C180 reliability

[Tafia]

Hi, I keep seeing reliability figures for the C180 as low as 50%. Is that true? I have a 2012 1.6 petrol C180 Blue Efficiency with just 17000 miles behind it. I did have a warning appear in the display regarding the tyre pressure warning system having failed. This was fixed by an MB specialist who said it was a common fault. He replaced the front wheel speed sensors and the problem was fixed.

My concern is that with such a poor reliability rating, something else could go wrong and leave me stranded.

Any others with the same model have any problems?

T

 

[grahamcol]

Well sometimes l think it's the luck of the draw. My Mercs generally have been OK reliability wise. However my 07 plate CLK with 53k miles has snapped two springs and developed a faulty parking sensor in my two year ownership. I also had a "glitch", regarding the 3rd brake light which seems to have resolved itself. I've probably had as much trouble with this car in two years as I've had with my other 6 Mercs in 15 years but l still feel it's a pretty decent car overall.
Been considering a Jag XE. Test drove one a couple of weeks ago and loved it. Trouble is Jaguar doesn't seem to have a fantastic record for reliability. I bet you'll find some owners having little trouble and others having lots of trouble. Like l said, luck of the draw sometimes.

 

[DSK]

I think with surveys you also need to look at whose buying them and In what quantity, then analyse how they may be treated etc etc. As an example I see lots of normal C class and A class models being abused on the street, driven with little to no care and some looking a little sorry too. These will wear differently to one driven considerately and maintained well.

I don’t think your issue should cause concerns but in my opinion, just treat the car well (e.g don’t blast over speed humps, drive through questionable floods, hammer it from cold etc, stay on top of servicing and consumables). As the miles and years pass you will know if it’s a problem car or not.


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[Tafia]

Thanks folks. I guess it is, as suggested, the luck of the draw. I use a Merc specialist in Ellesmere Port ( MD Motorcare) for service and repair. He seems think the car is a good one but we can never tell.

The fault with the speed sensors appeared when I drove over a cattle grid which nearly shook the fillings out of my teeth. MB chap said the fault was quite common and they repaired 2 or 3 cars a week with the same issue.

Best wishes to all.

 

[00slk]

I have had maybe 15 or more Mercedes since 1983 and can say that the most reliable is the SLK's and a 280se of 1970 vintage I had.
If you want a reliable car I am sadden to have to say Renault I have had about 4 and one I did nearly 100,000mls in and had only one issue, a broken front coil spring. I had a Laguna 2 recently and sold it to my son who is carrying on with Renault's reliability Oh and an Alfa 156 which we did 30,000mls in and no issues, so bought another and sore I'd never buy another!!! So the moral of the story here is it's only bad luck or good luck with cars........

 

[mioba]

Things break, its a fact. A degree of reliability is also linked to upkeep of the car beyond the annual services. If other bits fail and one doesnt replace\repair then it leads to unreliability. Dont worry - just enjoy the car...

 

[A.J.]

I have had maybe 15 or more Mercedes since 1983 and can say that the most reliable is the SLK's and a 280se of 1970 vintage I had.
If you want a reliable car I am sadden to have to say Renault I have had about 4 and one I did nearly 100,000mls in and had only one issue, a broken front coil spring. I had a Laguna 2 recently and sold it to my son who is carrying on with Renault's reliability Oh and an Alfa 156 which we did 30,000mls in and no issues, so bought another and sore I'd never buy another!!! So the moral of the story here is it's only bad luck or good luck with cars........

You have been lucky with your Renault‘s then. Having spent over 40 years in the vehicle contract hire industry the evidence was that Renault was anything but ! They were prone to endless electrical problems. Renault engines, great, electrics, woeful

 

[AnthonyUK]

You have been lucky with your Renault‘s then. Having spent over 40 years in the vehicle contract hire industry the evidence was that Renault was anything but ! They were prone to endless electrical problems. Renault engines, great, electrics, woeful

I had an Espace V6 (ok technically a Matra) and I had one electrical issue in 10 years which was due to the ECU being on the front of the engine. It was repaired under warranty and never returned.
I had to scrap it as some parts were impossible to get such as brake callipers which were unique to the RXE model.

I think it is a bit of a lottery with French cars but if you get a good one they are great.

 

[Blobcat]

I had an Espace V6 (ok technically a Matra) and I had one electrical issue in 10 years which was due to the ECU being on the front of the engine. It was repaired under warranty and never returned.
I had to scrap it as some parts were impossible to get such as brake callipers which were unique to the RXE model.

I think it is a bit of a lottery with French cars but if you get a good one they are great.

I found once the extraneous bits fall off they’re great for a number of years

 

[Wighty]

Well , it’s a 10 year old car buddy , it’s not worth anything but if it’s running well ,keep getting it serviced yearly by a specialist.
What have you got to loose unless you are going to buy a much newer and more expensive car ?
Both my cars are reliable and 3 years older than yours with many times your mileage .
If it was my car I would get the specialist to remove the underbody panels , clear the dirt out and spray the brake lines with something like ACF50 . Maybe also spray an anti rust treatment like Dinitrol into the rear subframe .
If it’s the M271 engine , get the specialist to check the cam magnets for oil leaks and fit wire blockers to them .
Beyond that make sure that you clean the wheel arch inside lips yearly after the winter ,keep all the water drains clear and lube the door and boot key locks and use the manual key at least yearly .

 

[00slk]

You have been lucky with your Renault‘s then. Having spent over 40 years in the vehicle contract hire industry the evidence was that Renault was anything but ! They were prone to endless electrical problems. Renault engines, great, electrics, woeful

Fluke more like
I used to check cars over for customers when I had my panelbeating business that they were interested in buying, if it looked good, colour was right I'd say yes buy it. Funning thing was I hadn't really a clue which was a good buy or bad buy, but I fluked it every time

 

[Blobcat]

Fluke more like
I used to check cars over for customers when I had my panelbeating business that they were interested in buying, if it looked good, colour was right I'd say yes buy it. Funning thing was I hadn't really a clue which was a good buy or bad buy, but I fluked it every time

I think it best to huy a car after you've had it... you've sorted all the faults for the next owner

 

[00slk]

I think it best to huy a car after you've had it... you've sorted all the faults for the next owner

Deep pockets to buy a car off me young BC,,,,,,,

 

[Blobcat]

Deep pockets to buy a car off me young BC,,,,,,,

Is that because you’ve sunk so much into them…

 

[sonic]

Depreciation is the biggest cost of owning a car, & on your 2012 car its very low. So even if you get the odd fault, that a lot cheaper than the depreciation on a newer car.
We have owned 6 MB's in the last 20 years, I buy second hand & keep then to about 110K miles. The two SLK200K's never had a fault, my current 10 year old E class owned for 9 years has had one fault. The two CLK's had several faults at over 100K miles, a shock absorber, suspension bushes, & glow plugs. But there are consumables. No faults on the SLC, all in all very pleased with MB.

 

[00slk]

Is that beca you’ve sunk so much into them…

Yes BC, it has made a huge splash in the funds........

 

[Blobcat]

Yes BC, it has made a huge splash in the funds........

A mere drop in the ocean for you…

 

[00slk]

A mere drop in the ocean for you…

Enough of the water jokes already!!! I'm welling up here..........

 

[mioba]

Enough of the water jokes already!!! I'm welling up here..........

no need to get em-ocean-al, its water of a ducks back

 

[00slk]

no need to get em-ocean-al, its water of a ducks back

Water off a ducks back.........You must be referring to the SLK Models...........You should see the garage floor after the Missus comes home and parks her car in the garage, you could water ski across the floor