Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupé 350 CDI, 265 PS, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €613 | €14,600 | 254 | Diesel | 642 853, 642852, 642853 | Automatic (7) | 2010–2014 |
| Coupé 350 CDI, 265 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €634 | €14,600 | 254 | Diesel | 642858 | Automatic (7) | 2011–2014 |
| Coupé 350, 306 PS, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €595 | €16,950 | 82 | Petrol | 276952 | Automatic (7) | 2010–2014 |
| Coupé 500, 408 PS, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €707 | €20,000 | 75 | Petrol | 278922 | Automatic (7) | 2011–2014 |
| Coupé 500, 408 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €726 | €20,000 | 75 | Petrol | 278922 | Automatic (7) | 2011–2014 |
At a glance
- Years: 2010 to 2017 coupe and Shooting Brake, with the facelift in 2014.
- Reliability: 3/5. The diesel has one known oil leak, while air suspension and petrol timing chains cost money.
- DIY: 2/5. Air suspension and timing chain jobs need a scanner and a workshop.
- Prefer: the 3.0 V6 diesel (OM642), and any car with a record of a timing chain job.
- Avoid: Airmatic cars that sag after parking, and petrol V6 or V8 cars with no timing job on record.
Engines and gearboxes
- M276 V6 petrol (276952, 276850): the timing chains and tensioners wear from about 130,000 km. See timing chain wear.
- M278 V8 petrol (278922, CLS 500): the timing chain and tensioners wear. See timing chain wear.
- M157 V8 petrol (157981, CLS 63 AMG): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- OM642 V6 diesel (642852, 642853, 642858): the heat-exchanger seal can leak oil after about 200,000 km, as in the E-Class W212.
- OM651 four-cylinder diesel (651924): see the OM651 guide.
- 7G-Tronic 722.9 (seven-speed, pre-facelift cars): see the 7G-Tronic guide.
- 9G-Tronic 725.0 (nine-speed, most facelift cars): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT (seven-speed, CLS 63 AMG only): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airmatic air suspension failures | Cars with Airmatic (an option); all engines | About 65,000-110,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Timing chain and tensioner wear on the M278 V8 | M278 V8 (278922) | From about 60,000 km; typically 130,000-160,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Timing chain and tensioner wear on the M276 V6 | M276 V6 (276952, 276850) | From about 60,000 km; typically 130,000-160,000 km | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- M278 V8 (CLS 500): start the engine cold and listen. A rattle lasting 3 to 7 seconds points to worn tensioners. Ask for a record of a timing chain and tensioner job. Bad result: the rattle, or no job above 130,000 km. A scanner is not needed.
- Airmatic: after the car has stood overnight, look for a corner that sits lower than the others, and watch for the Airmatic warning. A scanner reads the air pressure and runs a leak test. Bad result: a leak, a failing compressor or a sagging corner.
- M276 V6: start the engine cold and listen for the same 3 to 7 second rattle. Ask for a record of a timing chain and tensioner job. Bad result: the rattle, or no job above 130,000 km.
- Recall: ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer, by VIN, whether the bulkhead clips from the 2015 engine-bay seal recall are fitted. The recall covers some petrol cars built July 2012 to December 2014. Bad result: no clips fitted.
Running costs
| Operational | €273 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €189 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €263 |
| Total per month | €725 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €151 |
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
- 520
- 25th percentile
- €13,000
- Median price
- €16,499
- 75th percentile
- €19,999
- Median mileage
- 188,403 km
- Median first registration
- 2013
- Dealer share
- 41%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €24,220
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Airmatic air suspension failures
Symptoms: the car sinks at one corner after parking, the warning "Airmatic Werkstatt aufsuchen" appears, or the pressure falls.
Cause: KFZ Dietrich names the air springs, the compressor and the level control valve as the parts that fail.
Which cars: Airmatic was an option on this car (Auto Express).
Fix: a scanner check and a leak test, then replacement of the failed part.
Cost: no price with a year in the sources.
Sources: KFZ Dietrich: CLS W218 typical problems, CarWiki: Mercedes Airmatic problems, Auto Express: CLS 350 CDI review
Timing chain and tensioner wear on the M278 V8
Symptoms: a rattle at cold start that lasts 3 to 7 seconds. It happens cold or hot, and no warning lamp comes on.
Cause: the tensioner gets no oil until it fills, so its parts wear and the chain stretches. The Drive2 garage page says that if the timing drive is not changed in time, the whole drive may need replacing.
Which cars: CLS 500 with the 4.7 litre V8 (408 hp).
Fix: replace the chain tensioners and fit the check valves in the oil supply.
Cost: no price with a year in the sources.
Sources: Drive2 garage blog: M276, M278 and M157 tensioners, KFZ Dietrich: CLS W218 typical problems
Timing chain and tensioner wear on the M276 V6
Symptoms: a rattle at cold start that lasts 3 to 7 seconds. Kolesa says the chains can slacken after modest wear and can skip teeth.
Cause: the M276 has three timing chains plus an intermediate shaft, and Kolesa calls the tensioners unreliable. The Drive2 garage page gives the same cause as for the M278: the tensioner gets no oil until it fills.
Which cars: CLS 350 and CLS 400 with the 3.5 litre V6. Kolesa says the atmospheric version was fitted from 2011 to 2014.
Fix: replace the tensioners and fit check valves in the oil supply.
Cost: no price with a year in the sources.
Sources: Kolesa.ru: CLS II with mileage, M276 and M278, Drive2 garage blog: M276, M278 and M157 tensioners
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany, Austria | not given | Built July 2012 to December 2014 | The bulkhead seal in the engine bay may come loose and touch hot parts. Per Daimler, some petrol variants only. Four clips are fitted to the bulkhead, about 15 minutes at a workshop (mbpassion, ÖAMTC). |
No other recall was found in the sources read. Check open campaigns for your VIN with a Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Maintenance
- Have the timing chains and tensioners checked from about 130,000 km on the M276 and M278, and keep a record of any job (Kolesa, Drive2 garage blog).
- Have the Airmatic checked for pressure loss every 30,000 km (KFZ Dietrich).
Sources
English
German
- KFZ Dietrich: CLS W218 typical problems
- CarWiki: Mercedes Airmatic problems
- mbpassion: engine-bay seal recall, E-Class and CLS
- ÖAMTC: engine-bay seal recall, E-Class and CLS