Class Action suit over M272 M273
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GodfatherE550 (12-02-2016)
#253
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,690
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA
2008 E550, 2012 GL450, 2014 GLK350, 2015 S550, 2020 GLC350e
My VIN is WDBUF72X68B217781
The Russian site says my engine is 273 960 30 180 042
So this problem does not apply to my engine since 180042 is higher than 088611? The reason I ask is because my check engine light came on briefly for 24 hrs and has gone back off and the indep shop told me it is for this issue.
The Russian site says my engine is 273 960 30 180 042
So this problem does not apply to my engine since 180042 is higher than 088611? The reason I ask is because my check engine light came on briefly for 24 hrs and has gone back off and the indep shop told me it is for this issue.
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Vik888 (12-06-2016)
#256
My 2cents
The above postings focus on how reliability standards might have been lowered in recent years. Maybe so, but show me some data, please.
On the other hand, owner maintenance discipline has certainly deteriorated; perhaps its a generational thing. I'm old school; i.e., a bit fanatical about oil/filter change intervals...each 5K miles. But my kids and their friends think the only required mntce. is responding to weird noises and/or electronic reminders about long over due mntce. issues.
While not wishing to condemn the younger generations, the importance of preventive mntce. has been sadly overlooked by many. Could these M-B balance shaft concerns be influenced by owner mntce. regiments? Good question, say I.
relinuca
On the other hand, owner maintenance discipline has certainly deteriorated; perhaps its a generational thing. I'm old school; i.e., a bit fanatical about oil/filter change intervals...each 5K miles. But my kids and their friends think the only required mntce. is responding to weird noises and/or electronic reminders about long over due mntce. issues.
While not wishing to condemn the younger generations, the importance of preventive mntce. has been sadly overlooked by many. Could these M-B balance shaft concerns be influenced by owner mntce. regiments? Good question, say I.
relinuca
#259
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 789
Likes: 47
From: Eastern Massachusetts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Blaming the victim
You are right that it is always a good question. And asking it always presumes that the problem is the fault of the owner (especially if the owners are of a younger generation). However, your insinuation is a rebuttable presumption. It is rebutted when insufficient hardness of metal is the problem by the fact that lack of maintenance does not affect hardness of metal.
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Heatwave (12-10-2016)
#260
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 177
From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53 (on order); 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
The hardness of the metal is indisputable. I think we can all agree on that. The failure rate, purely anecdotal, is probably next to nothing. Reasoning? Number of reported failures across various sites, posts, etc. etc. against the number of engines supplied across all models. I incurred with several dealers and the response has always been "eh, we haven't seen as many as you'd think". Biased source? possibly. Owners have reported high mileage examples with no failure.
I'm sure we can all agree that lack of maintenance can take out components with even the best of metal compositions. What would be great to know is if the lesser metal composition of the gear simply didn't agree with the longer maintenance intervals implemented by MB? When I had a <5 mile commute with a C300 at the time and changed the oil every 5k - the fuel smell in the oil was very noticeable. The car just wasn't driven enough to burn off moisture, fuel etc. Take that scenario to a lesser metal gear and go 10k or 13k on oil and I could see the makings of a worn gear.
My '06 E350 with a commute of >12 miles now, oil changes at 5k, and zero smell of gas in the oil, and much cleaner oil at every change. I don't have a worry about the gear wearing out. Only time will tell.
I'm sure we can all agree that lack of maintenance can take out components with even the best of metal compositions. What would be great to know is if the lesser metal composition of the gear simply didn't agree with the longer maintenance intervals implemented by MB? When I had a <5 mile commute with a C300 at the time and changed the oil every 5k - the fuel smell in the oil was very noticeable. The car just wasn't driven enough to burn off moisture, fuel etc. Take that scenario to a lesser metal gear and go 10k or 13k on oil and I could see the makings of a worn gear.
My '06 E350 with a commute of >12 miles now, oil changes at 5k, and zero smell of gas in the oil, and much cleaner oil at every change. I don't have a worry about the gear wearing out. Only time will tell.
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gfmohn (12-10-2016)
#261
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
It's been estimated that the failure rate is 10-25%. They didn't actually sell that many E350's, around 50k in the US in 2006. Plus some people have taken their cars to independent mechanics for the repairs and a few others went the DIY route. As mentioned earlier, frequent oil changes are not going to affect whether the metal is too soft or not. If anything, I think it would make it worse as you would have more fresh detergents in the engine more frequently. There could be a downside to changing it too frequently. People who do used oil analysis typically report that the oil ends up being good for several thousand more when they change it at 10k.
I think in Europe they spec 15-25k oil change intervals, they reduced that down to 10-13k because MB felt that the US couldn't handle oil changes on that long an interval.
I think in Europe they spec 15-25k oil change intervals, they reduced that down to 10-13k because MB felt that the US couldn't handle oil changes on that long an interval.
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gfmohn (12-10-2016)
#262
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,316
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From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53 (on order); 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
This is as good a mystery as IMS bearings on 996/997s. With as many as 90% without failure, the metal being constant, what are the other contributing factors? Chain tension, lubrication in some form (or lack of)? It would interesting to understand why some fail and others don't.
Last edited by kjb55; 12-11-2016 at 04:02 PM. Reason: grammar
#263
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Wooly (02-01-2017)
#266
Konigstiger I ended up buying the vin # auto. Took a trip to purchase and it was in great shape. When something goes wrong I will blame you;-) thanks again for the help! :-)
Last edited by Wooly; 02-03-2017 at 01:32 AM.
#267
#268
hi have an 06 e350 vin is
WDBUF87J06X185453 can u check it for me to see if my engine may be affected? Thanks!
Last edited by Jayce Johnson; 06-25-2018 at 03:45 AM.
#271
can you please look up vin 4JGCB65E77A052952 ? Please and thank you, Tim
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tommy gee (11-12-2020)