Some Balance Shaft Engine Info
Info from other sites that I have found.
Note: The issue is that MB used a sprocket, on the balance shaft, that has a plastic coating on the teeth. GM (?!) used this same defective sprocket design years ago with the same negative result. The balance shaft itself is not the culprit, but rather the sprocket, attached to the bal shaft, that turns the shaft! Unfortunately, the engine must be entirely removed to effect the repair.
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Applicable Models: Equipped with M272 Engine Up to Serial No. 2729..30 468993 or M273 Engine Up to Serial No. 2739..30 088611.
(Not Applicable to Model 164.156, 204 or 216.386)
This group is for Mercedes-Benz balance shaft issues that effect 2006 plus years, ML350 and other models that have the check engine light come on, giving a fault code, balance shaft issue. The fix is very expensive, ranging from $4,000 to $7,500. Mercedes-Benz has known about the problem since they issued a Technical Service Bulletin in 2007. However, currently MB is not notifying consumers or paying for the total repair of the balance shaft.
This group is to help organize all of us in one place, share information, and keep up to date on current events regarding the balance shaft issue.
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There are 3 different issues:
1. If you have the fault codes 1200 and/or 1208 but NO balance shaft wear present then in rare cases the timing chain is might be stretched.
2. One or more of the codes 0059, 0060, 0063, 0064, 0271, 0272, 0275, and 0276, then it’s a malfunctioning camshaft adjustment solenoid (sensor).
3. No fault codes present, but camshaft solenoid is leaking oil.
To answer your question, it depends on what fault code you have and if your engine serial number is in the range. And from what I have read, the sensors can give give more codes than listed above, and no big deal to replace, but if you have the fault codes 1200 and/or 1208 then replacing only the sensors will not help.
3b) Do you know your engine serial number or if you send me the vin number I can look it up and forward it to you.
3c) And do you know what fault code is present? I’m going to send you a copy of the Dealer Technical Bulletin (DTB), which has a lot of info. 3d) But to find the correct diagnosis, you need to know the engine serial number and what fault codes you have. I can’t post the DTB on here because it’s against fb policy.
Everything you want to know about your M272 Engine:
http://www.mercedestechstore.com/pdfs/287_R171/287 HO 03 M272 (FAH) 08-05-04.pdf
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Due to weak materials in balance shaft for engine numbers up to Serial No. 2729..30 468993 , Mercedes Benz has issued the enclosed service bulletin S-B 03.30/08 j as of june 17 2009. Based on this the balance shaft will have to be replaced. If you haven't heard of this before, please notice this and do an enginge diagnosis for this asap. Symptom is yellow check engine light coming and going. Anyone out there who has experience on this please give me a pm, also describing how your local dealer handles this, as this should be a warranty issue.
Best from Kjetil Halvorsen Norway
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Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with M272 or M273 engines are equipped with defective gears that cause the vehicle to malfunction, according to a class action lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court.
According to the Mercedes-Benz M272 and M273 engine class action lawsuit, these engines are equipped with defective gears in their balance shafts (in the case of the M272 engines) or with defective idle gears (in the case of the M273 engines) that wear out prematurely, excessively and without warning, causing the vehicle to malfunction, the "check engine light" to remain illuminated, and the vehicle to misfire and/or stop driving.
The only way to correct this problem, the lawsuit says, is to have the balance shaft or idle gear replaced, which is a large-scale repair job, costing customers thousands of dollars and leaving them without a car for weeks at a time.
The Mercedes balance shaft gear and idle gear class action lawsuit claims that internal company documents prove that Mercedes has known about these defects at least as early as August 2007, but has failed to take appropriate corrective action and has concealed the defects from unsuspecting owners and lessees.
“Mercedes has known all along about the existence of a defect with the balance shaft gears in its M272 engines and idle gears in its M273 engine, yet it has concealed that knowledge and deliberately omitted any information or dissemination about its existence,” the class action lawsuit says. “Mercedes’ concealment and its omission of any disclosure of the defect in the affected automobiles was not merely a case of innocent omission or misrepresentation, but rather represents an intentional campaign to fraudulently deceive the buying public.”
The Mercedes-Benz M272 and M273 engine class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of a nationwide class of owners and lessees who have vehicles equipped with M272 engines bearing serial numbers up to 2729..30 468993 and M273 engines bearing serial numbers up to 2739..30 088611.
VIN:4JGCB65E26A027827
Engine: 27296730337974
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I would like to add some more info regarding my personal experience with this issue. My car is still not fixed. I am still waiting for the parts to come in. It has been almost a month since I had it in shop. I would advice all to call MB customer service and complain about this. Don’t just go through dealer. I think that it is very important to make call to MB CS and ask them to pay for repairs.
When you call please tell them that you know that MB knew about this and that you know about service bulletin that was issued about this problem in 2007 but MB did not want to recall affected vehicles which is not ethical for any manufacturer not to mention one that sells luxury vehicles. Also tell them that you know about the class action lawsuit and that you will pursue this route. Don’t just settle for regular CSR. If you are not told that CS manager will call you ask to talk to one. Remember this call with manager is recorded and you will receive survey in e-mail about this where you can further slam MB on their quality and likelihood of referring MB to someone or buying one in the future.
Anyway, this is what happened to me. I called MB customer service after I was told by MB dealership that between them and MB they would cover 70% not 75% as I initially thought. CSR took my info (model, year, issue, dealership where car is being repaired etc.). CSR told me that his manager is going to give me a call, which he did but I missed his call.
I called him back and after 3-4 days he finally answered my call. This call was recorded so I told him about the problem and my feelings about how MB is handling this problem. I pointed out all of the above mentioned. I also told him that I bought MB because of reliability and quality and that is not what I got. I told him that I could have bought KIA van for lot less money and I would not have this problem now. I told him that I am not happy with 70% of coverage because MB knew about this issue and did not want to recall affected vehicles.
If you call you will realize that these people are well trained for what they do. I was told that based on history of vehicle purchase and service records I don’t qualify for 100% coverage since I did not purchase my car at MB dealership and did not have services records prior to my ownership. The fact that car was serviced at MB dealership since I bought it as well as that it was under warranty with 20,000 miles on did not matter. So please call them and give them hell.
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