m271 guy's who've done your timing chain
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
m271 guy's who've done your timing chain
What did you use to smash the pin on the new master link?
I want to do this soon, but don't weld or anything so can't make my own tool. Is there another cheaper tool out there I can use? Or what methods have you guys used?
I want to do this soon, but don't weld or anything so can't make my own tool. Is there another cheaper tool out there I can use? Or what methods have you guys used?
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
I didn't go back to Hogger's thread when he did it but as I remember he didn't use any expensive tools. Maybe he can chime in (or we can just look back at his thread! 
).
I also found this: http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-4744.aspx
It's a little expensive for one chain. I also found a bunch on ebay (search for chain breaker) that are less expensive. They are mostly for motorcycles but some may work with our chains.
Good luck!
).I also found this: http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-4744.aspx
It's a little expensive for one chain. I also found a bunch on ebay (search for chain breaker) that are less expensive. They are mostly for motorcycles but some may work with our chains.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
I remember Hogger saying he made a tool by welding some stuff together, drilling, etc. I have access to common tools, and an air ompressor with some stuff, but no welding...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Austin, TX
2005 C230K(sold), Mk7 Jetta
Apparently you can rent a "chain crimper" tool from here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...mber-list.html
Also I believe the user VII on this forum has the chain retainer thing, maybe he will be kind enough to loan the tool: https://mbworld.org/forums/members/198424-vii.html
Also I believe the user VII on this forum has the chain retainer thing, maybe he will be kind enough to loan the tool: https://mbworld.org/forums/members/198424-vii.html
Last edited by VVF; May 28, 2013 at 01:57 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I suppose you could just purchase & good old fashioned master link with a clip of good quality ~ make sure to fit the rollers. I don't think there is anything it could catch on but you would need to check.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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C180K, 2005, W203, m271, 165k miles
I also need to change my chain. No symptons but its 167K miles!!! Never been changed!!! If someone can share what special tools are required for this job and where can we get them from or possibly make them?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
should this not be a general recall for our engines as this is clearly a design flaw? Since MB did not make it a maintenance item in our schedule (like other timing belts from other car companies say every 60K or 100k) I would say that MB should be on the hook for this. A timing chain should be good for life of an engine and even if we maintain our cars by the book this is unforeseen.
Class Action?
Class Action?
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
should this not be a general recall for our engines as this is clearly a design flaw? Since MB did not make it a maintenance item in our schedule (like other timing belts from other car companies say every 60K or 100k) I would say that MB should be on the hook for this. A timing chain should be good for life of an engine and even if we maintain our cars by the book this is unforeseen.
Class Action?
Class Action?
I just don't understand how an 05 c230 jumped time with 60k miles
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
how does cylinder head go bad causing the chain to jump?
Is the head shrinking? are the bearings on the cam wear or the place elongate where they are in?
Quite simply it was an engineering mistake by putting 1 gear and a single chain rather than a double chain which every car company does when they use a chain rather than a belt
I asked around in the Toronto area about knowledge of chains jumping or stretch and have their been any problems and the answer was no, never heard of this problem and "we see a lot of cars in" however this was a similar response to the infamous cam solenoid issue which has a recall everywhere else except here.
The problem with this issue is like a light switch either on or off and when it jumps it is death to the motor. Start up sound should give you a warning however hard to tell if it is the cold start valve making the clatter in the first couple of seconds (which has been like that since new) or is is the chain
Ha! my 800th post (a far cry from Glyn which is 20x that amount)
Is the head shrinking? are the bearings on the cam wear or the place elongate where they are in?
Quite simply it was an engineering mistake by putting 1 gear and a single chain rather than a double chain which every car company does when they use a chain rather than a belt
I asked around in the Toronto area about knowledge of chains jumping or stretch and have their been any problems and the answer was no, never heard of this problem and "we see a lot of cars in" however this was a similar response to the infamous cam solenoid issue which has a recall everywhere else except here.
The problem with this issue is like a light switch either on or off and when it jumps it is death to the motor. Start up sound should give you a warning however hard to tell if it is the cold start valve making the clatter in the first couple of seconds (which has been like that since new) or is is the chain
Ha! my 800th post (a far cry from Glyn which is 20x that amount)
Last edited by Boom vang; Jun 1, 2013 at 12:48 PM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Congrats on your 800th. Yes ~ SA had no recall on the M271 leaking cam magnets. They deny that it was/is a problem. Asked them why they sell pigtales ~ no answer. 
This engine should have been fitted with a duplex chain!
Dealers talk nonsense.
This engine should have been fitted with a duplex chain!
Dealers talk nonsense.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
Yep, totally agree this should be a recall, or at least MB should be covering labor or something.
Glyn, I saw a master link listed on the MB instructions for replacing the chain, but then they also list the crimping/smashing tool and the other link too if I remember correctly. A master link sure would make things easier...
Glyn, I saw a master link listed on the MB instructions for replacing the chain, but then they also list the crimping/smashing tool and the other link too if I remember correctly. A master link sure would make things easier...
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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2005 C230 6spd
I did this myself last month and half way through wished I would have just paid to get it done. Very nerve racking especially when having to turn the engine to feed the new chain through. There is an expensive Mercedes tool which I did not use that keeps the chain from jumping when manually turning. The cams are under tension at certain points and you just can't keep everything in sync easily. The master link I took the pin out of the chain breaker and put a bolt in it to make a c-clamp style press. I also used a rivet gun for good measure.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Lumberton, TX
2009 ML350, 2007 GL450, 1963 GMC, BMW 325i
Sorry I'm a little lazy today, I don't want to go search for the thread, but once I got the chain and master link on. I rolled it all over so the master was on the top of one of the cam sprockets. Just so the chain was on something solid, and wouldn't give. If I remember right, I drilled out a little divot on the head of a bolt the same depth of the link pin sticking out the back of the master link. Somehow I held the bolt in a block or something on the back of the link, while I used the pin from my chain breaker to mushroom the front side of each pin.
Probably did it the hard way, but it worked.
Oh thanks Glyn, NOW you come up with that suggestion
Probably did it the hard way, but it worked.
Oh thanks Glyn, NOW you come up with that suggestion
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
Ya when I did this on my C230 I drilled a small dimple into the chain breaker and just squeezed it together until I got slight mushrooming and voila...the tricky part was getting it all to line up again after the fact. I ended up having to tear it all apart a second time cuz the timing was off but it went much faster the second time around! lol
It was still slightly off the second time but the ECU was able to compensate for it that time, it was barely off though, but was enough to pop a CEL. ECU compensated after a day or 2 and I just reset the CEL and it never came back.
Sold it like a month later (about a year ago) and the guy I sold too has apparently been auto-crossing it on the weekends with no problems.
It was still slightly off the second time but the ECU was able to compensate for it that time, it was barely off though, but was enough to pop a CEL. ECU compensated after a day or 2 and I just reset the CEL and it never came back.
Sold it like a month later (about a year ago) and the guy I sold too has apparently been auto-crossing it on the weekends with no problems.
