2007 CLK200K Timing Chain

[dunnoreally]

So I'm very tenatively looking at a 2007 CLK200k coupe with the six speed. 103,000 miles, going for £2,800.

I want a nice manual rwd coupe that's fairly easy to live with and doesn't cost too much to run. These seem to fit the brief, I like how they look, and at this price I've no need to finance and a decent war chest for general maintenance. Yes I know they're pretty slow by today's standards, but so's everything else I've owned up to this point so I'm sure I'll manage

I've been doing some digging, and it seems like this year in manual is fairly bombproof, except for the timing chains, which are prone to stretching and want replacing every 100,000 miles or so. This particular car hasn't had that done, so I need to factor it into the price.

Has anyone with this engine had the chain replaced recently? How much did it set you back? Also any more general ownership experiences with these, or the cooking C-Class they're based on?

[trevalvole]

My understanding is that the problem with the M271 engine isn't just the timing chain, but wear of the too-soft VVT sprocket. However, I suspect the internet gives the impression that more of these go wrong than actually do so, though may be manual ones will have had a harder life than autos.

See the sixth post on this page for buying advice: https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/the-complete-m...

Also the M271 engine thread if you've not seen it before: https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/the-complete-m...

If I were buying a Merc of this age, I'd consider getting a CLK280 (or a 350) instead, providing it was new enough to avoid the balancer shaft issue as you avoid the timing chain problems on the M271 and it has no supercharger. It would probably be an auto though - but the newer 7 speed one.

I would get the rear sub-frame inspected too, as Mercs with steel ones from this time can rust and would cost thousands to replace, though Merc do seem to be doing quite a lot on goodwill, but how long this will last for I don't know. Also brake pipes can rust and I recall replacing them requires dropping the fuel tank.

mwstewart has had loads of these - here's his most recently-updated thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... , plus I think ZX10R NIN in the Car Buying forum has some of them, so you might want to post on there.

Most CLKs of around this age and newer are Sport spec which I think come with 18" wheels and probably sports suspension. While perhaps still more comfortable than many other cars, I would think that one on smaller wheels and softer suspension would be much better on UK roads.

[dunnoreally]

Thanks very much for such a detailed response. I'll be sure to go through those threads. Reason I was interested in the M271 was because of the manual, and those seem non-existent as anything other than the 200k or the diesels (possibly because those were the only engines you could have one with).

Specific example I was looking at has gone now, but I'll still be keeping an eye open for sure.