This car has an M272 V6 engine, which came in various sizes (3.0l in the 280 and 300 series, 2.5l in the 230 series, 3.5l in the 350 series). These engines have two potential problems. Most all of them through MY2008, maybe into MY2009, had defective camshaft magnets which trigger the MIL with several stored codes. This is easy to fix - easy DIY or just a couple of hours of shop rates - and parts are around $150. These engines up through MY2007 (maybe into early MY2008) also had a more serious problem with the "balance shaft". The material of the timing gear sprocket on the shaft is too soft and fails. It requires pulling the engine and tearing into the engine to replace it and it's a $4K++ job.

While I have mentioned ranges of model years for these problems, the only way to know for sure if the engine might be affected is by its serial number. Due to worldwide distribution chains, there is no real guarantee of serial number and model year correlation, so my advice, is anything prior to MY2009, check the engine serial number. It can be obtained from the VIN via a lookup in the MBZ parts catalog, which several of us here have access to.

So, before buying a C280, C230 (v6), C300 or C250, post the VIN and we can advise you.

 

Thanks a lot for the info, it sure helps to know which models have this issue as we started to consider an e320 instead since e350 also could have this potential problem.

 

I own an '08 c280 4matic, glad to say I have no problems with it. I also have raced with it (it is stock) and I have to say that I'm impressed it is beating turbocharged cars, and still no problems! It's a very reliable car in my opinion.

 

Hi! I just bought one of these (2007) from Enterprise Car Sales, and I have a seven-day return window. My VIN is WDBRF92H87F922227. Can someone look this up for me and tell me if I need to have the expensive service done (or return the car while I can)? Thanks.

 

Your engine serial number is 272941 30 584182 - not in the range of affected engines.

 

Fantastic news! Thanks so much for your help - now I can drive my dream car with peace of mind. I really appreciate it.

 

My VIN IS WDBRF92H66F790082. Can someone check for me? Thanks


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

WDBRF92H66F790082 has M272 engine #283573, which is within the range for potential balance shaft failure. You may never experience problems, but just keep an eye on the MIL. If it comes on check for OBDII codes P0016 or P0017 (DTCs 1208/1200). Those are the only codes that indicate balance shaft failure, and they only indicate balance shaft failure. Any other codes are something else.

 

Thanks, Rodney. That will teach me to do more due diligence before buying a car, but I felt that a Mercedes would be quality and this would be a good solid car for my son. Wen I asked the finance manager if the extended warranty was worth it, he said "Definitely. Some repairs on this car could cost 4k to fix." Now I know what he was talking about. The extended warranty was for 2 years, 24 k miles. The car has 39 k on it now. With my luck it will go tits up on me after the warranty expires. Should I dump the car? Granted, it will cost me, but it might be worth the bite.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

I am definitely going to buy a code scanner.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

I replied in the other thread, but I wouldn't sell the car right now. The way I see it, you have a great car with 2 years/24 months of warranty on it - at least get that much use out of it! And the C280 4MATIC is a great car. I think your son will greatly enjoy it.

BTW, how old is your son? I bought our C240 for our granddaughter (that we are raising) about 4 years ago. I wanted her to have something safe, that drives well, and is easy for me to work on. I would loved to have found a 4MATIC, but they are rare down here. It's funny, her car is now over 10 years old, and still looks and drives great (despite a few fender benders). She even comments on how she doesn't like to drive her friend's cars, some of which are much newer Toyotas, Nissans, etc., because they just don't feel as solid as the C-Class. She's off to college in the fall, 250 miles away, and we discussed buying her a new (or newer) car, but she wants to stick with the C240. I told her that if she can keep it going through college, that I'd buy her a new car as a graduation present.

 

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask if you could choose a different car off their lot instead. Just trying to return it would no doubt be expensive, but if they have access to a similar car with an unaffected engine maybe they'd allow for a reasonable exchange. It doesn't hut to ask.

Otherwise I agree with Rodney - enjoy the car for a couple of years and then scan for codes related to the balance shaft near the end of the warranty. I wish we knew what percentage of engines in this range would actually experience the problem but we don't.

The balance shaft problem is frequent enough to be a concern, but the reality is there's a small failure rate of all engines from all manufacturers. And with half a million engines out there we only see a trickle of people showing up actually experiencing the problem.

 

OK. I responded on the other post. I guess I overreacted a bit. I'll have my son (who is 20, and a sophomore in college) keep an eye on it. Thanks for talking me off the ledge, guys.

 

Can you please help me with mine

My VIN is WDBRF54H27A941133

Its a 2007 C280. Can you please help me know if its within the affected range?

 

My VIN is WDBRF54H27A941133

Its a 2007 C280. Can you please help me know if its within the affected range?

Engines with serial number up to 468993 are in the range. And your serial number is ---- 486037. Very close but just outside. Enjoy the car.

 

2007 C280 4 Matic P0016 code

I now have a p0016 code. Can anyone tell me by the VIN number if this is 1 of the engines that may have the balance shaft problem? Thanks in advance. WDBRF92H67F850508 I do have an aftermarket warranty on the car which has 79,000 miles.

 

WDBRF92H67F850508 has M272 engine #415273, which is in the range for potential balance shaft failure, and P0016 (i.e. DTC 1208) is a symptom of that (and not any other problem - it is balance shaft failure). You should get to the dealer right away to have this properly diagnosed and begin the process of having the repair approved by your warranty company.

 

Hi Rudeney,

I am looking at this 2007 C280 4matic. the VIN is: WDBRF92J97F853146

would you be so kind to check if it is within the Balance Shaft problem range?

thanks so much.

Reza

 

WDBRF92J97F853146 has M272 engine #420324 - that is within the range for potential balance shaft issue. I'd pass on that one.

 

Hi all,

A different question today: Does anyone else experience a little hesitation or sluggishness when the engine is cold, just after start-up? I have had my beautiful car for about two months and I am noticing that the RPMs jump up and down, the car hesitates, and yesterday it stalled altogether right after I started it up. Once the engine is warmed up, no problems - it purrs like a kitten and runs like a pony. But when the engine is cold, it's a different story - the car is not a morning person! Any advice? Could this indicate a problem of any sort, or should I just let it warm up before I drive it?

 

Hi, during the winter and cool months of the year, my car has similar symptoms. Do you just notice it during idling or when you accelerate as well? When I start my car, it idles fine but when I am accelerating, I notice that after shifting into gears 1-3, it will hesitate and the RPM's tend to jump up and down a bit. This usually happens after the first 2-3 takeoffs and after that its fine. But at idle, it is perfectly normal. Its been doing that for about 2 years now and hasn't really seemed to get any worse. I often just use the manual shift and that seems to help. I drive a 2007 C280 with almost 120,000 miles on it.

 

Check the air intake - make sure the engine cover/filter housing is securely seated on the MAF sensor. Make sure all the vacuum hoses are securely attached. A vacuum leak can cause erratic/fast idle.

 

p0016 camshaft issues?

Hi Rudeney,

I have 2007 C350 4matic. the VIN is: WDBRF87H27F839573 would you please check if it is within the Balance Shaft problem range? My CEL has been coming on and off and I went to Autozone for a code read they told me it was P0016 for Camshaft issues.

Please let me know and thank you for the help in advance!

Thx
Bob

 

You have engine serial number 396532. Unfortunately that is in the range of engines that could have the balance shaft issue. Best to have it diagnosed by someone with SDS to get the real Mercedes trouble codes, though. Good luck.

 

P0016 and P0017 are the tell-tale signs of balance shaft sprocket failure, but those two codes are actually broken down into eight discrete DTCs:

1205 Constant adjustment of intake camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Advanced' (P0016)

1206 Constant adjustment of intake camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Retarded' (P0016)

1207 Constant adjustment of intake camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Advanced' (P0016)

1208 Constant adjustment of intake camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Retarded' (P0016)

1197 Constant adjustment of exhaust camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Advanced' (P0017)

1198 Constant adjustment of exhaust camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Retarded' (P0017)

1199 Constant adjustment of exhaust camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Advanced' (P0017)

1200 Constant adjustment of exhaust camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Retarded' (P0017)

The two that are indicative of balance shaft problems are 1200 and 1208. As 200Dfan suggests, you need to get to the dealer and have them read the codes with SDS to know for sure, but honestly, I think having an intermittent P0016 with an engine in the range is pretty much a guarantee that this is the problem.

 

I'm looking at a 2007 C280 with VIN WDBRF92H87F927105. Can anyone check if that is in range for the balance shaft problem? Thanks.

 

WDBRF92H87F927105 has M272 engine #593153 - it's beyond the range for balance shaft issues, but may still have cam magnet issues (a cheap and easy ~$100 repair).

 

Check for vacuum leaks "downstream" of the air filters. Make sure the engine cover/air filter housing is seated tightly on the MAF sensor opening.

 

07 c280 4matic

I have 2007 C280 4matic w/ 90k mi. The VIN is: WDBRF92H57F908804 would you please check if it is within the potential Balance Shaft issue range?

Thanks