Skip to content
KickTyres
MajorCommonEngine

Mercedes-Benz E-Class: M264 2.0T Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle

M264 2.0T Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle is a common engine fault on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class on the 2018 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,800 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 23 documented faults on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Vehicle
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Engine
2.0L
Years
2018 onward
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

This page covers the Mercedes-Benz E-Class as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mercedes-Benz E-Class faults23 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The M264 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine in the W213 E-Class exhibits a well-documented cold-start timing chain rattle lasting 5 to 20 seconds on start-up. The chain tensioner design allows oil to drain back when the car sits, leaving the chain momentarily slack. In some cases this is a chronic noise without immediate mechanical damage; in others it indicates progressive chain wear that can advance to chain skip and valve contact. Mercedes issued a revised tensioner. Widely reported across Australian and NZ owner forums and confirmed by independent specialists.

What you would notice

  • Noticeable chain rattle on cold start lasting several seconds
  • Noise originates from front-left of engine
  • May trigger check engine light with camshaft correlation codes P0016 or P0017
  • Rattle more pronounced in cold morning temperatures

How to check it

Where to look. Front-left of engine, timing chain area under timing cover

  1. Cold-start the engine after an overnight soak and listen immediately for chain rattle.

  2. Record on video if present.

  3. Check diagnostic system for camshaft correlation fault codes.

  4. Verify whether the revised tensioner has been fitted by checking service records or asking the supplying dealer.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,800 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the engine ever rattled on cold start?”
  • “Has the timing chain tensioner been updated or replaced?”
  • “Are there any fault codes stored in the engine ECU?”

Now check the Mercedes-Benz E-Class you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class buyer questions

Is m264 2.0t cold-start timing chain rattle serious on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

We rate it major and common on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The M264 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine in the W213 E-Class exhibits a well-documented cold-start timing chain rattle lasting 5 to 20 seconds on start-up. The chain tensioner design allows oil to drain back when the car sits, leaving the chain momentarily slack. In some cases this is a chronic noise without immediate mechanical damage; in others it indicates progressive chain wear that can advance to chain skip and valve contact. Mercedes issued a revised tensioner. Widely reported across Australian and NZ owner forums and confirmed by independent specialists.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

$1,800 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mercedes-Benz E-Class years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2018 onward Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the engine after an overnight soak and listen immediately for chain rattle. Record on video if present. Check diagnostic system for camshaft correlation fault codes. Verify whether the revised tensioner has been fitted by checking service records or asking the supplying dealer. Look here: Front-left of engine, timing chain area under timing cover