Help!!! M276 Engine specialist needed

[chris_uk82]

Hi Everyone!

I am hoping someone here can help me out with this or knows someone who can because I really am at my wit's end.

For the past 6 years I've been the proud owner of a beautiful (and extremely rare) 2011 C350 V6 Petrol in Brilliant Silver with only 57000 miles (the 300+ bhp one). It has never given me any problems but recently it has developed an engine problem that seems fairly common in this engine but practically impossible to find anyone in the UK willing to take it on, maybe because this engine is quite rare in the UK?

The engine makes a terrible sounding rattle on startup, it is barely audible when the engine is cold but when it is up to temperature and has been left standing for about 45 minutes it becomes very obvious there is a problem. I have uploaded a video of this happening here:

There is also another video of someone else with the exact same noise here:

There is nothing on the dash to indicate a problem but a local mechanic did a scan and found code P002177 and a number of people online are saying this is a bad camshaft adjuster.

There is also a service bulletin LI05.10-P-056435 where a 'check valve' needs to be installed to prevent oil from draining out of the head, I suspect this is the root cause of the failure and needs to be done at the same time.

I am desperately looking for someone who is familiar with this particular engine/issue and willing to take it on, I took this to my local dealer and got quoted a massive £7650 to pull the engine/transmission and replace all of the timing gear! The tech notes from the dealership are: 'drove car in to workshop, drove car up to operating temperature, left for 45 minutes as per customer instructions, started engine after 45 mins and heard rattle front of engine. suspect excess play in timing chain tensioner requires new timing chain cam adjusters and cam covers'.

I have tried a number of local independent merc specialists and engine shops but no one seems to want to take this on. I really don't want to have to get rid of my pride and joy because of this but I am running out of options

I'm happy to travel for someone who can sort this out for me

Cheers,

Chris.

 

[TheBlimp75]

Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear about your engine problems.

I had a similar problem in my 2006 CLS I used the following garage in Harrow.

Wayne Gates Specializing in Mercedes-Benz Servicing & Repairs

The Independent Merc Specialist you can trust. Based in Harrow, Middlesex servicing the surrounding areas and Hertfordshire. Call now to book

www.mercservicing.co.uk

Wayne gate was recommended to me by a number of forum members and I have to say he was very good and certainly knew his stuff.

I know it’s a bit of a distance and maybe other members may be able to recommend someone closer but I can’t recommend Wayne more highly.

I hope you get it sorted.

Ian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chris_uk82]

Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear about your engine problems.

I had a similar problem in my 2006 CLS I used the following garage in Harrow.

Wayne Gates Specializing in Mercedes-Benz Servicing & Repairs

The Independent Merc Specialist you can trust. Based in Harrow, Middlesex servicing the surrounding areas and Hertfordshire. Call now to book

www.mercservicing.co.uk

Wayne gate was recommended to me by a number of forum members and I have to say he was very good and certainly knew his stuff.

I know it’s a bit of a distance and maybe other members may be able to recommend someone closer but I can’t recommend Wayne more highly.

I hope you get it sorted.

Ian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, I might give them a ring later on in the week. I am hoping to find someone who has dealt with this specific issue before because surely I can't be the only guy in the UK who has had this.

 

[mioba]

Maybe I missed it but where are you in the UK.

 

[chris_uk82]

Maybe I missed it but where are you in the UK.

Stourbridge

 

[fabes]

Have you tried Mercland, who are nearer you?

It maybe be a (very) specialist job, in which case Wayne Gates or Star near Reading would be good bets.
MBS who look after my M276 are a bit further away from you.

As a fellow 350 owner, I'd be interested to know how you get on (please.....)

 

[LostKiwi]

Avantgarde Motors near Bristol are nearer. Steve has an excellent reputation on the forum and is a regular contributor and forum supporter.

 

[chris_uk82]

Have you tried Mercland, who are nearer you?

It maybe be a (very) specialist job, in which case Wayne Gates or Star near Reading would be good bets.
MBS who look after my M276 are a bit further away from you.

As a fellow 350 owner, I'd be interested to know how you get on (please.....)

No I haven't, I'll be sure to give them a call.

And believe me, as soon as I find someone who can actually fix this issue I'll make sure it becomes well known!

 

[chris_uk82]

Avantgarde Motors near Bristol are nearer. Steve has an excellent reputation on the forum and is a regular contributor and forum supporter.

Thanks, I'll give them a try

 

[chris_uk82]

Just an update I've got it booked in with Wayne Gates on 16th as I need to go to Central London on that date and I can drop the car off en-route. Will let you know the outcome but talking to Terry has given me a high level of confidence that this will actually get fixed.

 

[mioba]

Good to hear, a knowledgeabale indy is worth thier weight in gold, my Indy once said to me, everything can be fixed. Which on the face of it true for almost anything - provided you know how. It was all put together at one time by a mere mortal!

 

[brandwooddixon]

I think that there's a fundamental design flaw in the 276 and the 278.
I've had work done on my 278 by WDM (now in Aldridge).
I'm surprised that the dealer states that the engine requires removal to fix the issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if the radiators and ancillaries all require removal.

 

[chris_uk82]

I think that there's a fundamental design flaw in the 276 and the 278.
I've had work done on my 278 by WDM (now in Aldridge).
I'm surprised that the dealer states that the engine requires removal to fix the issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if the radiators and ancillaries all require removal.

Yeah I agree, if you look at the service bulletin for the check valve it states something along the lines of no consequential damage is expected. I think this is MB covering their own arse and they are fully aware this will cause premature failure of adjusters and other more expensive components than just the secondary tensioners.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Terry helped me buy my car, top bloke, highly recommended on here, they will sort you out.

 

[chris_uk82]

Success! I picked up my car from Terry at Wayne Gates yesterday, all fixed!

It needed:

New exhaust camshaft adjuster, passenger side
Secondary timing chain, passenger side (mine was stretched)
New secondary timing chain tensioners (both banks)
Check valve (both banks)


I also got Terry to replace the drivers side door lock (It was also faulty), and service the gearbox.

I'll probably use Wayne Gates for all future servicing, I do have to commute into London quite frequently for my work and Wayne Gaytes is in a convenient location being right next to a train station inside M25 but outside the congestion zone.

 

[mioba]

great news, as said a knowledgeabale indy is worth thier weight in gold.
How much did it cost v what the dealer quoted.

happy motoring

 

[chris_uk82]

great news, as said a knowledgeabale indy is worth thier weight in gold.
How much did it cost v what the dealer quoted.

happy motoring

I'm not going to quote the exact invoice amount publicly but let's just say it was a fraction of the amount quoted by the dealership (far less less than half, and that included the door lock repair and a transmission service). Still a major repair but I don't mind spending the money for work that is actually necessary.

I am going to see if there is a way I can feed this experience back to Mercedes, because incidents such as this could permanently put someone off the brand. I paid my local dealership £120 for a diagnostic and all I believe they did was reproduce the rattle and loaded the parts cannon, replacing all timing chains and anything directly connected to them.

I will probably be on the market to buy a new car in a few years but needless to say I'll take steps to make sure this dealership gets no commission.

I don't care about publicising the dealership estimate (with my personal info redacted), enjoy!