Second Hand Mercedes-Benz C-Class Camshaft

The C-Class W204 generation ran from 2007 to 2014, with a facelift arriving in 2011, so a 2010 and a 2008 car are both pre-facelift but fitment still depends primarily on matching engine codes exactly — for example, an M271 unit must be paired with another M271, not an M272 or M276. If the engine codes match, a pre-facelift to pre-facelift swap is a reasonable starting point, but you should confirm with the breaker against your registration as ancillary details can vary within a production run. Never assume a camshaft is interchangeable on year alone.

The W203 ran from 2000 to 2007 and the W204 from 2007 to 2014 — these are entirely separate generations with different engine families, so a camshaft from a W203 will not cross over to a W204 in any straightforward way. Engine codes changed significantly between generations, and even where displacement looks similar on paper the internal architecture differs. Always match by engine code, not generation alone, and confirm with the breaker.

No — trim levels such as SE, Sport, Elegance, and AMG Line on the C-Class are purely cosmetic and equipment-based distinctions that have no effect on the engine or its internal components. A C220 CDI is a C220 CDI regardless of which trim badge is on the boot, so a camshaft from an SE is mechanically the same as one from a Sport or AMG Line provided the engine code matches. Confirm the engine code (found on your V5 or via a VIN check) with the breaker before ordering.

Yes, absolutely — petrol and diesel engines are entirely different units with different camshaft profiles, timing requirements, and physical designs, so a diesel camshaft such as one from an OM651 engine cannot be used in a petrol application like an M271 or M276. Within diesel or petrol families there are also further differences between individual engine codes, so fuel type alone is not sufficient — the specific engine code must match. Check your engine code on the V5 or ask a breaker to run your registration before searching.

The W204 C-Class received its facelift in 2011, so a 2012 car is indeed a post-facelift model. Some engine variants continued across the facelift largely unchanged while others were updated or replaced, meaning a camshaft from a pre-facelift W204 may or may not suit your 2012 car depending on engine code. The safest approach is to quote your engine code directly to the breaker and let them confirm compatibility against the donor vehicle rather than relying on year alone.

In most cases the camshaft itself is not directly determined by gearbox type, since it is an internal engine component, but some Mercedes-Benz engine variants were offered in slightly different states of tune depending on whether they were paired with a manual or automatic gearbox. This means engine codes can sometimes differ across gearbox types even within the same model and fuel type. Provide both your engine code and gearbox type to the breaker to be certain you are being quoted the correct part.