What a surprise!.. Wife's '06 ML350 had intermittent CEL. Last year, dealer replaced cam / timing position sensors. Problem continued to occur with CEL coming on even more frequently. NOW, they tell me that the Balance Shaft has a bad gear and it is deteriorating. 73K miles. Thank goodness for extended warranties. Finding from other web site threads and blogs that MB USA is not consistent with the treatment of customers... some customers are bearing the full cost of the repair while others are being offered "good will" discounts. Appears there had been a service bulliten out for 2 1/2 years on this problem with no sign that MBUSA is stepping up to cover a known fault. roughly 10 updates to the bulliten adding vehichles to the list.

Any other Shop Forum members experiencing this? Not exactly the kind of news one expects when you take your late model Benz in for a CEL... "Oh Mr. Customer, we have to take your engine out and apart.... 5 days and $5K later... good as new"

And... What's to prevent the replacement components from wearing out the same way?... ie...is the problem "really" a faulty crafted part or is it a design issue?"

Finally. what other 06 models have the same 3.5L installed? the R, E, C classes ?

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Jeff
'87 300E
'92 400E
'06 ML350