samsquamsch

Hello! I drive a 2006 E350. In June 2015 I got a P0015 error code for a passenger-side camshaft solenoid timing being retarded. I purchased a set of 4 solenoids and replaced the two on that side of the car, fixing the error code. While doing an oil change two days ago, I remembered that I had two new solenoids and decided to change the ones on the driver's side that hadn't thrown an error code yet. After finishing up and having driven for 15 minutes, on the next startup I got a new error code, P0020 "B" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 2). I'm hitting myself in the head for going and doing what I thought was preventive maintenance that may have just earned me a different headache, but I can't figure out if this is related or unrelated to the switch. I found this single thread from this subforum regarding the error code, and although my engine does not sound like that, I'm wondering if one or both of the solenoids I just put in could be bad and cause this seemingly unrelated error to pop up. I'm definitely an amateur at car repair, the most extensive work I've done to this car is change the crankshaft position sensor, but if it's just a matter of replacing the two solenoids I just put in, I could handle that. I'm just really hoping it's nothing scary like what Google has been turning up, which appears to be a $4000-6000 repair. Thanks for reading!

Also possibly related, probably dumb, but prior to installing them they'd been sitting in my trunk for 10 months. I have two 12" subs, so could excessive vibration have caused them damage?

davidjohnbamber

Have you checked to see if your engine might possibly be one that had the balance shaft issue?

samsquamsch

If Wikipedia can be trusted when it says the issue affects "engine serial numbers below 272930 468993", then possibly? My engine is #272964 30351714 by two different VIN decoder websites. Is that accurate, or is that "64" after the 2729 unnecessary information? I'm still hoping that this is related to the solenoids and NOT a $4000 repair.

My VIN is WDBUF56J16A965612

Plutoe

If the VIN is correct you have a 272.964 number 351714 with a 722.906 transmission number 647589

The full number describes the engine---this isn't bingo where you drop anything!!

samsquamsch

Haha, thanks! Still, I don't know where that extra '30' is coming from. So I'm definitely out of range of the faulty design? I am leaning towards purchasing new solenoids and swapping them out, because of the chance that the new ones are defective.

Plutoe

A .930 is different from a .964---and this time suggest you purchase the genuine item!!

samsquamsch

The thing is these were genuine, official and all, I just think maybe ten months of subjecting them to intense vibration probably damaged them. And foolishly, I had already thrown away the functioning old ones. I'll update the thread if this does the trick. Thanks for the replies!

Edit: I'm definitely out of range for the susceptible engine design, correct? If the repair ends up being inevitable this extra $100 on solenoids will be inconsequential, but I'd like to be sure.

davidjohnbamber

There is a thread on one of the forums on the balance shaft. I would find it, and put a query in with your VIN, and see what you get! I also seem to remember that when I was following the thread when I was looking a W211, that the parts had been "upgraded with a new part #.

cetialpha5

You should read the balance shaft thread. Your engine is DEFINITELY affected. All 2006 E350 had the bad balance shaft. They didn't fix it til a few months into the 2007 production. Your engine number is 30 351714 which is less than 30 468993. The 272 964 is the type of engine, basically the M272.

samsquamsch

Sorry, I'm on mobile. Could I get a link? Thanks.

cetialpha5

Here you go:

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...nce-shaft.html

samsquamsch

Thank you, I posted. That's going to suck if that's the case...

naghtan

Hey, how end these story? I get similar case as you... Change solenoid by P0025 code, and now I get P0020 code... but my engine it is out of range... 2007... I already check... but anyways I will post in the other link...