galileo55

This is for a 2006 Mercedes E350 VIN WDBUF56J16A836639.

http://www.decodethis.com/VIN-Decode...UF56J16A836639

Local dealer diagnosed it with Balance Shaft problem. I can't seem to find detailed instructions including tools required, torque/Lbs to use when tightening certain bolts.

This is an admittedly ambitious DIY project for me to do on weekends. I did not want to pay the dealer $3600 for labor. The lowest non-dealer labor quote was $2700. I don't like going to the gym so this will be my workout for a few weekends :-). I don't need to do it in a hurry either as I have another car to use.

I already purchased the MB Balance Shaft Kit and all necessary parts from an out-of-town MB dealer (1/3 the price of the local dealer), as per detailed quote from the local MB dealer in Atlanta where I am. Also just ordered an engine hoist, leveler and stand on Amazon which should be arriving in the next new days.

I found some limited docs online on the balance shaft failure with some pictures but nothing comprehensive with step-by-step instructions to take out the engine, take it apart just enough to replace the balance shaft and put it back together again.

Since this will take me while, a 1 day or 1 month subscription to the MB tech site my not be long enough and I'm trying not to pay the full year subscription if I can help it.

Any tips or links to such detailed instructions would be greatly appreciated, perhaps starting with what bolts I need to hoist the engine out of its bay and any [other] bolts to mount it on the stand.


Thank you

otto6457

Go to http://alldatadiy.com/

Purchase the subscription for your car. Don't cheap out on this part. Buy the subscription, look over the process and the tools required, then you can make an educated decision about tackling this job.

If you're asking which bolts to hoist the engine out and stand bolts to mount it to a stand, I'm going out on a limb and suggest paying the independent. Not trying to be rude. But this is not your common DIY job. I've done a couple in my day and it is not a fun job.

galileo55

Thanks for the tip, Otto6457. I had looked at this really expensive Mercedes Star Tekinfo subscription: https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/subscribe2.jsp

Day 24 Hours $19.00 1 - Day Access
Week 7 Days $100.00 1 - Week Access
Month 31 Days $289.00 1 - Month Access
Year 365 Days $3098.00 1 - Year Access

I'll check out alldatadiy. It's a no-brainer at $27 for a year. Thanks.

Plutoe

Forget all data for this job---alldata great for spark plug advice, but BS for others.

Spend the 19 bucks on startek---if you cant find the correct documents and print reams of data in 24 hours then better have someone else do the job!!

galileo55

Alldiydata calls for using this Engine Lifting fixture to get the engine out.

Part Number 240 589 00 61 00
Part Name HOLDER, LIFT
Online Price $2,521.60

Any less expensive alternatives or tips on how to get it out.

BTW, I already bought a Cherry Picker Hoist, Engine Balancer and Stand.

Thank you

galileo55

'06 E350 M272.
This wire/harness/electrical connector has two plugs: One goes into the thermostat. Where does the other one go?
Thank you

glawver

Did you ever find instructions to make this repair or did you end up paying someone to fix it?

galileo55

I did it myself. I don't recommend doing it unless you have a VERY understanding wife (if married). Must have taken me 100 hours rather than the 40 hours quoted for a trained/professional MB mechanic.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...placement.html

If you do want to do it yourself, be ready to pay for mistakes you may make on the way. I had to pay for a new steering rack as I sheared off the electric connector on it ($305 for used part, $450 for a mechanic to put it in). I also disassembled the timing wheels which I should have never done. ($1000 for parts and many more hours for work/rework). A guy had quoted me $2700 to do the job. I should have given it to him.
However, I now have the satisfaction of having done it just right myself and the car is running great. Here's another thread as I was doing it. https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...placement.html

rgowda

Saw your post that you fixed the balance shaft yourself. I also got the error code in November and decided to take to dealer and got a quote of $6200. I have approached two local mechanics who work on BMW and MB and they can give me a price if I can get all parts. Could you please post what parts I can buy from the dealer. I saw balance shaft by itself for 127. But I don't know what parts have to replaced.

galileo55

galileo55

See picture above for all parts, some of which you can do without if you reuse the old screws for example but they're not that expensive so you might as well get them all. These were the prices I got online at the time, plus $44 shipping. Coolant, Engine oil not included as they would not ship it. I used "Fully Synthetic Mobil-1 0-w40".

This was NOT AN EASY JOB. I went to the MB Dealer to get some advice on a particular issue while doing the job. I asked a mechanic a question. He chuckled and said: "You're replacing the balance shaft? At Home? I'm impressed but I don't know the answer to your [Variable Valve Timing Exhaust Adjuster correct settings] question. The guy who does that job is out today. Come back tomorrow and you can ask him". Apparently, "1" mechanic is allowed to do the balance shaft job at the biggest MB dealership in ATL. Make sure your non-dealer mechanic knows what they're doing or else, you could have some additional, possibly major, damage if they, for example, get timing chain, intake and exhaust adjusters alignment off by one or more teeth.

This is the main part. It's a Kit that comes in a big box with multiple parts inside of it, including the actual balance shaft:

OEM Catalog - Mercedes-Benz 272-030-06-13 1 $330.20 $330.20 RS GUIDE WHE

Here are the same parts in the picture, for friendly cut and paste, so you don't have to type them in one by one.
Good luck.

Part Number Qty 272-238-01-80 1 272-238-02-80 1 272-238-00-80 1 272-010-06-31 1 000000-001478 4 012-997-73-45 1 026-997-67-45 2 026-997-68-45 2 000-998-56-90 1 015-997-61-45 1 007-990-51-04 8 007-990-88-04 6 272-030-06-13 1 000000-003495 1 112-018-00-80 1 007603-016105 2 000-466-18-80 1 019-997-58-45 4 000-998-65-90 2

rgowda

Thank you for taking time to respond. Mechanic who fixes MB works only on MB vehicles and knew about this issue and let me see how much he wants to fix it. I read in some other post that its better to change the chain and oil pump. Do you think I should get it done while engine is removed. Please advice.

RRS STL

Hey Galileo55,

Thanks for the parts list. I am pulling info together to get started on my balance shaft. I see that you didn't replace the timing chain. I'd like to avoid replacing mine if it makes sense. Were you able to get the sprocket/shaft out while the original chain was in place? Is there a trick to doing it, or is there enough slack once the chain tensioner is out? It might seem like false economy to not replace it, but I like the idea of the original chain with no master link in it. I suspect that the original chain is bullet proof and the process of replacing it might cause more problems than it resolves. Obviously, I could be completely wrong about this, so I am open to comments. I'm thinking about skipping the oil pump too. Did you replace your oil pump?

Also, did you ever sign up for StarTec or Alldata? If so, was it worth it?

Thanks in advance for any additional guidance.

RRS STL

By the way, I just learned about the class action suit. Have you heard about this? The limit is 125,000 miles. I missed out by about 4,000 miles. Has anyone out there successfully made a claim and received money or a repair from MB? If so I'd like to hear how it worked out.

galileo55

As I remember, when you remove the belt tensioner, there would be enough slack.
I did sign up for Alldata but it's too much work to print, one page at a time. They won't give you a full .pdf, even after paying.
I did not replace my timing chain or oil pump and it was fine. I sold the car since before my wife kills me :-)

galileo55

Called MB. I was 4th owner and over 120K miles. They would not help.

RRS STL

Thanks, I think I might sell when I'm done. My wife wants to sell as-is but I'm too cheap to do that (would have to give it away). I have a 1999 E320 and it is rock solid compared to the 2006 E350. My E320 never fails but the E350 has been nothing but problems.

cmriv

so you are going to have all this disassembled and not replace moving parts like a timing chain that for sure stretches? oil pump that fails-gear worn or chain stretched???? Help me understand your reasoning.... If money is the issue i under stand but man, timing chain is 250 bucks or so and oil pump isn't expensive either.....

cmriv

Agreed!!!!!! first production year of models or engine are typically always the junk of the bunch. Never buy first year of anything. feel sorry for the c/cla/gla/gle owners. if they aren't leasing they are in for a rude awaking.

cmriv

but if you are selling it then eff it-just don't sell it to someone you know....

Rocman8

Mercedes has extended the warranty to 125k miles. 80k and under will cover 70% of cost and if over 80k will cover 36.5%

RRS STL

Let me start by saying my E350 is possessed by the devil. I am convinced that once I fix the balance shaft the trans will blow up (oh wait, that already happened once) or the crankshaft will break. Just don't want to put one more dime into this thing then I have to. The truth is, once I get into it I will probably replace the chain and pump, but would like to know the options I guess.

cmriv

i'm sure you'll end up replacing them and hahahaha possessed by the devil!

Peehussle

Can you post the other set of instructions you said you used that was not from alldata

95viper