check vin for engine ID - balance shaft issues
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MB R350 2006
check vin for engine ID - balance shaft issues
I have a 2006 R350 with 154K miles. I get an occasional CEL with 0017 & 0016 codes. The car runs great otherwise. Sometimes the CEL will clear on it's own. My VIN is 4JGCB65E56A026803.
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All MY2006's with M272 and M273 engine (which includes your R350) are int he range for potential balance shaft failure. Those codes are the usual symptoms. My guess is that since the MIL is illuminated intermittently, you have just begun to experience failure. As the sprocket continues to wear, the MIL will illuminate constantly. The engine can actually run for quite a while like this. The variable valve timing system can compensate, so there should be no performance issues. It does need to be fixed, though, as eventually the sprocket will wear so that that the balance shaft no longer rotates and you'll have bad engine vibration and well as wearing on the timing chain. Also, teeth from the worn sprocket can break off and do other damage within the engine.
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MB R350 2006
Thank you for the information. I seems that most MB customers with engines in the 'danger zone' experience balance shaft problems much earlier in their mileage. I feel rather fortunate that I have passed the 150K mile mark without a major problem. I'll take it easy and drive fewer miles going forward to make the engine last. My 2004 Chevy Tahoe just past 306K miles and it's still going strong! Go figure...
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One theory is that all balance shafts in the range will fail prematurely - it's just a matter of how early that is. For some, it was very early, even under warranty. my CLK550 failed at 29K miles For others, it was over 100K, or in your case, over 150K. Of course all moving engine parts have a finite lifespan, so what is the normal expected lifespan of a normal (not defective) sprocket? 200K? 300K? A friend had a Ford pickup truck V8 he rebuilt at 300K and his idler sprocket was nearly gone. It was pre-OBDII and was a pushrod engine without variable valve timing, so no big deal, but it was nothing but a nub.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 3
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MB R350 2006
One theory is that all balance shafts in the range will fail prematurely - it's just a matter of how early that is. For some, it was very early, even under warranty. my CLK550 failed at 29K miles For others, it was over 100K, or in your case, over 150K. Of course all moving engine parts have a finite lifespan, so what is the normal expected lifespan of a normal (not defective) sprocket? 200K? 300K? A friend had a Ford pickup truck V8 he rebuilt at 300K and his idler sprocket was nearly gone. It was pre-OBDII and was a pushrod engine without variable valve timing, so no big deal, but it was nothing but a nub.
I wonder if changing the oil more frequently might provide improved wear characteristic and prolong the life at little more. I currently change the oil every 5K and the filter every 2.5K. Any thoughts? I'm using the Mobile 1 0/40 european synthetic.
