I was concerned about this as well. what is the torque requirement for this bolt? Since the crank handles almost 300 ft lbs of torque in normal operation, Unless the torque for the bold is much higher I would think that a crankshaft should be able to handle the torque. Are these forged crankshafts or cast?

The bolt on mine was frozen tight. I tried using a 3/4" drive 600 ft lb air impact gun to remove the bolt, and it would not budge it. I was concerned about damaging the crank also, since the bolt was so tight. Call me a caveman, but I used a chain type pipe wrench wrapped around the harmonic balancer (where the serpentine belt rides) and a 4' cheater bar, and it worked like a charm

Called the 1-800-FOR-MERC Customer Service Rep today and asked if he knew about the harmonic balancer problem. He said no and that all he had heard about was the power steering clamp problem on the ML's. I've got an appointment next Thursday for the dealer to check mine out before the warranty runs out. Think I'll have it done wheather or not its covered.
Like Sterling, I'd rather do it now than wait for a major problem when you least expect it. Just my 2 cents worth!

I had the balancer done on friday.... I also had a collapsed mount. I have to say that I'm liking my 3rd mercedes less and less. I always thought that I got what I paid for when I bought a benz... not anymore... failing Harmonic Balancers, failing motor mounts..... what is next? oh the car is a 98 e430 with 62K on it. it might be my last benz.

Every time I think about replacing my low mileage 300E with a new E-Class, I come back here and read this thread.

I'm really enjoying all the money I've saved

I've told my wife that if something happens to me, buy a Camry or Accord.

1999 AMG C43 55k miles Update:

Just got back from the dealer for an "A" service, Check Engine light diagnosis, and a look at the balancer. I was sweating because I'm 5k out of warranty and did not buy this particular car at this dealer (bought other ones from him though).

Anyway, they said the balancer was wobbly and my MAFS was bad. They warranted the entire balancer job, and the MAFS part, I paid for the A service and the 2 hours for the MAFS and considered myself very, very lucky. The balancer could have easily blown up on me during one of my many 100mph sprints up the highway.

This experience has proven this message board an extremely valuable source of info, and also that not all dealers are bad!! Thanks everyone.

I bought a used 98 E320 in mint condition with 125,000 miles. I have visually checked the balancer and it seems fine. Would they have changed the balancer when it was certified by Starmark with previous owner?

__________________
1989 300e (sold)
1992 300e (wrecked)
1998 E320

This may help.

I changed my crankshaft Balancer, I also changed the bolt, I believed it was recommended by M.B. Doc, he recommended me to change the bolt, see earlier post by me on this thread.

When I bought the bolt they gave me a regular bolt.
Old bolt came out it was (hex, allen dont know the differnce.)

I asked the part guy why is this different, he said these are new updated. New bolt does not come with the balancer.

So, if it has been changed by the dealer he might of changed the bolt as well, some mechanic just put the old one on.

So..if you see new type of bolt, after taking the fan cover off, pretty easy 2 clips and pulls up, little obstruction from the fan.

This may indicate it has been changed.
Another good way to inspect is take a flash light and inspect the rubber in front and back, crank the motor little and inspect the back, sometime rubber looks fine in front but the back is twisted, that was my case.

Also, after fan cover off, run your car and with the help of a flash light look at it carefully, if you notice SLIGHT, and I mean SLIGHT woble, It may be on its way out.

Hope this helps.

The parts man at the dealer told me it's torqued to 450 ft.-lbs. I went out and bought a bigger 600 ft.-lb. impact wrench to get it off, and it didn't work. I tried a 5 foot cheater bar. When I called the service manager at the dealer to ask him how he does it, he told me to use a longer cheater bar! Anyway I welded up a fixture to hold the balancer and went to a 6 foot cheater bar. The dealer went on to say his guys' torque wrenches only go up to 250 like everyone else's; to install, they torque to 250 and "add a tug".

For whatever reason they did not recommend replacement of the bolt.

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Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

My 1998 ML320 "lost" the crankshaft balancer at 73,xxx miles. Since I'm not the original owner, M-B did not cover the problem. I'm told they will not even admit there is a problem, although the replacement part has a different number, indicating a design change. Cost me $1345 out of pocket. Makes me wonder why I bought this car after this and the battery replacement, door lock actuator replacement and most recently complete replacement of all four catalytic converters that had cracked. Fortunately the cats were under the Federal 80,000 mile warranty and so M-B paid. They did not however, pay for the $500 cost of replacing one exhaust manifold that had cracked! In 9 months I've averaged $200 per month in repairs! Mercedes quality? Hah! JRT

No just unfortunate. The 1st yr ML . That yr has nothing but problems,I belive there were like. 75 different fixes for the following yr.


I get rid of it.

yu hanvt experinced the sunroof going douth or the differ leaking or the racking going south. Take your losses.


Just my 2 cents from experience

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500E Sold
2006 Mini Cooper S
Modified,pulley,injectors,suspension
2009 E350 Sport AMG package

Another one bites the dust.

We had a '99 C280...The customer complained of rough idle. The rubber buffer was half missing.

We replaced it.....I saved it. I hope to get some pics for anyone who cares.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS

I care, love to see the pictures. Just bought updated balancer 08 00. Going to try to change myself with 6 foot cheater bar and pulley holder that i just bought for $125. I have a 1999 C280 and don't want to wait for IT to happen. Small hairline cracks already forming on front rubber.

Donnie strange. But i havent ran into a C class yet that needed it.

Only E class and ML. is that a coincidence you thin



Maybe the early 112 engines were alright, maybe laters were the problem.



Guido out!

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500E Sold
2006 Mini Cooper S
Modified,pulley,injectors,suspension
2009 E350 Sport AMG package

The harmonic balancer failed on my co-worker's 1998 C280 while driving on the freeway.

She took it to the dealer in Riverside, and they had to remove the engine from the car to fix it.

The bill was around $3,000.....

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".