Continue to drive with worn balance shaft sprocket - 1200, 1208
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15
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From: OH
2021 Tesla S, 2014 E250 Distronic Plus, 2013 E350 4matic
Continue to drive with worn balance shaft sprocket - 1200, 1208
Hi,
the well known issue.. yes my 2006 E 350 started check engine light for (272 engine issue - 1200, 1208) at 68,000 miles. Dealer and an indepenant mechanic diagnosed the balance shaft worn sprocket issue. I am still driving my car as usual and even after 7000 miles i still dont feel any warnings of engine failure (yes the CEL light is there but engine is smooth as it was ever). Can i continue to drive this car? Why i am asking is the dealer said the retarded angle is 2 degrees, and my understanding is if the engine is going to fail i will feel the misfires, hesitations etc I also think the sprocket is worn but the rest of it is not going to wear over night - atleast another 20,000 miles left?
So by driving this car now, what are the risks?
will it hit the valves?
will it damage crank shaft or anyother major part?
awaiting answers from you experts.
I dont want to do a $5000 repair on a car which is worth about $15,000
Thanks
the well known issue.. yes my 2006 E 350 started check engine light for (272 engine issue - 1200, 1208) at 68,000 miles. Dealer and an indepenant mechanic diagnosed the balance shaft worn sprocket issue. I am still driving my car as usual and even after 7000 miles i still dont feel any warnings of engine failure (yes the CEL light is there but engine is smooth as it was ever). Can i continue to drive this car? Why i am asking is the dealer said the retarded angle is 2 degrees, and my understanding is if the engine is going to fail i will feel the misfires, hesitations etc I also think the sprocket is worn but the rest of it is not going to wear over night - atleast another 20,000 miles left?
So by driving this car now, what are the risks?
will it hit the valves?
will it damage crank shaft or anyother major part?
awaiting answers from you experts.
I dont want to do a $5000 repair on a car which is worth about $15,000
Thanks
Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Lubbock, Tx
E350
I hate to tell you but sooner or later you will have a major engine failure if you keep driving the car. The metal particles coming from the balance shaft, gears, and bushings get into everything that has oil pressure. Bearings, variable valve timing valves, etc. Basically the engine begins to consume itself. The first sign that the engine has major damage may not be just misfire or hesitation. It could be a catastrophic engine failure that leaves you stranded. There is no way to predict if the failure will be gradual or sudden. These engines are quite complex and the metal particles moving around inside can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
A $5000 repair bill for the balance shaft is expensive, but it's much less than an entire engine. In all honesty, you probably should fix it pretty soon or get rid of the car. The longer you wait, the more likely that major damage will occur. You could already have scored the crankshaft and bearings, or the camshafts and heads. 7000 miles with metal moving around in between machined surfaces is not a good thing.
Sorry for the bad news.
A $5000 repair bill for the balance shaft is expensive, but it's much less than an entire engine. In all honesty, you probably should fix it pretty soon or get rid of the car. The longer you wait, the more likely that major damage will occur. You could already have scored the crankshaft and bearings, or the camshafts and heads. 7000 miles with metal moving around in between machined surfaces is not a good thing.
Sorry for the bad news.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: OH
2021 Tesla S, 2014 E250 Distronic Plus, 2013 E350 4matic
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: OH
2021 Tesla S, 2014 E250 Distronic Plus, 2013 E350 4matic
Thanks for the info. The mechanic said the metal particals will not go to other moving parts such as piston / cylinder, because the oil pump will filter them. That is why the oil pump also needs to be replaced during this repair. but Mercedes dealer said there is risk of cylindar hitting valves they also didnt indicate metal pieces going to other areas of engine. Is that true that metal shavings get filterd and dont reach other arease of engine?
Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Lubbock, Tx
E350
Your mechanic is mistaken. If metal particles get to the oil pump they are circulated throughout the engine. The oil filter will catch some of it but the metal particles are being introduced into the lubrication system at various points due the location of the balance shaft in the oil flow. Any technician that says the oil pump will "filter" the metal out is a card carrying idiot. If the oil pump has to be replaced as part of the repair, common sense would tell anyone that repairs cars for a living that the pump is damaged due to metal particles moving through the pump. If metal particles passed through the pump, they were circulated throughout the engine via all the oil passages to bearings, variable valve timing gears, and valve train. Any moving part that get oil supply is exposed to the particles moving through the engine.
I hope it wasn't the technician at the dealership that told you such a silly story. And if an independent technician told you this, find another technician.
I hope it wasn't the technician at the dealership that told you such a silly story. And if an independent technician told you this, find another technician.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Thanks for the info. The mechanic said the metal particals will not go to other moving parts such as piston / cylinder, because the oil pump will filter them. That is why the oil pump also needs to be replaced during this repair. but Mercedes dealer said there is risk of cylindar hitting valves they also didnt indicate metal pieces going to other areas of engine. Is that true that metal shavings get filterd and dont reach other arease of engine?
Your engine will be damaged if you are generating metal particles and they will move through the oil. Pay me now or pay me later. Pull the engine down now replace the bad parts, and new pump or run pull and quick change with total engine. It really is your choice. No one can tell you when it will fail and be precise.
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Member
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2011 E350, 1998 ML320
Tiny chunks of metal have poor lubrication qualities. 7k miles with this situation has undoubtedly shortened the useful life of the engine. If you are unconcerned with the future of this vehicle, then by all means, continue to drive it until it fails, then walk away. You will certainly get a couple of thousand out of the car from a wrecking yard, so you will be set.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Tesla Model S P100D
I agree with the advice given. I would try to reach some middle ground with MBUSA. Maybe they can cover at least part of the repair since this is happening because they built the engine with a defective part.
Maybe you can get the repair done for $2500 rather than $5000. If you do get this done, get it done by someone who really knows what they are doing.
I wonder what would happen if you try to file a small claims court action against MBUSA for this repair since this is due to a well known error on their behalf.
Get this fixed NOW. I barely drove 25 miles when the CEL light went on in my car because of this issue. Thankfully it was covered by the CPO warranty as otherwise I would have been utterly disappointing with having to foot such a big repair bill. IMHO Mercedes should at least cover half of this repair. Volvo had a similar well-publicized issue and they've been covering half or paying for the entire repair on their XC90 V8s. Mercedes should step up to the plate for their screw-up.
Maybe you can get the repair done for $2500 rather than $5000. If you do get this done, get it done by someone who really knows what they are doing.
I wonder what would happen if you try to file a small claims court action against MBUSA for this repair since this is due to a well known error on their behalf.
Get this fixed NOW. I barely drove 25 miles when the CEL light went on in my car because of this issue. Thankfully it was covered by the CPO warranty as otherwise I would have been utterly disappointing with having to foot such a big repair bill. IMHO Mercedes should at least cover half of this repair. Volvo had a similar well-publicized issue and they've been covering half or paying for the entire repair on their XC90 V8s. Mercedes should step up to the plate for their screw-up.
Last edited by WEBSRFR; Jul 15, 2012 at 03:05 PM.
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 85
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From: Houston
hers E350 / his E55
I just had mine changed less than a week ago, I started to feel the difference on the way my car drove. I drove about 10K hwy miles on it after diagnosed, I have been told the further you go the bigger potential of further damages there is.
Since my car is out of warranty and now with 86K on it being a E350 07, MB was in the beginning not going help in any way. After some talking back and forth about this they ended up covering the full charge, in warranty work you are looking at least $7000,- I did mine through MB as I don't trust my indy to do this even though he said he would do it for $5000. MB did tell me this was a known fact but not enough cases to do a recall, based on this they gave me goodwill, first they were going to do 50/50 but ended up paying 100% and they threw in an updated nav CD for some reason.
Since my car is out of warranty and now with 86K on it being a E350 07, MB was in the beginning not going help in any way. After some talking back and forth about this they ended up covering the full charge, in warranty work you are looking at least $7000,- I did mine through MB as I don't trust my indy to do this even though he said he would do it for $5000. MB did tell me this was a known fact but not enough cases to do a recall, based on this they gave me goodwill, first they were going to do 50/50 but ended up paying 100% and they threw in an updated nav CD for some reason.
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Tesla Model S P100D
I've heard other people say that they have been able to get MB to cover this out of warranty. Some 50% and some even 100%.
It seems very unfair and arbitrary how Mercedes is dealing with this. I have a feeling the outcome depends on large part to the relationship you have with the dealer and the relationship the dealer has with Mercedes.
I really feel for the unfortunate Mercedes customers who end up with a 5 year old car worth $15,000 that is now in need of a $5,000 repair. These customers are being completely screwed by Mercedes. I think when Volvo had a similar issue as a matter of policy, they agreed to cover it.
I think as a matter of policy they should agree to cover at least 50% of this cost. Same way they agreed to cover the SBC failures. Shame on them for not doing the right thing.
Last edited by WEBSRFR; Jul 16, 2012 at 05:52 PM.
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SLK 280
SLK 280 Engine Balance Shaft
Are there any other people on here in the UK that has had this issue?
I have recently purchased an SLK 280 and have now been told that balance shaft needs replacing at a cost of £5000+
Car is 2007 and only 22,000 miles
Repair represents almost half the cost of the car :-(
Rob
I have recently purchased an SLK 280 and have now been told that balance shaft needs replacing at a cost of £5000+
Car is 2007 and only 22,000 miles
Repair represents almost half the cost of the car :-(
Rob
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
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Tesla Model S P100D
That really sucks people are being hit with these bills because Mercedes shipped the engines with a defective part.
I had this repair fixed in my E550 and covered under warranty. Otherwise it would have been a crazy bill.
I had this repair fixed in my E550 and covered under warranty. Otherwise it would have been a crazy bill.
Last edited by WEBSRFR; May 14, 2014 at 12:27 PM.
