Sl 350 Balance Shaft - what is this thing

[Geoffps]

Good day My SL 350 is with the mechanic having the balance shaft changed at the moment. He found the article in the photo's in the oil pan. He doesn't know what it is, nor do I, does anyone have an idea? Thank you very much

 

[Wighty]

 

[Craiglxviii]

It’s a bigger hole in your wallet, for one thing!

 

[ajlsl600]

Bein honest, don't know. Looks like the end of some kind of link.

 

[LostKiwi]

What was wrong with the balance shaft?

 

[Geoffps]

It's a 2006 SL 350, I think they were notorious for the teeth breaking on the balance shaft with subsequent slipping of the timing chain. I believe a class action was won in the States so Mercedes had to pay to fix the problem if the car had main dealer service history and less than 125,000 miles. My car has done 71,000 but not main dealer service history so I have no chance to claim anything here. This is an engine out job, I haven't got the final price yet but it will be in the thousands.
The mechanic working on my car expected to find cog teeth in the oil but not the thing in the photo above.

 

[Blobcat]

I’m guessing you have the M272 engine rather than the earlier M112

 

[Geoffps]

Correct.

 

[mioba]

Strange looking part that. I can’t tell but is there a cleaner part where it has snapped off something.

 

[Geoffps]

It's a good question but I don't think he's dismantled the engine enough to find the answer. This bit was just in the sump.

 

[Craiglxviii]

It's a good question but I don't think he's dismantled the engine enough to find the answer. This bit was just in the sump.

I’m scared for you now!

 

[Geoffps]

Thanks, I'm scared for me too. I'll report back what happens in the end.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

That's weird, assume it is metallic ?

 

[Geoffps]

Yes it's metal

 

[-raj-]

Having rebuilt a few M272 engines before, i have never seen anything like that before.

Does it look like it has broken off something, is there a visible break mark?

 

[LostKiwi]

I was under the impression the 350 didn't suffer from this issue.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&u...ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCKilu6mz4OsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

 

[Geoffps]

Here is a picture of my old and new next to each other

 

[Blobcat]

Here is a picture of my old and new next to each other

Was your engine number in the "at risk" range?

 

[A.J.]

Good day My SL 350 is with the mechanic having the balance shaft changed at the moment. He found the article in the photo's in the oil pan. He doesn't know what it is, nor do I, does anyone have an idea? Thank you very much View attachment 61780 View attachment 61781 View attachment 61782

Looks like some sort of Pawl that would lock into a sprocket ??