changed the chain today....(rant)
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 527
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From: Carolinas
2005 C230K SS
changed the chain today....(rant)
Chain was stretched a whopping 2mm...almost immeasurable with my carpenter's tape. Car has 126k miles, either PO changed it or these chains are lifetime after all....I'm pissed, I passed up some free a$$ for a day of back breaking work and all I gained was 2mm and a lighter wallet.
Last edited by RWDlifer; Feb 10, 2014 at 05:50 PM.
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
It seems the amount the chains stretch seems pretty variable. I have read were some have not gotten to your mileage before NEEDING a new chain and I've read of another guy who had gotten twice your mileage and still didn't need a new chain.
I wish I new what variable make a difference...
It was a pain in the a$$, but now you've done it and you know what you have. Peace of mind is worth something!
Congratulations on the replacement, BTW!
I wish I new what variable make a difference...
It was a pain in the a$$, but now you've done it and you know what you have. Peace of mind is worth something!
Congratulations on the replacement, BTW!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 527
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From: Carolinas
2005 C230K SS
Yes, DIY....not for the weak hearted...I changed a timing chain on a saab 900 solo in the past, and I went into this project with a Clarkson mentality; how hard can it be?
Well it was hard. I had to enlist an assistant. Feeding that chain around is a b!@ch...couple of times the cams sprang forward or back and the timing went off and the pistons kissed the valves.....better with the crank being turned by hand than at 5500rpm though...
I havent run it yet though...doing a coolant flush and oil change too.....
Well it was hard. I had to enlist an assistant. Feeding that chain around is a b!@ch...couple of times the cams sprang forward or back and the timing went off and the pistons kissed the valves.....better with the crank being turned by hand than at 5500rpm though...
I havent run it yet though...doing a coolant flush and oil change too.....
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
This damn chain stretch problem is extremely variable. I'm involved in one that let go at just over 130,000 Km's not miles at the moment & bent valves.
I've always used the start up rattle as a guide to changing but we have a few that let go without a rattle or the owner was deaf.
It is hard to know what to recommend. I'm sticking to my first signs of rattle with friends but I do really think it should be a standard service item for replacement at about 120K miles.
Anyway ~ it's behind you now & you can sleep at night.
I've always used the start up rattle as a guide to changing but we have a few that let go without a rattle or the owner was deaf.
It is hard to know what to recommend. I'm sticking to my first signs of rattle with friends but I do really think it should be a standard service item for replacement at about 120K miles.
Anyway ~ it's behind you now & you can sleep at night.
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 311
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2004.7 C180 Kompressor, BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro LT, Mercedes S, Cesna 152.
It seems the amount the chains stretch seems pretty variable. I have read were some have not gotten to your mileage before NEEDING a new chain and I've read of another guy who had gotten twice your mileage and still didn't need a new chain.
I wish I new what variable make a difference...
It was a pain in the a$$, but now you've done it and you know what you have. Peace of mind is worth something!
Congratulations on the replacement, BTW!
I wish I new what variable make a difference...
It was a pain in the a$$, but now you've done it and you know what you have. Peace of mind is worth something!
Congratulations on the replacement, BTW!
The "variable" thats makes all the difference, is oil / filter changes @ 6 monthly intervals, using ONLY MB oil / fleece filter. Stated to me "off the record" his own opinion, by Chief Tech MB Australia.
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Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Carolinas
2005 C230K SS
Finally took a deep breath and cranked it....caught on the first try, a bit rattly at first then smooth. I didn't run it to operating temp but it sounds great. Maybe placebo but I think it sounds better 
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I was hoping a long while back that I could tie the chain wear to servicing. But it is not so.
The 130K Km car we are fighting with Benz about in SA was on Mobilodrive plan & only serviced by Benz with the correct products at the right time. 15,000Km or 1 year.
The chain let go while the car was in for service at the dealer & being test driven.
This engine needs a duplex chain.
The 130K Km car we are fighting with Benz about in SA was on Mobilodrive plan & only serviced by Benz with the correct products at the right time. 15,000Km or 1 year.
The chain let go while the car was in for service at the dealer & being test driven.
This engine needs a duplex chain.
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2026 GLC300 4Matic (X254)
Will the updated chain from the M271 Evo work on the older M271 models? Might help?
I'm remembering that someone did a part search on a TC for the Evo and it appears the chain was an upgrade compared to the older 271s.
I'm remembering that someone did a part search on a TC for the Evo and it appears the chain was an upgrade compared to the older 271s.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 527
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From: Carolinas
2005 C230K SS
no longer ranting....
Well, people, I will take back some of my ranting...it seems that 2mm does make quite a bit of a difference. For the first time since I've owned this car I can actually hear the injectors while standing a foot from the bumper facing the engine. I used to have a clickey clack sound (35 second mark in the video below)that I thought was the belt tensioner, after changing that tensioner the sound persisted but is now GONE...I had used a mechanic's stethescope trying to pin point various engine noises, all I hear now is purring..
Overall the engine sounds....normal!
Tomorrow I will try to remember and make a cold start video to compare with the old one.
Here is what it used to sound like: pay attention to the 35 sec mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWdq...ature=youtu.be
Overall the engine sounds....normal!
Tomorrow I will try to remember and make a cold start video to compare with the old one.
Here is what it used to sound like: pay attention to the 35 sec mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWdq...ature=youtu.be
Last edited by RWDlifer; Feb 10, 2014 at 05:51 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 311
Likes: 3
2004.7 C180 Kompressor, BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro LT, Mercedes S, Cesna 152.
I was hoping a long while back that I could tie the chain wear to servicing. But it is not so.
The 130K Km car we are fighting with Benz about in SA was on Mobilodrive plan & only serviced by Benz with the correct products at the right time. 15,000Km or 1 year.
The chain let go while the car was in for service at the dealer & being test driven.
This engine needs a duplex chain.
The 130K Km car we are fighting with Benz about in SA was on Mobilodrive plan & only serviced by Benz with the correct products at the right time. 15,000Km or 1 year.
The chain let go while the car was in for service at the dealer & being test driven.
This engine needs a duplex chain.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 311
Likes: 3
2004.7 C180 Kompressor, BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro LT, Mercedes S, Cesna 152.
It is not always just in the TC, check the tensioner & sprockets as well for wear. No good just replacing the chain, if these items are worn, then a new chain will soon wear out.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 311
Likes: 3
2004.7 C180 Kompressor, BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro LT, Mercedes S, Cesna 152.
This damn chain stretch problem is extremely variable. I'm involved in one that let go at just over 130,000 Km's not miles at the moment & bent valves.
I've always used the start up rattle as a guide to changing but we have a few that let go without a rattle or the owner was deaf.
It is hard to know what to recommend. I'm sticking to my first signs of rattle with friends but I do really think it should be a standard service item for replacement at about 120K miles.
Anyway ~ it's behind you now & you can sleep at night.
I've always used the start up rattle as a guide to changing but we have a few that let go without a rattle or the owner was deaf.
It is hard to know what to recommend. I'm sticking to my first signs of rattle with friends but I do really think it should be a standard service item for replacement at about 120K miles.
Anyway ~ it's behind you now & you can sleep at night.
Need to check for TC death rattle, when car engine is cold, once they warm up the rattle can quickly go away.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The rattle should go away in a few seconds after cold start as the oil pressure come up & operates the hydraulic tensioner. You also need to learn to detect the difference between a chain rattle & a burred cam adjuster rattle. Both behave similarly with oil pressure rise & noise output.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Feb 11, 2014 at 08:59 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
+1^. worn chains wear sprockets & worn sprockets wear new chains. Generally the sprockets survive in good condition on the M271 if you change the chain at the first sign of startup rattle. You have to change the use-once tensioner element when fitting a new chain. The tensioner/chain guides are fortunately robust on these engines.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
My C230 was knocking on 150,000 miles back in 2012 when I traded it. The rattling chain had been present for about 10,000 miles at that time. The car was serviced per Mercedes guidelines, except the whole "fleece filter" thing since that is not available in the USA.
I tried getting the chain replaced at local trusted mechanics, but no one would touch it. Dealers said it was not necessary and were not willing to help. This played a major role in my decision to move on, something I regret doing to this day. I wish I had pushed harder or looked at a broader area to find someone to change the chain and kept the car.
I tried getting the chain replaced at local trusted mechanics, but no one would touch it. Dealers said it was not necessary and were not willing to help. This played a major role in my decision to move on, something I regret doing to this day. I wish I had pushed harder or looked at a broader area to find someone to change the chain and kept the car.
