03 C200K SE Auto engine size?

[BARMY]

V5 says it’s a 2.0 with 209 grams per Km.
Keying the VIN into the various inter web search engines say it’s a 1.8.
Can someone please give me a definitive answer so I can order the correct parts and pay the right road tax and insurance?
VIN WDB203742 2A 537315
Eng 271940 30 170167

 

[AMGeed]

You have the M271 engine (first 3 digits of the engine number) so its a 1.8 litre engine.
(See your other post for a better explanation

 

[AMGeed]

Have a read of this thread. Lots of useful stuff about the M271.

The Complete M271 Engine thread. ( Revised and Updated ) | Engine

The Complete M271 Engine thread. ( Revised and Updated ) People are forever asking about how to mod their M271 C180 Kompressor so I thought some work was required to help guide us all! Hope this helps someone. The Complete M271 Engine thread. As you know a number of people regularly...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

 

[BARMY]

Rang my insurer to tell them it’s a 1.8 and not a 2.0.
They want to charge me £50 a year extra!

 

[markjay]

Rang my insurer to tell them it’s a 1.8 and not a 2.0.
They want to charge me £50 a year extra!

2003 was the year that the M271 1.8L replaced the older M111 2.0L engine. Both are supercharged.

Insurance (and VED) are not affected by engine displacement as such, and since the smaller-capacity M271 1.8L produced more power than the M111 2.0L, insurance premium is likely to be higher for the M271 (as you've just found out yourself).

From memory the M271 in the C200 produced 165bhp, while the M111 produced 122bhp.

The issue is that it's not a good idea to have incorrect details on your policy, because in case of a claim you are giving the insurer an open door to saying that the correct premium wasn't paid. Up to now you could have just claimed ignorance, but given that they have a record of you contacting them on this matter, at this point I would bite the bullet and amend the details in the policy.

 

[markjay]

BTW - your M271 engine is prone to premature timing gear failure - if this hasn't been tackled yet, I suggest that you take the car to a specialist and have them remove the cam cover and inspect the condition of the timing chain, and more importantly, of the teeth on camshaft sprocket wheels.

If left unchecked, the risk is that one day you'll start the engine in the morning and it will go bang, which will write-off the car.

 

[AMGeed]

Rang my insurer to tell them it’s a 1.8 and not a 2.0.
They want to charge me £50 a year extra!

That may well be a charge just to amend the policy and not for any extra performance.
It's another con by insurance companies to make extra money

 

[BARMY]

Nope, he said he’d waived the £25 they’d otherwise charge me for the privilege of ringing them up to inform them that the V5 was wrong.

 

[BARMY]

BTW - your M271 engine is prone to premature timing gear failure - if this hasn't been tackled yet, I suggest that you take the car to a specialist and have them remove the cam cover and inspect the condition of the timing chain, and more importantly, of the teeth on camshaft sprocket wheels.

If left unchecked, the risk is that one day you'll start the engine in the morning and it will go bang, which will write-off the car.

Is this still the case if it’s only done 43,000 miles, and only does 5,000 a year?
How much will an indie charge me for the inspection (it’s going in next week)?
Is there an upgrade to fix it?
How much?
Can I get away with a service once every two years with only 5,000 miles a year?

 

[BARMY]

2003 was the year that the M271 1.8L replaced the older M111 2.0L engine. Both are supercharged.

Insurance (and VED) are not affected by engine displacement as such, and since the smaller-capacity M271 1.8L produced more power than the M111 2.0L, insurance premium is likely to be higher for the M271 (as you've just found out yourself).

From memory the M271 in the C200 produced 165bhp, while the M111 produced 122bhp.

The issue is that it's not a good idea to have incorrect details on your policy, because in case of a claim you are giving the insurer an open door to saying that the correct premium wasn't paid. Up to now you could have just claimed ignorance, but given that they have a record of you contacting them on this matter, at this point I would bite the bullet and amend the details in the policy.

Thanks. That makes sense now. That’s quite a big power increase while at the same time losing 10% of the engine capacity. It does go quite well for a little car.

 

[markjay]

Thanks. That makes sense now. That’s quite a big power increase while at the same time losing 10% of the engine capacity. It does go quite well for a little car.

In 2010 the supercharger was replaced by a turbocharger to reduce emissions and fuel consumption (there was also a small power gain the process).

The M271 soldiered-on until 2015, when it was finally dropped.

The most powerful M271 variant in the C-Class was the C250 CGI where it produced just over 200bhp (For us oldtimers, that's Sierra Cosworth / BMV M3 territory).

 

[markjay]

...and get those camshaft sprocket wheels checked.

 

[BARMY]

In 2010 the supercharger was replaced by a turbocharger to reduce emissions and fuel consumption (there was also a small power gain the process).

The M271 soldiered-on until 2015, when it was finally dropped.

The most powerful M271 variant in the C-Class was the C250 CGI where it produced just over 200bhp (For us oldtimers, that's Sierra Cosworth / BMV M3 territory).

Yes, I’m an old timer. Used to take a Mk1 Golf GTi out for a blast at lunchtime when I sold them for a living. Thought they were very fast. All of 115bhp. Thought I was important when I got a Sierra 4x4 of my own. 150bhp from 2.9 litres. Eeee, those were the days.

Can I have the Merc serviced every 10k miles/2 years and the timing chain and cam gears inspected every two years?

 

[markjay]

Yes, I’m an old timer. Used to take a Mk1 Golf GTi out for a blast at lunchtime when I sold them for a living. Thought they were very fast. All of 115bhp. Thought I was important when I got a Sierra 4x4 of my own. 150bhp from 2.9 litres. Eeee, those were the days.

Can I have the Merc serviced every 10k miles/2 years and the timing chain and cam gears inspected every two years?

I think your car will have the Flexible ASSYST, I.e. you'll get a message on the dash when the next service is due.

With regards the sprockets... check them now and take it from there. If they need replacing, the new ones will be good for the (remaining) life of the car abd won't need checking again.

 

[GP801]

Yes, I’m an old timer. Used to take a Mk1 Golf GTi out for a blast at lunchtime when I sold them for a living. Thought they were very fast. All of 115bhp. Thought I was important when I got a Sierra 4x4 of my own. 150bhp from 2.9 litres. Eeee, those were the days.

Can I have the Merc serviced every 10k miles/2 years and the timing chain and cam gears inspected every two years?

Our CLK has the same engine and also does a low mileage. The service computer will happily let it go 2 years between services ( on later cars its every 12-15 months at most). However frequent oil changes are one of the ways to protect against the timing chain issue so don't skimp on changes and oil quality. Having said that they don't all fail by any means and there is usually a warning rattle on start up well before actual failure.

 

[BARMY]

Just been in for MOT. The Merc specialist also said that the rattle warns you when the timing chain and gears need doing.

 

[markjay]

Just been in for MOT. The Merc specialist also said that the rattle warns you when the timing chain and gears need doing.

Don't delay... get the timing gear checked ASAP.