The dreaded M272 Balance Shaft
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
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From: Bay Area, CA
2007 C280 4matic
class action lawsuit was filed in October 2012 in Northern California,[7] covering Mercedes Benz models manufactured between 2005 and 2007. A preliminary settlement was reached on April 8, 2015,[8] which would see owners compensated for up to 70% of the cost of the repair. The settlement terms are expected to be ratified in August 2015
Does anyone know how to follow up on this? I have a 2006 MB SLK 350 - 60 Km - replaced the balance shaft at 50,000 KM at a cost of $4500 and now they tell me the engine is shot
I can't believe Mercedes can get away with this; does anyone know how you follow up on the class action suit in California?
Does anyone know how to follow up on this? I have a 2006 MB SLK 350 - 60 Km - replaced the balance shaft at 50,000 KM at a cost of $4500 and now they tell me the engine is shot
I can't believe Mercedes can get away with this; does anyone know how you follow up on the class action suit in California?
https://eclaim.kccllc.net/caclaimforms/mse/home.aspx
then click on Claim Form Generation
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 35
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2006 E350 4matic
The settlement refers to MB covering a percentage of "reasonable" costs at a dealer. What is "reasonable" cost and how is it determined? Should we assume that it is close to $4k since that is the max you can get reimbursed for non-dealer service already performed?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 535
Likes: 13
From: Franklin, MA
2006 CLK 350/. 2009 CLK 350/2005 Both White
I'm really confused because I haven't been able to find an actual number the thing is in some places its 4 in some places it's six and in some places it's $8000 think about it you're a high end dealer in New York City or if you are a dealer in Missouri it all depends so its going to probably be a percentage but what I mean honestly they're not rebuilding the engine so it should be a hundred percent coverage and we pay for the parts all rings gaskets things like that that would be fair to me I don't mind cleaning up 500 dollars get it
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
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2008 E350
2008 E350
Trying to found out if this car is covered.
2008 E350 109,000 miles. Engine light on. Mercedes says balance shaft needs to be replace. 8k?
Really? Now it looks like just cars up to 2007 are covered but I have the same engine as 2007 model.
2008 E350 109,000 miles. Engine light on. Mercedes says balance shaft needs to be replace. 8k?
Really? Now it looks like just cars up to 2007 are covered but I have the same engine as 2007 model.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
What's the VIN number? It is probably not covered, what's the error codes from the check engine light? For the W211, they used the same engine from 2006-2009. They just made a change in manufacturing in 2007 that supposedly eliminated the problem. There are many other threads that mention how to check the engine to see how bad it really is.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 535
Likes: 13
From: Franklin, MA
2006 CLK 350/. 2009 CLK 350/2005 Both White
can you call a deal and give you vin to see if the work has already been done? today I changed my Cam shaft position sensor because I was getting a code PS0025 and when looking close I say that gasket cement Aftermarket was seen on cly heads. Also Tie wrap on the Sensor in back to the connect line form hitting stuff and you can tell its not factory work .. SO I am thinking that the cam shaft gear has been replace already ...Black gaskets cement seeping out in the valve covers both side indicates a repair ... the pervious owner 9k to 32k said no major repairs just OIL and I have had it from 34k to now 44k...
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
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2002 E430 4matic
Quick question: 2007 E350 base, checked Russian site (works like a charm) - engine S/N 376034 (Sent to dealer 6/27/2006 - it's a VERY early 2007) - CELs P0016 & P0017 - runs fine. (CELs showed up 2 weeks after receiving car - shipped in from out of state.) I have original owners info & will ask if CELs were thrown. - so the stealer may have pulled a fast one... I have my claim form.
Now what? Can I just go ahead & have the repair done at a MB stealer & file the claim form? Am moving to another state in a month with emission checking with CELs included in the check. I want to be done in advance - as well as not having to drive 2K in this condition. The other option is ship this car & drive the wife's E430 instead repairing there.
Hi everyone - 1st post. Will be filling in garage info when time permits. I came from a 1995 urS6 Audi. Missing the warp drive, Ricaro seats, & razor sharp handling. Not missing much else. I look for cars I can buy under $15k, enjoyable to drive, and will easily go another 100K miles. E350 has 69K miles & is a joy to drive. Moving from Orlando area (Florida - state of ignorance) to Denver area. (Just got rid of AWD for RWD- - and moving to where the AWD would be a riot to have. %^&*) I normally pull my own wrenches - and hate the thought of the dealer getting thier grubby hands on it.
Bill the Cat
Now what? Can I just go ahead & have the repair done at a MB stealer & file the claim form? Am moving to another state in a month with emission checking with CELs included in the check. I want to be done in advance - as well as not having to drive 2K in this condition. The other option is ship this car & drive the wife's E430 instead repairing there.
Hi everyone - 1st post. Will be filling in garage info when time permits. I came from a 1995 urS6 Audi. Missing the warp drive, Ricaro seats, & razor sharp handling. Not missing much else. I look for cars I can buy under $15k, enjoyable to drive, and will easily go another 100K miles. E350 has 69K miles & is a joy to drive. Moving from Orlando area (Florida - state of ignorance) to Denver area. (Just got rid of AWD for RWD- - and moving to where the AWD would be a riot to have. %^&*) I normally pull my own wrenches - and hate the thought of the dealer getting thier grubby hands on it.
Bill the Cat
Last edited by billcat1; Sep 4, 2015 at 08:45 PM. Reason: Fat fingers
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
From: Oregon
06 E55
I have a question about this. What if someone has problems with the balance shaft outside of this date? It won't be covered? Also to submit a claim do you have to have all the required problems? The reason I ask is because my 07 e350 engine is within the affected range but I only have one code and not both. I am throwing the intake code but not the exhaust and per my dealer I need both to get it repaired. Thank you guys for the help
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 35
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2006 E350 4matic
I had the intake code intermittently in the beginning, and now I have both. My understanding is that there will be an "effective date" announced that will start the dealer treatment of this issue, not for reimbursement. The Sept 25th is a reimbursement date for repairs performed in the past before the settlement, repairs between the settlement date and the "effective date" have 45 days (I think, need to check) to file from date of repair, and repairs done after the "effective date" are only at a dealer and done by a dealer at the dealer participation rate that applies depending on age and miles of vehicle, and based on the "reasonable" cost. I still want to know what "reasonable" is for this repair...
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 3
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2006 R350
I can report that I had an intermittent check engine (yellow) light and tried replacing gas cap, etc. Finally went to dealer and learned that it was this issue. 2006 R350 which has been under super extended warranty until January 2015, so I am furious.
Bottom line, MB pays a mere 37.5% of the cost, we are looking at about $3700 out of pocket after MB contribution. I am actually a lawyer and if I had gotten notice, I probably would have opted out of an court settlement. I have to believe that now that they have settled for 37.5%, that a higher amount could be extracted. Given how pissed I am, I think I would have had a lot of energy to aim at MB.
I'm talking to my MB dealer tomorrow, we had a chat and he asked what I planned to do with the car and my response was "well, I expected to have a year after warranty to drive it and figure out which MB would be next now that they aren't making the R350, but if we are stuck with a $3700 bill on this, then I don't think you'll be seeing us any longer." My hope is that I can negotiate some level of credit against a new or certified used MB through them. I have been a cash cow for these guys, probably $18k in warranty work on this 2006 car that they have gotten every penny of.
BTW, it is quite likely that you could buy the aftermarket balancer (I found it for $120) and have an indy shop do the repair and come out way ahead of using a dealer (which is the only way you can get the MB credit).
All in all, a double shaft, once by MB and once by my own profession! The lawyers (and named plaintiffs) made out well, so did MB, as this part is and always was defective.
Bottom line, MB pays a mere 37.5% of the cost, we are looking at about $3700 out of pocket after MB contribution. I am actually a lawyer and if I had gotten notice, I probably would have opted out of an court settlement. I have to believe that now that they have settled for 37.5%, that a higher amount could be extracted. Given how pissed I am, I think I would have had a lot of energy to aim at MB.
I'm talking to my MB dealer tomorrow, we had a chat and he asked what I planned to do with the car and my response was "well, I expected to have a year after warranty to drive it and figure out which MB would be next now that they aren't making the R350, but if we are stuck with a $3700 bill on this, then I don't think you'll be seeing us any longer." My hope is that I can negotiate some level of credit against a new or certified used MB through them. I have been a cash cow for these guys, probably $18k in warranty work on this 2006 car that they have gotten every penny of.
BTW, it is quite likely that you could buy the aftermarket balancer (I found it for $120) and have an indy shop do the repair and come out way ahead of using a dealer (which is the only way you can get the MB credit).
All in all, a double shaft, once by MB and once by my own profession! The lawyers (and named plaintiffs) made out well, so did MB, as this part is and always was defective.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 35
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2006 E350 4matic
Hardtail that is a good price. Where are you located? I may drive my Benz to your dealer from Brooklyn NY...
It is a big job, in some smaller shops I have been they do not have a lot of space and they are so messy, I am not sure if they would even be able to find all the screws for assembly..
Since we never got a notice for an opportunity to opt out, I am not so clear why we have to be part of the settlement. Can whoever was sending out notifications provide evidence that I was notified? If they do not have to, does that imply that we are supposed to be google-searching on a daily basis for xxxx vs whatever, regarding everything we own and/or do, or else risk being part of some "settlement" we are unaware of?
The effective date I believe has not yet occurred, or am I wrong?
It is a big job, in some smaller shops I have been they do not have a lot of space and they are so messy, I am not sure if they would even be able to find all the screws for assembly..
Since we never got a notice for an opportunity to opt out, I am not so clear why we have to be part of the settlement. Can whoever was sending out notifications provide evidence that I was notified? If they do not have to, does that imply that we are supposed to be google-searching on a daily basis for xxxx vs whatever, regarding everything we own and/or do, or else risk being part of some "settlement" we are unaware of?
The effective date I believe has not yet occurred, or am I wrong?
Last edited by vpipis; Sep 14, 2015 at 09:48 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2006 R350
vpipis- We are in the Seattle area. It's a rough estimate, we'll see what it winds up actually being in the end. BTW- they did try to convince me to do some other things while they had it all apart (1) serpentine belt pullies and (2) timing belt+ tensioner. I laughed, said I'd had several european cars well into the 200k miles ranges in my life and never heard of a timing belt problem, to which he agreed. Overall, I wasn't interested in spending another $2k for these preventative "extras" for a car I am going to dump. Hopefully I can sell it for whatever this bill winds up being.
As for expertise, you probably are right, the guy at the dealer here is pretty much dedicated to engine breakdowns, and they do warranty it for 12 months. I told my wife I wanted out of this car in January when the warranty expired, I couldn't imagine having owned the thing for the last 7 years with no extended warranty.
As for expertise, you probably are right, the guy at the dealer here is pretty much dedicated to engine breakdowns, and they do warranty it for 12 months. I told my wife I wanted out of this car in January when the warranty expired, I couldn't imagine having owned the thing for the last 7 years with no extended warranty.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 3
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2006 R350
Slight update. MB dealer had car for the last week. Called last night to tell us to pick the car up today and said that as a courtesy they had done the timing belt, tensioner and various pulleys at no charge. Still havent seen the final invoice yet, but hey, that will help soften the blow. Especially since mechanic said that he saw signs of wear on the timing belt and thought it would need to be replaced soon.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 35
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2006 E350 4matic
Hardtail. the effective date for the settlement has not occured yet, has it? I believe that once the balance shaft gear breaks apart due to the defect, the timing chain is not guided correctly and rubs around and with many things and ways that it shouldn't, so not only am I not surprised but I would expect unusual wear and tear. Hence it would at least be good practice and even advisable to change the chain, the chain guides, tensioner, oil pump (it is in oil pan where all grindings and broken teeth end up) and balance shaft, along with various seals and gaskets, and I am sure I am missing a few parts from my list. Good to hear your dealer is helping out.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Satellite Beach, FL
2017 GLS 450
Looking to buy an 06 E350 but need to know if it may have the balance shaft issue. I already had this issue with my wife's R350 (and the differential issue as well) and don't need to deal with another one. I called my local MB dealership for the info but they have yet to get back to me. I tried checking those russian vin sites but got nothing. The VIN of the car is
WDBUF56J16A753258
Thank you in advance for your help.
WDBUF56J16A753258
Thank you in advance for your help.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Pretty much all 2006 E350's have the the balance shaft issue. You'd have to look at a 2007+, about a 1/3 of the early 2007's have the issue, sometime after Sept 2006 was fine. And which Russian site did you use?
Here's two that still work:
http://www.neoriginal.ru/cat/mb
http://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/mercedes
Here's two that still work:
http://www.neoriginal.ru/cat/mb
http://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/mercedes
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 314
Likes: 29
From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
I get your engine number as 272 964 30 039 245 based on the VIN you posted, and since the affected range of engines is up to 30468993 (going by the last 8 digits), I think that car is at risk.
That being said, though, not all of the cars were bad. My wife's car is that year, and so far, so good. Mine is a 2007, and I had to have mine replaced.
That being said, though, not all of the cars were bad. My wife's car is that year, and so far, so good. Mine is a 2007, and I had to have mine replaced.
Last edited by jimbo1763; Sep 21, 2015 at 03:44 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Monterey,California
09 Mercedes E350, 94 Corvette
Balance Shaft
I would like to know if this MB falls in the particular range I am looking to buy it the VIN is WDBRF52H26A893036 thanks guys.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 314
Likes: 29
From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
You can check it yourself if you like at the site given at Post 5 of this link.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w211...et-engine.html
Based on that, it looks like your engine number is 272 920 30 322595, and that would put it in the affected range, as that goes up to engines having 30 468993 as the last 8 digits for the 272 engine.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w211...et-engine.html
Based on that, it looks like your engine number is 272 920 30 322595, and that would put it in the affected range, as that goes up to engines having 30 468993 as the last 8 digits for the 272 engine.
