E-Class (W210) 1995-2002: E 200, E 220D, E 240, E 290TD, E 300TD, E 200, E 240, E 280, E 320, E 420, E 430 (Wagon, Touring, 4Matic)

Ticking lifters - how much?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Apr 1, 2005 | 04:21 AM
  #1  
yaroE420's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Smile Ticking lifters - how much?

Hello everyone,

My car started experiencing ticking lifter noises. I am new to this forum and i am concerned how much approximately that would cost to replace the lifters.
If you have done such replacement, can you tell me here, how much that was for you?

Thank you
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2005 | 02:44 PM
  #2  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by yaroE420
Hello everyone,

My car started experiencing ticking lifter noises. I am new to this forum and i am concerned how much approximately that would cost to replace the lifters.
If you have done such replacement, can you tell me here, how much that was for you?

Thank you
Depends on what's causing the "ticking." I experieced this in my E420 and had to replace all of the lifters because they were sticking. My MB mechanic recommended that I first try switching to synthetic oil to see if that would do it. Although they quieted down a bit, it was still enough noice for me to have them replaced. This job is not cheap, especially if you don't know any good MB mechanics. I don't remember how much it cost me but it was up over $1000 bucks to get them replaced, maybe even close to $2000. If you are in the Los Angeles area I can recommend a good mechanic.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 01:36 PM
  #3  
SmokeSilver's Avatar
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta, GA
1997 E420
HAd the same problem...

Have 97 E420 and had the ticking problem. It was a simple hydraulic lifter oil valve guide. The little caps at the ends of these guides are made out of plastic (used to be metal). They mechanic listened to the motor to determine (guess) which guide it was. They replaced the 2 cent piece and charged me about $400 (mostly labor). Ticking gone. This is a very common problem with these motors.

Marvel Mystery Oil will make it go away for a while if you don't want it repaired right away.

Good Luck!!!
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2005 | 11:50 AM
  #4  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by SmokeSilver
Have 97 E420 and had the ticking problem. It was a simple hydraulic lifter oil valve guide. The little caps at the ends of these guides are made out of plastic (used to be metal). They mechanic listened to the motor to determine (guess) which guide it was. They replaced the 2 cent piece and charged me about $400 (mostly labor). Ticking gone. This is a very common problem with these motors.

Marvel Mystery Oil will make it go away for a while if you don't want it repaired right away.

Good Luck!!!
You're lucky to only have it be the plastic valve guides. My lifters were sticking so bad and had so much wear that they needed to be replaced, not all of them but while they were in there I had them replace them all along with all of the guides and then started running synthetic oil. Car never ran better!
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2005 | 04:25 PM
  #5  
hubert's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 7
From: New York
14'G63 AMG ,1994 Mercedes E500, 2020 Range Rover HST
My 99 E430 does the same thing when i dont drivee it for a week(ticking noise when starting for like 2 sec) went to a dealer they said its normal if the car is not driven for a while.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2005 | 04:32 PM
  #6  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by hubert
My 99 E430 does the same thing when i dont drivee it for a week(ticking noise when starting for like 2 sec) went to a dealer they said its normal if the car is not driven for a while.
Yeah but your ticking goes away right? Didn't happen for me and I drove around with that annoying ticking noise for weeks before I had it repaired and it only got worse as I went.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2005 | 05:31 PM
  #7  
hubert's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 7
From: New York
14'G63 AMG ,1994 Mercedes E500, 2020 Range Rover HST
Yes Jimmy it goes away, for a minute i got scared plus i have Kleemann blower on my car so dealer probably would not touch it.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2005 | 11:50 PM
  #8  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by hubert
Yes Jimmy it goes away, for a minute i got scared plus i have Kleemann blower on my car so dealer probably would not touch it.
Hey, don't forget to hit Alex up to see if he can get you that rear bumper mang!
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 7, 2005 | 04:23 PM
  #9  
hubert's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 7
From: New York
14'G63 AMG ,1994 Mercedes E500, 2020 Range Rover HST
Thanx Jimmy.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2005 | 05:18 PM
  #10  
tony's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 152
Likes: 2
My '97 E420 had the ticking. It is a common problem in the E420. Do a search for oil tubes. It is caused by broken oil tubes that carry oil from one side of the valves to the other. When the tubes break, the lifters aren't lubricated. If corrected quickly the lifters will be fine. Mine stopped ticking once they replaced all 16 tubes and the lifters have been quiet for over a year. The labor is expensive, but the oil tubes are not.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2005 | 02:34 PM
  #11  
The Godfather's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 1
From: Khalifonia.
4 wheeled car.
To make the lifters quiet do the following:

Dumb 1 quart of your engine oil. Replace that quart, with a quart of ATF fluid... yes automatic transmission fluid. Run the car for 500 miles. Then do oil change. Voila, no more sticky lifter. The ATF fluid acts as a detergent. Did it in my dad's 2000 E320 and fixed it.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2005 | 03:19 PM
  #12  
Maja216's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles Area
E 420
Hey Doc good trick I dont have a ticking noise but if I get one I'll try it for sure.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 03:03 PM
  #13  
MARK CUMMINS's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville Florida
209/W210 Estate /W211 modded by MBENZNL
Originally Posted by The Doctor
To make the lifters quiet do the following:

Dumb 1 quart of your engine oil. Replace that quart, with a quart of ATF fluid... yes automatic transmission fluid. Run the car for 500 miles. Then do oil change. Voila, no more sticky lifter. The ATF fluid acts as a detergent. Did it in my dad's 2000 E320 and fixed it.

Dumb Transmision Fluid?

Great Idea...Where did You Learn That one?

Last edited by MARK CUMMINS; Apr 15, 2005 at 03:29 PM.
Reply
Old May 4, 2005 | 12:02 PM
  #14  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by MARK CUMMINS
Dumb Transmision Fluid?

Great Idea...Where did You Learn That one?
Where do you get "Dumb" transmission fluid??? j/k Mikey, lol. Very interesting though, I'll have to tell my buddy about it for trial on his E320...
Reply
Old May 4, 2005 | 12:36 PM
  #15  
OceanView's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
W212 & W210
Originally Posted by hubert
My 99 E430 does the same thing when i dont drivee it for a week(ticking noise when starting for like 2 sec) went to a dealer they said its normal if the car is not driven for a while.

Had similar experince recently.
Car sat for 2 weeks and when I started it, I heard a ticking sound.
Turned out to be the water pump.
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2005 | 04:52 AM
  #16  
Big J's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Big Valley
E430, Ferrari 360 Modena, BMW m3
very interesting topic, but do you still need to have the valve adjusted? i have a 99 e430 .....
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2005 | 08:44 PM
  #17  
king_j's Avatar
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
97 e320 62000 miles

at 50k miles, the headgasket went, now i notice a ticking noise coming from the driver side of the car.
the noise is mostly at idle and very consistant.


would this be a valve related noise?
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2005 | 10:03 PM
  #18  
phatstyles's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
e-klass
Get Auto-RX its a special solution to clean up the engine. Check it out.
Reply
Old May 4, 2006 | 12:50 PM
  #19  
leonb's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by The Godfather
To make the lifters quiet do the following:

Dumb 1 quart of your engine oil. Replace that quart, with a quart of ATF fluid... yes automatic transmission fluid. Run the car for 500 miles. Then do oil change. Voila, no more sticky lifter. The ATF fluid acts as a detergent. Did it in my dad's 2000 E320 and fixed it.
Is this recommended? How long can one drive with the ATF - can it harm the engine if driven for more than 500 miles (say 1000 - 2000 miles).

I had a constant ticking sound which was diagnosed by the Merc tech as lifter noise. They replaced all the lifters, but it did not solve the problem totally. Now, when I start up the car, I get ticking about 50% of the times. The ticking stays for about 30 minutes, then it disappears. I drive a 99 C280.

I really need some help here, as I dont want to waste any more money and the ticking is driving me crazy!!!
Reply
Old May 4, 2006 | 01:17 PM
  #20  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by leonb
Is this recommended? How long can one drive with the ATF - can it harm the engine if driven for more than 500 miles (say 1000 - 2000 miles).

I had a constant ticking sound which was diagnosed by the Merc tech as lifter noise. They replaced all the lifters, but it did not solve the problem totally. Now, when I start up the car, I get ticking about 50% of the times. The ticking stays for about 30 minutes, then it disappears. I drive a 99 C280.

I really need some help here, as I dont want to waste any more money and the ticking is driving me crazy!!!
I've never heard of the ATF method before reading Mike's post so I can't verifty that. I had my lifters replaced then ran Mobil1 oil and that fixed it for me. Are you running fully synthetic oil? If not then if I were you, I would immediately go and get a Mobil1 oil change. If you are and you also had the lifters replaced, then I would go back to the mechanic and tell him to do his job right! Good luck...
Reply
Old May 5, 2006 | 10:50 PM
  #21  
cragigotgame's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
97 E420 90 300E
Originally Posted by king_j
97 e320 62000 miles

at 50k miles, the headgasket went, now i notice a ticking noise coming from the driver side of the car.
the noise is mostly at idle and very consistant.


would this be a valve related noise?
I have that noise sometimes too. Its not the engine, I dont know what the heck it is.
Reply
Old May 5, 2006 | 11:02 PM
  #22  
Ala-benz's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville Alabama
'00 E430, '83 Porsche 928S
If the ticking is not the engine, listen closely to your map light/sunroof control area. There is a little motor inside that assembly that I think is some kind of cooling fan or air sampler for the climate control. When it goes bad, it ticks. Damn thing about drove me nuts on my 97 E420 I used to have until I located it. It was an expensive little bugger at the stealership ($80 or so).
Reply
Old May 6, 2006 | 10:13 AM
  #23  
cragigotgame's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
97 E420 90 300E
I can see the thing in the engine that is making noise I just dont know what it is, or what it does. But I know it not coming from inside.
Reply
Old May 8, 2006 | 12:42 PM
  #24  
jimmydagreek's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,546
Likes: 6
From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally Posted by cragigotgame
I can see the thing in the engine that is making noise I just dont know what it is, or what it does. But I know it not coming from inside.
You can see the thing making the noise, lol. Well, describe it; does it look like a fan or???
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2010 | 05:59 PM
  #25  
NihalS65's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
1992 500SEL Black and grey 2 tone w/ camel brown interior
jimmy, i just bought a 97 e420 sport. the previous owner said she had taken the car in last week because the cylinders were misfiring. had all the coils replaced and oil change done with fully synthetic oil. car runs great but now the car is making a knocking noise. im thinking about running the quick fix thing with either mystery oil or ATF. but what do you think?
Reply


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:39 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE