[TomH]

The good news with the worn balance shaft is that is not so expensive to be repaid, the garage where i change the transmission oil will charge 12h of labor at£60 per h and the kit is not so expensive
Mercedes ml350 e350 slk350 v6 petrol engine balance shaft kit 2720300613 | eBay
So £970 in total( if this still on ebay ) if the balance shaft goes.

Hmmm, that $14000 sounded overly optimistic, so I dug out the receipt for my balance shaft replacement.

21.4 Hours of labor at $95/hr
$1041 in parts which included a new oil pump and timing chain in addition tot he balance shaft kit.

Total after taxes was $3178.

The job was covered my a warranty I had purchased with the car, which limits the number of hours they are allowed to charge, the mechanic told me it would have been closer to $4000 if he had charged the time actually put into the job.

 

[i860]

This is the garage, just give them a call and see for your self.
+44 (0) 1202 734433
service@hughesworkshop.co.uk

 

[loon52]

I would be interested to hear of any more garage charges for balance shaft repairs in the UK. Especially experienced independent garages. Thanks, Roy.

 

[TomH]

This is the garage, just give them a call and see for your self.
+44 (0) 1202 734433
service@hughesworkshop.co.uk

You seem to think I'm disputing what they quoted you.

I'm not.

I thought it would be helpful to see that in at least my case, the parts and labor were both more extensive than the work you describe. I have no doubt they'd tell me the same thing they told you. That has nothing to do with what you might actually pay if they discover that they need to do more work than they quoted.

 

[Roxanne7169]

Shenanigans!

 

[Nodrama]

Just wanted to say thanks for all advice about the SLK280. We ended up just buying a new 2015 CLK250 with panoramic roof ect and AMG package (rims/body kit thing) very nice loaded out! Can't believe gas mpg ! Getting 39 mpg hwy and high 20's around city ! Anyway thanks for all the advise.

 

[Roxanne7169]

Just wanted to say thanks for all advice about the SLK280. We ended up just buying a new 2015 CLK250 with panoramic roof ect and AMG package (rims/body kit thing) very nice loaded out! Can't believe gas mpg ! Getting 39 mpg hwy and high 20's around city ! Anyway thanks for all the advise.

Well I would call you a sell out but calling you a "buy in" is more appropriate. Congrats! Enjoy!

 

[FranckLeprince]

Would it not be cheaper to replace the engine with one of a later serial number?

 

[Roxanne7169]

Would it not be cheaper to replace the engine with one of a later serial number?

I priced engines for my 350. LQK parts lists them for about $2000 USD (123k miles) to $4000 USD (68k). Personally I'd rather have my own engine, which I know has been taken care (by everyone EXCEPT the sprocket manufacturer) repaired than go through the hassle of driving 6-8 hrs then paying $2000 more (guessing) to have it installed.

 

[GWBlack]

I spoke to John at Benz Unlimited in Indianapolis - a Mercedes-only independent shop. He said that, if it happens on my 06 SLK280, he could probably fix it for around $2000 total (parts & labor), give or take a couple hundred dollars. That's a lot better than I've read elsewhere. And his shop seems to get rave reviews online everywhere that I've read. He said that job is a bit easier labor-wise to fix on an SLK than some bigger MB's. Here's the site:

Mercedes-Benz Repair by Benz Unlimited in Indianapolis, IN | BenzShops.com

 

[Pr0xyPunk]

So i got this check engine light, pulled the code and got a p0016.
Swapped the sensors to see if the problem would move but to no avail, its keep giving the p0016.
Keeps getting back after about 3 restarts after i clear it.
Other than giving the CEL, the engine runs fine actually.
It's probably an omen of whats to come?

Still have to check if the circles align or not.
Anyone know what size socket (mm) i need to crank the engine?

I'm still hoping i'm gonna be spared from this but probably not since my engine code falls right into the range. engine no: 272942 30 249794
Got about 150.000 km on it now.

It's a damn expensive repair when i read the stories.
Perhaps might be better trying to find an engine shop who can rebuild the enige for that amount of money and have them put in the new balance shaft.
Then the engine would have a much longer life at least.

 

[mchild]

So i got this check engine light, pulled the code and got a p0016.
Swapped the sensors to see if the problem would move but to no avail, its keep giving the p0016.
Keeps getting back after about 3 restarts after i clear it.
Other than giving the CEL, the engine runs fine actually.
It's probably an omen of whats to come?

Still have to check if the circles align or not.
Anyone know what size socket (mm) i need to crank the engine?

I'm still hoping i'm gonna be spared from this but probably not since my engine code falls right into the range. engine no: 272942 30 249794
Got about 150.000 km on it now.

It's a damn expensive repair when i read the stories.
Perhaps might be better trying to find an engine shop who can rebuild the enige for that amount of money and have them put in the new balance shaft.
Then the engine would have a much longer life at least.

The crankshaft nut uses a 27mm socket. Check you camshaft alignment and go from there.

 

[i860]

Just do the test from the video and please put the pictures. If is the balance shaft that is worring as your car has over 93k miles, is not a low milege car.

 

[Roxanne7169]

And to think I actually felt good yesterday when my car tripped 90k. I have been of the mind that the longer it goes the better my chance of avoiding the BS (balance shaft) issue. I'll be doing the test tomorrow, giving it top priority. If I get decent, worthwhile pics I will post them to this thread. If you never hear from me again it's because I drove the car off a cliff (I will jump out).

 

[linux1]

I was wondering if anyone drives their car hard? Funny question right? I notice that I too get the DTC1200 and DTC1208 and that's if I drive the car hard, if I clear the codes they will never come back unless I'm hard on it again also NO CEL.

If I really am going crazy the CEL will also come on.

I just turned 90k also tho I have a 2006 E350 4matic which does have the suspect motor... I've done the test and see they align so IDK.

Car runs perfect with exception of some electronic throttle lag.. Thinking about a speedbooster.. I want to be able to mash the pedal and have it open the throttle all the way when my foot hits the floor.

I want to break this sproket before my lame Wynns extended delux 2 year thing goes away, not that they would cover it.. Been to the dealer and they say it's past 10yrs so no love there if it were to go.

 

[linux1]

Ask if he will do group deal lol I'd drive from Ohio to there if it was only $2k and mine went!!!

 

[linux1]

Oh if anyone wonders I use the iCarsoft Multi-system Scanner i980 for Mercedes-Benz/Sprinter
+OBDII (Diagnose Single Brand of all Models,OBDII-16 DLC)



Until I can afford or need to buy the star system this works great!! When you have the engine on and clear the CEL you can feel it clear, beware loose all throttle clearing codes while not in park!

 

[Roxanne7169]

Yeah I would throw mine on a trailer and haul it up there for a price like that. The poor guys gonna have SLKs lined up around the block like teeny boppers ar a Justin Bieber concert.

 

[Rush2112]

Ask if he will do group deal lol I'd drive from Ohio to there if it was only $2k and mine went!!!

+1... I'm in if mine goes

 

[Doug Antelman]

R171 Balance shaft

Hey folks, I have to admit I didn't read all 18 pages of the thread (I stopped at page 8). I am looking at a potential SLK350 (2006, 6 speed manual). The car is in Rochester NY, some 300 miles away. I've already called the MB dealer there and asked about a pre-purchase inspection. I guess I need to ask them to also do this test for the cam timing. I looked up the VIN and the engine # is definitely one of those affected. The MB dealer told me that based on the VIN, the warranty coverage is now expired. The car has 47,000 miles on it (see link below)

I am thinking that in addition to the visual test for timing marks, I should ask about an extended warranty through 80,000 miles? Although I doubt I will drive this car more than 5,000 miles each year, so it could take 8 years to reach 80,000 miles.

It sounds to me like it could be a $4000 ticking time bomb or nothing at all.

The car is a single owner and its a 6-speed manual and is loaded up with all the nice options including the air scarf, GPS/Sirius radio and Xenon lights.
2006 Used Mercedes-Benz SLK SLK350 Roadster 3.5L at Sutherland Service Center Serving Pittsford, NY, IID 15076163

One thing I didn't understand, if you had an affected car and were covered under the class action settlement, then could you opt to replace the gear, even if it had no symptoms? Or only if it failed?