Rick Cell

My 07 S550 check engine light came on the other day. Took the car to the local dealer and they told me that the codes 1200 and 1208 appeared. The car has 34000miles and two and a half weeks out of warranty. They are telling me the car needs a timing chain gear sprocket and possibly a timing chain. I could not believe my ears what I was being told. After doing further investigation I find out that MB sent out bulletins to their dealers regarding a problem as described to me. They talk about how to repair it but the dealer said if the car is out of warranty were on our own. They list the engine vin number range of all the cars affected and said the factory corrected the problem after the vin numbers listed. I'm very surprised at a solid company like MB would not recall the cars affected and correct the problem. I guess if anybody is in the market for a used S550 they should do their homework or face the possibility of being out of pocket 5K. There are a bunch of other MB models that fall in this timing chain and sprocket issue. I'm waiting to see what corporate MB is going to do for me.

WEBSRFR

Anyone else had to replace a timing belt so early? Shouldn't MB do something if it needs replacement so soon?

Em Bee Lover

Sorry to learn MB doesn't know your name after being out of warranty only three-four weeks. I experienced the same thing. Pretty aggravating and disappointing.

Would you be nice enough to provide the last six numbers of your car's VIN?

You mentioned you were told MB corrected the problem after a certain range of cars. As stated prior, I am out of warranty. Knowing whether mine is w/in the "bad" range will either keep me awake or let me sleep. Others likely would appreciate knowing, as well.

Thanks!

Rick Cell

Its not the timing belt its the chain and chain sprocket inside the engine .

Rick Cell

Mar 26, 2008
T-B-03.30/09a
Revision: Combination of DTBs, Model 164.186/871, Model 251.165
Equipped with M272 Engine Up to Serial No. 2729..30 468993
or M273 Engine Up to Serial No. 2739..30 088611
Check Engine Light On / Fault Codes FC1200 / FC1208 Stored in ME-SFI Control Unit

MBS430

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w221...g-what-my.html

JosanK

Uh Oh. My 2007 engine number ends in 067323.

I wonder what the probability of this failure is? 100%? 10%?

My car is under CPO warranty till August 2011. Is there some action that I should take or could take?

socketman

If you contact benz they may offer support, sometimes they will. the early 272-273 motors have this problem its all just a matter of time

egauster

Hi Everyone,
Just got off the phone with a specialist that MBrace connected me with and my engine ser# ends in 8326 (They got it by researching the vin#). They state that this issue did not affect my engine.

I have an '07. Anyone worried, I would check with MBrace or the dealer to be sure.

Anyone who has had this issue please update us as to MB's willingness to pay for the replacement or repair.

MBS430

W221.171 = S550 LWB
W221.186 = S550 4Matic LWB

M273 engine is a V8 and M272 is V6.

for S550 in US, to avoid this issue, try to look for engine serial number beyond 2739..30 088611.

anyone has any idea what MY will that be?

emilner

Another reason not to have this car out of warranty...

K-A

Dude, you sold your S?

WHAAAAAAAAAA?

You picked a hella good replacement though.

Details?

emilner

Yeah, moved on quick. In the last year I have had:
2007 E550
2010 E550
2007 S550
2011 550ix
Wife:
2008 ESV
2010 Escalade

I am a sucker for a car with a "550" in the title

I loved my S, but grew tired of the size. I wanted something sportier.

I love the 550ix!

K-A

Wow! I thought I was crazy with my car purchases in the last 2 years! Hope you didn't get dinged too bad on that trade-in. What happened with the S? Did you tire of it, or was it the 5 that just sucked you in? [Edit: Just realized you said "size"]

Also, am I reading that correctly, in that it has the "M" Pack? I wasn't sure if that was available yet.

And, you need to listen to me very closely: I need pics, STAT!

emilner

Yeah, I loved the S, but I just missed the sporty feel of my E. My new car takes it to an all new level, it just devastates my 2010 E550. And the tech is awesome.

Yep, got the M sport package. I got one of the first M sport X drives around, they just started getting here. I have yet to see another 5er on the road yet. I get 100X the looks in this car compared to my S. S cars are everywhere on the north shore of LI. I have had guys fly past me, slam on their brakes, come back and check the car back to front, then take off again lol.

Here is a thread I started on Bimmerfest with a couple of pics: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=495106

K-A

Damn, looks great! M-Pack is a must for the F10 IMO, especially once they start getting out there more, it'll keep yours with some individuality. Sounds like a loaded up beast! Congrats. You really need to update that Sig now.

WEBSRFR

Anyone have any idea what model year onwards this engine issue is not an issue? Are the later model 2007 vehicles not affected? The serial number of the engine seems to be in a strange format... 2739..30 088611

Where can I find the serial number of the engine and should I just look for those last 6 digits?

egauster

Mine was actually within the affected range of serial numbers and I have confirmed that the engine is not affected, by contacting Mercedes. Mine is an 07 S550 4matic. I would imagine 08 and later not affected.

Best to call Mercedes, have a tech run the vin and they will tell you.

Rick Cell

[quote=egauster;4348715]Mine was actually within the affected range of serial numbers and I have confirmed that the engine is not affected, by contacting Mercedes. Mine is an 07 S550 4matic. I would imagine 08 and later not affected.

I'm wondering how he knows what chain and sprocket went into your engine if its on the affected list .

MBS430

give your VIN to MB dealer and they can find out the engine serial number.

MBS430

[QUOTE=Rick Cell;4348768]+ 1 on the Rick Cell's question.

were they able to inspect the sprocket to determine if there is excessive wear?

egauster

They didn't inspect but the implication was that the part was upgraded. I have almost 58,000 miles on the car and this defect would have presented itself by now. They seemed very familiar with the issue.

laxexquis

Wow, just got off the phone with Merc, I'm 8534, barely under 8611! I did not ask them anything about the issue, just for the number, it would be nice if they kind of over estimated and my number is really okay

But now as recall my check engine light going on and off, I am beginning to panic! Anyone know the est cost of this cause I am out of warranty....

Anyone know if this issue is something that is bound to happen? Or is there just a chance?

But about the check engine light, when I put my key in the running pos without the engine on and all the lights in the IC light up, I noticed there were two check engine lights, one spelled out "Check Engine" and another that just shows the yellow outline of an engine (which I am assuming is a check engine light), anyone know the difference? I have the outlined engine light for what it's worth.


John

Wantmy1stbenz

I thought about you when I read this post. Smh thank god I didn't get mines from the auction yet

Rick Cell

I went from bad to good to worst. Took the car to the dealer and they told me that they would fix the car and they will deal with MB corporate so they go ahead and change the timing chain sprocket. I get the car back and drive it a bit then park in my warehouse. A day later one of my guys at work told me there is a puddle under the engine of the car. Upon further investigation we concluded that the puddle is antifreeze so back to my local dealer the car goes. I receive a call one hour later from the SM and tells me that the head gaskets are leaking from the front of the engine. He explains to me that when the timing cover was removed and replaced that the timing cover seal sits under the heads and he has seen it before where the head gaskets start leaking when the timing cover seal is removed and replaced and MB will not pay to RE and RE the heads when correcting the timing chain sprocket issue. This is unbelieveable and I am loosing my patience with MB.