Ok to get CLK550 even though it's the 1st yr of M273?
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2007 clk 550
Ok to get CLK550 even though it's the 1st yr of M273?
Hi. Any known issues with the 2007 M273 engine? Thinking of getting a CLK5xx. Comparing the 2006 CLK500 and 2007 CLK550, I see the engine in the 2007 has a lot better specs. but it's the first year for that engine and I usually don't like buying the first year of anything.
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The early M273 engines can have a similar problem as the M73's balance shaft failure. The V8 doesn't have a balance shaft, but the same contractor supplied potentially defective timing chain idler gears. Check the engine serial number to make sure it's not int he affected range. Here's the TSB with details:
http://benzbits.com/BalanceShaftTSB.pdf
If you post the VIN of a candidate car, several of use here have access to EPC and can look up the engine serial number.
Oh,and one other thing - the earlier 722.9 transmissions were more problematic. There's no specific serial number range for problems, but the later models are more reliable. it might be worth it to pay a little more and get a MY2008 or MY2009 - those are 99.999% certain not to have "balance shaft" problems and will likely have a more reliable, later-built 722.9 transmission.
If you are on a tight budget, look at a CLK500, but only up to MY2004. The MY2005 introduced the 722.9 transmission. An alternative would be a CLK55 AMG - they have aolsid engines and only used the 722.6 transmission. Performance is not quite up to the CLK550, but better than the CLK500.
http://benzbits.com/BalanceShaftTSB.pdf
If you post the VIN of a candidate car, several of use here have access to EPC and can look up the engine serial number.
Oh,and one other thing - the earlier 722.9 transmissions were more problematic. There's no specific serial number range for problems, but the later models are more reliable. it might be worth it to pay a little more and get a MY2008 or MY2009 - those are 99.999% certain not to have "balance shaft" problems and will likely have a more reliable, later-built 722.9 transmission.
If you are on a tight budget, look at a CLK500, but only up to MY2004. The MY2005 introduced the 722.9 transmission. An alternative would be a CLK55 AMG - they have aolsid engines and only used the 722.6 transmission. Performance is not quite up to the CLK550, but better than the CLK500.
