C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

Concerns on c32 camshafts

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Old Feb 11, 2012 | 11:08 AM
  #1  
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2002 C32 AMG
Question Concerns on c32 camshafts

I have a 02' c32 and was reading an old post about 02's twisting the lobs on the camshafts, and destroying engine. Is this a really common problem or somewhat rare. My car has 70,000 miles on it with a s/c pulley, ecu tune, and a tcu tune. I love driving the car and feeling the power it has, but now after reading this post I feel like everytime I punch the gas I'm playing russian roulette, and have somewhat lost interest in the car. Come on Mercedes, a multi piece camshaft .
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Old Feb 11, 2012 | 11:29 AM
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I have seen it two times. In both cases 1st cylinder exhaust cam moved. And again, both cases happened at max speed with stock cars.
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Old Feb 12, 2012 | 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by lizardjack
I have seen it two times. In both cases 1st cylinder exhaust cam moved. And again, both cases happened at max speed with stock cars.
I take it yours is an 02', just wondering how many miles yours has, and how often do you run it at the track with out having any issues.
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Old Feb 12, 2012 | 07:41 PM
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If you are worried about it I have a set of stock camshafts from my 2003 SLK32 just sitting on the shelf I am willing to sell. I had ~25k-30k miles on my car when I upgraded to a set of Schrick cams.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 01:27 AM
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I'd better buy Schrick cams for my self than spendin' $ o stock crap. My car has around 120k miles on it and I race it frequently.
How much are the Schrick cams set by the way? I bet they are 2 times chipper than kleemann's...
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by lizardjack
I'd better buy Schrick cams for my self than spendin' $ o stock crap. My car has around 120k miles on it and I race it frequently.
How much are the Schrick cams set by the way? I bet they are 2 times chipper than kleemann's...
Good luck sourcing Schrick or Kleemann (which was made by Schrick). Out of production. If the 2003 cams from 430 are the right newer part number, and if the price is right, people with the 2002 cars should strongly concider it.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by 430
If you are worried about it I have a set of stock camshafts from my 2003 SLK32 just sitting on the shelf I am willing to sell. I had ~25k-30k miles on my car when I upgraded to a set of Schrick cams.
I,m very intrested in your stock cams I,m assuming the 03's are some sort of a one piece shaft, just throw me a price. Did you do the cams swap yourself or take it some where, just wondering if it was a pain.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 08:37 AM
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I know someone that had this happen to him as well...crazy stuff.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 10:52 AM
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Contacted Kleemann. They have 'em on stock, askin' 1800EUR for the set
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by lizardjack
Contacted Kleemann. They have 'em on stock, askin' 1800EUR for the set
I dont see where they sell them in the US. Do you know how hard of job its is to change them. Just wonder if its easy as just taking the valve covers off or does the front of motor have to come off. I hope its something I can do myself.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 01:56 PM
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Here is DIY from kleemann
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
Camshafts.pdf (1.30 MB, 987 views)
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by lizardjack
Here is DIY from kleemann
Well, I called Kleenman and they said they have plenty of them in stock for $2,260 yea a little pricey. He said it's not that bad off a job, and requires some special tools that he thought could maybe be bought on ebay. After looking at the file you sent me now I see them, hopfully he's right becuase the stealership is probably going to sock it to you for these. He said he has heard of a couple of the 02's having the problem but not many. I'm sure after its all said and done it will cost atleast $2,500. Considering I just bought a dashdaq, and zt-2 for my car the money is adding up. Is the cam change something you're considering doing or just keeping the stock ones.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 08:28 PM
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I think I paid $700 for the R&R on the camshafts.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 08:43 PM
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I think the main reason why the camshafts were not that popular, besides being so expensive to buy and install, was that they didn't make much gain for the price invested. I think there are a lot of other mods to see the true benefits of cams, but it may be worth it to keep our engines from dying.

Jerry had all sorts of mods on his C32 and he saw maybe 10hp gain from cams, could have been his ported heads though. What kind of gains are you seeing 430 from your cams?
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 12:30 AM
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If I was so worried that the camshafts might fail in my 2002 C32 I would sell the thing before changing camshafts.

If I had changed all the POS items on this car as a precaution I would be out $5K or more.

Intercooler - could leak
Radiator - could leak
Camshafts- could fail
seat modules -could fail
...
...
...
...
...
...
every control arm and ball joint in the front

Luckily none of the above has gone bad and I have not spent a dime on it.
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Zeppelin
If I was so worried that the camshafts might fail in my 2002 C32 I would sell the thing before changing camshafts.

If I had changed all the POS items on this car as a precaution I would be out $5K or more.

Intercooler - could leak
Radiator - could leak
Camshafts- could fail
seat modules -could fail

...
every control arm and ball joint in the front

Luckily none of the above has gone bad and I have not spent a dime on it.
Agreed. There was no significant gains and drivability as a daily driver was reduced. Even the new updated part number cams are $1300 plus R&R and I would not recommend swapping them unless there is a problem already. However, if you are planning to keep your car for some time, and if what 430 is asking for his cams is reasonable, it may be a good buy.
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Zeppelin
If I was so worried that the camshafts might fail in my 2002 C32 I would sell the thing before changing camshafts.

If I had changed all the POS items on this car as a precaution I would be out $5K or more.

Intercooler - could leak
Radiator - could leak
Camshafts- could fail
seat modules -could fail
...
...
...
...
...
...
every control arm and ball joint in the front

Luckily none of the above has gone bad and I have not spent a dime on it.
Yea, I diffenitly see your point there is alot of what if's with these cars or any other car for that fact. I heard Jerry's on youtube with the schrick cams and sounded awesome. I guess I need to weigh pro's and con's. Pro's, sounds good, small increase in power, and avoid "possible" engine damage. Con's, might not ever happen, and $2,500 .
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Lenin
Agreed. There was no significant gains and drivability as a daily driver was reduced. Even the new updated part number cams are $1300 plus R&R and I would not recommend swapping them unless there is a problem already. However, if you are planning to keep your car for some time, and if what 430 is asking for his cams is reasonable, it may be a good buy.
Could you link me to RR cams?
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by lizardjack
Could you link me to RR cams?
Remove & Replace cams? It's the same as what you provided in the Kleemann link. I can send you you a file from MB WIS system that dealerships use but it is the same. Kleemann even uses the diagrams that came out of WIS.
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 01:14 PM
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I wouldn't waste the $ on cams...

Jerry's picked up 10whp over mine when he did the cams. I spent the money in other places, and we all know how that turned out...

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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by loungn14
I wouldn't waste the $ on cams...

Jerry's picked up 10whp over mine when he did the cams. I spent the money in other places, and we all know how that turned out...

Hi Jake, is your old C32 still alive? I haven't heard anything about it since the time you sold it.
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Lenin
Hi Jake, is your old C32 still alive? I haven't heard anything about it since the time you sold it.
no clue ...heard a rumor he blew the engine running a big shot, but had it rebuilt.. but that could be off...
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 02:37 PM
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I also remember reading that the more aggressive cams made the car seem like it was idling rough. Who wants that every time they stop at a red light?
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 04:39 PM
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Happened to mine. You can read it in my thread in the sig if you can find it in the latter pages. Not very common.

Schrick cams move the timing around. I dont see how it can increase power really. You get better power band out top.
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by FrankW
Happened to mine. You can read it in my thread in the sig if you can find it in the latter pages. Not very common.

Schrick cams move the timing around. I dont see how it can increase power really. You get better power band out top.
Did anything internaly get damaged in your engine, and what did you replace the cams with. I wouldent be doing it just for the power increase by any means but mainly for an insurance policy. I wouldent think drivability would suffer much unless its a real radical lift cam. Kleemann said the ecu wouldent have to be altered, but my wideband that im installing would tell me if thats the case. I'm still up in the air about the whole thing, its just something that would be in the back of mind.
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