oldstar

Just Turned 160000 kms on my 2007 s550 4 matic.
Cars is running fine. CEL came on 2 days ago and my MB 2 Scanner was put to good use. I have the Codes 1200 & 1208 or p0016 & p0017.
My Engine number is 273968 30 081952 which I understand puts me in the trouble zone for having bad parts in my Engine.
I called the only Dealership in my province ( very nice people btw ) and gave them all the information I have and was told that the only way to be sure what the problem was, was to have the Star Dig, run a scan on my car.
it would be able to be 100% sure what is wrong???
I would like to get some feedback on this from some people here if I could.
I have no loss of power and the light will turn off by itself too after a few starts??? the code is stored.


Thanks for reading the above

konigstiger

Balance shaft. Attached MB DTC 1200 & 1208 (generic p0016 & p0016), and bulletins.

oldstar

Thank you for your information.
Looks like my car is going to the Dealer.
Good to know my little MB2 Scanner agrees with MB.....I will take the bulletins with me
and see what happens.

oldstar

update: Just back from the MB Dealership.
yep star dig agrees with my MB2 Scanner. Timing Chain / Sprocket need to be changed.
MB Has a kit for this @ $ 500 cdn and 30 Hours of labour to install and an oil Change.
Total out the door tax in ( 15%) is $5600.00.. Dealership is going to ask MB if any good will can be sent my way ( hope so )
MB tech says the Motor can stay in the car...Dealership is very helpful BTW.
Does the above information sound right ? any input would be of help.

superpop

I would find a good indy for this work. $5600 is a complete rip off.

oldstar

Thanks for your input. @$ 5600.00... if MB Canada does not help out,( im not looking for them to pay the whole thing, it is my car, so it's my problem ) Im am going to have to do some thinking about this for sure. I see lots of stuff on the net about this problem. The good news I did get from the Dealership today was, If I get them to do the work
the job comes with a 2 year unlimited kms warranty. An indy is for sure an option too.

alx

have they confirmed it by looking into the cam shaft position sensor holes?

it is probably balance shaft since both intake and exhaust are retarded, but stakes are high so it worth it checking the sensors which are much much cheaper. just saying.

oldstar

Yes they did look into the sensor holes. one was right on and the other was off. I
wish it was just the sensors. Thank you for looking at my post and offering your advice. I will know in a few days if MB Canada is going to help out. I sent in copy's of my oil changes to the Dealership this morning and the Dealership will forward them to MB Canada. I was told that the oil used must be MB approved. This I can show on my work orders. I hope it does help.

oldstar

Just an update on my 07 s550.
The Dealership has forwarded my copy's of my oil change work orders to MB Canada.
MB Canada has asked if I have the service book for my car (this I don't have).
I do have a copy's of my Carproof showing the car at " Service Facility" which I have been able to ID as another MB Dealership in New Brunswick . I'm hoping MB Canada can ask for information in regards to oil Changes history from this Dealership.
My Carproof history goes back to April 2011....Halifax Dealership is being very helpful.....I will post the final out come when I know if MB Canada is going to help out.

oldstar

Final update :
MB Canada will offer no help on this problem, it is no reflection on the Nova Scotia Dealership.
Based on this response from MB Canada I will be looking at the BWM 7 Series closer
as a replacement for my S Class.
This is not the end of the World by any means, im sure I will enjoy compairing the 7 Series to the S Class to see what I think.

alx

an indy can install new chain and tensioner at a fraction of the dealer cost. if tensioner is good (and if no noise it is probably good) the old chain is split and new one snaked in. a bit more work if tensioner needs to be replaced. anyway- it is not a complex procedure, just time consuming. look around and i am sure you might be relatively nicely surprised.

oldstar

Thanks alx, I was just on the phone with an indy asking for a quote.
I should have an answer in an hour or so.
My Car is making no noise at all. Power level is the same, just the light on in the dash
so I think im at the start of the problem.
I hope your right about getting a nice surprise.....

alx

yes, not an engine out procedure. there is some clearance - generating disassembly to obtain access to the (left if i remember correctly) camshaft gear where the old chain is split and new chain is attached... engine is turned over and new chain is fed. i have done a few and it took me a day from start to finish. the procedure requires a few special tools, but nothing exuberant.

good luck and let us know how it goes.

oldstar

alx, would this also include replacing the Gear along with the Chain?
If I understand this problem on the m273 Motor , it's because the teeth on the Gear wears down over time as it was made of a metal that's not strong enough to last.

alx

on the 273 motor it can be a stretched chain or more often the idler gear abnormal wear. this needs to be visually inspected. if the idler gear is in good shape the chain is snaked as i mentioned before- no engine out. if the idler gear is worn out though- it needs to be replaced. it can be done with engine in place, but is a tight job.

i dont believe you can be quoted a job unless the idler gear is observed as this determines engine in/ out job.

btw i just looked it up and there is a good will campaign by mbusa to cover 40% or thereabouts of the repair up to 125k miles. mb canada has not adopted that?

oldstar

Thank you for the information. The Dealership here in Nova Scotia said the Motor would say in the car if the repair was done by them. The Dealer said it would take 30 Hours to do the job. Indy has not gotten back to me yet on a price for them to do the job.
As to MB Canada vs MB USA, I Guess MB USA is more willing to extend goodwill.
My car is at 161,000 kms, I got it with 115,000 kms on the clock.
Thanks again for all of your help on this.

oldstar

latest update:
Indy will do the Job for $4424.00 tax in ( about $3000.00 us ) This will include a new timing chain.
so I save $1176.00 over the Dealership. It will be OEM Mercedes Parts being installed.
Indy also agrees that the engine can stay in the Car.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

alx

do you need a new idler gear? if you do i hope your mechanic has small hands if he intends to keep engine inside...

i cant comment on price as you canadians seems to have very high prices on everything auto- related... but 1/3 cheaper than dealership sounds about right for a competent indy

oldstar

We do have high prices up here. no question about it!
The kit that is going in the Car comes from Mercedes, I am told it will have everything that is required to fix my S Class. I am taking the night to think it over. I still enjoy driving the car and as it's not my only Car. im ok to have it in the Shop for 10 days ( give or take) . I was contacted by the Dealership to let me know that MB Canada will be contacting me in regards to my last service visit ( Customer Survey + Feedback) ) I have no problem with the Dealership and I will point this out to MB Canada.....After I do that, I will have a few questions for the person on the phone to answer. I will update here to let you know how that goes.

oldstar

As you can see, MB Canada has emailed me the Survey.
I did fill it out and I made reference to MB USA helping out in cases like mine.

superpop

You have a 10 year old car with 100K miles on it and you were expecting some good will. Cmon, it is plastered all over these boards that you should not drive these cars without a warranty. Good luck with the Beemer, it will sting you just like this one if you choose an older model with high mileage. Pay me now or pay me later was never more true with these cars.

oldstar

I think you misunderstand me. I know that MB USA offers some goodwill and MB Canada does not...I am not looking for a free ride here, in fact if I was offered $500.00 off the repair I would be happy with that. As I said in my post above " this is not the end of the world to me" I know it's a 10 year old car and it is my car so it's my problem.
What I have posted shows a difference between MB USA + MB Canada, that's all.

Nuru

Do you have any other independents near you? as you may want to compare reviews of the independents and pricing may also be different.

oldstar

Hello Nuru,
The next indy closest to me is a 3 hour drive.. Nova Scotia can be a small place at times to get things fixed..lol
I do have faith in the indy that quoted me $4424.00 ( this is an on the road price tax in ) with OEM MB Parts.
plus the shop is about a 30 min drive from my work. I think depending on what I do with the Car, I will have this shop work on it. The indy wants the car for a week to do the job right, I have no problem with this at all. The shop also gives a warranty of 1 year unlimited kms on the repair. The Dealership gives 2 years on the repair.