Mercedes-Benz C-Class 220 / 230 Petrol Engine Replacement Compare Prices & Get Quotes

A replacement engine for a C220 or C230 petrol typically costs between £500 and £4,500 depending on the engine code and condition. Used M111 units start from £500-£1,300, reconditioned from £1,200-£2,400, and fully rebuilt M272 V6 engines from £2,200-£4,200. Labour for supply & fit adds £500-£1,000.

• Used M111.961 (W202 C220): £500-£1,200
• Rebuilt M271.948 (W203 C230 Kompressor): £2,000-£3,500
• Rebuilt M272.920 (W203 C230 V6): £2,200-£4,000

Early M272 engines (serial numbers below 2729..30 468993, 2004-2008) suffer from balance shaft sprocket wear due to soft metal being used in the manufacturing process of the timing gear. This causes the timing to be thrown off, triggering fault codes P0016/P0017 and potentially leading to costly engine damage if not addressed. Repair costs at a specialist are approximately £2,200-£3,500 for balance shaft and timing chain replacement.

• Affects early M272 engines in W203 and W204 C230
• Fault codes P0016/P0017 are the classic warning signs
• Repair at specialist: £2,200-£3,500

All C220 and C230 petrol engines use timing chains, not belts. The M111 (W202), M271 (W203) and M272 (W203/W204) all use timing chains. However, the M271 is known for timing chain stretch (60k-100k miles), and the M272 is known for balance shaft sprocket wear affecting timing accuracy. A rattling noise on cold start is the classic warning sign for timing chain issues.

• All C220/C230 petrol engines: timing chain
• M271 chain stretch common at 60k-100k miles
• M272 balance shaft sprocket wear affects timing accuracy

On M271-equipped models (W203 C230 Kompressor), the most common symptom is a rattling noise from the front of the engine on cold start. Other signs include the check engine light (P0017 code), rough idle, loss of power, extended cranking, and hard starting. On M272-equipped models (W203/W204 C230 V6), codes P0016/P0017 indicate balance shaft sprocket wear.

• Cold-start rattle from the front of the engine
• Check engine light with P0016/P0017 codes (M272) or P0017 (M271)
• Extended cranking and hard starting

It depends on the generation and condition. A W202 C220 or C230 is typically worth £1,000-£3,000 - a full engine replacement often exceeds the car's value, making a used engine or targeted repair more economical. A W203 C230 Kompressor is worth £2,000-£5,000 - a rebuilt M271 engine (£2,000-£3,500) can be a worthwhile investment if the car is in good condition. A W203/W204 C230 V6 is worth £2,500-£6,000 - a rebuilt M272 engine (£2,200-£4,200) is usually within the car's value.

• W202 (1994-2000): used engine or targeted repair
• W203 (2000-2007): rebuilt engine viable for good condition cars
• W204 (2007-2009): rebuilt M272 usually justifies cost

The M271 is a 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine used in the W203 C230 Kompressor (2000-2005), producing 163 hp with a timing chain. The M272 is a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine used in the W203 and W204 C230 (2005-2009), producing 204 hp. The M272 offers more power and refinement but has the balance shaft sprocket weakness. The M271 is more prone to timing chain stretch.

• M271: 1.8L, supercharged I4, 163 hp, W203 (2000-2005)
• M272: 2.5L, naturally aspirated V6, 204 hp, W203/W204 (2005-2009)
• M272 has balance shaft weakness; M271 has timing chain stretch