Please check my VIN for Balance shaft issue?
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Chopperpilot: I don't know if anyone has that answer. If MBZ has a clue, they are being very tight-lipped. Obviously, not all are bad, because otherwise it would be all over the news - 550,000+ MBZ vehicles with $4K+ ticking time bombs under the hood. My guess is that the factory making the balance shafts and timing gears had a problem in their forging or hardening process - either a bad mix of metals or a problem in the heating/cooling process. Since not all of them are bad, maybe the failure only happened on certain shifts, or days, or the furnace was intermittently failing, etc. MBZ usually serializes parts. Even if the part itself doesn't have a stamped serial number, they know from the build sheet what it is. If the parts failure was based on a certain shift's bad work, then they could track that and would know exactly which engines had the bad parts. But since they just have a range of 550,000+ engines, it seems the failure cause was much more intermittent and unknown.
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E350
Is the following WDBUF56XX7B082933 covered by the law suit?
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WDBUF56XX7B082933 has M272 engine #518194. It is beyond the ranged for potential balance shaft failure, but it could still have the bad cam sensor magnets. Those are easy to fix as a DIY and parts are about $100.
FYI, the "lawsuit" is no more. It was thrown out of court mainly due to the fact that the judge believed that regardless of what non-safety defect a car may have, if it occurs outside of warranty, it's the owner's problem. Even though buyers expect MBZs to be well-made and long lasting, it's as simple case of a limited warranty. Also, there were many error in the lawsuit. IMHO, the lawyers who filed it were incompetent and this was another factor in its dismissal. They had so many of the facts wrong that had the suit been allowed to continue, it would have been thoroughly attacked by MBUSA lawyers and they would have lost.
FYI, the "lawsuit" is no more. It was thrown out of court mainly due to the fact that the judge believed that regardless of what non-safety defect a car may have, if it occurs outside of warranty, it's the owner's problem. Even though buyers expect MBZs to be well-made and long lasting, it's as simple case of a limited warranty. Also, there were many error in the lawsuit. IMHO, the lawyers who filed it were incompetent and this was another factor in its dismissal. They had so many of the facts wrong that had the suit been allowed to continue, it would have been thoroughly attacked by MBUSA lawyers and they would have lost.
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E350
Thanks Rodney. I am not sure I can do it myself mainly because I have not done any repair work before and I do not have the tools. The Dealer is quoting $475 to fix it and another $125 for diagnosing it. I have requested them to check with MBUSA if they will fix it on good will. The car has 56K on it. It had the CamShaft Solenoid replaced by the dealer when it was @18K. I guess, I will go through the repair and hope that I do not run into a balance shaft issue. Thanks for the help.
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Junior Member
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From: Ocala FL
2007 Mercedes ML350, 1999 ML430
$600? Yikes. I had it diagnosed at Autozone for free. The code will tell you which one is bad. If you click on the link I posted on 3/07, the picture will show you the corresponding sensor. You can buy the part online for about $27. All you need is a 1/4 in wrench which fits perfect for whatever metric size it is. My local shop quoted me the same $600, but I really don't think they knew what the problem was. Even if you replace all four sensors, it should only be $100 for parts and about the same for labor. I did mine a month ago for $27. The CE light is gone.
Last edited by chopperpilot; Apr 2, 2013 at 01:10 PM.
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From: San Diego North County
2015 E400 CAB, 2010 Jeep Compass, 2009 E350 Sedan
Thanks Rodney. I am not sure I can do it myself mainly because I have not done any repair work before and I do not have the tools. The Dealer is quoting $475 to fix it and another $125 for diagnosing it. I have requested them to check with MBUSA if they will fix it on good will. The car has 56K on it. It had the CamShaft Solenoid replaced by the dealer when it was @18K. I guess, I will go through the repair and hope that I do not run into a balance shaft issue. Thanks for the help.
Last edited by Louie D; Apr 2, 2013 at 01:17 PM.
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E350
Thanks to you all (Rodney, Chopperpilot and Louie). My car is at the Dealer and they said they will contact MBUSA. I will try my luck and hope that it is confined to the CamShaft Magnets.
One question I had about Warranty/Goodwill. Does going to an Independent Mechanic affect how they respond to these requests. I had only one service done by an Independent Mechanic as the Dealer did not have any appointment available, that worked for me, for atleast 2 weeks. The Independent Mechanic is the one who initially diagnosed the CamShaft Magnet issue and told me to check with the Dealer because, he suspected that if it is a bigger problem (Camshaft Balance) then it is going cost about 4.5K.
One question I had about Warranty/Goodwill. Does going to an Independent Mechanic affect how they respond to these requests. I had only one service done by an Independent Mechanic as the Dealer did not have any appointment available, that worked for me, for atleast 2 weeks. The Independent Mechanic is the one who initially diagnosed the CamShaft Magnet issue and told me to check with the Dealer because, he suspected that if it is a bigger problem (Camshaft Balance) then it is going cost about 4.5K.
Junior Member
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From: Ocala FL
2007 Mercedes ML350, 1999 ML430
It should just be the cam sensors. They must have replaced yours before they redesigned the part. I guess $600 doesn't sound so bad when you thought you might be looking at $4,500, but $600 for sensors is still an outrageous price. Hopefully the dealer will cover the cost. There also is no real hurry to get it done. You could have waited until you could get into your independent shop. They may have told you the same thing, though! If the dealer doesn't cover it, I would buy the sensor and have someone else put it on if you don't feel like tackling it. I should have made a Youtube video of replacing mine. There may even be one out there.
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No, having the car serviced at an indy will not affect MBUSA's decision to cover it under goodwill. Of course they will only cover it at an MBZ dealer, but they don't require that a dealer have performed all the other services, unless there is a reason to believe that improper service caused the failure. In this case, it's not an issue - the camshaft magnet sensors are well-known problem. The only twist to goodwill coverage is that the dealer has some input, and in fact, if the MBUSA regional service director denies the claim, the dealership can might to convince them otherwise if this is for a "valuable customer".
Junior Member
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From: Ocala FL
2007 Mercedes ML350, 1999 ML430
Sorry, adudyala. I had a bit of dyslexia as far as your question. As Rodney said, it's a common problem and (fortunately) a relatively cheap fix. At least you shouldn't have to worry about the dreaded camshaft balancer issue! I'd be curious to know how it all works out.
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E350
In my case, MBUSA said that I have not been to the Dealership since december 2011 and also I am out of warranty for about 2 years, so they will not cover the expenses. I got the 2 camshaft magnets replaced for $388.00. It seems to have fixed the check engine issue. Hope the repairs/issues are out of the way for some time. Thanks to all of you for providing the feedback
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2009 R350
Hi Rodney, Chopperpilot, and Louie
4JGCB65E99A091996
Can you please check my vin# for camshaft or bad balance shaft issue for my 2009 R350. My engine light is not on but it seems like there's some type of vibration or minor jerk or weird shaking when starting to drive. It only happens maybe on 1st or 2nd gear. I am worried that it might be my transmission. Mechanics are telling me it can be my tires, I replaced hem and the problem is still there.
Please help.
4JGCB65E99A091996
Can you please check my vin# for camshaft or bad balance shaft issue for my 2009 R350. My engine light is not on but it seems like there's some type of vibration or minor jerk or weird shaking when starting to drive. It only happens maybe on 1st or 2nd gear. I am worried that it might be my transmission. Mechanics are telling me it can be my tires, I replaced hem and the problem is still there.
Please help.
Junior Member
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From: Ocala FL
2007 Mercedes ML350, 1999 ML430
Since your R350 is a MY 2009, your engine should be well past the era of those with potentially bad balance shafts. I cannot say for sure as the site I use only goes up to MY 2008. Rodney can tell you for sure.
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4JGCB65E99A091996 has M272 engine #31-044312. As expected for a MY2009, it's well beyond the balance shaft problem range, and also beyond the range for bad cam sensor magnets.
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From: San Diego, Ca
CLK550
Another vin check please
Rodney,
How about WDBTK72F77T075397 for a 07 CLK550 - Just bought the car with 82k miles and it passed smog with no codes so I think it is ok.
How about WDBTK72F77T075397 for a 07 CLK550 - Just bought the car with 82k miles and it passed smog with no codes so I think it is ok.
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WDBTK72F77T075397 has M273 engine #51876, which is within the range for potential timing gear failure. Of course not all of these fail, so yours may be just fine. What I would do is get the diagnostic codes pulled. Even if the MIL is not illuminated, there could be stored codes. Look for OBDII codes P0016/P0017 (equates to DTCs 1208/1200). If you see these, you have the problem.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: San Diego, Ca
CLK550
Thanks, I will take it to MB or an independent soon and ask them to check for those stored codes. I knew the clk350s had this problem but I was not aware of the clk550 having issues. Guess I should have taken more time to research b4 the purchase instead of after. I wont tell my wife.
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I researched it, knew the problem and still bought a MY2007 CLK550. I got such a good price on it, I figured it was worth it to "roll the dice", plus I was confident I could do the repair myself. On the V8, it is not necessary to completely remove the engine - it just needs to be lifted to remove the oil pan in order to get the timing cover off. The defective gear is just an idler, it's not a forged part of a balance shaft like with the V6 (V8s need no balance shaft). Anyhow, mine failed, but the engine only had 30K miles on it, and while it was out of warranty by time, I was able to get it covered under "goodwill" by MBUSA.
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From: SOFLA
2003 E320
Hey Rudeney, I would be very appreciative if you could tell me if mine is effected by these issues.
2008 CLK350 WDBTJ56H48F249509
If its both for cam magnets and balance shaft or just 1
2008 CLK350 WDBTJ56H48F249509
If its both for cam magnets and balance shaft or just 1
