2009/2010 C207 Coupe buying advice please

[pint6x]

Hi all,

I am currently going through that most delicious of petrol-head activities which is working out which car I should buy next.

I am currently looking at the C207 coupe - I can just about get into an early 2009/2010 car and would appreciate a bit of advice.

When they were launched, they had 2.1 and 3.0 diesels and 1.8 turbo (C200 & C250) and 3.5 V6 petrols, plus E500 V8

Because I don't want high-mileage problems associated with diesels, having spent a fortune on my BMW 525d 3.0 in the last few years, I would probably look at the petrol models. Having done some research, the typical mpg from the E250CGI and E350CGI are very similar, so heart says "get the V6".

So I am very interested in learning what to look out for when buying such a beast. What's the engine like? Any bodywork issues, any weak points? Any servicing issues? Am I looking at a money pit? should I be considering a different engine etc.

Thanks in advance - Philip

 

[Eddy77]

I don’t have the exact car you are looking at but I do have the predecessor. Mine is a 2008 Clk 350 Petrol. Think early C207s the same M272 v6 Petrol unit fitted. Or an updated version of it. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong on that.

Expect low twenties mpg around town with a heavy foot. 30-32 is doable on the motorway. Early v6 of this era had major issues but by 2008-9 all resolved so I think (assuming a 2009 car has a similar M272 unit to mine) the engine has no major gottchas. Mercedes 7 speed auto is fitted throughout the range at that time. Bit of a slush box but no massive issues. Make sure box oil and filters changed every 37k miles.

Otherwise, buy carefully. Check history. Check electrics work ok and consider a warranty if worried. At 8 years old anything could give trouble but I’d much rather an 8 year old normally aspirated v6 Petrol than a complex 8 year old high pressure turbo diesel. Less to wrong imho.

Had mine three years and no major issues apart from routine maintenance.

I say...get the Petrol v6!

 

[pint6x]

Thanks for the info.

I believe the V6 in the C207 is different to yours - this from the Honest John website:

"Mercedes-Benz has replaced the previous V6 petrol engine with the world's first six-cylinder unit featuring spray-guided direct petrol injection in the new E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY Coupé. This engine develops 292 hp – an extra 20 hp – and consumes about 14 percent less fuel than the previous V6 engine: its combined fuel economy is 32.5 mpg. This corresponds to 203 grams of CO2 per kilometre."

 

[Eddy77]

Ah, OK - apologies. I thought the early cars had the same M272.

Well, barring any issues with the later engine, I say go V6 petrol. Why?

(1) avoid the pain of running an older complex diesel (like your 530d)
(2) enjoy the better refinement which is key (IMHO) to enjoying the car

Diesels and coupes / cabrios don't work for me, no matter how good the diesel. It still sounds like a bag of spanners in comparison. Don't get me wrong, diesel has its place, but if mpg isn't an issue, I just don't see the point. Plus you've also got the current diesel backlash to think about which may render an older derv engine particularly undesirable as and when you sell it on.

 

[markjay]

If opting for the C250 CGI... avoid the M271 engine. They are not all bad, but some are, and there seem to be some confusion as to which ones are more problematic - the early Kompressor ones or the late Turbo models - so if in doubt, avoid....

The issue I am referring to is obvoiusly the timing gear failure.

 

[markjay]

See also...:

Help please, start up noise on W204 C250 CGI

 

[pint6x]

Ah, OK - apologies. I thought the early cars had the same M272.

Well, barring any issues with the later engine, I say go V6 petrol. Why?

(1) avoid the pain of running an older complex diesel (like your 530d)
(2) enjoy the better refinement which is key (IMHO) to enjoying the car

Diesels and coupes / cabrios don't work for me, no matter how good the diesel. It still sounds like a bag of spanners in comparison. Don't get me wrong, diesel has its place, but if mpg isn't an issue, I just don't see the point. Plus you've also got the current diesel backlash to think about which may render an older derv engine particularly undesirable as and when you sell it on.

Thanks Eddy - I'm not getting my hopes up over pricing a 178k ten and a half year old BMW 525d SE Touring with a few * ahem * cosmetic blemishes! The one saving grace is that the first owner (for 5 years) and then me ever since, have, between us, kept every service invoice this car has ever had, so a full service history detailing every single time this thing has been into a garage, BMW dealer under previous owner, BMW specialist with me. These 3.0 turbo diesel sixes are very robust - the police use them in the higher BHP 530d and routinely cover 250k miles plus. But of course, it's had the usual diesel woes - new DPF at 115k, new dual mass flywheel, clutch and crankshaft pulley assembly at 160k, lots of silly electrical problems, mainly due to design fault whereby every time the tailgate is opened, all wires leading into it are stretched. It has been a fantastic car to drive though, but it might be time to move it on - probably get 2.5 to 3k for it. I think it's lost a few ponies over the years, not sure how many of the 194 horses are still present, but I was comprehensively trounced at a set of lights last week by a VW Tiguan 2.0 TDi which was depressing!

The theory with the big 3.5 V6 is that it'll do big miles without breaking sweat or needing anything other than consumables - are they chain or belt driven cams? Just need to go into it with my eyes open regarding fancy suspension giving up, or electrical issues, aircon, any weaknesses for rust, or some component which on most cars costs £40, but on this car costs £1250 'cos it's Mercedes! Thanks for your input. I liked the later CLK, like your model, but prefer the look of the newer C207 which, although it says E class is based on the floorpan of the C class.

 

[pint6x]

If opting for the C250 CGI... avoid the M271 engine. They are not all bad, but some are, and there seem to be some confusion as to which ones are more problematic - the early Kompressor ones or the late Turbo models - so if in doubt, avoid....

The issue I am referring to is obvoiusly the timing gear failure.

Good info - thanks. The E200 and E250CGI coupes both used the M271 lump when they were introduced in 2009. I was thinking about the E250, but seeing the E350 real life MPG figures were about 1 or 2 MPG lower, it seemed well worth going for the bigger lump.