Curious, price now to get balance shaft replaced (M272)

[6500RPM]

I have read lots on the issues of the balance shaft whilst trying to find a SL350 to buy. I have not, however seen anything recent about anyone getting this issue, or the cost to fix. Has the cost to replace/sort this problem come down at all, or is it still a case of costing the wrong side of a grand?

 

[John Laidlaw]

Do you know really how many people have actually had the issue? I find mostly that you only hear of the minority of folks who complain, others who have good experience keep quiet !
My advice would be not to get too strung up on the issue

 

[6500RPM]

Do you know really how many people have actually had the issue? I find mostly that you only hear of the minority of folks who complain, others who have good experience keep quiet !
My advice would be not to get too strung up on the issue

That had crossed my mind to be fair. But then would it always be hanging over me?

 

[rifiki]

Do you know really how many people have actually had the issue? I find mostly that you only hear of the minority of folks who complain, others who have good experience keep quiet !
My advice would be not to get too strung up on the issue

Total agreement John. Forums usually have bad news. My 2005 CLK has M272 motor around 82K miles with many short trips and so far whisper quiet, no rattles.
Have asked many times, how many actually fail?

 

[joderest]

I agree, when i looked for an ML270, what i read on forums really put me off, nothing but issues and problems and a lot said "stay away from them" However, i needed a vehicle to tow a heavy trailer (and two heavy horses) hence in the end, did not want another Landrover, so gave not a lot of money for a low mileage ML270 and had my fingers crossed.
Yes it had some issues, but no more than any other large 4x4, its now nearly 18 years young, still pulls like a train, starts first time, and leaks water into the interior !!!!.
I will keep it until either it fails MOT on rust, or a component breaks that makes it an uneconomic repair.
As they say, you pays yer money and takes yer chances.
But forums do put some buyers off, as only people with problems post on them, not someone who has had a car for years with no problems.

 

[Oldspanners]

I've been looking for and at various M272/3 powered cars for a couple of years now and being risk averse I've steered clear of the affected years of 2005 to early 2007. My take on this is that it was a quality supply problem that affected an unknown number of cars most of which presumably have now either been fixed or scrapped but as this problem can occur at any mileage it's a gamble I'm not going to take.
I've found there isn't a big difference in price between the "safe" and "unsafe" years on models I'm looking for, some lower mileage 2005's even more expensive, so I'll continue to wait for the right car at the right time.

 

[Mercalba]

About 7 years ago I had a w164 ml350 for a week. A few days after collecting my new(to me) merc engine warning light came on. I put into a main dealer for a diagnosis and they said balance shaft. Google told me of class actions in America and the engine number fell into the possibly affected models. Merc dealer said between 2k and 5k.to fix. Dealer i bought it from in Glasgow said they had a guy but I couldn’t bring myself to trust them as faults must have been cleared to sell it. 7 years later I have a w164 I love driving every time I get in it. Some are good, some not?


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[Daniel Griffiths]

I have had a CLK 350 2005 from new its has now done 78k miles the balance shaft failed two years ago at 70k miles costs me a touch over 3k for repairs,