Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse 205 C 220 d, 170 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (2014–2018)

Research for this car

• Generation guide Mercedes C-Class W205 (2014-2021): known problems and buying guide

  A solid premium saloon, but check the steering coupling recall, the air suspension and the engine fire warning before you buy.

• Engine guide Mercedes OM651 2.1 diesel (C 220 CDI, E 250 CDI, Sprinter): problems, costs and what to check

  Durable when maintained, but check the cold start chain rattle, early injectors and the 2014 tensioner seal before you buy.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Air suspension: Park the car overnight and check whether a corner sinks. A scanner reads the level sensors and fault memory. Bad result: a low corner, a compressor that runs all the time, or cockpit warnings.
2. Front axle: On a lift, check the ball joints and axle mounts for play. Drive over bumps and listen. Bad result: play in a joint, or knocking from the front.
3. Steering coupling: Ask a Mercedes dealer to confirm the steering coupling lock by VIN. The check is free. Bad result: an open campaign, or noise and steering problems on the test drive.
4. Infotainment: Test every screen, the touchpad and the voice control. A scanner shows the software version. Bad result: freezes, reboots or a dead touchpad.
5. Rear drains: Check the drains at the rear window and sunroof, and the rear footwell for damp. Bad result: damp in the footwell or warnings from the electrics.
6. 12 V battery: Test the battery after the car has stood. Use a battery tester. Bad result: low voltage, or start-stop that stays off.

From the engine guide

1. Timing chain (scanner needed). Start the engine cold and listen for a metallic rattle for 1-3 seconds. Ask a Mercedes dealer or a diesel specialist to read the cam phase offset (the timing gap between camshaft and crankshaft) with XENTRY, the Mercedes diagnostic tool. Check for codes P0016 and P0017. A plain OBD2 scanner may miss the offset. Bad: a rattle, a stored P0016 or P0017, or a large offset. A jumped chain can destroy the engine.
2. Coolant (no scanner). Check the coolant level when the engine is cold, and check it again after a few weeks. Ask a dealer whether service action 1204P59A93 was done on the cylinder head coolant connection. Bad: a falling level or no record of the work.
3. Tensioner seal recall (VIN check). For cars built February to November 2014, ask a Mercedes dealer to check the VIN for the seal ring fix. Bad: no record of the fix.
4. Emissions software update (VIN check). Ask a Mercedes dealer to check the VIN for the emissions software update. Bad: no record of the update.
5. Oil and service history (no scanner). Ask for oil change records. Long gaps between oil changes, short trips and poor oil all speed up chain wear. Bad: long gaps or no records.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions