2011 Mercedes-Benz C200 has timing-chain stretch

That’s not a huge mileage for an engine like this, and I wouldn’t expect to see timing chain stretch over that distance. However, it begs the question of how the vehicle has been serviced. Timing chains really should last the life of the car (or, at least, the engine) but if the engine hasn’t been treated to the correct oil changes and general maintenance, the timing chain can be one component that will suffer. If the car was bought second-hand, it would be worth going through the service history to see if any scheduled servicing was skipped. This could be the root cause of the problem. It’s also important not to confuse a stretch timing chain with a worn chain tensioning system. The tensioner holds the chain tight, taking the slack out of it and allowing for some stretch to be taken up over the years of operation. If it fails or becomes weak, you might start to hear the chain rattling.

Average fuel consumption of a 2002 Mercedes-Benz C240 sedan

According to the official government test, the 2002 C240 should return fuel consumption of 10.8 litres per 100km in city driving and 6.8 litres per 100km on the highway. In reality, of course, most drivers never get anywhere near these figures as they’re not based on real-world driving, rather a laboratory test. They do, however, serve as a comparison between makes and models given the test is identical for each vehicle. Most owners of these cars seem to report using between eight and nine litres per 100km on a country drive and considerably more than that around the city and suburbs.

Does the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C350 3.0-litre diesel sedan have a turbocharger?

Yes, it is. For the record, this engine is a double-overhead camshaft design with four valves per cylinder, and produces 165kW of power and 510Nm of torque. It’s known amongst diesels for its smoothness and good fuel economy.

Are there problems or repair expenses to be aware of when buying a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250

The service intervals for this model were every 15,000km or 12 months, so the fact that so many for sale have the same mileage showing is more likely to be a coincidence or the fact that at 10 years of age, most owners have been covering the national average of about 13,000km per year. Some cars that need timing belt replacements often hit the second-hand market all together as the owners try to avoid the cost of this, but the engine in your car has a timing chain which should be good for the life of the vehicle. Other factors contributing to the pack-trade-in phenomenon include psychological barriers like a mileage of 100,000km recorded and the age of the car. In this case, the car’s 10th birthday might be the catalyst for the mass selling.

Is a Mercedes-Benz C220 or BMW 320d better for fuel economy?

I've used the last versions of both those models for this comparison, which means a 2019 BMW 320d and a 2021 Mercedes-Benz 220d (I'm also assuming you're comparing diesels with diesels). As such, the BMW holds a slim on-paper advantage with an official combined fuel consumption number of 4.4 litres per 100km, compared with 4.7 litres for the Benz. In the real world, that difference is a very, very small one and means the two vehicles are more or less line-ball for fuel economy. Real world fuel consumption has a lot more to do with your driving environment and style than it does these laboratory-produced numbers. But the official numbers are valid on the basis that both vehicles were subjected to the same strict test regime, so they do provide a direct comparison, even if you'll almost certainly never match them in real life. Both, however, will surprise you with how frugal they can be.

I tried to buy a new set of the specified, run-flat tyres for my 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C250. None will be in stock until June...

You don’t have to fit run-flat tyres to your car, but it can be a lot more convenient. A decade or so ago, it was quite common to replace run-flat tyres with more conventional tyres as the ride quality of run-flats was relatively poor. These days, that isn’t the case to the same extent, and run-flats have come a long way. But if you can’t get them in the correct size, then you have a problem that can be solved by fitting conventional tyres of the correct size, speed rating and load rating. A tyre shop should be able to sort this out for you. The catch, of course, is that a conventional tyre won’t get you home if it deflates for any reason (as a run-flat is designed to do). The knock-on problem there is that a car designed for run-flats will not only not have a spare tyre, it won’t even have a physical space to put one. The solution then is to find a repair kit of the type found in many cars today. This amounts to a tin of repair solution which is added to the tyre through the valve and the tyre reinflated with the attached compressor.

The transmission keeps slipping on my 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Do you know what could fix this?

If the transmission is working properly between bouts of slippage, then it’s reasonable to think that this could be an electronic problem rather than a mechanical one. By turning the ignition off and then restarting, you’re effectively resetting the computer that controls the transmission. That’s why the gearbox comes good for a period before reverting to its old tricks. That’s on the surface, anyway, but the problem could also be within the torque converter or something intermittent inside the actual gearsets, clutches, bands or valve body that is giving the same set of symptoms. Ultimately, this is probably going to require a trip to a transmission specialist who will be able to identify the cause more accurately. In the meantime, though, there’s something you can try that might reset the transmission more permanently. On this model Mercedes-Benz, there’s a specific transmission-reset procedure that should take the gearbox back to its original factory settings. If that’s the case, it might fix your problem, but if not, then you need to call in the experts. The procedure starts with getting in the car, closing all the doors and turning the ignition key to the on position, but not actually starting the engine. You should have all the dashboard lights illuminated at this point. Then, press the accelerator pedal right to the floor, making sure you can feel that the kick-down détente has been activated. Hold the pedal all the way down for at least 60 seconds and then, without releasing the accelerator, turn off the ignition. Don’t open the door and don’t remove the key from the ignition. Now release the accelerator and wait five minutes before starting the engine and going for a test drive. Good luck.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43: Lacking power when accelerating

Colleagues of mine have noted that the C43 isn’t at its happiest when taking off from a standing start sometimes, particularly if the stop-start function is engaged. That said, the harshest description of the problem was the odd clunk when launching the car, but even with that system switched off, the AMG sometimes seems to have problems deciding which gear to select, leading to a lack of smoothness. Perhaps it’s not helped by the fact that the car is all-wheel-drive, and grips the road extremely well when perhaps a little `give’ in the driveline mightn’t be a bad thing. Maybe it’s the traction-control stepping in too early and interrupting the flow of power to the wheels. That said, your problem sounds a lot more severe than that. The C43 uses a conventional torque converter automatic transmission, so it doesn’t suffer some of the jerkiness that other cars using dual-clutch technology can. It’s puzzling though, that the computer isn’t throwing up any fault codes, so maybe your car is simply doing what some C43s do to a greater or lesser extent. If it’s as bad as you say, it’s not good enough and you should pursue the problem with Mercedes-Benz and have the problem corrected under warranty.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2009 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2009 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

What's a reliable 4WD?

Answered by CarsGuide 7 Dec 2018

In terms of reliability and common faults there is little difference between Mazda, Honda and Toyota. They are all good, reputable brands building cars of a good quality with few reliability issues. Choose the one that best suits your family needs.

Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class review: 2007-2013

3 Jun 2016 · by Graham Smith

The C-Class was the entry to the prestige segment and still resonates as a solid choice. New The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was conceived to compete with the BMW 3 Series at the entry level of the ...

Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class review: 2007-2011

7 Aug 2015 · by Graham Smith

For a long time Mercedes struggled to get on terms with the BMW 3-Series, which was slaying them in the compact prestige market, but the C Class launched in 2007 was good enough to finally get the ...

Mercedes-Benz C200 2009: Topping up transmission fluid?

Answered by CarsGuide 3 Apr 2015

If it has a dipstick it can, but you'll find your car doesn't. Automatic transmissions these days are so-called "filled for life", which means they're filled with fluid at the factory and there should be no need to regular checks or top-ups. If you want to change the fluid, which can be a good idea, you need to go to an auto trans specialist.

Transmission

Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class review: 2001-2013

2 Sep 2014 · by Ewan Kennedy

Mercedes-Benz has just launched an all-new C-Class model, so there's a good chance many owners of older models will be trading up. Meaning there could be a glut of used C-Class in Australia, giving ...

Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class review: 2007-2010

3 Oct 2013 · by Graham Smith

Mercedes-Benz built an enviable reputation based on safe, solid, comfortable and reliable prestige cars, but in recent times it has had to add another element to its appeal: excitement.

Used prestige cars review: 2009

7 Mar 2013 · by Neil Dowling

Choosing the right car can open the door to the executive floor, or confirm your corner office and that overdue promotion to the big league. Just as the right suit, tie, shoes or watch send a message ...

Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class review: 2001-2012

7 Nov 2012 · by Ewan Kennedy

The small-medium Mercedes-Benz C-Class, while costing significantly more than many cars in its class, is becoming increasingly affordable by the standards of the prestige car market.Though it has ...

Used Mercedes-Benz C63 review: 2008-2009

12 Nov 2010 · by Graham Smith

While most motorists seek reliability and economy from their cars there are those who put performance above all else.For them cars like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG deliver the ultimate driving thrill, ...

Mercedes mystery

Answered by CarsGuide 4 Jun 2009

I HAVEN'T and I couldn't believe it, but I contacted Mercedes-Benz to check anyway. It confirmed my belief that your friend's information was incorrect, but to be sure Benz told us it would contact you to get more information and hopefully set your friend's mind at rest.

Transmission

Search from Over 8,000 questions Over 8,000 questions answered by CarsGuide

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Complete Guide to Mercedes-Benz
C-Class

Reviews, price, specs and more

Reviews

Family
Family focused reviews and advice for everything family car related.
Adventure
Off-road for beginners and the experienced, plus camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes
Tradies
Utes, commercial vehicles and tow tests

Compare cars
We make it easy to compare design, practicality, value and more
Used cars
Buying used? Here's what to look out for and buy smart
Owner reviews
Your thoughts could drive you to more than just your next destination 🚗💬

Buying guides

Our experts pick the top models
- SUV
- Ute
- Hybrid
- Hatchback
- Electric
- Sedan
- Wagon
- Coupe
- People mover
- Convertible
- Commerical