Jake Schnarre

06 R350 purchased in 2011, has around 80K.

Yesterday, car would no longer move, regardless of the gear. Engine would rev, but not car would not move.

Towed to Plaza Mercedes here in St. Louis, recived a call this morning with a $16,000 repair estimate! On a car that is barely worth that much!

Service person did not believe this was the conductor plate issue, but rather something else wrong - broken input shaft was the service contact's guess. - Repair bill - $8500

Also claimed the car was throwing the 1200/1208 codes through the CEL had not come on until the transmission went. Balance shaft repair - $8000

Any suggestions on recourse?

Jake

emericr

Yikes. Can't be fun to be receiving those calls
Get another estimate from a reputable repair shop.
Good luck.

xxGenericSNxx

Better find a reputable independent mechanic and get a second estimate. Or take it to another Benz dealer and ask? (MB St. Charles? Although I've been to St. Charles and had some issues with their customer service afterwards)

155

Horrible situation... I can't really add anything the other two have already posted. Best of luck. What I do know is a fully reconditioned transmission from MB Canada (w/friends and family discount) is $6600 or thereabouts.

vwfreak

I would have it towed to a railroad track or off a cliff.

supernsx

Sorry to hear that and it is horrible. I would definitely not pay $16K to fix that and will take the car to an indy shop or transmission specialty shop to re-diagnosis. If the transmission is really the problem, may be they can rebuild the transmission for you or replace it with an used unit (find a low mileage one). It may be still quite expensive but definitely not $16K expensive.

This is an outside thread that I found on balance shaft. it seems like a common problem for the 350 engines in both R and ML.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...t-failure.html

Good luck.

pacoman

Go on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bala...ref=ts&fref=ts There is an active community who is suing or planning to sue MB over that issue. Sorry to hear about your experience because it's an awesome car when it runs. Nobody should buy a pre-2008 R class because you will inevitably be subjected to these situations.

R. Reyes

Also contact Renntech. They have a transmission upgrade which was intended for the R63 at 50% of what the dealer is charging and it comes w/ a warranty.

They're not super responsive, but at those prices for repair I would for sure "stalk" 'em.

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/524

t4pizza

I feel your pain, dealer just told me that I need front differential at $4500 and balance shaft at $9300 for my wifes 2006 R350 with 82000 miles on it. I almost blew a gasket talking with my rep. How in the world could a luxury car have multiple systematic mechanical issues of this magnitude. I had taken the car in over a week ago with a CEL. They do the recall and claim it clears the code but tell me that the cam shaft gaskets were leaking oil and need to be fixed, it was only around 450 so I told them to do it. I call back to get car and they tell be that while test driving they hear a sound and its my front differential and give me the price. I tell them to wait while I look into it. After reading up on the front differential on hear I had determined that I would just attempt to rebuild the thing. It was only when I called back to pick it up today that he tells me the CEL came back on and that it was the balance shaft. Have no idea what to do but I can't imagine putting 9300 into that car. It really blows my mind because the car is great excluding the mechanical problems.

R. Reyes

Sorry to hear about your problems. It's really disturbing as I would have expected more from MB. I have to say that this vehicle and MB's responses have made me convinced that I'll never own another MB.

I looked yesterday at trading in mine for a....FORD. A freakin' FORD. That is almost to disgusting to even type. And it may also be a piece of crap, but it won't require me to spend almost $10k for a repair on a 6 year old car.

The bad part for R owners...is that other dealers know of the problem and are using that in their negotiations on price. Yet, MB says there's no problem.

bumpersignal

That balance shaft thing scares me. R-class 2008 and later do not have the problem?

R. Reyes

'08's & newer SHOULD not have the problem. But then again, they shouldn't have had the problem in the first place either.

pacoman

The problem lies with a certain number of M272 engines as MB learned about the balance shaft fail and started to make the balance shaft metal stronger in later produced M272 engines.

“Applicable Models (Not Applicable to Model 164.156, 204 or 216.386): Equipped with M272 Engine Up to Serial No. 2729..30 468993 or M273 Engine Up to Serial No. 2739..30 088611. The material for the balance shaft sprocket and the timing chain guide wheel (idler) was modified on engines past the serial numbers listed above.”

So, find your engine number and check. Also, MB says only some of the affected engines in the affected range actually fail so all hope is not lost if your engine is within the range.

clkwork

...and people called me crazy for leasing my Benz. Sorry to hear about your troubles and I hope you find a reasonable resolution. Stories like this are why I would never own a MB out of warranty.