Mercedes Balance Shaft Problem/Parts Walk Through 

The video sums it up nicely. My '06 C230 is pretty much a total loss because of the balance shaft. I am praying that somehow I will come out of this without losing thousands of dollars in the process. This is by far the worst experience I have ever had with a car in my 44 years of owning automobiles. Nothing even comes close. At $16,000, it was the highest priced auto I've ever purchased. It is a fact that man has been making metals for thousands of years. Industrial and commercial part manufacturers have extensive knowledge and high-precision machines to make metal parts nearly indestructible. There is absolutely no excuse on earth for this kind of failure to be occurring in a luxury car engine - or in any engine! The smell of burning fluids permeates the interior of my Mercedes every time I start the engine. This in itself is a health hazard that could cause a premature death for driver and passengers. Mercedes Benz completely ignored this problem and still to this day takes no responsibility. This attitude is beyond comprehension and defies all common civilized decency.

Thanks formal the help over the years. Would you know if an E350 with a 272 engine would run smoothly with the balance shaft issue? I’m getting codes P0016 and P0017. I’ve changed all 4 camshaft magnets and still getting codes. Car has 156k miles on it and runs smoothly.

Hey! Great video! Do you know if we need a mb scanner at the end ? Is there a specific procedure with computer or no? Thanks

First off, I love your vids and they have been very helpful. Please help. I have a 2008 E350 4-Matic that is throwing both P0016 & P0017 codes. I turned the crankshaft to 305-degrees, pulled the camshaft position sensors and found that the circle of numbers is perfectly aligned in the center of both the exhaust & intake holes. Thus, the balance shaft or timing chain are not the issue. I also pulled both VVT magnets/solenoids and they both appear functional (magnets are loose when shaking and actuator goes in/out). Other than gambling and replacing all 4 sensors & magnets, do you have any suggestions to wipe these codes and get the engine to function better? I am experiencing weak bottom-end torque, but normal top-end performance. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Intake valve sprocket shift may indicate a stretched chain, not necessarily a worn sprocket on the balance shaft. Replacing the chain and tensioner may fix it and reduce the wear on the balance shaft sprocket. I found the chain out of spec on a 280sl at 98,000 miles.

What can I say because I’m going through this process of trying to figure out what the noises is on the suv ,your video definitely gives me a little bit more insurance this this is possible I do have the V-8 4.6 L so if I understand correctly the V-8 is different when it comes to balancer Thank you for taking the time explaining every piece by piece I have been working on cars but I am not a mechanic and I don’t do this every day I can’t say that I can enjoy it but I have to endure it Thanks for sharing the video Oh yes if you’re reading this message can you please look at my video and listen to the noise tap in taking noise on a 2007 GL 450 so I cannot figure out what the problem is

I've looked at many of your recordings. They have helped me with many small repairs. And just like you, I have the same codes for camshaft position sensor. Is there a follow up video after this repair? I assume that after this rebuild the vehicle runs like new? Is it worth every penny? My vehicle still drives good after it warms up. How did you check for the problem?

I have a 2007 SLK 280 with 74k miles. The serial number for the engine is in the affected range for the balance shaft issue so I’m always on the lookout for symptoms that may indicate that the balance shaft has failed or is failing. Here is what I have come up with so far: 1. P0016 or P0017 DTC codes. 2. Excessive engine noise and or poor drive ability indicating slack in the timing chain. 3. The timing marks on the chain don’t line up with each other after removing both intake cam position sensors and rotating the engine to the proper position and viewing the marks through the holes for the mounting locations for the sensors. 4. Any metal pieces in the engine oil after doing an oil change. 5. Failure of any engine component due to oil contamination/metal pieces in the oil. So far I haven’t had any problems with items 1-4 above. As to item 5 I did get a P0015 code and had to replace the passenger side exhaust cam magnet. I don’t know that it failed due to metal pieces in the oil from a failing balance shaft but seems very possible. I wonder does anyone know if the main reason for the failure of the cam magnets is because of them being contaminated from metal pieces from a failed/failing balance shaft. Does anyone else have anything else to add to the list above?

Hi. Just I want to ask you I have cl 500 2007.250 km.and I have p 0018 and p0017 and p0019.ao it will be the same what did you do in this video? Thanks.

Hi I got a question for you. How to remove the Mercedes Benz R350 2007.

Do need bring the engine before removing the balance shaft?

These are good engines, AFTER 2007. I think at the end of 2007 they changed the balance shaft gear to a better alloy, so those engines not suffering from this issue anymore. Check your motorcode, if you have 31 in the middle, you are good, if you have 30 in the middle that engine MIGHT BE affected, in this case you need to check the whole number. M272 engines that are higher than 2729.30.468993 are NOT affected. M273 engines higher than 2739.30.088611 are not affected as well. Engines lower than these, are a lottery. Simply don't buy them. My M272 is made in 2008 with the 31 in the middle, i'm not worried, these engines are pretty good, just make sure you buy the improved version.

Wow, I bet you that's a 10 grand repair with all those highly machined parts and removing engine, etcc. that's a lot of labor considering R+R engine You didn't mention what wore the sprocket teeth down to less than nothing? Chain too tight? I have a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.2 V-8 and it has 147,000 miles, doesn't burn a drop of oil, replaced the transfer case at 116,000 miles was the only major repair, original trans. etc. I replaced all front end parts except ball joints including the control arms with upgraded units and steering box, yes it only gets 12 mpg city but its my 2nd vehicle. I just replaced both front axles and hub bearings so all set there now for at least 5 years. I was thinking of a used ML 320/350 but think I will keep the Jeep You're obviously a good mechanic and smart guy

Does this need to take the whole engine out? thanks

i looking for the installation position of the Balance Sprocket, also known as a Idler gear. It’s a 273 V8 and doesn’t not have a Balance shaft. There is a weight on the sprocket to balance the engine. the weight has a mark on it. a where does this mark go in correlation to the copper link on the chain? Thanks

Do i need to bring the engine out before removing the balance shaft?

I have an 09 E350 that needs this repair. Any takers?

Sheesh the fact the whole engine has to be pulled out to get to this piece is crazy. I own a 2006 Mercedes Benz SLK 350 & I’m getting code P0015, but I was told by mechanic that my balance shaft has never been changed also but idk if it’s bad

Someone needs to do a series to show how to accomplish this job. I have a 2007 e350 4matic. The check engine light came on while I was driving home from the "no returns" dealership. I had the codes ran. To my horror, it was the only two codes I was worried about finding. The cam/ crank not synced codes. I didn't even get to enjoy new used car for a day.

The water pump instructions gives you a point where you should place a flathead screwdriver to prise it off.

Hi- I was told after 2008 the balance shaft sprocket problem was fixed so after 2008 that problem no longer exists, I was looking at a few 2010 and up full documented and low mileage ML 350- that's a lot of work there and also very expensive

Hey bud what mileage on average should these be replaced. I've got a 06 slk350. No check lights or noises...yet. should I wait or go straight ahead a do the repair.

Looking to buy a e350. I just checked the vin number and it is one of the defective ones. However, car has 174k miles on it and runs really good w/o any check engine light on. Do you think that it is repaired or a ticking bomb? Can it survive for 174k miles? What do you think?

So I tore my m272 engine apart (2006 c280) due to a bad balance shaft and I can tell you it is a pain in the butt. You have to take the engine out of the car, no way around it. 1. drain the oil while the engine is still in the car. 2. Loosen the crankshaft pulley nut while the engine is still in the car (trust me). 3. Remove the engine from the car. 4. Take off the starter gear on the back. 5. Take off the back piece. 6. Remove the back part of the balance shaft. 7. Put the engine on an engine stand. 8. Remove the oil pan (you have to get that little axle out first). I can go on and on, there are some good videos out there.

This is why c230 owners do an LS swap in these...

How many Miles were on the car when you changed all this out? 50k or 100k

Greetings sir your video's are really helpful but sorry for disturbing I have this problem with one of my customers 4matic 350 2017 model V6 the engine is having a hard starting problem I have check the vehicle and I was told is the camshaft position actuator I have changed all the camshaft position sensor s but still the problem is still there the engine is still having the hard starting this is the code coming repeatedly talking about the camshaft position sensor

I have p0016 p0017 p1200 p1208 is this this problem? Thx bro

What's the best way to get the engine out? Together with transmission or can transmission be left in the car?

Those balancer assemblies are $1000/piece, cam adjusters must be done with the magnets, you are looking at a solid $3500 in parts, around 22 hrs of labor

Are you saying the oil filter doesn't work on this motor?

very disappointing that benz did that, I would expect that from audi but not MB. Audi does stupid mistakes like this (2.0T cam follower, oil consumption, etc) My brother has an e350 but I haven't gotten around to fix it yet. I'm dreading it. The later year engines don't have those issues and they will swap into the earlier year cars except for one sensor needs to be spliced.

Great..great running car...thinking about selling it...but noooooo it is my Baby

Why do you have to change the pulse wheels and magnets?

so the Balance shaft controls what exactly?? I'm having my water pump changed just now 😯...it's very unfortunate when parts break during repairs 😩

So my w204 hit the 103k mile mark and code 1208 came on brought to shop there saying balance shaft needs to be fixed!

What is the labor cost?

How much would I have to spend for this job

12:53 so basically need a engine rebuilt huh 🤔

problem solved install a v8, or perhaps AMG engine!

I noticed you didnt change the cam adjusters, just the sensor wheels and magnets. I have a chatter about 10 seconds after I start the car, it lasts 3 or 4 seconds. I believe its the cam adjuster, when the oil pressure comes up, the chatter goes away. The 2008 272 v6 is not throwing any codes and runs great. Sid you ever run across a chatter like this, with no codes? Thanks. Here is a link to video . Thanks again. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-saVkHkt1U38.html

The reason these things happen now is, development time is too short before sending to market. Poor parts quality should have been caught way before this point. If the price of the car was cheap then maybe one could accept it but not when it's this expensive and damaging. The M/B just isn't what it used to be.

Factory difec then need to make money off parts