Wrapping up year 4
07-27-2012, 09:27 AM
#51
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
I have decided not to risk it at all. It won't be ran again for any reason. It's going to cost less than $300 to have the chain and tensioner replaced whereas if it jumped time it could cost easily 10 times that amount. Just not worth it.
07-27-2012, 10:16 AM
#55
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
That's if it is the bulb. A quick flick of the switch and I can re-strike the bulb. It doesn't turn any weird colors or lose intensity. Sometimes it works just fine for hours before just randomly shutting off. No flickers.
If it is the ballast that's going to suck as I believe I read that you must break the motor that moves the lights (they are adaptive) to get the ballast out. So basically you'd have to buy an entire unit.
Alas this isn't a 2IS forum. lol
If it is the ballast that's going to suck as I believe I read that you must break the motor that moves the lights (they are adaptive) to get the ballast out. So basically you'd have to buy an entire unit.
Alas this isn't a 2IS forum. lol
07-27-2012, 10:50 AM
#56
Out Of Control!!
Give Glyn 5 minutes; I'm sure he'll come up with your problem. 
It does sound like the ballast or wiring to me. Have fun!
It does sound like the ballast or wiring to me. Have fun!
07-27-2012, 12:06 PM
#57
Super Moderator
Nah! I like the IS but I know very little about the quirks of that model. There are obvious suspects but throw that one at the Toyota/Lexus forums.
07-27-2012, 06:10 PM
#58
MBWorld Fanatic!
07-30-2012, 01:29 PM
#60
MBWorld Fanatic!
One shop quoted around 1100, another one - around 600 in labor.
Which is basically the same price, considering that parts run around $300? (chain, tensioner, gasket kit)
I am thinking about getting a quote from a 'family owned' auto shop. If people on this forum are able to replace the chain in 3-4 hours, then I guess any mechanic can.
Which is basically the same price, considering that parts run around $300? (chain, tensioner, gasket kit)
I am thinking about getting a quote from a 'family owned' auto shop. If people on this forum are able to replace the chain in 3-4 hours, then I guess any mechanic can.
07-30-2012, 01:43 PM
#61
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
The parts cost from RMEuropean:
$52 for the chain
$77 for the tensioner
$25ish for the gaskets
At the time I purchased it.
I have consulted with both my indy mechanics. One said 4hr @ $65/hr, the other said 4.5hr @ $72/hr. Whoever can get to it first is getting the business. That's $260-325 to replace all. But to be fair, I have very cheap labor rates at my mechanics.
$52 for the chain
$77 for the tensioner
$25ish for the gaskets
At the time I purchased it.
I have consulted with both my indy mechanics. One said 4hr @ $65/hr, the other said 4.5hr @ $72/hr. Whoever can get to it first is getting the business. That's $260-325 to replace all. But to be fair, I have very cheap labor rates at my mechanics.
07-30-2012, 01:53 PM
#62
MBWorld Fanatic!
Hmm... Thanks for the pointer to RMEuropean, I will look there.
Autohaus and parts-com have higher prices.
Well, I kinda was expecting around $600 parts+labor, but not $1k
I guess even the stealer would charge around $1.5k
BTW, did you find a cover for timing chain tensioner online?
Autohaus and parts-com have higher prices.
Well, I kinda was expecting around $600 parts+labor, but not $1k
I guess even the stealer would charge around $1.5k
BTW, did you find a cover for timing chain tensioner online?
Last edited by VVF; 07-30-2012 at 02:30 PM. Reason: tensioner cover
07-30-2012, 08:21 PM
#64
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
The tow truck is on its way to pick the car up. The appt is Wednesday. The mechanic revised his estimate for replacement of the valve cover gasket, chain, and tensioner to $205.
What is this about a tensioner cover, though?
What is this about a tensioner cover, though?
07-30-2012, 11:22 PM
#65
MBWorld Fanatic!
Good luck, hope the replacement goes well and you can enjoy the car again!
The cover: https://mbworld.org/forums/5132709-post149.html
Hogger has a plug, somebody else - I believe in the same thread - had some kind of glued-in thing...
The cover: https://mbworld.org/forums/5132709-post149.html
Hogger has a plug, somebody else - I believe in the same thread - had some kind of glued-in thing...
07-30-2012, 11:28 PM
#66
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
I saw that. That's frustrating.. I have no way of knowing what my car has. Or what to do about it if there is just the glued in goop stuff. I can't find a part for that.
07-31-2012, 03:21 PM
#68
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
My mechanic called this afternoon and said he had started the engine to move the car into the shop and that it ran fine and he didn't hear anything. I told him he had to listen carefully at the first cold start as it only happens for a second.
He then asked if I had not purchased guides. I didn't think about this. I bought these parts when the car was silent on start. Does the noise mean the guides are ruined? He said he would look at them tomorrow when he takes the stuff apart.
He then asked if I had not purchased guides. I didn't think about this. I bought these parts when the car was silent on start. Does the noise mean the guides are ruined? He said he would look at them tomorrow when he takes the stuff apart.
07-31-2012, 04:05 PM
#69
Super Moderator
No. The guides might be fine. You caught it early. Tell him to inspect them.
07-31-2012, 04:30 PM
#70
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
He said he would inspect tomorrow. I'm hoping the guides are fine, but I don't want them to cause a problem later. I'd rather wait yet another day for new guides to arrive. But it's already been 8 days out of service and I'm getting impatient. Last night as I waited for the tow truck..
08-02-2012, 01:49 PM
#71
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
As an update..
Neither of my two independent mechanics will touch the timing chain. The primary one said no to start with, but that was no surprise since he's the guy I use for suspension and brakes and things like that. The secondary one is an engine guy and he will not do it, either. He is convinced after his research that the car does not have a problem and made a series of excuses before finally saying he just wasn't going to do it. He said the decision is based on him not understanding the WIS procedure about fishing in a new chain. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. He can rebuild an engine, I've seen him do it, not sure why this is such a challenge.
In any event, the plan now is to drop it off at a specialty shop called European Sports Car in my area. I have heard nothing but good things about the shop and they even have a STAR computer. The owner initially told me that the timing chain issue only happened on neglected cars that didn't use the proper oil or ran low on oil at times and how he would likely need to replace the oil pump. I contacted him a second time and he has agreed to replace the chain and tensioner next week. The cost will be higher at about $500.00 but the alternative is a dealer - the dealer I called said the same thing, M271s don't have timing chain issues, no service needed. The price they gave was over $1k, but they were clearly not interested in it.
A new car might be in my near future.
Neither of my two independent mechanics will touch the timing chain. The primary one said no to start with, but that was no surprise since he's the guy I use for suspension and brakes and things like that. The secondary one is an engine guy and he will not do it, either. He is convinced after his research that the car does not have a problem and made a series of excuses before finally saying he just wasn't going to do it. He said the decision is based on him not understanding the WIS procedure about fishing in a new chain. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. He can rebuild an engine, I've seen him do it, not sure why this is such a challenge.
In any event, the plan now is to drop it off at a specialty shop called European Sports Car in my area. I have heard nothing but good things about the shop and they even have a STAR computer. The owner initially told me that the timing chain issue only happened on neglected cars that didn't use the proper oil or ran low on oil at times and how he would likely need to replace the oil pump. I contacted him a second time and he has agreed to replace the chain and tensioner next week. The cost will be higher at about $500.00 but the alternative is a dealer - the dealer I called said the same thing, M271s don't have timing chain issues, no service needed. The price they gave was over $1k, but they were clearly not interested in it.
A new car might be in my near future.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; 08-02-2012 at 01:54 PM.
08-02-2012, 01:57 PM
#72
Out Of Control!!
I hear that E46es make great purchases.
That's too bad about getting someone to do the work, I find that very weird. Good luck on everything.
That's too bad about getting someone to do the work, I find that very weird. Good luck on everything.
08-02-2012, 11:43 PM
#73
MBWorld Fanatic!
I don't understand why you're having such a hard time getting someone to do it. Even if it is unnecessary, mechanics do unnecessary stuff all the time (especially the dishonest ones - but they do it to you rather than for you).
We've said many times on the forum that we tend to hear a lot more problems than is representative. The stealer is right in theory - you are NOT supposed to have to do this. I don't claim to know the truth. I don't know - or remember - the service history of the cars that have had this problem but I'd tend to put my trust in what Glyn says. He's seen a lot more of this than we have and he doesn't have a reason to sugar coat anything (like a stealer would).
It sure would be interesting to get some real statistics on this.
We've said many times on the forum that we tend to hear a lot more problems than is representative. The stealer is right in theory - you are NOT supposed to have to do this. I don't claim to know the truth. I don't know - or remember - the service history of the cars that have had this problem but I'd tend to put my trust in what Glyn says. He's seen a lot more of this than we have and he doesn't have a reason to sugar coat anything (like a stealer would).
It sure would be interesting to get some real statistics on this.
08-03-2012, 08:56 AM
#74
Super Moderator
Matt & I have discussed this in a number of PM's. In SA my dealer & Indy would encourage you to do this as preventive maintenance with this known problem.
I do think some of the problem revolves around how the vehicle has been maintained but there is no doubt that mileage also plays a role. If it rattles at start fix it ~ don't wait for trouble.
I do think some of the problem revolves around how the vehicle has been maintained but there is no doubt that mileage also plays a role. If it rattles at start fix it ~ don't wait for trouble.
08-03-2012, 12:08 PM
#75
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Dealers in the USA are not the least bit helpful, in case anyone doubted that. They don't know jack about the cars they sell or service, they put the wrong oil in, they half-*** the transmission services, and they deny the cars have even the most common issues.
As of right now I still have a gameplan.
As of right now I still have a gameplan.
