I have had the steering column replaced 5 times.
Thing's breaking in the car; plastics etc..
Can't list the problems; there are so many.
Very disgusted; thought I was buying a good car instead a lemon.
Cost of repairs is huge!
Very disappointed!
This car is far less superior than any other small car, because of all the faults and design problems.
My mechanic told me not to buy one of these cars, as they are expensive to fix, and are always going wrong.
My experience is completely the opposite. This are reliable and well constructed cars, with very durable components.
I agree with the review. My year 2000 A160 was a menace needing frequent warranty repairs. Plastic interior parts would break off with virtually no effort (like the front seat height adjustment handles). Finally when the timing chain snapped at 67,000km I had had enough and sold it.
"The timing belt snapped"? That's curious because it has an automatic tensioner. I've had many good experiences with A-Classes. One of both I own has 170,000kms and never had a similar problem; well: never had a single problem, not even a battery change. The other one has 63000kms and is also like new. Both run like first day.
I have also rented one A-140 for One month and was always perfect and another one for 3 months and same good experience.
I don't believe it has been good chance.
To the 30th Dec poster, I wrote the timing "chain" snapped, not the timing belt. The W168 A-Class does not have a timing belt. The chain is sealed in the engine and designed to never be changed. Unfortunately mine snapped at just 67,000km. The 1.6L engine is an 'interfering' type, so if the timing goes the pistons smash into the valves and bend them. After the engine was taken apart and rebuilt I saw the extensive damage caused.
My fault: you did say "timing chain" and indeed they have a timing chain and not a timing belt. Anyway, it seems to me as a very rare problem, because I have had an extensive experience with these cars and know some more than the 4 I have had (I own 2 and have rented 2, as I established before).
My experience is of very long mileages with no problems at all. In fact, I have a BMW 325iF1 SMG 2005 model and my A-Classes have been far more reliable.
Hi, I have a A160 elegance, 2000 reg so 8 years old and out of warranty, the timing chain has just snapped having done only 96k, I understand that these are designed not to be changed. Does anyone have any advice or information on this please?
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