cylinder engine failures includes: C, E, GLC and latest GLE. These vehicles use a 2.0L 4 cylinder of similar time frame/vintage. There have been several reports of "piston" failures, not all of them are extensively documented. It could be M-B had a problem with the design or manufacturing, or both, of a piston, and other aspects of the engine are OK. It doesn't make the failure any worse, but a running design change to the piston alone could result in a robust engine.
The 2020 VINs don't seem to show up in lastvin.com or EPC. I looked up a GLC 253.949 (don't know what model year this is) and the change history for the M274.920 piston was very long, giving the impression of a problem.
It's interesting that the M264 (newest 2.0L 4 cylinder doesn't share pistons, but does share the crankshaft and connecting rods (plus many other minor parts), with the older M274 engine). This means there is some lineage/genealogy between the M274 and M264.
2017 GLC 300 4MATIC
WDC0G4KB3HF201444
Engine M274.920
Piston A2740300417 then A2740300900
Change points noted Oct 2015, Mar 2017, Feb 2018
2018 E 300 4MATIC
WDDZF4KBXJA337353
Engine M274.920
Piston A2740300900, no change history
2015 C 300 4MATIC
55SWF4KB5FU075865
Engine M274.920
Piston A2740300417 then A2740300900
Change points noted Oct 2015, Mar 2017, Feb 2018
2020 GLE 350 4MATIC
No VIN
Engine M264.920
Piston A2640301800 and A2640301700, no change history
Last edited by chassis; Oct 31, 2020 at 01:14 PM.
WDD2130422A496370
*edit..
nvm.. Engine is M274.920..
Mine was delivered in 2018 June.. So it should have got the updated piston.
Last edited by joesama; Oct 31, 2020 at 01:47 PM.
2018 E 200
VIN WDD2130422A496370
Engine M274.920
Piston A2740302417 and A2740301517 and A2740302417 with change points in Jan 2012 and May 2012 and Apr 2014
Latest piston is A2740302417 from engine 30190332 from 17 Apr 2014
Your engine number is 27492031568990, therefore should have piston A2740302417
Last edited by chassis; Oct 31, 2020 at 02:17 PM.
2018 E 200
VIN WDD2130422A496370
Engine M274.920
Piston A2740302417 and A2740301517 and A2740302417 with change points in Jan 2012 and May 2012 and Apr 2014
Latest piston is A2740302417 from engine 30190332 from 17 Apr 2014
Your engine number is 27492031568990, therefore should have piston A2740302417
WDDZF4KB9HA199346
Model 213.049
Engine 274920 30964808
Piston was A2740300417 to engine 10023253 replaced by A2740300900
It looks like your engine was built with piston A2740300900.

The 2020 VINs don't seem to show up in lastvin.com or EPC. I looked up a GLC 253.949 (don't know what model year this is) and the change history for the M274.920 piston was very long, giving the impression of a problem.
https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/subscribe.jsp

Last edited by cetialpha5; Oct 31, 2020 at 10:15 PM.
WDDZF4KB9HA199346
Model 213.049
Engine 274920 30964808
Piston was A2740300417 to engine 10023253 replaced by A2740300900
It looks like your engine was built with piston A2740300900.
so I should be fine, right?
Last edited by moosaud1998; Oct 31, 2020 at 05:59 PM.

I did it years ago on a particular car, I actually heard back from them and they sent me a fedex label to send them the bad part. A few months later, there was a recall. At the time I think there was about 100 complaints about the problem so I don't think it takes too many. Plus MB has always come in with extended warranties to stop them from having to do a recall, the 15 year one the fuel tank or the 25 year SBC warranty on the W211 come to mind.
I did it years ago on a particular car, I actually heard back from them and they sent me a fedex label to send them the bad part. A few months later, there was a recall. At the time I think there was about 100 complaints about the problem so I don't think it takes too many. Plus MB has always come in with extended warranties to stop them from having to do a recall, the 15 year one the fuel tank or the 25 year SBC warranty on the W211 come to mind.



