c180 a/c compressor trouble

[shiv333]

the car: w202 (c180)
the a/c: standard a/c

my car is 3 yrs old with 10K miles on the clock. i noticed a rattling sound when i accelerated and only when the a/c was on. the a/c also took a long time to cool. took it to the mercedes dealer and they said that the compressor had gone and that the whole thing including the dryer had to be changed. is it usual for a compressor to go bad so quickly?

 

[jimfoz]

Possibly. My P-reg c180 compressor went 3 years into ownership. I think it depends how much you use it. A/C usually deteriates with lack of use

 

[dieselman]

No it's not normal for the compressor to go at three years. Obviously something broke.