jsucraig

My wife and I are looking at a 2006 C230 Sport V-6 VIN: WDBRF52H96F818692 with 49K miles for $13,500. It has a Check engine light for the Camshaft/Crankshaft Position Sensor that the seller, a used car dealer, is going to have it fixed at the local M-B dealership along with a full service and oil change. Any recommendations and information would be appreciated. This is our first Mercedes-Benz.

Boom vang

better check that this is not the vin that has the infamous balance shaft gear issue which can be a very expensive repair

Front suspension issues are a major item with this model, make sure everything is tight and/or see if the components have been replaced with A204 XX XX XX numbers

jsucraig

The check engine light is on and he said that he had it checked out and that it was, in his words, the Camshaft or Crankshaft Timing Position Sensor. That he was taking it to the dealer Monday to get fixed and to get the required service completed along with a fresh oil change.

This isn't an ordinary Used Car Dealer. He is a car guy that sells used cars as sort of a hobby. He owned a large trailer business and sold it. He sat around a few years doing restorations and resto-mods on Chevrolets, mostly 1st and 2nd Gen F-bodies. He said that got boring and so he built the building he is in now and works Monday through Friday 9-4.

According to 300DFan on benzworld.com the engine is in the range for balance shaft failure. I have read about the balance shaft failures in a couple of threads here and on MBWorld.org. A lot of owners say that they have never had a problem over and above 100k miles. What is the failure rate on the balance shaft?

Boom vang

do what you feel best, you asked for recommendations and information. If it was me I would probably look for a vin that was outside the balance shaft gear issue because that repair can cost more than $5000. Also knowing what I know now, I would have bought a 2005 rather than a 2004 at the time but live and learn.
Whether that happens to you or not nobody knows it is a roll of the dice

jsucraig

I was merely giving more information to your initial concern over the VIN and the Balance Shaft Failure.

samaritrey

The balance shaft issue is very documented on here if you search for it a guy just did the full repair and has lots of pictures about how much work it takes. personally unless you can find documentation the fix was done I would pass on the car or get a warranty that covers it.

Alswag

This car has engine #353297, which is within the affected range of potential balance shaft failures. I'd pass on this one. The repair is expensive. Like 1/2 to 1/3 the value of the car expensive.

Khan28

You might want to pass on this one. The chances of you getting one with a worn balance shaft is low but since the CEL is on along with that particular code which highlights cam position sensors I'd be weary about this particular one. Go for a late 2007 model if you can find one or better yet go for a W204. I nearly shat myself when I saw the CEL come on mine because I now know the engine falls within the supposedly affected range but it was P0169 and P0174. New air filters, MAF cleaning and TB cleaning took care of that.

jsucraig

I've pretty much made up my mind to let this one slide and go with a newer C300 4Matic.