2017 E300 m274 Cracked Piston Failure - Advice
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2017 E300
2017 E300 m274 engine piston
My 2017 E300 m274 and has only 40k miles. It has a cracked piston and is being repaired under my extended warranty that expires in March of next year. I’m original owner and car was regularly serviced at the dealer.
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
Last edited by Mamca; Oct 9, 2023 at 04:02 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
My 2017 E300 m274 and has only 40k miles. It has a cracked piston and is being repaired under my extended warranty that expires in March of next year. I’m original owner and car was regularly serviced at the dealer.
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
I have a 2019 E450 that when it came off lease, I decided to buy and for peace of mind, I bought the MB extended warranty. My car had less than 30K miles on it and I had already replaced the tires and rear rotors and pads.
After the original warranty expired I had a problem with the exhaust system, which was covered by the extended warranty. The cost of the repair was slightly more than the cost of the extended warranty.
So I am ahead: just like you.
I happen to really like my E450: (I only love my wife, children and grandchildren) At times I am considering keeping it after the end of the extended warranty.
However, keeping emotions aside, I think it best, assuming you can afford it, and for peace of mind, not to own a late model Mercedes out of warranty. I think any repair, however minor, will be at least $1500 and probably over $2000.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
My 2017 E300 m274 and has only 40k miles. It has a cracked piston and is being repaired under my extended warranty that expires in March of next year. I’m original owner and car was regularly serviced at the dealer.
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 67
From: California
E300
M274 engine
I have a 2017 E300 with 46,000 miles and so far no problem. To be safe, I’m considering trading it for the upcoming 2024 E 350, which also has a 4 cylinder engine. Does anyone know if this engine is similar to the problematic M274/if it’s a different engine or whether the problem has been corrected? Should I avoid the new E350?
Out Of Control!!
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
I have a 2017 E300 with 46,000 miles and so far no problem. To be safe, I’m considering trading it for the upcoming 2024 E 350, which also has a 4 cylinder engine. Does anyone know if this engine is similar to the problematic M274/if it’s a different engine or whether the problem has been corrected? Should I avoid the new E350?
All MB four bangers from the M274 to today are related/descended from one another. I would not go near an MB four banger.
Current version of the engine is the M254, which was preceded by the short-lived M264 which was preceded by the M274. MB is running from the scene of the crime (the M274) by re-designating engines with new model names, and in reality simply tweaking them to address the most egregious problems.
No piston cracking yet reported on M264 and M254, but widespread cylinder head failures have been reported on M254.
MB just can’t get it right. MB is a low quality manufacturer.
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All MB four bangers from the M274 to today are related/descended from one another. I would not go near an MB four banger.
Current version of the engine is the M254, which was preceded by the short-lived M264 which was preceded by the M274. MB is running from the scene of the crime (the M274) by re-designating engines with new model names, and in reality simply tweaking them to address the most egregious problems.
No piston cracking yet reported on M264 and M254, but widespread cylinder head failures have been reported on M254.
MB just can’t get it right. MB is a low quality manufacturer.
Current version of the engine is the M254, which was preceded by the short-lived M264 which was preceded by the M274. MB is running from the scene of the crime (the M274) by re-designating engines with new model names, and in reality simply tweaking them to address the most egregious problems.
No piston cracking yet reported on M264 and M254, but widespread cylinder head failures have been reported on M254.
MB just can’t get it right. MB is a low quality manufacturer.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,679
Likes: 4,578
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
I've never had an issue with MB engines. I've been a continuous MB owner since my first one in 1969. All were made in the Germany or Austria. The MB European manufacturing quality is excellent. I can't address their US built vehicles because I've never owned one. That being said, every US auto I've owned - Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, GMC and Pontiac - was built by the UAW union and was a declared a lemon that was repurchased by the dealer. I'll never buy a UAW built vehicle again.
MB is in fact a low quality manufacturer, sadly for shareholders and customers.
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Joined: Sep 2023
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From: CA
2015 C300
My 2017 E300 m274 and has only 40k miles. It has a cracked piston and is being repaired under my extended warranty that expires in March of next year. I’m original owner and car was regularly serviced at the dealer.
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
should I get rid of this car?
Very concerned about keeping my car even after it’s fixed because what if another piston fails again after warranty expires.
Any thoughts / suggestions from everyone including any Mercedes mechanics out there? Will fixing it take care of issues and should I keep it or dump it?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 660
Likes: 300
From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
MB owner since early '80s; total of nine Benz in that time. Zero issues with the engines, highest mileage was almost 200K on an E320 wagon that we treated like a pick up truck. The only four pot motor in all that time was in my wife's 1985 190e, with the 2.3 liter M102; no issues with that motor, however the rear differential decided to shred itself at about 110K miles. Shame, as that car had a lovely chassis. Should have traded it on 16V! We run 91 ~ 93 octane fuel, top tier, usually Shell or Chevron; maintain by the book / computer. Sadly, all of the manufacturers have significantly cheapened the powertrain, stretching more hp out of a smaller capacity, all but ensuring a shorter life span.
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2019 E300
In my opinion, I believed that most car manufacturers, including Mercedes, are making their cars with more and more cost saving materials, that is how the consumers are able to get more safety features and standard options for almost the same price as the previous model. As far as reliability is concerned, the auto industry as whole is getting better, we could thank the Japanese for that, Keep in mind, there are more safety features in today’s new cars, more fuel efficiency equipment and more standard options, all these factors will decrease reliability. Powertrain reliability wise, turbo vs naturally aspirated engines, in a few years, it will not matter anyways as electric powertrains are much more reliable than internal combustion engines.
Frankly, if reliability iis my top priority, I would not buy a German car.
Frankly, if reliability iis my top priority, I would not buy a German car.
Last edited by The G Man; Oct 6, 2023 at 07:25 PM.
Senior Member
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From: Elizabethtown Kentucky
2019 E 300 4matic 2013 SLK 250
In the 80’s Mercedes Benz either produced their own parts or bought from suppliers that were subsidiaries of Daimler Benz AG. Then came the 2000’s, the merger with Chrysler and jurgen schrempp (lower case intentional). schrempp wanted to make money, lots of it and he sold off almost all of the subsidiary companies that he felt were unnecessary or didn’t turn a profit. This included internal engine components, body parts etc. before this 85% of all of the parts going into a Mercedes were either made by Daimler Benz or a subsidiary of Daimler Benz. After schrempp got canned it was down to 15%. Improperly prepared body panels from Poland (remember the rust buckets from the early 2000’s?), going to water based paints, transmissions from Siemens with the electronics inside the transmission (conductor plates!), etc. Now they’ve even gotten to the point where they’re sharing engines designed by Nissan/Renault with infinity.
I’ve been a shareholder for over 40 years but I’m seriously considering selling my block of stock. The company I bought into in 1980 is not the same company I’m involved with now.
I’ve been a shareholder for over 40 years but I’m seriously considering selling my block of stock. The company I bought into in 1980 is not the same company I’m involved with now.
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From: New Orleans Area
2015 E400 Sedan
dump the car after repair....
As for MB
NO MB should have an engine failure if maintenance kept up; period.
one is too many for the "ALL or nothing brand" ... seems they went the nothing route.
Stop spending money on stadium names and give it to the engineering dept.
Cut back on advertising and make a better car with less issues.
MB should be at the top of the consumer quality list but it is not... such a shame.
MB is supposed to be the best of the best yet they always rank low on just about every magazine or JD powers or Consumer Reports quality index...
It is really depressing to read about these engine failures of all different failure modes.
Balance shafts, timing chains, pistons cracking, bore scoring on and on...
One thread is too many but dayum there are hundreds on here and then different engine platforms.
IT seems every engine platform has had at one time another some design flaw.
and yes some get lucky and do not have issues and I hope I am one of them.
Anyone read the OP Car fax report or get MB service history will balk at whatever asking price is... so he will be out some money...
Crazy world, when MB is at bottom of quality car lists but I guess it is the new norm.
As for MB
NO MB should have an engine failure if maintenance kept up; period.
one is too many for the "ALL or nothing brand" ... seems they went the nothing route.
Stop spending money on stadium names and give it to the engineering dept.
Cut back on advertising and make a better car with less issues.
MB should be at the top of the consumer quality list but it is not... such a shame.
MB is supposed to be the best of the best yet they always rank low on just about every magazine or JD powers or Consumer Reports quality index...
It is really depressing to read about these engine failures of all different failure modes.
Balance shafts, timing chains, pistons cracking, bore scoring on and on...
One thread is too many but dayum there are hundreds on here and then different engine platforms.
IT seems every engine platform has had at one time another some design flaw.
and yes some get lucky and do not have issues and I hope I am one of them.
Anyone read the OP Car fax report or get MB service history will balk at whatever asking price is... so he will be out some money...
Crazy world, when MB is at bottom of quality car lists but I guess it is the new norm.
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2019 E300
I guess some people actually brought into the Mercedes “the best or nothing” slogan. Perception is sometime 90% of the truth I guess. German engineering is very detail and performance oriented, but reliable it is not. Most of the more reliable German models are either older models, diesels or stripped down cars like European taxis. Mercedes as an organization has been living off its pass reputation for far too long. If Mercedes build cars like they used to and still meet current regulations, the base E Class would cost over a $100,000.
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
I guess some people actually brought into the Mercedes “the best or nothing” slogan. Perception is sometime 90% of the truth I guess. German engineering is very detail and performance oriented, but reliable it is not. Most of the more reliable German models are either older models, diesels or stripped down cars like European taxis. Mercedes as an organization has been living off its pass reputation for far too long. If Mercedes build cars like they used to and still meet current regulations, the base E Class would cost over a $100,000.
The fact is that Mercedes at their present price point, are overpriced if reliability is taken into account.
Keep in mind that both the GLS and GLE are made in America with non union labor and not Germany with union labor: In spite of this MB SUV's are still overpriced and not reliable. The New MB EQU SUV will also be produce in Alabama.
Somewhere Mercedes went from building the world's best built, trouble free cars (I owned a 1984 300 TD: when I sold it 5 years later with 65,000 it had zero repairs, only oil and filter changes) to cutting edge technology, unreliability and excess cost + excess maintenance costs.
Present day Mercedes reminds me of the fable by Hans Christian Andersen, The Emperor has no Clothes.
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
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Between 1960 and 2023 I purchased well over 100 new cars of varying brands for myself and immediate family. I've had fewer repirs with MB E Class than any other vehicle. Number 1 is Mercedes followed by (alphabetically) Alfa Romeo, BMW, Borgward, Jaguar, Sunbean Tiger, Volkswagen. In the middle of the pack are Abarth, Fiat, Lincoln, Maserati, Packhard and Rover. At the bottom of the reliability list are mostly 70's, 80's and 90's models built in UAW factories are Buick, Cadillac, Dodge, Ford. GMC Jimmy and Jeep. A '95 GMC Jimmy and a '93 Jeep Grand Cherokee were each owned less than 6 months before being repurchased by the manufacturer as lemons. These were not design quality issues, but poor assembly issues. They were the last UAW union built vehicles that I'll every purchase.
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2019 E300
In the pass, Mercedes auto workers in the USA were some of the highest paid non-union auto workers, not sure if that is still the case with UAW getting a 50% raise.
This is our 4th Mercedes and they were all trouble free for the most part. One aspect that is overlooked when comparing reliability pass and present is information technology. One owner could have a bad thermostat half way around the world and all of a sudden, the whole world knows about it, I exaggerate of course.
This is our 4th Mercedes and they were all trouble free for the most part. One aspect that is overlooked when comparing reliability pass and present is information technology. One owner could have a bad thermostat half way around the world and all of a sudden, the whole world knows about it, I exaggerate of course.
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X214
From prior ownership of Lexus and Acura vehicles, and currently the E450 All-Terrain, I have had zero issues with the E450 in over a year of ownership. Typical mechatronic and other issues (if any) would have already surfaced by now, if there were assembly or quality problems.
I suppose the challenge with German vehicles is the high cost to repair, if something does go wrong, with extraordinarily high parts and labor costs.
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2021 E350 Sedan
Lawsuit address
Lawsuit on 274 engine filed in California:
https://www.classaction.org/news/mer...edded-document
I checked all NHTSA complaints for the 2019 c300 which has 274 egine (15 or so complaints) and only 1 had an engine failure. Only saw 1 engine failure in this thread (the first one). So that makes 3.
Anyone find some more?
https://www.classaction.org/news/mer...edded-document
I checked all NHTSA complaints for the 2019 c300 which has 274 egine (15 or so complaints) and only 1 had an engine failure. Only saw 1 engine failure in this thread (the first one). So that makes 3.
Anyone find some more?
Last edited by Holtgraver; Oct 17, 2023 at 06:18 PM.
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2019 E300
Not sure if I agree with this. Modern manufacturing methods have become a LOT more efficient, a lot more rigorous and eliminates a lot of extraneous costs. Their Sindelfingen plant, where the E-class and the S-class are built, is absolutely cutting edge, with an Industry 4.0 (with IIoT) framework. Quality checks are done with FAR more precision that typical humans can, and problems, if any, are detected MUCH faster and much earlier than say even a decade ago. So with those efficiencies, they are making a killing, even with the current prices of the base E-class.
From prior ownership of Lexus and Acura vehicles, and currently the E450 All-Terrain, I have had zero issues with the E450 in over a year of ownership. Typical mechatronic and other issues (if any) would have already surfaced by now, if there were assembly or quality problems.
I suppose the challenge with German vehicles is the high cost to repair, if something does go wrong, with extraordinarily high parts and labor costs.
From prior ownership of Lexus and Acura vehicles, and currently the E450 All-Terrain, I have had zero issues with the E450 in over a year of ownership. Typical mechatronic and other issues (if any) would have already surfaced by now, if there were assembly or quality problems.
I suppose the challenge with German vehicles is the high cost to repair, if something does go wrong, with extraordinarily high parts and labor costs.
No doubt Mercedes is doing well, in 2023, net profit was 15 Billion Euros. The auto industry as a whole rebounded well from the pandemic. No doubt Mercedes as a company have taking some money away from the R&D dept and put the money into the profit column. It is the only way to survive in today’s auto industry without getting bought out.
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X214
Check some of the modern Mercedes manufacturing videos. Look at the massive role that robots play in that whole framework. The labor cost escalation component has been offset by the arbitrage of robotics. This dovetails well into the IIoT and AI based Industry 4.0 that they switched to, a few years back. These are manufacturing game-changers, and quantum leaps, both in efficiency improvements, material usage optimization and quality fine-tuning that was unimaginable even 5 years back.
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2019 E300
Check some of the modern Mercedes manufacturing videos. Look at the massive role that robots play in that whole framework. The labor cost escalation component has been offset by the arbitrage of robotics. This dovetails well into the IIoT and AI based Industry 4.0 that they switched to, a few years back. These are manufacturing game-changers, and quantum leaps, both in efficiency improvements, material usage optimization and quality fine-tuning that was unimaginable even 5 years back.
Last edited by The G Man; Oct 20, 2023 at 07:47 AM.
