M111 vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the M111: 14/100 (low risk) versus 38/100 (moderate risk). The M111 has no documented serious faults; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

M111

Moderate risk · 0 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 30 October 202617 sources How we work

Is the M111 reliable?

The M111 is the four-cylinder petrol engine Mercedes-Benz fitted from 1992 to 2006 in the C-Class (W202 and the early years of the W203), the E-Class (W210), the CLK (C208), the SLK (R170) and the Sprinter, in naturally aspirated form and with a mechanical supercharger (Kompressor). A German used-car guide describes it as reliable when well maintained, with limited weak points: the head gasket and an oil leak into the camshaft adjuster wiring.^[1][2]

See the 5 of the M111 faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M111 and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	M111	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	122–197 hp	135–177 hp
Production	1992–2006^[1][11]	1999–2010^{[3][5][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	38Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	5	1
Of high or critical severity	0	0
Worst severity	Medium severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Head gasket failure with coolant loss Medium severity: Camshaft adjuster oil leak into the wiring Medium severity: Mechanical supercharger (Kompressor) wear at high mileage	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[3][4][6][7][14][15]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[8][9][16]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M111 naturally aspirated 1.8/2.0/2.2/2.3 (E18/E20/E22/E23)^[1][2] M111 Kompressor 2.0/2.3 (E20 ML/E23 ML)^[1][2]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[6][14][16] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[7][9] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[7][8][10][13][17]}
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

M111

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the M111

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Mercedes-Benz M111 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes M111: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Mercedes-Benz M 111Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French