mohd.awaly

guys i have a e200 cgi in my shop it has that rattling sound coming from the timing chain !! i just wanted to ask if anyone here had a white smoke coming out from the exhaust accompanied with the rattling at the start up , and engine codes saying the exhaust camshaft is deviating from the crankshaft .... after a few seconds no more sound and no more smoke , anyone seen this before ?

Bama Benz

Does anyone have this problem with the 550 model? I think the wife's has the problem, she has made comments that she hears a rattling every now and then.

Thanks
KD

Benz Werd

Yes, me! Mine is going in tomorrow for the 2nd time. Last time they had it for over 2 weeks, only to then tell me it's normal. Due to this forum and thread I knew that wasn't right so I showed them SuPER__S's You tube videos, and mb techman's PDF document titled 'Rattling noise after engine start' both from earlier in this thread and now they're going to have another go at it.

If you read through mb techman's document you'll see it clearly states the M278 engine is affected by this issue as well, so that's your 550 model and my 500. Get in touch with your dealer while you're still under warranty!

Cheers .....

SuPER__S

If you are having this issue. Tell your SA they need to replace all 3 chain tensioner and oil check value.

This will fix the issue !

Bama Benz

Roger, will do and thanks.

KD

Thimee

Mine too, she's been doing it since the second day I owned her (the 550 in case there was any doubt heh!). The 5 second clatter at startup seems to be sporadic, warm/cold engine, summer/winter doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

I plan to take a printout of all the great advice in this thread and some video clips (that I still have to record) of the startup noise to my SA when she goes in for service.

Benz Werd

Update from Australia on my ML500.

My car has been at the dealer since Monday. I have just received a call from my service advisor and fortunately this time they've acknowledged that there is a problem and they're going to fix it under warranty. This is after I printed mb techman's document and gave it to them, and also after they've previously had it for 2 weeks to only then tell me the rattling sound is normal.

The service advisor told me they have to pull the engine out?? Has anyone else's engine been removed to fix this problem? It's also going to take around 2 weeks as some parts have to be sourced from Singapore, and they could take a week to arrive.

I've got a loan car so it's not a huge issue, I just hope they fix it properly this time.

On the plus side I've asked them if I can go in and observe the process from time to time, and see what my car looks like while it's pulled to bits. If I can I'll snap some pics and share with you all.

Safe driving folks ...

SuPER__S

They didn't have to pull my engine out to fix it. My TECH guy that did my car said it's an easy fix.

iankayem

Super s, I suspect your "tech guy" is one of an unusual breed who knows what a spanner looks like.

Benz Werd

My baby is coming home tomorrow. They didn't have to pull out the engine in the end thankfully. Now, let's see if they've fixed it properly!

Here's the only 2 pics I was able to get of the engine while it was slightly pulled apart. Means nothing to me but maybe some of you will enjoy seeing what's under that big black engine cover.

Have a good one!

mb techman

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NAS_LIO

I had the same marbles-like noise from the engine on warm start up that lasts 2-5 seconds , I read through this forum and identified the problem, it's coming from the secondary timing chain as the chain tensioners lose oil pressure, it doesn't happen on cold starts coz the camshaft setup is different for cold starts and chains are tensioned so they don't bounce as in warm start ups .

I would like to thank (super_s and mbtechmn) for their priceless information provided on this forum, today I had my car fixed at the dealership under warrantee and no more noise, they were impressed the the bulletin I provided them (thanks again to mbtechman) and they said that helped them a lot to fix the issue without delay specially when not every dealer know that issue. The bulletin available in this forum just look the the threads below.

Benz Werd

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, that bulletin was very helpful, thanks again guys.

Mine's been fine since they fixed it, it's been over 2 months now.

Sitting just on 15,000kms and it seems to be just getting better & better, everything is bedding in nicely and the engine is running smooth as silk.

Seasons Greetings to everyone

mb techman

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firefox2000

I just wanted to comment that this thread has been very helpful. I took delivery of ML350 about 3 weeks ago and it has 220 miles on it now. When I took the car I felt like the engine didn't sound normal and abnormally loud during start-up, it just didn't sound like an engine of a luxury car should. I thought it was just because it was new and would go away after a bit. It was confirmed today by my SA that the timing chains and belt tensioner need to be replaced. Maybe someone can enlighten me on how this is still happening on brand new cars. Since there is a bulletin and it appears Mercedes is now aware of the issue why hasn't it been corrected already on the assembly line? In the meantime I'm having fun running around in a E350 sport until I get my ML back. Hopefully this noise doesn't come back.

mb techman

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firefox2000

Hello mb_techman thanks for replying. I kind of figured that they didn't get it right because a day later the cold start up noise came back and is still there. Even though I'm in Queens I didn't purchase the car here I actually bought it from Mercedes of Massapequa. The following is exactly what was written on the invoice work order and what was done.

"Confirmed customer complaint, found that on first initial start up rattling noise is present. Found that the timing chain tensioners are bleeding down oil pressure causing not enough pressure on the timing chain. Vehicle needs both left and right timing chain tensioners. Removed vehicles intake manifold, was then able to remove both left and right timing covers from cylinder heads. Set engine at top dead center. Was then able to remove both left and right timing chain tensioners. Reinstalled all parts back into vehicle. Started vehicle several times and vehicle is not rattle at this time. Vehicle is working to spec at this time." The parts that were listed as replaced are the following:

a)qty.1 276-050-25-00 Chain Tensioner
b)qty. 1 276-050-26-00 Chain Tensioner
c)qty. 16 000000-006365 Hexalobular bolt
d)qty. 1 276-230-00-56 Vacuum Line

I haven't take it back due to the long drive and I figured I'd ask them to look at it again during my Service A or if anything else comes up. I've thought of taking it to Helms Brothers or another dealership but I've heard stories the some dealerships aren't usually very helpful if you didn't buy the car from them.

mb techman

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meangene924

Does the ML350 Bluetec fall into this?

Benz Werd

I believe it's only petrol engines affected by this issue, but I'm not 100% sure, I've just based that on the other members who have spoken up on this thread. If I've counted right there's 7 ML350s, 1 C300, an E200 CGI and 3 ML550/500s including mine - all petrol engines, no mention from anyone with a diesel.

It's a strange issue, as it's intermittent. Mine was only doing it after driving for enough time for the engine to get to full operating temperature, then I had to shut it down for at least 10-15 minutes, restart it then the noise would happen and gradually fade out over the next 4-5 seconds. I could never tell if it was doing it on cold start up as the automatic choke revs the engine quite highly and it's too loud to hear anything else.

Mine is still fine. I've done 18,000kms now and it's been over 4 months since they fixed it. Again, thanks to SuPER__S for starting this thread and posting his You Tube video as I was able to show this to my dealer, and also to mb techman for posting the service bulletin from MBUSA which in the end was used to tell my dealer how to fix my car as they'd already looked at it and told me everything was normal.

Cheers folks ...

mb techman

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meangene924

Thanks guy!

Streamliner

I have a 2013 S550 and it makes the same noise on cold start up, usually just the first time I start it up in the morning. I live in Orange County, California and the car is always garaged, so it doesn't get that cold. It is annoying, but that is the only problem and the car has been perfect other than that.

My dealer is MB Laguna Niguel and I must say that I have been impressed with their service department and the way they have responded to my concerns over the years with other cars I have bought or leased there.

Since it appears that the car could be out of my possession for a week or two if I want this problem fixed, I prefer to live with it, as I don't want to be driving around in a C Class loaner. A problem I have with MB: bring in a C Class for service, get a C Class loaner. Bring in a $106K S550 for service, get a C Class loaner. Come on MB, can't a high end customer at least get an E Class loaner? I guess I should be glad they don't use Smart Cars as loaners!

mb techman

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speeeed

My ml350 just hit 12000k miles and looks like I have to go to the dealer for the same issue, anyone knows where to go, i'm close to either MBcoconut creek, MB pompano or MBdelray beach.