Is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C280 reliable?
By
Vroomouk
This article will answer the following questions: is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C280 reliable? Which engine was used in the C280? How fast can the C280 go? What are some of the common problems in the C280? And should you buy C280 in 2022?
Is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C280 reliable?
Yes, the Mercedes Benz C280 is reliable like any other Mercedes Benz Car. The C 280 launched in 2007 with the model series W204 was the third generation of the C class. The Mercedes Benz C class is an entry-level luxury sedan with 4 doors. It can carry up to 5 occupants easily with 340 litres of cargo capacity.
After the immense success of the W203 C class, Mercedes Benz needed an updated entry-level car in the product lineup. The A-class was not a sedan and the second generation of C class was at the end of its product life cycle and falling behind the competition of BMW and Audi.
The third generation of the C Class was manufactured between 2007-and 2014 and the C280 model variant was very popular along with the C 200 Kompressor. The C280 came in three trims: classic, elegance and avant-garde.
The mechanical underpinning was the same in all three trims only difference was in the interior equipment and seat upholstery.
The C 280 was majorly produced in the Mercedes Benz mother factory at Sindelfingen, Germany and a few units were produced in Beijing, London and South Africa. Mercedes Benz manufactured more than 200,000 units of the C class in 2007 and the C280 was one of the most produced variants in the C class.
The Mercedes Benz C 280 is one of the most reliable variants and it can easily last for more than 10 years and cover 100,000 KM without any major repairs. Although Today the C 280 will no longer be in the warranty period, Mercedes Benz does support the customers by giving special discounts on parts and labour in the service campaign.
In some cases, Mercedes Benz will also cover the fifty per cent cost of the parts if the vehicle has a malfunction that requires major repairs.
Which engine was used in the Mercedes Benz C 280?
The Mercedes Benz C280 used a 3.0 litres V 6 cylinders M272 engine. The M272 was a newly designed Mercedes Benz V 6 engine launched in 2004. Unlike its predecessor M112 engine, M272 had 24 valves and single spark plugs for each cylinder. The output stage of the ignition coil was also individual for each cylinder.
Fuel was injected into the intake manifold but direct injection was also introduced in limited markets. The fuel pressure in the fuel system is 4-6 bars with a non-return valve on the fuel pump. The 3.0 litres M272 produced 230 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque.
There is camshaft adjustment on both intakes as well as exhaust camshafts that can advance or retard the opening and closing of the valves by 0-40 degrees. The camshaft adjustment gives the M272 a very flat torque curve and the engine produces its peak torque as early as 2500 RPM.
The M272 is also naturally aspirated, there is no forced air induction by a turbo or a supercharger. Hence, the power delivery is very linear. The intake manifold of the M272 is variable; there are long and short air tracks and guide vanes operated by a series of vacuum actuated linkages that can direct the airflow inside the intake manifold.
The variable intake manifold improves cylinder charging and gives the M272 an effect similar to forced air induction. There is a secondary air injection electric air pump that pumps air into the exhaust system to bring the catalytic converters to operating temperature more quickly and reduce exhaust emissions during cold starts.
It is only activated for 40 seconds after the engine starts, secondary air injection is no longer used as most modern engines are directly injected and turbocharged so exhaust gases are heated more quickly.
The engine and cylinder heads are made up of aluminium metal, camshafts are mounted over the cylinder head and driven by a single timing chain connected to the crankshaft.
The engine oil pump is also driven by the crankshaft via an independent chain and supplies engine oil to the lubrication oil circuit consisting of oil spray nozzles that spray engine oil under the iron-coated piston skirts.
The angle between the two cylinder banks is 90 degrees therefore there is a need for a separate balancer shaft in the engine block. The balancer shaft is connected to the same timing chain on one end and a counterweight on the other end.
In the C280 the M272 was mated to the newly developed 7Gtronic 7 speed gearbox and a six-speed manual gearbox option was also available. The 7-speed automatic transmissions offered smooth gearshifts and winter and summer drive programs. Hence, it was more preferred over the 6-speed manual transmission.
How fast can the C 280 go?
The Mercedes Benz C 280 came in a rear wheel as well as a 4matic drive system. The 4matic is very quick off the line as it offers better traction. The C280 also had a massive 3.0-litre engine in a car that weighs only 1600kg. The top speed of the C 280 was 250 kmph and 0-100 kmph was achieved in 6.9 seconds. 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
What are some of the common problems in the C 280?
The C 280 is a very reliable car but there were a few problems reported by my customers which affected the reliability. The problems were rectified in the facelift model launched in 2011.
Following are some of the concerns in the C 280:
- ABS/ESP inoperative.
The ABS and ESP systems become imperative due to malfunction in the wheel speed sensors at the front left and right wheels. The wheel speed is monitored by the ESP control unit and it must be within a specified range of 0-250 kmph. Due to the fault in the wheel speed sensor, incorrect wheel speeds were registered on the front left and right wheels.
The only remedy was to replace both wheel speed sensors on the front wheels. Mercedes Benz also updated the part numbers of the RPM sensors. Replacing only one wheel speed sensor would not rectify the concern as identifying which rpm sensor malfunctions were not possible in the ESP control unit.
Another fault in the ESP control unit caused the ABS and ESP to stop working, there was an internal malfunction in the ESP control unit located on the hydraulic body of the brake system. Updating the control unit software did not rectify the issue and a new ESP control unit was installed to rectify the problem.
- Engine light malfunction
M272 has a variable intake manifold with hot air mass flow sensor installed before the throttle valve. The air mass sensor measures the air going into the intake manifold and as petrol engines are quantity controlled the fuel injected was determined by the air mass and engine load.
The intake manifold is connected to the intake ports and a gasket is installed between them which leaks as the mileage starts to increase. The leak in the intake manifold gasket causes un-metered air to enter the intake of the engine and affect the mixture formation.
The remedy was not expensive as the cost of the gasket was less and once the fault was rectified the vehicle was good for thousands of kilometres.
Other articles about Mercedes Benz you may be interested in
What is a Mercedes Benz GL 63 AMG?
What does 4matic mean on a Mercedes Benz?
What is the oil type of the 2013 Mercedes Benz E 350?
Conclusion
The Mercedes Benz C 280 is a proper sedan with a very responsive V 6 petrol engine. C class is also very good in the handling department and it is a great choice for customers looking to buy their first Mercedes Benz Car. In 2022, there are very few good C280 available in the used car markets and you should avoid purchasing C280 especially if the service records are not good as the repair cost can easily stack up.
FAQS: is the 2007 Mercedes Benz C280 reliable?
Are C280 reliable?
Yes, the Mercedes Benz C 280 is reliable, there were a few reliability issues but Mercedes Benz ratified the issue in the facelift model of the C class.
How many miles will a Mercedes C280 last?
The Mercedes Benz C 280 will easily last for 500,000 miles without any major reliability problems.
Are 2007 Mercedes-Benz reliable?
The 2007 Mercedes Benz car is very reliable, Mercedes Benz also provides a standard warranty of 5 years and unlimited mileage.
