Carsieve All versions
Show all 27 variants
At a glance
- Years: built 2007 to 2014, with the facelift in 2011. ADAC breakdown rates were highest for 2009 and 2010 cars and low from 2012.
- Reliability: 2/5. A stretched timing chain on the petrol four-cylinder and worn diesel injectors are the costly faults.
- DIY: 1/5. Timing chain work takes about 15 hours in a workshop.
- Prefer: OM651 diesels built from 2011, and cars with timing chain and gearbox fluid records. Avoid: M271 petrols with a cold-start rattle and no timing work, and OM651 diesels built before 2011.
- Watch for: rear axle carrier rust and a failing steering lock on every model year.
- Biggest risk: a stretched M271 timing chain, which can cause major engine damage.
Engines and gearboxes
- M271, four-cylinder petrol (Kompressor, and the CGI / EVO turbo from 2009): timing chain stretch. See Known issues.
- M272, V6 petrol (C 230, C 280, C 350 before the facelift): balance shaft gear wear and intake flap faults.
- M274, 1.6 turbo petrol (from 2012): no common fault known.
- M276, 3.5 V6 petrol (from 2011, replaced the M272): no common fault known.
- OM646, 2.2 diesel: no common fault known.
- OM651, 2.1 four-cylinder diesel (C 220 CDI, C 250 CDI): injector faults, mostly before 2011, and timing chain and tensioner wear.
- OM642, V6 diesel (C 320 CDI, C 350 CDI): no common fault known.
- 6-speed manual: no common fault known.
- Automatics, 5G-Tronic (722.6) and 7G-Tronic (722.9): no common fault known for 5G-Tronic. 7G-Tronic shifts can jerk, see Known issues.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| M271 timing chain | M271 four-cylinder petrol | 70,000-130,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Rear axle carrier rust | All bodies and model years | Not stated | About 2,000 EUR (year not stated) |
| Ignition and steering lock | All model years | Not stated | 645-1,042 EUR at Mercedes (2015) |
| OM651 timing chain and tensioner | OM651 2.1 diesel | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Automatic gearbox shift quality | 7G-Tronic (722.9) | 50,000-180,000 km | No confirmed price |
| OM651 injectors | OM651 2.1 diesel, built before 2011 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| M272 balance shaft gear | M272 V6, before the facelift | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| M272 intake manifold flaps | M272 V6 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Lift the car and check the rear axle carrier for rust. Rust that has eaten through means a repair of about 2,000 EUR (year not stated).
- Turn the key several times. Clicking with no start, or a steering lock that stays locked, means the electronic steering lock is failing.
- Start the engine cold and listen. A rattle that lasts a few seconds points to a stretched chain. A scanner can show codes P0016 or P0017. Ask for timing chain and tensioner records.
- On an OM651 diesel, ask for timing chain and tensioner records, and whether the tensioner recall was done.
- On the test drive, check for jerks when pulling away and on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Ask for gearbox oil change records. A Mercedes scan tool (XENTRY) shows pressure deviations. Above 0.5 bar points to valve body wear.
- On an OM651 built before 2011, check for rough idle, knocking or one cylinder running oddly. A scanner shows fuel quantity per cylinder. Ask for injector records.
- On a V6 M272 built before the facelift, scan for codes P0016 or P0017. Ask for engine records. Metal in the oil is a bad sign.
- On a V6, check for limp mode, power loss or a warning lamp. A scanner shows the intake flap codes. Ask for flap repair records.
Running costs
| Operational | €223 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €133 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €156 |
| Total per month | €512 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €79 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 2,636
- 25th percentile
- €4,400
- Median price
- €5,990
- 75th percentile
- €7,990
- Median mileage
- 207,153 km
- Median first registration
- 2009
- Dealer share
- 35.9%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €9,125
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
M271 timing chain
A rattle that lasts a few seconds after a cold start is the usual first sign. Codes P0016 or P0017 can be stored. The chain stretches. The tensioner has no oil reservoir, so it loses oil pressure when the engine stands. A stretched chain can jump, and the valves can hit the pistons. Chain stretch shows up between about 70,000 and 130,000 km.
The fix replaces the whole set: chain, tensioner, guide rails, cam adjusters and water pump. The garage fits a reinforced tensioner with an oil reservoir, part number 271 050 09 11. The job takes about 15 hours in a workshop. No price is confirmed.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, M271 case study, auto.ru, Mercedes C-class problems, zr.ru, Mercedes-Benz C-class W204 2007-2015, gebrauchtwagenberater.de, Mercedes C-Klasse W204
Rear axle carrier rust
The rear axle carrier is the steel frame that holds the rear axle. It rusts on all model years and bodies. Rust can eat through it, and a rusted-through carrier needs replacing. The repair estimate is about 2,000 EUR (year not stated). Mercedes sometimes pays part of the cost as goodwill.
Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de, Mercedes C-Klasse W204, Motor-Talk, rear axle carrier rust on W204 and S204
Ignition and steering lock
The ADAC breakdown statistics list the ignition lock as a fault on cars from 2007 to 2014. Owners report that the electronic steering lock (a motor that locks the steering when the car is off) fails: the key turns, the lock clicks, and the car will not start or steer. Often the small motor inside wears out. Mercedes replaced the unit for 645 to 1,042 EUR (2015). The part must be coded to the car by a dealer.
Sources: ADAC, Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse used car information, Motor-Talk, electronic steering lock repair
OM651 timing chain and tensioner
Early OM651 diesels had timing chain problems. The chain tensioner can lose oil; a recall covers CDI cars built from February to November 2014 (see Recalls). A rattle of 1 to 2 seconds at a cold start is normal. A longer rattle points to the chain, tensioner or guide rails. No price is confirmed.
Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de, Mercedes C-Klasse W204, auto.ru, Restyled W204 durability, Motor-Talk, OM651 tensioner and preventive work
Automatic gearbox shift quality
The 7G-Tronic (722.9), paired with the OM651 diesel from about 2011, can jerk when pulling away, at lock-up, and on 1-2 or 2-3 shifts. Causes are a worn torque converter lock-up clutch, old fluid, dirty hydraulic valves, or a missing adaption reset after an oil change.
A pressure deviation from about 0.3 bar is an early sign. Above 0.5 bar means valve body wear. First adaption faults appear at 50,000-100,000 km if the fluid was never changed. Valve body deposits appear at 100,000-180,000 km. No price is confirmed; the garage gives a fixed price after diagnosis.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, 7G-Tronic jerking, DRIVE2, timing chain under goodwill and gearbox adaptation
OM651 injectors
The OM651 is a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel. Nozzle needles in the injectors stick or wear. Internal leakage raises return flow and drops rail pressure. Symptoms are idle shake, knocking, power loss, hard starting when warm, smoke, and one cylinder running oddly.
Piezo injectors failed more often. From spring 2011 the C 220 CDI got magnet injectors from Delphi. Replace only the faulty injector. Check compression first, always fit new copper sealing rings, and code the new injector with XENTRY. No price per injector is confirmed.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, OM651 injectors, gebrauchtwagenberater.de, Mercedes C-Klasse W204, auto.ru, Restyled W204 durability
M272 balance shaft gear
A gear on the balance shaft wears early on the V6 M272 before the facelift, in the C 230, C 280 and C 350. Codes P0016 and P0017 are stored, and metal swarf shows in the oil. No repair price is given.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, W204 typical problems, zr.ru, Mercedes-Benz C-class W204 2007-2015
M272 intake manifold flaps
The intake manifold flaps can stick closed or open. The plastic lever on the actuator wears, or the shaft has play. Symptoms are limp mode, power loss, rough idle, higher fuel use and a warning lamp. A repair kit can fix a flap without a new manifold. A worn shaft or a broken part needs a new one. Plastic flap breakage is also reported on these V6 engines. No price is given.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich, M272 intake manifold flaps, zr.ru, Mercedes-Benz C-class W204 2007-2015
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | not given | 2008-2011 C300, C350 and C63 AMG | Dealers replace bulb holders and rusted connectors at no cost. Corrosion can dim or fail the tail, brake and rear turn lights. |
| Not stated | not given | CDI built February to November 2014 | Not stated. The chain tensioner can lose oil. Over 100,000 vehicles. |
Maintenance
- Automatic gearbox fluid: change it on time and have the gearbox adaption (the learned shift settings) reset after each change.
Sources
English
German
- KFZ Dietrich, M271 timing chain case study
- KFZ Dietrich, W204 typical problems
- KFZ Dietrich, 7G-Tronic jerking
- KFZ Dietrich, M272 intake manifold flaps
- KFZ Dietrich, OM651 injectors
- gebrauchtwagenberater.de, Mercedes C-Klasse W204
- ADAC, Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse used car information
- Motor-Talk, rear axle carrier rust on W204 and S204
- Motor-Talk, electronic steering lock repair
- Motor-Talk, OM651 tensioner and preventive work