My ‘15 Mercedez c300 4matic had only 47,000 miles had a rough starting for a couple weeks. When I took my car in for maintenance, I asked the shop to take a look at the rough start. It took a week to diagnose the the issue. The shop was very busy and they just did not have the personnel to troubleshoot the issue. It turns out to be timing gear skipping outside the range of specification, and many parts had to be replaced. According to the shop manager Robert, this is a common issue that he sees weekly on German cars. I wanted to get a second opinion for this diagnosis, but it was impossible. The diagnosis already costed a fortune, and it would cost a lot just to put the car back together for me to drive out. I bit the bullet and had them do everything, for about $5,400. It took another 1 week to get the part there to be installed. I am happy with the fix, but unfortunately I could not get a second opinion to verify I needed all these things done. Some thoughts lingered in the back of my mind, why would a lightly driven 6 years old car have such an issue, requiring an equivalent of a heart surgery to restore the car to a smooth start? I guess I would never know. My conclusion is if I want a German car in the future, I better get an extended warranty to take care the major problem such as this. Service: Auto engine diagnostic
Just like Robert said, Richard, timing-gear issues are quite common for these German vehicles. I know the cost of the repair was a concern for you, but I assure you that you made the right decision. In its own way, your Mercedes will thank you for it, and I also thank you for trusting us. Just reach out if you ever need another service in the future. -Alan, Owner
- German Imports Centennial