I missed this post. When I have my chain changed (as soon as I get the vibration/alignment issues worked out), I'll ask the guy to compare the old chain and new one. My car sat for three straight days last week without being started and I listened carefully at that first start - silence. No chain rattle. I just had the cars oil changed for the 10th time ever over the weekend @ 133,000 miles.

Jordan, how long have you had your 03? Do you always do the oil changes by the book, with the right oil?

 

I bought the car last summer, and only put on about 7K miles. The salesman said it had been recently changed, and the sticker in the window went along with what he said. But, we all know what that can means. The past service records show pretty consistent changes by an MB dealer.
I'm going to be doing them myself from now on.

 

Congrats on a successful repair!

I had the same question as Boom vang posted earlier:

Did you use an MB tool on the chain, or just a general chain crimper?

 

I was kind of wanting to avoid that question, since I didn't do it the specified method. I wasn't about to spend that much coin on a tool like that.
But I used a chain breaker with a bolt in the opposite end, and a little divot drilled out just deep enough for the pin on the back side. This way I could keep the force as evenly distributed as possible. I was able to "mushroom" the end of the pins pretty evenly without a tight link.

 

I just stumbled onto this. WOW! Great job Hogger! I'd like to say I would have done the same thing, but it would be a lie.

 

I had to watch the video again.
Wow, it didn't even stumble, just fired right up.
Excellent!

You guys staged that. ha
Was that really the 1st time?

 

Lol. Ya. It really was the first try.

 

amazing. congrats and great job!

 

I'm comin' up there with my coupe, to replace my headgasket.
You don't mind if I crash on the couch for a week? he he.

I'm really impressed.
I've never touched a DOHC.
Lucky for me, there's a guy who posted a really good DIY.
I have same engine as him, different car.
http://www.kokes.net/slk/Engine_head...ead_remove.htm

Love to hear any comment you might have.
Sooner or later, I'll be doing this.
Slow coolant leak out the side of the block at #4.
Which is 'normal' for this engine. (m111)

So what was the deal with the one missing bolt, that you thought was going to require a major
effort to put in? The one that ended up lining up the cams?
Were you off by one tooth, or not?

 

wow! Congratulations Hogger! You are the man.
Wish you to drive another 200K, and then another 200K, without any problems

 

Come on up, we have a spare room, and I've got the tools. But you'll have to fight the wife for garage space for her car. Lol.

It looks like that guy did a really good job covering the work. The only thing I might take a look at is the way he removed the guide pins above the front head bolts. He said he used a slide hammer. Pretty sure there isn't room in the front of our cars for one. I guess his SLK must have more space, but I would be scared of ruining something that way too. I used the long bolt with a nut, and a hefty fender washer method. And just eased the pins out. I took a pic of it, I can post if you want.
By the way, those little plastic plugs that sit in the cover, over the guide pins, are $15... Ridiculous!

I have absolutely no idea what that bolt is for. It goes in the top of the head, but it's not holding anything in place. I was worried that since I had already torqued down the cam cradle bolts, and installed the chain; that I would have to take it all apart to put this little bolt in. If I had to remove the chain, it would mean buying a new one. Which would put me another week behind while I wait for it to show up.
Fortunately I was able to undo the cam cradle bolts, and tilt the cams back enough to put the bolt in.
I was off by one tooth when I first installed the chain, but I guess it was good that I didn't put that bolt in before. Because when I had things loosened up to put the bolt in, I was able to spin the cam around to the right position.

 

Nice fleet in the driveway.
You wife is lucky she has a guy who can work on high end vehicles.

I once had my C230 all torn apart in the driveway.
At around 120K I needed to replace the exhaust manifold gasket due to a leak, and breathing exhaust into the cabin.
I decided to do a once over, along with the gasket, pull the alternator, have it rebuilt.
Pull the supercharger have it rebuilt, but actually found a new one for $600 and sold the old one for $250 so only 350 out of pocket.
Replaced all the belts , cleaned the MAF, replace filters etc. and other general maint. items and later flushed the radiator and tranny. Good for another 100k miles! Well almost.

The neighbor saw me, and said " I didn't think you were supposed to work on those" meaning, Mercedes being as they are held together with some secret magic that only a factory trained mechanic was supposed to know.
Ha.

Is there a retorque on the head bolts after 1000 miles or anything?
On my old X19, you needed special spagetti wrenches to get to the head bolts once the cam tower was on. Fortunately I belonged to a club locally, and got them to buy them for the tool fund as they were like the last set available for sale at Bayless.
Too bad we don't have a tool fund here to buy that $250 cam chain toolkit.
After 1K miles, you were supposed to turn them all another 90 degrees.
Didn't do it the 1st time, and it came loose.

 

Todd - Your avatar is reversed!

 

Interesting read. Hope you enjoyed the 2007 Sattui Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

I don't remember what I wrote, except that I deleted it.
And wondering what life is like on the southern tip of Africa.
Yes, the Suttui was nice.

 

Cool man, Congrats, I am finishing up mine, the only difference is that I just replaced the 4 bent intake valves , and all the valve seals, spent $1000 , because I paid my friends dad $300 and $70 for the cam screw that somehow cracked. I will post video once running.

 

Thanks. Let me know if you have any questions.

I'm up to about 800 miles on mine now. Everything is still in one piece. I think it's safe to say, it was a success.

 

Hey guys,
I had this idea of using a borescope to inspect the chain through the oil cap, without opening all the covers etc.
Do you think it is possible - I mean, are there any obstructions inside there?
Thanks!

 

Good idea, but doesn't seem to work. i just tried it, and the cam cage seems to be blocking the view of the chain and sprockets.

 

Oh well.. at least now I don't have to spend money on the scope
Thanks for checking it.

 

Hogger...just saw this thread. Props to you man...that was a terrific job getting your car running again!

After reading this thread, I went out and checked my car and sure enough there is the rattle on a cold start. The longer the car has been parked, the longer the rattle lasts on startup. I've taken a short video of the noise and it can be found here
. During this startup the rattle lasted only 3-4 seconds (from 0:19 - 0:23 in the video)

To the knowledgeable on this subject - is this the same noise caused by the timing chain loosening? Is it a cause for concern, or is it OK to let it be as is. If it is a cause for concern, what parts should I be looking to replace when I get this taken care of? The car is a 2002 C230 coupe (M111 4cyl supercharged) with 195k KM (~120k mi) on the clock.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Cheers!

 

This has not been a known issue on the M111. I don't have sound right now, though.

 

Thanks!
I'm not certain about your sound, it doesn't really sound like the timing chain rattle, but it last about the same time, with similar symptoms you mentioned. And like LILBENZ said, I'm pretty sure the timing chain hasn't been an issue on the M111.
Hopefully someone will have some better info on the M111.

 

^ Thanks guys...

Anyone with experience with the M111...any thoughts? What the hell is that mysterious rattle upon cold start? :S

 

**BUMP**

Anybody? Appreciate any info...