E200 Kompressor Engine Reliability

[rsmarais]

I am test driving a 2008 W211 E200 Kompressor with 90 000km on it for a week that I am considering buying for my wife. I have been trawling the forum and internet to gather some info on the reliability of the 200 kompressor engine and see quite a few instances of people complaining of timing chain and sprocket problems.

Is this a truly common problem?
Have they improved the design at some point or would this be a problem on all 200 kompressors? This is a 2008 model
Is there a cause that can be avoided?

Thanks

 

[television]

It is a big and expensive problem, I would avoid at all cost

 

[Adam3313]

I have a CLK 209 with this engine and 130 000 miles on the clock.
I've only just got the car 2 months ago, had to fix a few things but now it seems to be running like clockwork.

Surprisingly strong for such a small engine.

 

[turbopete]

I have a CLK 209 with this engine and 130 000 miles on the clock.
I've only just got the car 2 months ago, had to fix a few things but now it seems to be running like clockwork.

Surprisingly strong for such a small engine.

im not sure that it IS the same engine. it may be badged as the same BUT i seem to think there was a change to them at some point, and one version has the issue, and the other doesnt

 

[rsmarais]

Thanks for all your replies. From my research it appears that all the recent 200 kompressor engines from the early 2000's up to now are variants of the M271 1.8L engines which has undergone continuous improvement. The one in this 2008 W211 is a M271.956

It appears as if the timing chain stretching/snapping and timing sprocket issues stem from something that goes wrong with the variable valve timing that adds additional strain to the timing gear and unless this is corrected the timing chain will continue to fail. This appears to affect engines from the early 2000's to about 2006. I stand under correction however this is what I can conclude after hours of surfing the net.

 

[television]

Thanks for posting back on this, it needs an answer from and indie really, you could well be right and many changes taken place.

 

[Collos]

Look at the mega miles some secondhand of all ages have and then make a decision I have seen C class 180s with close on a million kms and not a problem from the engine.

 

[television]

Look at the mega miles some secondhand of all ages have and then make a decision I have seen C class 180s with close on a million kms and not a problem from the engine.

The early 203's used the 111, I do not know the year when they changed other than the 271's are compressor engines

 

[ernieh]

Thanks for all your replies. From my research it appears that all the recent 200 kompressor engines from the early 2000's up to now are variants of the M271 1.8L engines which has undergone continuous improvement. The one in this 2008 W211 is a M271.956

It appears as if the timing chain stretching/snapping and timing sprocket issues stem from something that goes wrong with the variable valve timing that adds additional strain to the timing gear and unless this is corrected the timing chain will continue to fail. This appears to affect engines from the early 2000's to about 2006. I stand under correction however this is what I can conclude after hours of surfing the net.

There have been a couple of 2006 203s with timing chain problems on here, but I don't think there have been any 204s. Not to say there have been none; others who are involved in their repair can say, but it sort of confirms your findings.

Ernie

 

[rsmarais]

So I have taken the plunge and bough the car! I must say its super smooth

 

[Collos]

Having had two e220cdis one a 2004 and the next was a 2007the first did 200k km with absolutely nothing go wrong the second although it has been sold it now has 350k kms and to my knowledge apart from new pads and discs and routine service nothing has gone wrong .In my opinion they are the best cars ever made wish I could still justify one to the wife .