M272 V6 engine durability

[Peter T]

I bought an 07 SLK 280, which has the M272 engine, in September last year from an MB dealership.

Should I be contacting them to get the parts replaced under warranty?

 

[Peter T]

Apologies. I confused you with the guy already experiencing this problem on his ML.
I see your point - just fix it at the first sign of failing. Has this become a regular enough occurence to alter secondhand prices re had remedial work done vs not had remedial work done? That's how it has gotten to be with the eralier smart fortwos - advertising the car with a rebuilt engine commands a higher price than one without a rebuild which is assumed will fail. Oh happy days!

It's the same with early Jaguar V8s which, as we all know, suffered the dreaded Nicasil problem.

It's virtually impossible to sell one for any sort of price unless its had the proper Jag engine change.

 

[clk208]

I bought an 07 SLK 280, which has the M272 engine, in September last year from an MB dealership.

Should I be contacting them to get the parts replaced under warranty?

I read somewhere it's engine numbers up to Serial #468993 on the M272s that are affected - might be worth checking if yours in in the range.

I'm not sure the dealer would do anything until your engine management light is on though, which could take up to 100k miles or more to happen, although seems to occur on others at lower mileages.

Let us know how you get on if you do contact the dealer.

 

[HB]

Our clk 208 V6 has 180k on it. Original gearbox never any trouble guys.

 

[clk208]

Our clk 208 V6 has 180k on it. Original gearbox never any trouble guys.

Good to hear. The V6 208 doesn't have the M272 engine though.

It has the M112 and seems to be good for big mileages, based on the lack of issues reported and the high mileage examples for sale. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think there are any major faults with the M112.

 

[Peter T]

Checked with MB of Coventry.

They have checked VIN no's etc and say there are no outstanding issues/recalls for my vehicle.

The MB Star Bulletin mentions engine no's up to 2729..30 468993. Mine is later than that so I would seem to be in the clear.

Thanks for the help, Peter

 

[RichardF]

Holy thread reserection batman.

Any more on this issue? I'm considering a couple of CLK 280s one a very tidy, low mileage 2007 model, the other a late 2008 model with around 90k on the clock. It feels like the later car would be the better buy. Or would any balancer shaft issues have manifested themselves by now?

 

[Uky]

Comment below refers to M272 M/Y 2009. This and later engines should have had most problems solved.

The M272 V6 Petrol has a double linked timing chain. This type of chain should not wear out like the single-linked ones in the 4-cylinder in-lines.
The problems with the M272 and M273 was caused by sintered gears used for the timing chain and balancing shafts in the V6 and the timing chain in the V8
The sintered gears was replaced with solid ones following specific engine serial numbers that can be found on the internet.

Apart from gear issues, there has been some other problems reported with the variable timing control sensors. There are some 70+
sensors and control functions on an M272 engine.

After 100,000 kms there is a risk of cracked crank case ventillation hose(s) that throws DTC's. Not too logical fault to find as the
crack manifests itself in a similar way as a bad air-mass meter or faulty lambda sonds. The crack int the hose appears on the metal side
of the engine (facing down). The hose will have to be lifted up for the crack to be seen.

I owned a C207 with the 3.5 litre petrol V6. Someone here wrote that it is the "sweet spot" and in the C207 it did the job exceptionally well.

But it is a thirsty engine. It takes some time before it reaches the optimum operating temperature during which it is a gas guzzler.
On the long haul driving at legal speeds on highways it consumes anout 7.5 litre/100 km.

The M272 Petrol CGI/SFI version exhaust system has 4 lambda sensors and several NOx-sensors and thermistors. Mercedes have had problems like many
others with NOx sensor quality and they are expenceive to replace. Apart from the component cost, they will have to be configured in the vehicle
with the Xentry system.

And as with any second hand car that old, always have an extra couple of thousand bucks for those unexpected "Check-Engine" that lights up when you want it the least...