Also known as: 3.0 v6, 3.5 v6, c350 engine, e350 engine, m272 de 35
The V6 petrol of Mercedes-Benz's mid-2000s range, in 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 litre forms, replacing the older M112 — a 90° all-aluminium design with variable valve timing on both camshafts.
Its defining fault is the balance-shaft sprocket, and it is a manufacturing rather than a wear problem: sprockets on a defined range of early production were made too soft, wore against the chain, and threw camshaft-position codes long before anything was audible. The engine has to come out to correct it. Establish the build date and check whether the work has been done — a P0016-family code on an early M272 is this until proven otherwise, and it is not something to clear and monitor.
The intake manifold's swirl flaps are the second known item, with the same risk as the BMW M57's: a detached flap can be drawn into a cylinder. Beyond those two, it is a durable engine whose remaining complaints are ordinary age-related gasket and sensor faults.
Cars fitted with this engine
10 generations, across 1 make. From the authored catalogue — an absent car means the catalogue has not reached it, not that the engine was never fitted.
Information, not instruction
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