Cost for 2013 C350 Timing Chain Replacement
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
I paid $18,000 for it in January last year. The Kelley Blue Book value for private sale is about $12,000 to $14,000. The trade in value is about $10,000.
The math is pretty grim. If I pay the dealership for this repair, I could be spending in a little over a year almost enough money to buy a new A class, especially after they knock off $1,000 for that Goodwill Offer! I can't in good conscience sell the car to a private buyer, but I'm not sure I'd lose much sleep if I could dump it on Mercedes-Benz. That's not an option, though. M-B wouldn't give me near what the Blue Book trade in value is because I paid them $200 to know what's wrong with it. Now every Mercedes-Benz dealership in America knows the problem with my car.
The math is pretty grim. If I pay the dealership for this repair, I could be spending in a little over a year almost enough money to buy a new A class, especially after they knock off $1,000 for that Goodwill Offer! I can't in good conscience sell the car to a private buyer, but I'm not sure I'd lose much sleep if I could dump it on Mercedes-Benz. That's not an option, though. M-B wouldn't give me near what the Blue Book trade in value is because I paid them $200 to know what's wrong with it. Now every Mercedes-Benz dealership in America knows the problem with my car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 149
2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
I paid $18,000 for it in January last year. The Kelley Blue Book value for private sale is about $12,000 to $14,000. The trade in value is about $10,000.
The math is pretty grim. If I pay the dealership for this repair, I could be spending in a little over a year almost enough money to buy a new A class, especially after they knock off $1,000 for that Goodwill Offer! I can't in good conscience sell the car to a private buyer, but I'm not sure I'd lose much sleep if I could dump it on Mercedes-Benz. That's not an option, though. M-B wouldn't give me near what the Blue Book trade in value is because I paid them $200 to know what's wrong with it. Now every Mercedes-Benz dealership in America knows the problem with my car.
The math is pretty grim. If I pay the dealership for this repair, I could be spending in a little over a year almost enough money to buy a new A class, especially after they knock off $1,000 for that Goodwill Offer! I can't in good conscience sell the car to a private buyer, but I'm not sure I'd lose much sleep if I could dump it on Mercedes-Benz. That's not an option, though. M-B wouldn't give me near what the Blue Book trade in value is because I paid them $200 to know what's wrong with it. Now every Mercedes-Benz dealership in America knows the problem with my car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 149
2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville, TN
CLK 500, 2013 C300 Sport
It's a 2013. I havent had it a month yet. Bought it with 52k on it from Major major dealer here in town that didn't catch it. Noticed the weird noise right away once I got to cold start it. I didnt get to for the test drive. Luckily every service has performed at MB dealer (not my local, one state north) for the entire life of the car with records. My engine code is the one with the new tensioner and just the valve check for the TSB. Im hoping all of that will help me out on the diagnosis Im going to get tomorrow morning from my local MB dealer. WIsh me luck.... Should I try going back to that dealer where I bought it even though they arent a MB dealer? The deal EVERYTHING else German though..
Last edited by jhanson25; Jun 27, 2019 at 03:28 AM. Reason: grammar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 149
2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
It's a 2013. I havent had it a month yet. Bought it with 52k on it from Major major dealer here in town that didn't catch it. Noticed the weird noise right away once I got to cold start it. I didnt get to for the test drive. Luckily every service has performed at MB dealer (not my local, one state north) for the entire life of the car with records. My engine code is the one with the new tensioner and just the valve check for the TSB. Im hoping all of that will help me out on the diagnosis Im going to get tomorrow morning from my local MB dealer. WIsh me luck.... Should I try going back to that dealer where I bought it even though they arent a MB dealer? The deal EVERYTHING else German though..
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
Exhaustgases, I have not reported back because I have done nothing. A combination of procrastination and hoping a tree will fall on the car. I did call an independent shop I think is competent. The person I talked to said that, depending on how many chains need replacement (there's a chain in the rear of the engine?), it may be cheaper, as MBMarko said, to replace the engine. He was going to talk to the shop owner and call me back, but didn't.
I asked what is the worst that can happen, and he said that he thinks this engine would not be totaled if the chain skipped a gear teeth. It would just shut down without further damage. Of course, at that point it really doesn't matter because either way it would be cheaper to put in a running engine. The only issue is the danger of the engine shutting down at 70 mph on the interstate. I suspect, though, that the chain would skip and engine shut down at start-up since that is when the chain is not under tension. My wife says do nothing and don't worry about it. Meanwhile, my son's 2005 Buick LaCross with 144,000 miles on it starts up and idles so quietly it's hard to tell it's running.
At this point I'm waiting to see what happens to jhanson25.
I asked what is the worst that can happen, and he said that he thinks this engine would not be totaled if the chain skipped a gear teeth. It would just shut down without further damage. Of course, at that point it really doesn't matter because either way it would be cheaper to put in a running engine. The only issue is the danger of the engine shutting down at 70 mph on the interstate. I suspect, though, that the chain would skip and engine shut down at start-up since that is when the chain is not under tension. My wife says do nothing and don't worry about it. Meanwhile, my son's 2005 Buick LaCross with 144,000 miles on it starts up and idles so quietly it's hard to tell it's running.
At this point I'm waiting to see what happens to jhanson25.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe
Hello. I have been following this thread closely, as I have a 2012 C350 with the famed M276. I have had the car since 2014 and bought it CPO with 29,000 miles at an official Mercedes dealer with a 2 year warranty still remaining. Since the beginning of ownership I have noticed a slight ticking from the front on cold starts, and up until recently I had thought nothing of it (now at 95,000 miles). Now, after I have read through this thread and countless other MB forums that have discussions on the M276 timing chain/tensioners/etc... I am very worried about a “ticking time bomb” in my vehicle, especially now that my CPO warranty is long gone. I have driven this car very very hard from the beginning of ownership have had no serious problems, while maintaining regular scheduled maintenance and even some additional preventative maintenance lately. The car still runs flawlessly but as the miles continue to rack up, the cold start ticking is even more noticeable. I looked up the M276 service bulletin about the chain/chain tensioners and found that I have an engine code that requires new check vales and tensioners, which is considered to be the most serious repair of the M276 range. So, does this well-known timing chain/tensioner problem with the M276 cause serious damage if not fixed? Or, is it just an audible issue upon cold-start and will not cause permanent damage later down the road? Any help understanding this issue is greatly appreciated because even after much research on the M276 I am still a tad clueless on how to approach repairing this issue with my Mercedes-Benz dealer and whether or not they are entitled to fix any of this on their dime.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
Please Help!
Hey! I'm currently thinking of buying a used Mercedes CLS 350 petrol from 2014. I've seen this thread before and don't really know how to see if the engine number is "OK" when it comes the problems you are talking about. Could someone please help me?
The vin is: WDD2183591A104361
Engine number: 276952 30 506204
The vin is: WDD2183591A104361
Engine number: 276952 30 506204
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
So it's likely that this car will also suffer from the problems discussed in this thread.. Could you show me where I could find this information about other cars so I can look for myself or maybe you know which year is OK to buy? Also thank you for your help 😊👌
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 149
2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Attached is the Service Bulletin for the engine.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
1) Up to engine number 276 9xx 30 365996 install check valves and chain tensioners
2) From engine number 276 9xx 30 365997 up to engine number 276 9xx 30 406603 (February 2013) install check
valves only (optimized tensioners installed in this production range)
Engine number 276952 30 506204
The one in looking at has a higher number so I'm good.
The new problem is that I just found it that the engine light came on and that nothing had been done about it. I went to Mercedes to see its history, service and repair.
I asked the guy who is selling the Car, he said that he had driven the car with the handbrake one morning to work and that he felt something was wrong. After he took it to mercedes when the light came on and that they just turned the light off as it was no problem. He has been driving it for six months since then.
Could this be true? I'm not the best at understanding cars, but what does the handbrake have with the engine that will make the light turn on..?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
My C350 is a 2013 but the VIN puts me past the engines that are covered by the bulletin. Theoretically whatever Mercedes Benz did to fix the chain tensioner failure problem was done to my vehicle. The question is did MB really fix the cause of the problem since mine needs the repair at only 78,000 miles. If not and 350's are still subject to chain tensioner failure, anyone considering purchasing a car with the 350 engine outside of the range in the bulletin may be in for an unpleasant surprise.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
My VIN is WDDGF5HB8DA864882.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
My VIN is WDDGF5HB8DA864882.
Your engine number is 276957 30 423764
Wich according to the bulletin would have you covered. The one I'm looking it has a higher number than yours. But maybe I should be careful even though it says that the car is OK.
It sucks having to pay so much money for a repair that shouldn't have happened in the first place, especially so early on. On a Mercedes... I guess that guy in YouTube, Scotty Kilmer was right. Mercedes is a money pit machine 😂
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 120
From: London ON Canada
2012 C300 4Matic Sport Sedan
Originally Posted by Antonio1000
Your engine number is 276957 30 423764
Wich according to the bulletin would have you covered. The one I'm looking it has a higher number than yours. But maybe I should be careful even though it says that the car is OK.
It sucks having to pay so much money for a repair that shouldn't have happened in the first place, especially so early on. On a Mercedes... I guess that guy in YouTube, Scotty Kilmer was right. Mercedes is a money pit machine ��
Wich according to the bulletin would have you covered. The one I'm looking it has a higher number than yours. But maybe I should be careful even though it says that the car is OK.
It sucks having to pay so much money for a repair that shouldn't have happened in the first place, especially so early on. On a Mercedes... I guess that guy in YouTube, Scotty Kilmer was right. Mercedes is a money pit machine ��
I know it sucks but defiantly get other opinions I'm sure you can find someone to do it for way less then a mercedes dealer. There hourly rate is 50% or more that an independent shop. You can get it done for probably $2000 somewhere else. Don't jump the gun. Stay on top of maintenance afterwards oil change ever 8-10K transmission every 60,000 the car should last you forever!
Last edited by MB Marko; Jul 5, 2019 at 03:42 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
Scotty hates one thing more than Mercedes, that's BMW and let me tell you there way worse to repair than any Mercedes.
I know it sucks but defiantly get other opinions I'm sure you can find someone to do it for way less then a mercedes dealer. There hourly rate is 50% or more that an independent shop. You can get it done for probably $2000 somewhere else. Don't jump the gun. Stay on top of maintenance afterwards oil change ever 8-10K transmission every 60,000 the car should last you forever!
I know it sucks but defiantly get other opinions I'm sure you can find someone to do it for way less then a mercedes dealer. There hourly rate is 50% or more that an independent shop. You can get it done for probably $2000 somewhere else. Don't jump the gun. Stay on top of maintenance afterwards oil change ever 8-10K transmission every 60,000 the car should last you forever!
Yeah, he hates BMW more, that's true. What are you going to do with your car? Did you fix it?
I really want this CLS, it pretty much had everything I want from a CLS. Recently sold my perfect Mercedes E klass AMG Coupe, it was very reliable. Owned it for three years without any problem at all. It was from 2012 so it had a few years on its back. That's why I'm so confused why Mercedes can make some of the best engines but also the worst.
Don't forget about the previous CLS and the M272 engine. From 2004 to 2008, a complete failure. I had the car for three months before the camshaft had to be replaced. I sold it and got the E class I told you about. I don't know, seems like a gamble..
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 120
From: London ON Canada
2012 C300 4Matic Sport Sedan
my benz is a tank, thank god!
my truck is a money pit chevy lol!! so far timing chain, fuel pump, ac compressor, fan clutch, water pump in 3 months of ownership costing $3000in parts and repairs( I paid 3k for it lol) so its tied right now with price paid for it and repairs done. no wonder i got a 10k truck for 3 K!! They quoted 15 hours on the timing chain i think they got it done in 13 and they gave me a discount on all parts 20% and 15% on labour. I had to talk to the mechanic to get the labour down they usually only do 10% but car guys love helping car guys, they said "it comes out of the mechanic pocket if its over 10%" it was an older guy doing the job he had no problem giving me and extra 5%. the rest I DIY save a ton of money and its easy to work on.
my benz- brake job, secondary air pump 2 times once under warranty once on my dime and i found the solution so it never happens again. in 5 years thats it other than tranny service(dealer does for $350) and oil changes I do myself. full brake job was $900 DIY secondary air pump was $300.oil changes I use mity vac $80 for oil for 2 changes and filters are $14. air filters are $40 for 2.
if you DIY these cars are a pleasure to own, if you go to a dealer your going to get raped on labour and parts.
Rock auto is a life saver! and for the jobs you can't do go to an independent. my indy charges $50 an hour I haven't gone to him in a while because i've been DIY'ing a lot. he only works on BMW,Volvo, some Mercedes.
my truck is a money pit chevy lol!! so far timing chain, fuel pump, ac compressor, fan clutch, water pump in 3 months of ownership costing $3000in parts and repairs( I paid 3k for it lol) so its tied right now with price paid for it and repairs done. no wonder i got a 10k truck for 3 K!! They quoted 15 hours on the timing chain i think they got it done in 13 and they gave me a discount on all parts 20% and 15% on labour. I had to talk to the mechanic to get the labour down they usually only do 10% but car guys love helping car guys, they said "it comes out of the mechanic pocket if its over 10%" it was an older guy doing the job he had no problem giving me and extra 5%. the rest I DIY save a ton of money and its easy to work on.
my benz- brake job, secondary air pump 2 times once under warranty once on my dime and i found the solution so it never happens again. in 5 years thats it other than tranny service(dealer does for $350) and oil changes I do myself. full brake job was $900 DIY secondary air pump was $300.oil changes I use mity vac $80 for oil for 2 changes and filters are $14. air filters are $40 for 2.
if you DIY these cars are a pleasure to own, if you go to a dealer your going to get raped on labour and parts.
Rock auto is a life saver! and for the jobs you can't do go to an independent. my indy charges $50 an hour I haven't gone to him in a while because i've been DIY'ing a lot. he only works on BMW,Volvo, some Mercedes.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
Hey! I just bought the car! I've uploaded a video om YouTube with the sound it's making from the engine.
A mechanic told me there is nothing to worry about, just some little thing that's loose and need to tighten up.
What do you guys think? Please help because I'm starting to get worried.
A mechanic told me there is nothing to worry about, just some little thing that's loose and need to tighten up.
What do you guys think? Please help because I'm starting to get worried.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
Don't worry about it? You need another mechanic. My car makes a similar sound most of the time at start up (at times it doesn't make the sound at all) but it's gone within just a few seconds. I assume it quiets down when the hydraulic pressure in the chain tensioner builds up. The mechanic could very well be right, but until he finds the actual source of the sound you are justified in worrying.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Mercedes cls
Yes because when he pressed the gas pedal it stops and when he releases it starts sounding again. So something with the vibration makes that part vibrate as well.
No engine light or anything. Could there be any more symptoms if it's the chain tensioner or something else serious?
Are you still driving around with your car?
No engine light or anything. Could there be any more symptoms if it's the chain tensioner or something else serious?
Are you still driving around with your car?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
Those are not the symptoms of my timing chain problem. Mine only makes the sound when I start the car. It stops before I give it any gas. Hopefully your mechanic is right and it's simply something loose.
I'm still driving the car and haven't had it repaired. The car's resale value is about $14,000. It's hard for me to justify spending $10,000 on it, especially when it's unclear how long it will go without the repair.
I'm still driving the car and haven't had it repaired. The car's resale value is about $14,000. It's hard for me to justify spending $10,000 on it, especially when it's unclear how long it will go without the repair.
