LILBENZ230

It's worth noting that forums concentrate problems and that there are lots of M271s on this forum that have never had a timing chain issue.

That said, I'm with you. If mine suddenly needed a new engine, I'd scrap it.. not spending $3000-5000 on a $8000 car, period. So I'll spend a few hundred and have the chain and tensioner replaced as soon as I figure out what the hell else is going on with mine now.

Hogger

At 111,000 miles, I'd change it out. You don't get much warning before things go bad.

Glyn M Ruck

Matt - You could be a very good calibrator for us. Your car has no rattle. It's driven fairly hard but well maintained. Could you measure the stretch in your used chain for us vs new?

I would like to try & calibrate stretch vs. mileage. I'm hearing of more & more chains jumping in SA as mileage rises.

Boom vang

If you read my post I have 111,000km not miles

km x .62 = miles

Hogger

I need help finding a part.
It's the little plug that goes in the front of the timing cover. It sits where the thick red line is going through.
There are two of them, and they have to be removed, so that you can unscrew the chain guide pins.
I need to replaces the old ones since they got ruined during removal.

Any ideas? I can't find them on any diagrams anywhere.

Glyn M Ruck

Item 23 here



23 A 000 997 64 20 EXPANSION PLUG 002

Hogger

That's the ticket! Thanks.

04mbc230

Just wondering, since the timing chain is going to be replace and with the sprockets exposed. Would it be a good time to check the Balance shaft sprocket as well or any sprocket of concern as well?

Would this topic be part of the sprocket issue with these cars? I digged up some info about this and found that lots of cars up to 2007 has sprocket issues or possible affect engine.

What would be the best way to check this or would changing out the timing chain would be the best time to check? On a regular basis without opening the covers to the timing chain, what other indication would you get as a hint there is a BS Sprocket issue?

This is what I found on this tread that might be a good read since you are at it.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...l?ref=esp-link

Hogger

Pretty sure the 2007 has the V6 in it. I have the M271.

Glyn M Ruck

Sprocket problem is only on M272 & M273

LILBENZ230

Also, there would be no reason to change the dual-gang timing chain on the M272.. So you shouldn't have it open to check the balance shaft sprocket. You can check the VIN.

04mbc230

How does one check this info? From which database to cross referrence it to?

C230 Sport Coup

The Service campaign or DTB or whatever it's called from Mercedes specifies the engine SN's affected.
EPC allows you look up your datacard by VIN, and see what your engine # is.
EPC is free to US people, though they ask for a credit card, they do not charge anything.
http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/

The DTB is around here somewhere. STFF

Glyn M Ruck

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...ssues-dtb.html

Boom vang

wonder how many of the M271 engines that have this issue have been 'tuned' ie eurotuned or engine alter in some way, or is just a very bad design flaw?

Glyn M Ruck

A single gang chain will always be prone to stretching. I think it is very service orientated. Cars serviced to the book seem to give less chain trouble. I think Benz should just have made it a 100K mile service item.

Boom vang

So Glyn, you are saying that that one should automatically replace (just like a rubber timing belt) when the car hits aprox 100,000mi or 161,000km as a regular mandatory service item?

LILBENZ230

http://youtu.be/f_-1HF1nt5A

This is the timing chain rattle, I believe. Glyn can you confirm?

I got a labor quote today of $260 all in to replace the timing chain on my M271, he made no mention of special tools being necessary. I have 132,700 miles - I'll record my car's first start tomorrow morning for comparison.

ncmudbug

$260! I've never done it or seen it done beyond Hogger's posts and pictures, but that sounds insanely inexpensive! I just read how Hogger says it's not that difficult. Maybe I'm getting old (ok, I am old ), but I still do some wrench turning but at $260, that doesn't seem worth it to do it yourself.

LILBENZ230

I should note that this is not my primary indy, either, but my secondary. My primary deals very heavily into suspension/brakes and routine maintenance. My secondary is an engine guy and I felt this job was best suited to the engine guy. The chain is $52 and the tensioner is $77 and labor will be $260. It's worth having it done as a pre-emptive strike if I'm keeping the car for another couple of years.

Hogger - what is needed other than the chain and tensioner? I know you've replaced other things but were they necessary?

LILBENZ230

http://youtu.be/4o6lS-x1P30

This is my car's cold start this morning. You can hear the difference VS the one I posted above.

Glyn M Ruck

Matt. If your chain is not noisy I would just pull through a new chain & fit a new tensioner per the WIS method I posted earlier in this thread. The plasticware only starts taking strain when the chain starts slapping around.

We have only gone further on Hoggers car because of the head & chaincase removal on a basis of while you are in there you may as well get everything back to new.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - That is the rattle until oil pressure rises. The cam adjusters can make a very similar noise but I can hear the difference - that is chain.

You need a cam holding tool & a chain breaker. The cam holding tool for a once off can be made up of pieces of stiff wire bent to go into the adjuster holes.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - that's what I would do if I owned a M271. Just pull a new top chain & replace the tensioner. Otherwise you need to listen very carefully for noise & can be given very little warning.

Glyn M Ruck

Yours sounds fine still. You need to listen at the front grill area as someone starts the car for you to pick up early signs. A mini version of what you hear on the C200 clip above which is bad.