Advice regarding Merc C180 Petrol 2012 post by W1ghty

[W1ghty]

It's a 271, the problem engine.

So what can be done?

Yearly oil and filter change and don’t worry buddy . It’s low mileage now , what’s your yearly mileage going to be .
Some cars can have chain issues at 80-90k but it’s only a minority.

 

[W1ghty]

I'm assuming there is a capillary action issue and an easy fit?

Takes 2 minutes to fit , yes it stops oil wicking along the wiring . I had it occur a few months ago and the blockers worked a treat (I fitted them a couple of years ago ) . Changing the cam magnets was £80 diy and took an hour or 2 .

 

[W1ghty]

CLK Camshaft Magnets P0020 ?

Went to start the CLK and got an engine management light on the dash . Hauled my trusty icarsoft MB2 from the other car and checked for codes . P0020 was shown as current with a description of A Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit / Open Bank 2 . Did a bit of reading and there are 2x Camshaft...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

 

[W1ghty]

Camshaft wire blockers , check eBay with this part number a2711502733

 

[markjay]

Since you have a late M271 (the Turbocharged model), the sprockets are no longer an issue, but the hydraulic tensioner is. Luckily, a failed tensioner will manifest itself as a chain rattle before the chain actually jumps a tooth (or two), so with these engines you do get advance warning (unlike with the earlier M271 where the engine would just go without warning). But do keep an ear out for any new rattles from the engine bay, and seek advice from a garage as soon as you hear anything suspicious. Replacing the chain, tensioner, and guides isn't a massive job, if it came to that.

 

[Hu60]

Camshaft wire blockers , check eBay with this part number a2711502733

Tanks. Guessing I'll need 2 of them. Do they replace existing wiring?

 

[Hu60]

Is mine turbocharged?..

Since you have a late M271 (the Turbocharged model), the sprockets are no longer an issue, but the hydraulic tensioner is. Luckily, a failed tensioner will manifest itself as a chain rattle before the chain actually jumps a tooth (or two), so with these engines you do get advance warning (unlike with the earlier M271 where the engine would just go without warning). But do keep an ear out for any new rattles from the engine bay, and seek advice from a garage as soon as you hear anything suspicious. Replacing the chain, tensioner, and guides isn't a massive job, if it came to that.

Is mine turbocharged?

 

[Hu60]

Yearly oil and filter change and don’t worry buddy . It’s low mileage now , what’s your yearly mileage going to be .
Some cars can have chain issues at 80-90k but it’s only a minority.

Yearly mileage will likely be around 5k. We have 3 other vehicles at the moment, plan to go to 2 or run the 3rd for our daughter when she finally passes her test.

Car was a mad buy really. Fil was changing so we were tempted. Paid the trade in price

 

[DSM10000]

Is mine turbocharged?..

You don't know?

 

[Hu60]

You don't know?

In fairness, no.

I bought it on the basis of value for money. I didn't get it dirt cheap but I like it. FiL spared no expense in the short time he had it. I wasn't particularly after this type of car but it just spoke to me lol

I'll look under the bonnet.

Edit, I have used a free vin checker and it lists the bhp as 154. So probably not turbocharged. But it does shift.

 

[Hu60]

Since you have a late M271 (the Turbocharged model), the sprockets are no longer an issue, but the hydraulic tensioner is. Luckily, a failed tensioner will manifest itself as a chain rattle before the chain actually jumps a tooth (or two), so with these engines you do get advance warning (unlike with the earlier M271 where the engine would just go without warning). But do keep an ear out for any new rattles from the engine bay, and seek advice from a garage as soon as you hear anything suspicious. Replacing the chain, tensioner, and guides isn't a massive job, if it came to that.

I guess one approach is just to change the chain every 80,000 miles or so. Those who know belt driven engines will know that belts are a lot quieter and can go without warning. So there are recommended intervals For those.

 

[markjay]

I guess one approach is just to change the chain every 80,000 miles or so. Those who know belt driven engines will know that belts are a lot quieter and can go without warning. So there are recommended intervals For those.

There's no need for that, really... the chains are good for much longer than that.

The issue with the early M271 engines was soft-metal sprockets, typically failing at around 80-100k miles, the issue with later M271 engines was a leaking hydraulic tensioner, typically failing at 35-50k miles, that's all.

But in either case, they don't all fail... and yours might be fine.

 

[W1ghty]

Yearly mileage will likely be around 5k. We have 3 other vehicles at the moment, plan to go to 2 or run the 3rd for our daughter when she finally passes her test.

Car was a mad buy really. Fil was changing so we were tempted. Paid the trade in price

So in 8 years you may have an issue ?

 

[W1ghty]

Tanks. Guessing I'll need 2 of them. Do they replace existing wiring?

Yep , 2 of them , they connect in addition to existing wiring , plug and play

 

[MrGreedy]

Is the issue with these engines on the chain, sprockets and tensioner like the OM651, most probably attributed to a stop start system putting extra strain on?

(and therefore high mileage few stop start is likely less problematic than low mileage high stop start?)

If so, is it a potential strategy to just turn off stop start at the start of each journey, and suffer marginally worse economy to reduce risk of component failure?

 

[markjay]

Is the issue with these engines on the chain, sprockets and tensioner like the OM651, most probably attributed to a stop start system putting extra strain on?

(and therefore high mileage few stop start is likely less problematic than low mileage high stop start?)

If so, is it a potential strategy to just turn off stop start at the start of each journey, and suffer marginally worse economy to reduce risk of component failure?

The M271 engine was originally introduced on the C-Class in 2003. Stop/Start was introduced on the C-Class in 2010.

So Stop/Start might be a contributing factor to timing chain failure on 2010-2012 C-Clas fitted with the M271 engine, but it is certainly not a factor on the earlier models fitted with the M271 and where the engine seems perfectly capable of committing suicide without any additional help....

 

[Hu60]

I'll do the wire blockers.

Also I'll likely sort the subframe out.

I quite like the stop start so possibly changing out the sprockets and the hydraulic chain tensioner might be a good idea?