The second-generation 300C launched in the UK in 2012 on a Fiat/Lancia platform with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel. It was a far more reliable proposition than the first generation, with tried-and-tested Fiat mechanicals replacing the older Mercedes underpinnings.
The 300C is a very heavy car, and its suspension components (derived from the Mercedes W211) take a beating on UK roads. Ball joints and control arm bushes often last less than 40,000 miles.
The alternator is prone to premature failure, often caused by diesel fuel dripping onto it from cracking rubber fuel hoses. The earth cable can also corrode, leaving the car unable to start.