Warning-Faulty Camshaft 02' C32's
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
Warning-Faulty Camshaft 02' C32's
So I was diagnosed with a Head Gasket leak and brought it in to have it fixed. While everything was apart, I had my guy examine the cam shafts as I know some other people have had issues since the cams lobes are pressed onto the shaft instead of machined from one piece. Sure enough, TWO of my exhaust cam lobes had shifted out of place on the Left side camshaft. Coincidentally, where these cam lobes were out of place were the places that I had my head gasket leaks.
HUGE Thanks to Loudandheard and FrankW for posting up this Thread and photos:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/365480-camshaft-potential-problems-2002-c32s.html
From the photo that shows how the camshaft lobes were shifted, I possibly saved my engine from blowing up and definite extra problems down the road. Without knowing about this problem, the camshafts would have just been reinstalled after fixing the head gasket.
My mechanic thinks that all some of the exhaust gasses was being trapped in the cylinder due to the lobes being off.
As an update, I am replacing BOTH head gaskets as I may as well since everything is apart already, replacing the drivers side LEFT Camshaft, getting a Valve job as my intake valves were apparently leaking too and new colder plugs(IK22's) as he said my old plugs were almost welded into the block.
So if you have a 02' C32, and are having any issues with misfires or really rough idle, this is something to be aware of.
HUGE Thanks to Loudandheard and FrankW for posting up this Thread and photos:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/365480-camshaft-potential-problems-2002-c32s.html
From the photo that shows how the camshaft lobes were shifted, I possibly saved my engine from blowing up and definite extra problems down the road. Without knowing about this problem, the camshafts would have just been reinstalled after fixing the head gasket.
My mechanic thinks that all some of the exhaust gasses was being trapped in the cylinder due to the lobes being off.
As an update, I am replacing BOTH head gaskets as I may as well since everything is apart already, replacing the drivers side LEFT Camshaft, getting a Valve job as my intake valves were apparently leaking too and new colder plugs(IK22's) as he said my old plugs were almost welded into the block.
So if you have a 02' C32, and are having any issues with misfires or really rough idle, this is something to be aware of.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 27
From: North NJ
2002 C32 AMG, 2013 GLK 350/4, 2015 E63S AMG Wagon
This sucks but you should be glad that the cams were checked. I had to put my engine back together several times until we figured out it was the cams.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
Yes, this is why I'm so Thankful to this forum for giving me the heads up. I could have done all this work only to have a catastrophic failure shortly down the road.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
OK, so it's supposed to be ready tomorrow! Bought my cam from Parts.com for $700 plus $100 for shipping!! 
But I ordered it Friday and received it today.
Stealer wanted $975 plus 20% markup.
But I ordered it Friday and received it today.
Stealer wanted $975 plus 20% markup.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
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