woodz928

I purchased a 2005 c230 komp with 85k miles last month, last week it jumped time. I have had two mechanics look at it, one says the repair cost will be $2500 the other said $5000. I have located a motor with only 4000 miles for $3500 another $1500 in labor, that will also be $5000.
Does anyone know what the repair cost should actually be?

AdidasC230

The price diffrence could do with their labor rates and what each mechanic feels needs to be replaced.

I had an engine damaged and one mechaninic said it needed new valves and springs and to have the deck grinded down and cleaned which added alot to the price. The other mechanic said there was no need for any new valves or springs and no deck milling to be done and he was over 1500 less on those things alone.

Did you get a written estimate from both with what they intend on doing and their labor rates? Id def check that out.

Sorry that happened I cant imagine how upsetting it is. Where do you live? Some one may be able to reccomend a good indy in the area, or I can refer you to a dealer with a good set of mechanics from MBUSA

woodz928

Thanks for the advice . I live about one hour south of Nashville, I know of a couple of European repair centers there but have never used them. I have seen some 2002 motors on eBay for around $1000 I was thinking if they were compatible maybe take the parts I need off the eBay motor and repair mine. I'm not sure if the parts are compatible, I need to do a little more research.

6speedclk

This happend to a car that my frend fixed. Luckly when the engine jumps time not all the valves get damaged. So the cost of parts may be lower then you think. I'm pretty sure he wishes he had jest replaced the engine. It would have bin less pain in neck.

woodz928

This has already been a pain in the neck, the next pain will be in my wallet .
Thanks for the response.

Glyn M Ruck

Damn M271 engine with it's single gang chain. Be warned. If your car's timing chain rattles at cold start before the oil pressure comes up. Immediately have the chain replaced & tensioners examined and replaced if necessary. Don't leave it! This is the potential outcome if you do. If you allow it to continue you could also have to replace all sprockets.

OP good luck!

boom132

Why are they jumping time? Is this due to neglect by a previous owner, racing the car too hard, or just "luck of the draw"?

sammydragon3

i have 54k miles should i have my belt replaced then or is it too earlier?

glen my car is rattling like u said on start up!!

starting to hate this car,

AdidasC230

Good question!? Glyn?

I always assumed and has always been told timing chains are super because unlike a belt they won't brake and you don't ever need to do anything but check tension on them

ncmudbug

This brings up a question I've had. How long should we let our cars (M271 specifically) warm up (or really come to oil pressure) before we drive away? Any advice on that?

Glyn M Ruck

Regarding warm up. Just let the engine stabalise & drive off immediately. This warms the engine & Cats the quickest & is desireable. For long life never demand full power from an engine until at operating temperature & clearances have normalised. The most wear takes place in an engine at cold start & during warm up.

Please don't get confused Sammy. These cars use a Poly V belt to drive accessories which only really needs replacement on inspection for condition.

The camshafts however are chain driven which is generally superior to any toothed belt.
However - Benz in their wisdom used a single gang chain on the M271 to save weight. On other engines like the V6's they use duplex chains which are a lot more durable.

If the single gang chains on the M271 stretch & wear they rattle on cold start & should be replaced immediately or they can jump a few teeth with expensive consequences. Chain life is affected by use & maintenance.

There are two potential causes of cold startup rattle on the M271. Camshaft adjusters or a worn chain, damaged tensioners etc. The chain is the most common & can be detected by location of the rattle.

boom132

And of course, the newbie question... is there a DIY for changing out the worn chain? I looked in the sticky and it was not there...

AdidasC230

I did a search to check and no I didnt find anything, its kind of complex, so Its not something thats easy to undertake

ncmudbug

Thanks Glyn. I didn't know how long it takes the oil pressure to come up (wish cars came with oil pressure gauges!). Then I figured with such thin oil, it probably wasn't going to take a long time. Back in the day, it made sense to give it time for the oil pressure to come up and for some cars, to actually allow the oil to warm a little. When I first got 320i, it wouldn't shift till the tranny got warm. One time I almost got plowed into when I shifted from first to second because it took so log it must have looked like I had put on the brakes!

Nice to know I'm not tearing up my engine!

nlpamg

Oh wow, that's crazy. Sorry to hear that, OP.

Glyn, what kind of sounds would you hear? I have no clue what to look for. Thanks.

Glyn M Ruck

Phil - You hear a loud rattle from the front of the engine when started cold or it has been standing for a long while so all the oil has drained back to the sump. This can last 4 or 5 seconds until the oil pressure comes up & tensions the loose chain. The rattle is the chain actually hitting the chain case. Keep the door open & listen when you start. You can't miss it.

custom c280

the prices are about right depends on the amount of damege is done when they open the motor i just had to change a balance shaft on my car it takes alot of work to open our motor

Glyn M Ruck

Regarding a DIY chain/tensioner replacement on the M271 I4. I do not have it & there are a couple of special tools that make the job a lot easier to feed the new chain & hold the camshafts in the correct position so that you get the valve timing correct to the crankshaft.

Maybe someone could post the method from the maintenance CD or Star.

C230 Sport Coup

Someone pulled the head on a M271 on benzworld and posted extensive pics.
Just fixing the chain is part of it.
I really feel for those with M271 and M272 engines.
Mercedes has gone to the dogs.
A complete lack of accountability from a company previously known as manufacturing the 'best engineered cars in the world'.
Not any more.

LightDragon

the main cause of timing chain issues is the poor quality of the oil and/or neglected oil changes

Glyn M Ruck

I agree this is certainly a main contributing factor. Matt drives his car hard. He religiously changes his oil at 13K with the correct 229.5 product. Car has done 125K & the chain is silent. At the same time I know of a chain that was replaced at 2000Km under warranty. My reason for posting is not to alarm people. It is to make them aware of their car & changes in the noises it makes. Early detection & repair is cheap compared with bent valves.

The same can be said for the M272. It is a beautiful engine capable of huge mileage. A relatively small number were adversely affected by a batch of engines with "soft" sintered balancer shaft sprockets. The sprocket supplier had a hardening problem. The problem has been fixed by a return to machined steel sprockets. It no longer exists & was not a design issue at all. Having the odd oil sample analysed on the M272 to ensure no abnormal wear will give owners piece of mind if in the potential trouble window. Benz has an ask no questions attitude to the balancer shaft issue & happily repairs cars out of warranty.

LightDragon

what i like on the older m111 engines is the dual-timing chain - solid and reliable

LightDragon

however, the best cure is precaution!

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - the V6 models also use a duplex chain. The M111 might be a bit crude but it is a tough engine for sure.

Carsy

Will the attached help ?