nickid

wifes coupe is got a rattle from engine and louder when oil cap off. It sounds like the tappets/lifters but car has only done 40,000miles?

Glyn M Ruck

These engines use zero lash hydraulic lifters. What oil is in the car? Has it had all it's services.

Sources of rattle can be.

~ worn or gummed up hydraulic lifter
~ camshaft timing adjustor
~ timing chain/tensioners/guides.

Glyn M Ruck

I should also point out that your car has the M111 engine. It is a tough & robust unit but not particularly refined which is why Benz designed the M271 to replace it. Customer complaints!

It can sound a little bit like it was built in a shed at the bottom of your garden.

What the UK press had to say at the time!

"Coarse. Noisy. Crude. Hardly words you'd expect to hear applied to a car bearing the
famous Mercedes badge. Yet, when describing the company's four-cylinder petrol
engines – the 180, 200 and 230 Kompressor – all are entirely accurate."

nickid

not sure on oil because we just got it but it looks nice and clean. might give it an engine flush and new oil and filter

nickid

just added a recording of the engine running

nickid

well oil change done and engine is sounding well apart from a belt of pulley wiring sound, or possibly the chain

Glyn M Ruck

Great ~ because it sounds like a bucket of bolts in that clip.

nickid

As soon as I put the engine flush in it ran smoother eccept for thr belt / pulley noice.
Going to do the same to the c230. Just need to wait on oil filter arriving after they sent me the very skinny filter compared to the one in it already

Glyn M Ruck

The idlers & tensioners can get noisy on these cars & the only answer is replacement if it is irritating.

nickid

cant hear it driving just when its turning over and your out side.