Which engine for W204?

[Eddles]

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a W204 manual estate at hopefully around £8,000, something like this one. I'm trying to figure out the best engine to choose for this car. I'm going to be doing maybe 80% city and 20% motorway at the moment. As far as I can see, the best engine would be the OM646 but it seems very few W204s have those engines, only the very early ones. Is the OM651 really that unreliable compared to the OM646? As diesels aren't great for city driving, what about the petrol engines? The research I've done so far seem to indicate the petrol engines aren't as reliable as the diesel ones?

Many thanks!

 

[sonic]

Seems expensive 2012 C class with 100k miles & manual. Can't help you on the engine choice, I have the E350CDI which I am very pleased with. 48MPG between services.
Any particular reason you want manual, MB are not noted for their manual gearboxes? Then there is the foot hand brake, not really a problem with autos.

 

[A.J.]

Seems expensive 2012 C class with 100k miles & manual. Can't help you on the engine choice, I have the E350CDI which I am very pleased with. 48MPG between services.
Any particular reason you want manual, MB are not noted for their manual gearboxes? Then there is the foot hand brake, not really a problem with autos.

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a W204 manual estate at hopefully around £8,000, something like this one. I'm trying to figure out the best engine to choose for this car. I'm going to be doing maybe 80% city and 20% motorway at the moment. As far as I can see, the best engine would be the OM646 but it seems very few W204s have those engines, only the very early ones. Is the OM651 really that unreliable compared to the OM646? As diesels aren't great for city driving, what about the petrol engines? The research I've done so far seem to indicate the petrol engines aren't as reliable as the diesel ones?

Many thanks!

Why would you want a manual gearbox for an 80% city usage ? Or come to that why would you want manual anyway ??

 

[Blobcat]

As per above, it's the gearbox not the engine you want to change

 

[JBell]

Petrol Auto with that kind of driving

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

I would always go for auto over manual, perhaps because I'm lazy, and I would always choose diesel over petrol. Nothing wrong with a 651, yes they have their idiosyncrasies but so did the 646.

 

[Gazwould]

Yes 651's are fun !!!!

646 didn't have dpf and had duplex chain , so what were their short commings ?

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Yes 651's are fun !!!!

646 didn't have dpf and had duplex chain , so what were their short commings ?

The 646 did have a DPF, and they caused all sorts of issues. They also suffered from black death, IPS motors, EGR valves, clogging inlet manifolds and chain tensioner rattles. But they were still a cracking engine.

The 651 does suffer from coolant leaks and rattly chains here and there, but the majority are reliable, they produce great power and torque as well as better fuel economy.

The 654 engine from 2015 is better again and a lot smoother too.

 

[Gazwould]

So you're saying I've got a good car then Stevie

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

So you're saying I've got a good car then Stevie

Absolutely!

 

[Gazwould]

Shouldn't you be doing some emailing

 

[Yugguy]

646 won't have a dpf in a 2008 C220.

As above though, there's really no advantage to a manual in a diesel unless you enjoy changing gear constantly.

 

[LostKiwi]

You say city driving but don't mention which cities.
Increasingly Euro5 diesels are being 'discouraged' from driving in cities so that may be an important factor to consider.
Petrol seems at this stage to have a more certain future in cities so if you can't spring for a Euro6 diesel and the cities you go to are likely to introduce diesel discouraging fees petrol may be your only option.

As others I'd also go for an automatic gearbox, just so much more pleasant for city driving.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

646 won't have a dpf in a 2008 C220.

As above though, there's really no advantage to a manual in a diesel unless you enjoy changing gear constantly.

DPFs on 646s started as early as 2004. I know, i owned one, and had GAD take it off.

 

[grayb]

You say city driving but don't mention which cities.
Increasingly Euro5 diesels are being 'discouraged' from driving in cities so that may be an important factor to consider.
Petrol seems at this stage to have a more certain future in cities so if you can't spring for a Euro6 diesel and the cities you go to are likely to introduce diesel discouraging fees petrol may be your only option.

Interestingly, the French "Crit'air" scheme groups Euro 5 and 6 diesels together (Class 2 - yellow sticker).

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

The 646 did have a DPF, and they caused all sorts of issues. They also suffered from black death, IPS motors, EGR valves, clogging inlet manifolds and chain tensioner rattles. But they were still a cracking engine.

The 651 does suffer from coolant leaks and rattly chains here and there, but the majority are reliable, they produce great power and torque as well as better fuel economy.

The 654 engine from 2015 is better again and a lot smoother too.

Totally agree the OM654 is a peach in fact.