Rudeney

MY2008 will be beyond the affected range - yes, M273 #192354 is fine in terms of "balance shaft" trouble. But it is still in the range for the (unrelated) camshaft solenoid failure, which is an easy and cheap repair and apparently already done on this one.

Jeanimead

Rudeney, could you p,ease tell me if my car is within the affected range?
2006 e350 wagon 104,000 miles
VIN WDBUH56J86A811103

guka747

Can someone check my serial and tell me if I'm affected?

WDBTJ75J83F063142

thanks

sassafras

Can someone check VIN: WDBRF92H27F915841 (2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C280 Luxury) and tell me if it is in the affected range? Thanks!

Jeanimead

Would someone please let me know if my car is in the affected range? Thank you.

VIN. WDBUH56J86A811103

2006 e class wagon. 104000 miles.

Rudeney

All cars through MY2006 with the M272 or M273 engines will be in the affected range for potential failure. Your's has M272 engine #82670.

Rudeney

That's a MY2003 CLK500 - it has an M113 engine so no balance shaft worries.

Rudeney

That one has M272 engine #571810 - it's beyond the balance shaft trouble range.

sassafras

they don't call you guru for nothing, lol.
I posted on the original thread that I thought I was ok based on the VIN decoding you did. Hearing it from you is a relief though. regards.

Jeanimead

Thank you, Rodney. I just purchased this car and I have most of the maintenance records and I'm noticing it was in the shop a lot between 35,000 adn 45,000 miles because of check engine light. I'm trying to decipher what the problem was by looking at the codes. It was still under warranty at that time and there lots of "no charge" line items. So, I can't tell how much any of the repairs would have cost. It also has had the batteries, alternator, fuel pumps, cam shaft, spark plugs and transmission replaced. And impeccable routine maintenance. I've only put on about 1000 miles and it now has 104500. Such a beautiful ride. I love it.

Rudeney

It might have been repaired under warranty. Another issue the engine had was with the camshaft solenoids, so maybe that's what was repaired. Remember, the failure rate was small - not even enough to show up on Consumer Reports, Edmunds, etc. reviews, so the odds are in your favor that your engine is fine.

Jeanimead

Thank you. I'm obsessed with learning everything I can about my new car. It's great being connected with other owners and the sages. Thanks again, Rodney.

fredee71302

Inherited this car from my mom. The vin is WDBUF56X88B312485. Would this 3.5 have the balance shaft issue? Thanks

Rudeney

Nope. Halfway through My2007 they identified and resolved the problem, so MY2008 is no worries. But just to check...it has M272 #903301.

fredee71302

Thanks Rodney.

astrobike

Hi Rodney,

You told me that the M272 engine number of WDBUF87J26X187477 (my 2006 E350 4Matic) is 086466, and is in the possible balance shift problem range. Thanks again.

Is the 086466 full number of my engine? I think that the M272 engine number format is like "272971 30 xxxxxx". If you can find the engine number in full version, could you let me know mine in full version?

Thanks much in advance.

recknsg

I have ML350 with 102K Miles. At 32K miles Check engine light came on and dealer fixed it under warranty and said it was Gear Wheel Balance Shaft problem. Now at 102K miles Check engine light is on and codes are P0017 and P0019. What read on Forum is that its a Crank Shaft Position Problem. Are these two related. Has any one else has these problems.

Rudeney

I use a bit of "shorthand". Your full engine serial number is "272.972 30 086466". Balance shaft failure stopped at "272.9xx 30 468993". Note that the "xx" is not really a part of the serial number, it's a designation for the engine version. The serial number is only the last 8 digits.

Rudeney

Generic OBDII code P0017 could be DTC 1200, which is a symptom of "balance shaft" failure, but it is also related to three other DTCs that aren't. And P0019 is also one of four possible DTCs, unrelated to balance shaft failure. You'll need to get the MBZ-specific DTCs pulled with Star Diagnosis. Either way, it's a timing problem. All related DTCs deal with the exhaust camshaft (P0017 is the left, P0019 is the right). Unfortunately, this sounds like either a camshaft adjuster problem or a timing chain problem. It does not seem to be related to the TSB's Scenario 2 for bad "camshaft solenoids" either.

tbyrne

Rodney, could you please tell me if a car I am considering is within the affected range?

2007 c230; 80,000 miles

VIN WDBRF52H97A924980

Thanks very much!

Rudeney

WDBRF52H97A924980 has M272 engine #417351 - it is within the range for potential failure.

kdness

Please check 2009 clk550 WDBTJ72H39F267650
thanks

Rudeney

MY2009 is 100% beyond the range for balance shaft issues.

PROPHET

I appreciate the help on this issue as none of us want to have to do this costly repair whether we have had the car since new or looking to buy used. I found a nice used CLK550 vin# WDBTK72F97T077555 or F77T084830. Is either one in the range of affected units?

Rudeney

WDBTK72F97T077555 has M273 engine #76180 - it is in the range for potential failure.

WDBTK72F77T084830 has M273 #132573 - it's beyond the affected range.