It has bee a while since I've been back in a Benz, excited to be back in one! I've had an '85 Euro 190E 2.3-16, '87 US 190E 2.3-16, '81 300D, and a '91 420 SEL before this. My brother purchased this car new, and it sat in a parking garage most of it's life, and has yet to turn 30K miles. Other than a few minor scratches it could pass for new, the interior could pass for new, and actually still has the new car smell. I work at a Euro shop in Seattle, but we are 99% VW/Audi, so I don't see these cars a lot, so I will be reading around the forums and learning about the common issues with these things (I've read a little about some cam sensor harness update?). Should be a fun car, my other 2 cars are both Chevy V8's, so it'll be nice to have a more practical commuter!

 

Lol what? S 666
Nice car, congrats. Keep an ear out for timing chain rattle at cold start.

 

Galloping noise is common with these engines, dealer confirmed in dadangman's post: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...nation-mb.html

Job #2
PROBLEM B OWNER STATES IF CAR SITS FOR AROUND 2 HOURS THERE IS A CLATTERING N
NPF NORMAL OPERATION....SEE TECH COMME (N/C)
42604
CONFIRMED CUSTOMER COMPLAINT; FOUND NOISE NORMAL AFTER SITTING FOR A
WHILE THE OIL DRAINS DOWN INTO THE OIL PAN AND THE LIFTERS LOOSE OIL
PRESSURE DURING THE VEHINCLE SITTING TIME; AFTER STARTING THE LIFTERS
WILL CHATTER UNTIL FULLY PRESSURIZED WITH OIL.

 

The only really big issues are that the
single row timing chain stretches over time,
causing the cam gears to wear.
Easy to prevent, with regular timing chain changes.
a PIA but well worth it.
To be safe, say every 60K miles?

Also, carbon tends to build up, so don't be afraid to rev it.
A little Seafoam goes a long way to resolving/preventing any issues here.
Otherwise, the valves get clogged with carbon, then they don't seat,
compression goes to sheet, and the valves get burnt.
Supposedly this was resolved in 2005, but there are reports of people still having issues.
Seafoam cleans the carbon right out and restores compression, as long as it's done in time.

Change the trans fluid every 45K miles or so too, + regular normal oil changes, and this car will have a VERY long life.
When you change the trans fluid replace the Orings in the connector that goes into the trans.
otherwise, they will leak into the harness eventually, and wick into trans computer under the passenger seat.
This is true with all 5 speed trans in MB. While you can replace the computer yourself you need the SDS
to reset the adaptations if you replace it, so best to just make sure those orings don't leak.

Not sure about the cam sensor harnesses, this was a problem with
the older M111 engine like in mine. There's a free fix from the dealer.
Little dongle connectors to isolate the sensors, prevents wicking oil in the ECU
and f'ing the entire engine harness.

ALSO search on $12 hose.
There's an issue with some hose, which is covered by dealer under a
service bulletiin.
It might be worth it to take to the dealer for an oil change and let then do
any free updates if it hasn't been in, in a while.

Nice purchase!
There, I just saved you 10 years of catching up.

 

Hey, can you please point me to the literature or your reference that indicates the affects of timing chain wear on cams? I'm just curious about it for my own car. I've not come up with much to go on that this is a real phenomenon. I was told by my MB indy shop that its extremely rare for timing chains to go on these engines.

Thanks!

 

Hey don't freak out because people post what "could" happen.
Enjoy such a beauty and have fun with it

 

Not freaking out. Again, just wondering for my own car.

 

Car is beautiful! Granite Grey Metialic is the color. I have it on my W203 as well. Its beautiful and easy to keep clean.

 

Thanks for all the replies! Got busy and haven't had a chance to come back and check on this thread. The car just turned 30K miles 2 days ago. I'll look into the above mentioned possible issues.