Engine misfire
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Joined: Aug 2025
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Mercedes Benz e280 (W211)
Engine misfire
Hello everyone, I might be telling the story in too much detail, but I believe that in this case every detail matters. Here’s the situation: recently I went on vacation and left my car in a garage for about two weeks. When I came back, the battery was dead. I charged it and then drove around 500–600 km with several stops and starts – no issues at all. On the way back, while entering the city, the car started shaking badly and it was clear that it was coming from the engine. I turned it off, started it again – and the problem was gone. Two days later, the battery died again, so I replaced it with a new one, along with all the spark plugs. Since then, the car hasn’t shaken like that anymore. A few days passed and I had to drive another 500–600 km. During the trip everything was fine. However, a few days later, when starting the car, it began shaking again. This time I tried turning it off and on 3–4 times in a row, but the problem persisted. I disconnected the battery, reconnected it, and on the next start everything was fine. Now, on the way back (again around 600 km), the issue appeared once more – but this time while driving on the highway. I pulled over on the emergency lane, turned the engine off and on again – and the problem disappeared. My guess is that, for one reason or another, one or more cylinders stop working. Has anyone experienced a similar issue before? I’d really appreciate any kind of information, advice, or suggestions. Thanks in advance! The car is a W211 E280 petrol/LPG (231 hp).
I would also be very thankful if you give me an engine schematic so I can see which cylinder is which(as in cylinder 1, 2...)
I would also be very thankful if you give me an engine schematic so I can see which cylinder is which(as in cylinder 1, 2...)
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 12,162
Likes: 6,882
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
CHAOS AROUND CORNER
Something is causing your engine control to disfunction until you safely power cycle ignition [on/off/on] while parked.
You have also noted battery disconnects are helpful.
You are going to either :
-- read OBDII live chassis data
or
-- spend bundles replacing nearly good parts.
There's absolutely no reason to replace good ignition coils, sparkplugs, injectors, fuel pumps nor filter until proven bad.
Your report makes it clear to me something is bugging the ECU CAN-Bus either another modules or marginal chassis voltage.
Combined this caused your previous battery to drain out. Carefully preserve your new one from further drains: dusconnects most effective until you can identify vampires.
The long story short is SCAN your chassis with a "Launch cReader MB elite" to get a comprehensive status. This will allow you to get useable fault descriptions and read live data.
You have also noted battery disconnects are helpful.
You are going to either :
-- read OBDII live chassis data
or
-- spend bundles replacing nearly good parts.
There's absolutely no reason to replace good ignition coils, sparkplugs, injectors, fuel pumps nor filter until proven bad.
Your report makes it clear to me something is bugging the ECU CAN-Bus either another modules or marginal chassis voltage.
Combined this caused your previous battery to drain out. Carefully preserve your new one from further drains: dusconnects most effective until you can identify vampires.
The long story short is SCAN your chassis with a "Launch cReader MB elite" to get a comprehensive status. This will allow you to get useable fault descriptions and read live data.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 29, 2025 at 03:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 3
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Mercedes Benz e280 (W211)
Took it to a shop near me so they can diagnose it. Codes say cylinder 2 and 5 misfire, also a stretched timing chain...(car is currently at 230k km). The mechanic states it's most probably due to the timing chain being stretched(from what I know the timing chain on these engines(m272) should last 500k km AT LEAST...also a very pricey replacement) or the ignition coils. His suggestion is for me to first change the coils and after that just see if the car still has this issue.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 12,162
Likes: 6,882
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
MISFIRES VS. RESTARTS
Took it to a shop near me so they can diagnose it. Codes say cylinder 2 and 5 misfire, also a stretched timing chain...(car is currently at 230k km).
The mechanic states it's most probably due to the timing chain being stretched(from what I know the timing chain on these engines(m272) should last 500k km AT LEAST...also a very pricey replacement) or the ignition coils.
His suggestion is for me to first change the coils and after that just see if the car still has this issue.
The mechanic states it's most probably due to the timing chain being stretched(from what I know the timing chain on these engines(m272) should last 500k km AT LEAST...also a very pricey replacement) or the ignition coils.
His suggestion is for me to first change the coils and after that just see if the car still has this issue.
Two bad coils at once... really?
Swap coils positions and see where faults land.
You need to see what collection of unstable modules are upsetting the ECU timings. Scan the whole chassis no only ECU.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 12,162
Likes: 6,882
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
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