Jasonoff

Change thread title from "DIY" to "FYI"? lol

gaspam

dude hurry up and finish this as i started following your DIY and haven't been able to drive my car since 4/19 where you left it!

lol j/k! I did this with my buddy when i first got the car as mine is one of the ones that is in the affected vin's

Kriston

How did the install go? how long total? 1 bolt at a time I assume?

Jasonoff

I hear the cam adjusters can be a ****...

gaspam

yep one at a time method as i didnt have a failure or broken bolt that would of required removing engine,etc

took a few days as time constraints with work and generally not having any time available

Bimmer777

How long ago did you do the job? I am thinking of doing the same on mine.

machinemanjr

OP, any updates you can provide would be helpful. I'm intrigued by the process and do-ability for a competent DIY'er... ( I recently did the timing chain guides and top end of an e38 BMW )

Merc63

Not updating don't want guys doing this at home that don't know what their doing, it's way too technical.

layzie12g

You really need to be a Benz tech to be able to do this, or be a very capable mechanic. Even when your following WIS instructions it can be intimidating the first time you do the cam timing. I had a guy to use for reference the first time I did it. After the first time it is a pretty simple deal. First time, not so much.

Merc63

Yep once you understand how the Benz tools hold the cams with the engine at 40degrees it's pretty simple, but that first time is a bit stressful.

Basically anyone that has the knowledge to do this operation doesn't need a DIY and if they do, they are in trouble. It's not a job to learn on.

shamrode

Could someone post a list of parts needed for this? No way I am trying it myself, but if I could order the parts from the states or Europe I'd pay much less than buying them locally.

QWKSNKE

Lol!
While I understand what you mean, shouldn't that be up to the reader to determine whether he is capable or not. It's not like you are at fault if someone performs their own repairs and messes up.

That's kinda the purpose of automotive forums. Sharing knowledge.

machinemanjr

Agreed. That's the great thing about these forums: people helping people.

For the record, I'll look into the WIS procedure then think about undertaking the procedure.

Jasonoff

If I f'ed up following his DIY, I would 100% blame him.

jvanbrecht

I'm not even doing the DIY change, and I blame him for my CEL.. gotta blame someone

Euler

I don't see where you installed the bolt to hold the two gear pieces stationary. Please explain.

Merc63

There is either a threaded hole or a non threaded hole for one of the mb tools on the back side of each cam gear. If the cams/engine aren't in the right position, you won't see them.

Jasonoff

This is a good thread to dig through...

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...age-build.html

jvanbrecht

There is a ridiculously low res 2 part set of videos on youtube, appears to be training material on the m156 engine to replace the pistons, it's brief, but gives you a good idea on how to remove the cams and use the tools.

jclaus98

Has anyone else attempted this who can fill in the blanks? I was very excited when I saw this and then when I discovered only half the job was detailed, I almost wanted to jump off a bridge. Has anyone who's had the low coolant light come on changed to head studs individually without removing the head had positive results? I.E. - no leaks following the installation of the studs? I am very mechanically inclined and have built several of my own engines over the years, but there is no substitute for the knowledge someone gains through experience and would simply like to benefit from the experience those of you have had having replaced these. I would like to do the Weistec head studs and SLS valve buckets on mine and do not want to pay someone $5k to do it when my labor is free. I just want to make sure it's done correctly and insure that I do not have to mess with it ever again. Most importantly, I want to be able to mat the go pedal without worrying about the ticking time bomb under the hood. Someone please help.

Euler

I have not done it yet, but I'm going to soon: Weistec studs SLS buckets and maybe their billet idler set. Cam timing kits are available on line and have all the necessary tools. The Weistec instructions are excellent and you can download them to study up a bit. The buckets can be easily removed with a magnetic retrieval tool which is how I do it on my motorcycle.

jclaus98

I guess the biggest question I have is, which would be nice if someone who has actually done it and had good results with could chime in, if the head gaskets have already started to leak(as in the low coolant light has already come on several times even after topping off), is changing the bolts to studs without removing the heads a wise choice or not? My guess would be that if the seal has already been disturbed due to broken bolt heads, that the heads need to come off and a fresh gasket used. However, again, I'd like to hear from someone who has had the coolant light come on, changed the bolts to studs without removing the heads and not had a problem afterwards. Anybody?

Euler

I suspect that the low coolant in a lot of cases is due to coolant flowing up around the broken head bolt and into the cam gallery. The flange on bolt head forms a sealing surface with the head bolt recess. The shaft of the bolt is in the coolant flow path. Once the head snaps off coolant is free to flow up around the bolt. The Weistic stud installation instructions are very detailed about restoring the bolt seal. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I don't believe that many of the bolt failures are causing a head gasket problem.

Merc63

If you already have coolant passing the head gasket then you either have a broken or stretched bolt. Most likely stretched. Thing with that is, you go to remove that stretched bolt and the head busts off when removing it and your screwed. Now you have to pull the engine to get the head off and remove that broken bolt.


If you get lucky and the bolts all come out but coolant has already passed through the gasket, you might be ok if you torque down the studs, you might not...

BLKROKT

If the head gasket has already been compromised, you're out of luck. Heads off. Otherwise you're wasting your time and $.