E350 tensioner & pulley R&R Frequency
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Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 117
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From: NC
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon 2002 E430 2004 SL500
E350 tensioner & pulley R&R Frequency
Local dealer replaced airbag under recall last week and additionally presented me with a 4 page report of all my vehicle's ailments and recommended repairs. One of the rec's was serpentine belt, tensioner and pulley replacement. Vehicle has 65k miles on it. I asked my SA if tensioners typically go bad by this time, I did not get a straight answer. I'll do this maintenance procedure myself as the belt is getting worn. I cannot hear any specific squeaks that would make me think the tensioner or pulleys are worn. My question is do I buy the kit with the belt/pulleys/tensioner and just replace them all at once or do the tensioner and pulley typically give much longer service?
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Joined: Jan 2019
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2011 E350
Watch some UYT videos.....University of You Tube tensioner, idler pulley and belt don’t appear that difficult. If you have occasion to remove water pump and or thermostat the belt has to come off anyway so about as close to perfect timing as you can get. Check out FCPEuro. They have kits with tensioner, idler pulley and belt all in one. Even if you don’t know how to do take to independent shop.
Quick summary of my Audi dealer visit to think about. Took my 2010 A6 for the same Takata airbag recall. Same deal 10 page report with photos and of course a $8000 estimate. He said $8000 of work. I replied no probably about $2000-3000 worthy work that you are charging $8000 for. They didn’t like that pushback. I took my airbag recall and $800 for a new Keyfob,MMI and Nav update and left. Plus they gave me a service loaner for about two weeks so not a total loss.
Especially dealers shop around I have no problem shopping around to...”Keep them honest”. In fact I will tell first place that I am shopping around to keep them honest.
Quick summary of my Audi dealer visit to think about. Took my 2010 A6 for the same Takata airbag recall. Same deal 10 page report with photos and of course a $8000 estimate. He said $8000 of work. I replied no probably about $2000-3000 worthy work that you are charging $8000 for. They didn’t like that pushback. I took my airbag recall and $800 for a new Keyfob,MMI and Nav update and left. Plus they gave me a service loaner for about two weeks so not a total loss.
Especially dealers shop around I have no problem shopping around to...”Keep them honest”. In fact I will tell first place that I am shopping around to keep them honest.
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 118
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2011 E350
As for the 65K. I would proudly belt should be replaced but tensioner and idler pulley should be fine for a little longer. I bet the kit from FCPeuro.com is probably cheaper than even one of the components at the dealer.
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2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
The belt change by itself is about a 15 min job on the E350.
I would wait till there was more of an actual problem with the pulley/tensioner before replacing them, but as mentioned, the entire kit installed as diy is probably less than a dealer belt replacement alone.
I would wait till there was more of an actual problem with the pulley/tensioner before replacing them, but as mentioned, the entire kit installed as diy is probably less than a dealer belt replacement alone.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 117
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From: NC
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon 2002 E430 2004 SL500
Thanks everyone for your input. Other than spinning them, what are some of the diagnosis procedures for identifying a bad pulley and/or tensioner bearings?
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
You have the M272 engine. It's very common for those items to go. Mine went in the 60k range on my 2008. On the 2011, at a little over 90k, it started making a whining noise. You could wait til it starts to make noise. FCPeuro has a lifetime warranty on the parts so if they go again, just get another set. When I replaced mine, I could tell the pulleys had a little bit of play in them and the tensioner was worn. It's a pretty easy and basic repair. If you're doing it, look into the thermostat too, those are also known to go and you have to remove a pulley to replace the thermostat.
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From: TN
2010 E350, 2015 Boxster S, 2019 E53 Sedan
I had this happen last October (2018). The bearing froze, cooked the belt, the belt slapped around and took out oil cooler, the belt tightener, the pulley on crankshaft with harmonic balancer and the vibration damper. The car had 160,000 miles. I only wish I could have chosen to proactively change out the tensioner pulley and bearing.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Sacramento , CA
2010 e550 p2
I had this happen last October (2018). The bearing froze, cooked the belt, the belt slapped around and took out oil cooler, the belt tightener, the pulley on crankshaft with harmonic balancer and the vibration damper. The car had 160,000 miles. I only wish I could have chosen to proactively change out the tensioner pulley and bearing.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Orange County, CA
W222 S550e, C207 E550, W212 E350
I also got a report back saying I should replace mine. My indie said it's fine and doesn't make any weird noises. 52k miles
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ip-prices.html
Check this out^ I just posted the same thing not too long ago. Some good responses on there.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ip-prices.html
Check this out^ I just posted the same thing not too long ago. Some good responses on there.
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Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Mountaintop, PA
'14 W212 Sport, '52 MG TD, '21 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Just did mine two weeks ago at about 80K. It was squeaking a little bit when cold. At about $100 from Rockauto and maybe 15 minutes of my time (plus another 20 chasing down another unrelated noise) it's silly not to do this. Didn't realize FCP parts had a lifetime warranty though, probably should have paid a little bit more for that option.
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Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Just north of Detroit,Michigan
2012 E350 4Matic P2
I had this happen last October (2018). The bearing froze, cooked the belt, the belt slapped around and took out oil cooler, the belt tightener, the pulley on crankshaft with harmonic balancer and the vibration damper. The car had 160,000 miles. I only wish I could have chosen to proactively change out the tensioner pulley and bearing.
Good luck,
Bob
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 15
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From: TN
2010 E350, 2015 Boxster S, 2019 E53 Sedan
We did not. It is my wife's daily driver, but she is also the reason the damage to the harmonic balancer and vibration damper were discovered about a week after repairs were made following the failure of the idler tensioner bearing. She heard it making a slight sound that she was not used to. I don't believe the bearing presented anything detectable before it failed.
