I have a 2008 C 300 4 MATIC which I have owned since May. The M272 engine is probably not the best sounding Mercedes engine, based on my experience.
The engine has a rough idle and it sputters at speed bewteen 1500 rpm and 1800 rpm. The sputtering noise appears to come from the quad exhaust. Well, I am buying a luxury car, not a "sputtering" performance car! If I want the sputtering noise, I would have bought an AMG C 63 for both performance and noise. I am not sure why MB would install a quad exhaust system for the C 300 and C 350. They have to remember that most of their clients are still "conservative" like me. By the way, I am only 34 years old.
The dealer said the rough idle and sputtering noise is normal due to the emission requirement that MB is required to meet?? The dealer also said other owners have complained, as the rough idles and sputtering noise drive "some" owners "nuts". Well, I guess I am one of those "some" owners.
The engine has 4500 miles on it now. It consumes about 1 quart of oil so far, which is normal (I think). I read somewhere in other posts that the M272 engine takes a lot longer to "break-in". I have taken the car up to 4,000 rpm only a few times and sped up to 100 mph just a couple of times. I guess that's still not enough to break the engine in.
I read somewhere that MB has issued a TSB before on how to break the engine in properly. The engine should be sped between 4000rpm and 6000rpm for 1 hour to properly break it in without further consuming oil. I didn't have the guts to try that, as I think 4000rpm would put quite a bit of strain on the engine??
By the way, the car has been very reliable so far. Unlike the previous W203, it feels like a Merc that it should. I
"fully loaded" the car when I ordered it, including the Keyless-Go.
What market is this for? C300/C350 in the US only has a dual exhaust. Did you buy it new?
You might want to get the second look at that with an independent dealer/mechanic. I have not heard or felt this rough idle or sputtering you speak of, except maybe at first startup.
I'm sorry about your early woes, but the engine on this car (in my experience) has been great. I did not detect the excessive, or any usage of oil for that matter, during break-in. I changed my own oil at the 13k mark and the oil level was still at the max line.
Hope you sort this out. Owning this car has been the most satisfying of car experiences in a long line of Japanese and German makes.
This is a Mercedes. It doesn't hurt to rev up the engine a bit. I take mine above 4,000 RPM on a daily basis. It loosens up your car and gives you the jolt of energy needed to pass others on the road.
It's your car and your investment and I fully understand your desire to keep your engine in great shape and maximize its longevity, but my best advice is do not be afraid to drive it a bit.
Your engine will break in and your driving experience will be a whole lot more enjoyable.
My car sounds the same as OP. Looking at this thread & others, I've just chalked it up as being normal. Doesn't really bother me, but it is noticeable. Car runs fine, & I have no plans on taking it to be looked at. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
My three previous cars were 4-cylinder Honda Preludes, & all were smooth as glass under all conditions (thank you-balance shafts), so it was a bit suprising to hear the Benz when cold. V6 engines are not perfectly balanced, but they are a little smoother than 4 cylinders, which is why you see balance shafts on lots of I4's but not too many on V6's. I don't think this Benz V6 has a balance shaft.
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