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Emergency

Before you buy a used Mercedes-Benz CLE (C236/A236).

2023–2026 · Petrol / Diesel · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Mercedes-Benz CLE (C236/A236), real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

CLE 200 / 300 / 450

Petrol

  • Camshaft adjusters on the M254 petrol engineTiming system
    Period mentioned
    2021–2025 (mainly 2021–2022)
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Only the CLE 200 and 300 (M254); the CLE 450 has the M256 six-cylinder.

CLE 220 d

Diesel

CLE 53 AMG (3.0)

Petrol

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Mercedes-Benz CLE (C236/A236)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
CLE 200 / 300 / 450Petrol11 with conditions1
CLE 220 dDiesel10
CLE 53 AMG (3.0)Petrol11 with conditions1

According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Diesel.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Mercedes-Benz dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Recall: 80 A main fusesElectrical system

Engines: CLE 200 / 300 / 450 (Petrol)

How to check it: Check VIN; replace specified main fuse boxes.

View full entry
Recall: reset interrupts instrument displayElectronics / instruments

Engines: CLE 53 AMG (3.0) (Petrol)

How to check it: Confirm VIN; update infotainment software.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 3 checked

AdBlue / DPF / EGR

  • Look out for: AdBlue or emissions warnings with a start countdown; particulate filter warning; power loss or rough idle from a dirty EGR.

    Ask them to check: Read AdBlue and NOx sensor codes with Xentry, check the particulate filter regeneration history and how the car is used (short trips).

Timing system

  • Look out for: Rattling on start-up, the engine warning light and camshaft-timing fault codes; in serious cases, engine damage.

    Ask them to check: Listen to a cold start; read the engine fault memory; ask for the service history with on-time oil changes and ask the dealer what fix exists for the adjusters.

Engine

  • Look out for: Mild-hybrid system warnings, loss of EQ Boost and weaker acceleration; turbo overheating if the auxiliary pump fails; at high mileage, carbon on the intake valves.

    Ask them to check: Read the 48 V system fault memory; check campaigns and bulletins by VIN; stick to the oil-change intervals.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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