Known fault

M271 1.8: stretching timing chain and worn camshaft adjuster

It does not show up on every car. Check before you buy.

critical

severity

not available

mileage

sources

1 source. A forum, a video or a complaint.

The fault

How you spot it

On the four cylinder, supercharged 1.8 M271 the timing chain stretches and the sprockets of the camshaft adjuster (Nockenwellenversteller) wear out. The two go together: a stretched chain makes the adjuster work worse, and a worn adjuster loads the chain further.

The symptom shows up on a cold start first: a short, metallic rattle or knock from the front of the engine that quietens after a few seconds. Later an engine warning light and timing control fault codes join it.

In the official complaint database the four cylinder M271 model group (C 180/200/230/250, E 200, SLK 200/250, GLK 250, CLS 250) has 16 reports between 2008 and 2015, and 8 of those carry a mileage. The raw numbers fall between 61,000 and 152,000 km, from eight reports.

All 16 reports fall on the 2012 to 2014 model years of the C 250. The complaint texts repeatedly mention the maker's extended warranty.

On a warm engine the rattle cannot be heard.

Which model

Who it affects

The card opens the generation, the engine or the transmission.

Engines and transmissions

Engine
M271DE18AL
Engine page
Engine
M271KE16ML
Engine page
Engine
M271KE18ML
Engine page
Engine
M271E18MLNGT
Engine page
Engine
M271DE18ML
Engine page
Engine
M271E18DEML
Engine page
Engine
M271E18ML
Engine page
Engine
M271E18MLLR
Engine page

vinkodex.

Checklist

M271 1.8: stretching timing chain and worn camshaft adjuster

What you would check for this fault. Take it to the car.

Before you buy

Checklist

What you tick stays on this device only.

Start it cold: the chain rattle is audible in the first few seconds and disappears once warmDo not accept the seller bringing the car warmed up; ask them to start it from standing, coldAsk for a fault code read: timing control and camshaft position codesAsk for the service history: if the chain and camshaft adjuster replacement is recorded, the repaired parts are fittedAsk whether any repair was done under the maker's extended warrantyIf the car is an American import: the complaints cluster on the 2012 to 2014 C 250

Sources

How we know

reported complaints only. That does not prove the car you are looking at has it.

static.nhtsa.govNHTSA panasz-adatbázis (2020–2024), mérve: 16 vezérműlánc / vezérműtengely-állító panasz a négyhengeres M271-es modellkörre (C 180/200/230/250, E 200, SLK 200/250, GLK 250, CLS 250) 2008–2015 között; mind a 16 a C 250 2012–2014-es évjárataira esik; 8 használható futásteljesítmény 61 és 152 ezer km között — km-sávot NEM mondunk rá; a panaszok szövegében visszatér a gyártói kiterjesztett garancia említésestatic.nhtsa.gov

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.

Details in the terms