Mercedes-Benz m271 engine knocking noise on startup

Mercedes-Benz E200 2007 (w211)
This noise is only heard on a cold startup.
200k kms and on its original timing chain.
No problems so far...

[@Flankerski]

Hydraulic lifters are the ones who make that noise at cold starts, until the oil gets to them and the noise dissappears. No issues with the timing chain. Even newer cars have these sounds at lower mileage.

[@costaskalantzopoulos4321]

The noise is perfectly normal for cold start. It needs a couple of seconds for the oil to circulate and lubricate the upper parts of the engine. If your timing chain was in bad condition, you would hear a very harsh rattle. However if you have 200k kms you should consider changing it anyway before it is too late.

[@ka5269]

Is timing change issue inevitable on every M271 engine? I have C180k 2004 with 70k miles.

[@SKY-Net_]

@@ka5269 i think 40%-50% of all m271 engines. My c180k 2009 has same voice but 94.000km I would change it at 120.000km because i change often my oil and drive more on long roads

[@bayezitsalgur3818]

Just took my W211 E200 Kompressor with 115k miles to service for timing chain replacement. I had the exact same sound though it sounds to be just the lifters waiting for oil. But upon inspecting the timing components, it was found that the chain had indeed stretched but the most concerning part was the cam gears teeth were 70% worn away. The engine was in imminent timing failure. My suggestion is that if not done already, take it immediately for a timing checkup. Though M271 on W203 dont appear to have such grave concerns on lower mileage regarding the cam gears, but chain is defo a must-check item.

[@aletzr]

Also cam gears have one thing inside them that wears out and causes ticking. So 100% worth it to replace cam gears.

[@SinisterSouthSide]

3 day ago I changed my chain at 178000 km. New chain, sprockets and tensioner. Little noise is still there. Yours is close to my noise, but a little longer.

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

Compared to the noise before changing the chain, sprockets and tensioner or after? Was the chain stretched? And how much did it cost to change it as its worrying me...

[@SinisterSouthSide]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy after the change. I bought it from the aftermarket. All together (chain kit with sprockets, adjuster magnets and Oil) 700€. And it took me 5 hours work (but chilled). Chain was a bit stretched, tensioner was dead. I changed everything because of worn teeth at the EX adjuster. I opened one old adjuster and I was very surprised. No bolt oder something, just springs to keep the adjuster star in position without oil pressure. So for me (I'm a motorcycle mechanic) it's just normal for the adjusters to make some noise at the start. Just check the sprockets and the timing marks for chain stretch.

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

@@SinisterSouthSide Alright, thanks for the info! I also changed the leaking magnets with the Pierberg ones ;)

[@huthaifamali3212]

Did u chance the PCV? We changed the things u changed but still sometime starting makes sound and sometimes not.. there’s oil accumulated in the throttle body and inside the turbo

[@SKY-Net_]

Fırst time? And kompressor or cgi?

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

The car now has 250k km’s with regular oil changes. The same noise is heard on startup, nothing more. It has proven to be reliable

[@pricopcodrin5379]

W211 e200K owner here. prepare for the timing chain kit to be changed. mine at 260k km jumped, because of the excessive wear on the teeth of the camshaft adjusters.BOTH. so, i was lucky that it just jumped 2 teeth on a cold start, and it did not snaped while on the highway.

[@ytpremium101Raihan]

You should check the timing chain and sprocket's teeth by asking a mechanic to open up the top of the engine. I hired a specialist to check this and it was a simple check. You just need to remove the plastic bits of the top, including the plastic under the main cover by disconnecting a few things. Then you pull up the plastic on the front part which will expose part of the timing chain and sproket teeths. If they are worn and is in bad condition it will just blow up the engine without any prior knocking or anything even. This is the worst case scenerio and the only main problem with this engine type m271. Once it blows it is gone and full engine replacement will be needed. Mine did not have any history of repair but found out timing chain was indeed changed by the previous owner and it is as good as new. I also had to change the magnets / camshaft adjustors due to leaks with pierburg ones. My car is worse than yours as it had oil leak for a long time from the magnets. Currently at 135k miles

[@Roman.A.]

Its ok,my have same sound after new timing chain

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

How much did you have to pay or did you do it yourself?

[@Roman.A.]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy I had a problem getting a mechanic for Mercedes, the price was high, chain, tensioner, complete pulleys, water pump...but i change camshaft magnets because leaking and sound is too much better

[@ramazancolak3105]

Very normal

[@andreasgusakov4802]

Have exactly same noise especially when its cold. CLK 200 Compressor, 98k.

[@estebansouki7203]

Hi guys... I have the same noise... But it lasts more than that... What do you reccomend??

[@maciejsn2126]

To me sounds like hydraulic tappets. Got same noise for few sec when its really cold. Previous owner been using 10w40 😮 so probably going on right oil grade will help a bit

[@carszzzzz]

0w30?

[@albanyw204benz7]

5w 30 would better if living in hot areas

[@maciejsn2126]

@@albanyw204benz7 and what I mean 10w40 isnt good at all

[@albanyw204benz7]

@@maciejsn2126 yeah thats true..

[@maciejsn2126]

@@albanyw204benz7 as soon as I flush it out and replace with proper grade oil I will let You know if noise gone off. Ned few more days as weather isnt great

[@quirinonavarro1857]

Those are the cam phasers, have a little wear. That noise will increase whit time… saludos!

[@Ali-jt3gn]

I installed new motor to corolla but after 3 months the same noise is heard after cold start for 1,2 mins,

[@mohamadfharidzulmansor6742]

My car also like this

[@svhellas5408]

Sounds like an average M271.......

[@bletarzeka915]

Ke ndonje foto te camshaft magnets kur kishin rrjedhje? Imja eshte mbushur gjithashtu por se di nga vjen rrjedhja

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

ku mund t'i dërgoj?

[@vinh8586]

I have the same noise when it starts 1-2 seconds and than normal noise of engine. What causes that because i have changed the timing chain before 25k kilometers. My engine is m111 w203 c180 129ps

[@user-we4xd1iv5l]

i had te same cnocking wat its that noise?

[@w3bhook25]

i have this noise but its continous and doesnt really quiten down too much even when car is warm, when car is cold i have a bit of coolant in my oil and the "check coolant level" warning message comes up even though my coolant level seems fine, any ideas?

[@akafede4351]

Maybe check the oil level, mine was kinda in the low side and got it to mid+ and it sounds much better. But the oil/coolant mix thing is another story, likely a bad head gasket

[@ledlabz7840]

O shqipe kom nji problem me ket motor , kur jam ne D i ndalum fillon misfire pistoni 4, ja kam ndru kandele e bobina te gjitha po prap e Bon ,is Ke noj ide cfar mund te jet ?

[@stormrider01]

Normal

[@eduardoa4558]

How many kms has this sound made?

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

Now its at 205k km. If i put more oil in the engine than average, then the sound on cold startup becomes much better.

[@eduardoa4558]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy Ok, but how long has this noise been / kms? My C180K 2008, has been working since I bought it, with 129 kkms. It now has 141 km. Do you put oil above the maximum mark? Tks

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

@@eduardoa4558 oh i don’t know when it began. I bought it at 180k km and it did it since then. I keep the oil between the max and the middle.

[@eduardoa4558]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy OK Tks

[@SKY-Net_]

@@eduardoa4558 new chain?

[@metrix9125]

Try a thicker oil... 15w 40 for example...Engine is getting older factory specific oils might be too light for the amount of wear

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

I currently use 5w40 Castrol Edge. I will ask around if thicker oil could be better for the engine. Thanks

[@eduardoa4558]

15w40? No! 5w40

[@alfredkidd]

Be careful with the thicker oil, someone I know had to replace the whole engine after the crankshaft bearings failed due to the oil not being able to move there easily.

[@costaskalantzopoulos4321]

@@eduardoa4558 10w40 & 15w40 are cheaper, non-synthetic lubricants. They are not bad, but they should be avoided on performance engines like Μ271. The number before the letter "w" tells the oil viscosity in cold weather (-25C). There is no reason to go for a higher number. The oil needs to be as thin as possible when the engine is cold in order to circulate faster. A thicker oil 10w or 15w when the engine is cold or in cold weather would make the situation worse. The number after the letter "w" tells how thick the oil stays in hot weather. If we are talking about a thicker oil compared to 5w40, this could be 5w50 but it is not recommended by Mercedes for this engine. 5w40 is more than fine. 5w30 is also fine. If you want better lubrication, change the oil more frequently (eg. every 7.5k kms instead of 15k kms)

[@Roman.A.]

Only 5W40 oil...i used Mobil

[@iglisefa]

Dhe mua te njejten zhurm me ben kur esht cold . A te harxhon vaj ?

[@Keepitmooving]

😂😂 feed it some oil💩

[@iglisefa]

@@Keepitmooving yess 🤨

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

Sa ta pash komentin. Po, duna mi mush afersisht 0.8L qdo 1000km. Keshtut shkrun edhe ne liber.

[@iglisefa]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy domethen jam i nderuar une me 1 liter per 10.000km

[@paulr4784]

Change your oil. It's too thick

[@pandabau4565]

Its your car still good in 2024 ?

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

Car is still in good condition. Besides regular oil changes, i had to replace the front springs due to 1 breaking. Engine wise, all is still in good shape.

[@pandabau4565]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy how about the kompresor ? Its still good ? I have a similar type engine m271 w204.. sorry my english not to good :)

[@DooDicky]

Is it original timing chain?

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

Yes, its on 211k km now.

[@DooDicky]

@@TheAlbanianTechGuy i didnt know the orginal chain lasted this long, is it reliable the car?

[@TheAlbanianTechGuy]

@@DooDicky well engine wise, I only had to replace camshaft magnets since they were leaking oil. Mechanical wise, we had to replace the front struts and the rear differential. As for what i can see on the maintenance book from the previous owner, he only did suspension work. My example of the m271 proved to be reliable. Car was bought at 180k km and now it has 212k km.

[@aigenerator687]

According to my internet research its cam lifters ect, and its a $3500 job, it would be better to just get another car

[@kirkamanatidis4050]

That is the timing chain it’s needs to be changed

[@alexanderalexandrov9730]

😂😂😂😂